Uzbekistan expanding export opportunities for agricultural products

This year the variety of agricultural products produced in Uzbekistan was presented at the exhibition by ‘Uztadbirkoreksport’ Specialized Foreign Trade Company, ‘Yaypan Agro Export’ (Ferghana Region) and ‘Livadia-Bukhara’ (Bukhara Region) agro-companies with assistance of UNDP’s ‘Aid for Trade’ Project.

Uzbek companies showcased fresh fruits and vegetables including melons, pomegranates, apples, dried fruits and vegetables in a special vacuum packaging which can preserve taste and quality of goods for up to two years, as well as canned products made from natural ingredients. Participants, visitors and foreign experts noted high quality and taste of the products from Uzbekistan.

“Our companies not only demonstrated Uzbekistan’s potential in agricultural sector and showcased their main achievements in this area, but also benefited from the opportunity to establish new contacts and gain valuable knowledge on the demand of the European market for fruits and vegetables”, said A. Olimhonov, Deputy Director of the ‘Uztadbirkoreksport’ Foreign Trade Company.

During the exhibition, the representatives of the Uzbek delegation held a number of negotiations with potential buyers and signed export contracts worth more than $3 million.

The representatives of ‘Yaypan Agro Export’ and ‘Livadia-Bukhara’ stated that the seminars and forums held during the exhibition were a good platform to exchange views and acquire valuable knowledge on new methods of processing, storing, packaging and branding fresh fruits and vegetables, that will be used to expand the production and exports.

Improving competitiveness and enhancing export capacities of domestic producers to strengthen their positions in trade is an important area supported by UNDP in Uzbekistan. The active participation of small businesses in exports will help expand domestic production, create new jobs and improve the wellbeing of the vulnerable populations, especially in rural areas.

It should be noted that ‘Fruit Logistica’ is a major international exhibition of fresh produce, packaging solutions, logistics and transportation, as well as imports and exports of vegetables and fruits. ‘Fruit Logistica 2015’ was attended by 2,750 exhibitors from 83 countries and 65,000 visitors from 30 countries. Small and medium companies and organizations along with global corporations such as DHL, Air France, Lufthansa Cargo, and Bayer presented a complete market overview of the fresh produce industry, which bears evidence to the wide coverage of the event and its effectiveness for the representatives of all business segments.