Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan and Italy plan to strengthen business ties in the textile industry and explore opportunities to expand supplies of Uzbek products to European markets.
A webinar titled “Uzbekistan’s Textile Industry: Opportunities for European Supply Chains” was held with the support of Uzbekistan’s embassy and the Italian office of international consulting firm EY, Uzbekistan’s Dunyo news agency reported.
The event brought together representatives of major Italian and international companies in the textile and fashion industries, including Alviero Martini, Benetton, Bertolo Cashmere, Frette, Ralph Lauren and Gabel Group.
The webinar was opened by Uzbekistan’s Ambassador Abat Fayzullaev and Ruhullo Zikrillayev, deputy director of the country’s Agency for the Development of Light Industry.
Participants were briefed on reforms in Uzbekistan’s textile sector, manufacturers’ production capabilities and the industry’s export potential. Discussions also focused on prospects for supplying finished products to Europe and developing industrial cooperation.
EY experts outlined legal requirements governing textile supply chains in Europe, including environmental and social standards, rules for determining the origin of goods, and opportunities to use the GSP+ preferential trade regime available to Uzbekistan.
Participants discussed several cooperation models, including textile manufacturing to Italian companies’ specifications and direct purchases of finished goods from Uzbek producers.
In considering potential contracts, they emphasised product quality, international certification, contractual terms, production process monitoring and supply chain transparency.
Following the webinar, the parties agreed to arrange direct business-to-business (B2B) negotiations between interested Italian companies and textile manufacturers in Uzbekistan.
The meetings are intended to help participants move beyond information exchange and consider concrete opportunities for cooperation.
