Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the International Ceramics Center, built in Rishtan district.

In the past, Rishtan potters worked in their own homes, in small workshops. There were no conditions for foreign tourists.

After the adoption of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 17 November 2017, the creation of wide opportunities for the development of handicrafts and the activities of craftsmen began. In accordance with this document, handicraft centers were built in Kokand and Margilan. The new center in Rishtan is dedicated to his famous pottery school.

20 two-storey houses, a museum of the history of Rishtan, and a banking services center have been erected here. Workshops and shops are located on the first floors of the houses, and families of craftsmen live on the second floors.

There are also hotels in the houses that can accommodate 6 people. Here foreign tourists can settle and get acquainted with the work of potters.

With the opening of the center, about 250 jobs have been created. Ceramic products are exported to the United Arab Emirates, Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and other countries.

The head of state visited the workshop of the national master of Uzbekistan Alisher Nazirov. He examined the pottery on display.

“These products contain not only hard work and soul, invested in their creation, but also our history. We are reviving national traditions in all areas. It is necessary to popularize and ceramics, to carry it in every home. In addition, she is highly regarded abroad. Because it is beautiful, high quality, environmentally friendly. If there are such products in every home in our country, they will be an object of national pride and a source of spirituality,” said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The President also visited the houses of famous potters Muzaffar Saidov and Sharofiddin Yusupov, and had a warm talk with them.

Responsible persons were instructed to provide potters with working capital and benefits, assist them in opening stores in other regions, organize exhibition and trade stands at the embassies of our country abroad.

The International Ceramics Center houses the regional branch of the Hunarmand Association and a training center.

During the construction process, the mausoleum of Khoja Rushnoi located here was also improved. The head of state visited the mausoleum.

There was a discussion of measures aimed at providing jobs for youth and women in the region, reducing poverty in the context of makhallas.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev talked with residents of the Uchkuprik region, who opened sewing workshops in their homes and provided work for their neighbors in the mahalla. To expand their activities, the responsible persons were tasked with building a modern complex for seamstresses in a location convenient from the point of view of logistics.