Today, Uzbekistan is taking comprehensive measures to organize the production of a wide range of high-quality textile and garments, deepen the localization of its production, as well as increase the export potential of local producers.

The necessary legal framework and favorable conditions for the development of the textile and clothing industry have been formed, a number of resolutions of the President and the government have been adopted aimed at deepening reforms in this area.

Analyzing the achievements of the industry over the past 5 years, it can be said without exaggeration that the industry has made a big leap forward in development.

So how has the textile industry developed over the past period? What factors influenced the development of the industry and why the textile industry was identified as a driver of the economy. What changes have resulted from the introduction of the system of cotton-textile clusters in the textile industry? How have clusters influenced the development of agriculture and related industries? What was taken into account when organizing the production chain from cotton cultivation to finished product production? What is the role of textile enterprises in the development of regions, employment of the population, especially women and the development of entrepreneurship? Creation of new brands and expansion of the geography of export of products, what is a distinctive feature of Uzbek textiles and how to overcome competition in foreign markets?

At a press conference held on 12 August at the National Press Center with the participation of the first deputy chairman of the Uztekstilprom Association Davron Vakhabov, reforms in the textile industry in recent years and their contribution to the development of the country were analyzed.

In particular, D. Vakhabov said that the main revolutionary turning point of the last 5 years was the creation of cotton-textile clusters by textile enterprises. to radical changes in agriculture.

How textile enterprises (cotton-textile clusters) have had a positive impact on the development of agriculture and animal husbandry.

For many years, the country did not pay due attention to the agricultural sector, including cotton. There was no market economy (competition), no land legal relations, no progressive methods of organizing work, no efficient and rational use of water resources. Funding, scientific innovations were not involved. As a result, not only the yield has decreased, but also the fertility of the land. The cotton processing system and the production of products with high added value were not created, and the industry was in dire need of reform.

In order to introduce new technologies and innovations in the industry, in accordance with Government resolution No. 158 of March 2017, the first cotton-textile cluster in the country was experimentally introduced, namely in Kyzyltepe district of Navoi region.

Analyzing the past period, the first cotton-textile cluster Bakht Textile, created in 2017, accounted for only 0.9% of all raw cotton grown in the country, and the share of raw cotton produced by 15 cotton-textile clusters created in 2018 increased to 15.1%. By 2019, there were 74 initiators of cotton clusters and their share was 68%, and the number of cotton-textile clusters created in 2020 increased to 95. Their share in cotton production in the republic was 91%, and by 2021 all cotton fields were sown with cotton-textile clusters by 100%.

In order to introduce new agricultural technologies in agriculture, to increase the efficiency of increasing yields, the clusters purchased more than 14 thousand high-performance agricultural machines in the amount of 3.6 trillion soums, including 660 cotton pickers worth 1.2 trillion soums.

In addition, work is underway to introduce drip irrigation technology on all areas of cotton and textile clusters of 160,000 hectares, the total cost of these projects averaging US$320 million.

The development of the cotton-textile cluster system contributed to the eradication of forced labor. The market mechanism in the production of cotton, as well as the contractual relationship between clusters and farmers led to an increase in prices for harvesting, agricultural workers were interested in participating in the harvest.

With the direct support of the Textile Industry Association, in order to implement international standards in our factories, close ties have been established with such organizations as Hohenstin from Germany, Control Union from the Netherlands, Amphora from Belgium and GIZ from Germany. Textile enterprises have become leaders in the implementation of international standards - more than 1300 enterprises have implemented international standards ISO, BSCI, OEKOTEX, GOT, etc.

Over the past 5 years, the number of people permanently employed in the industry has increased 1.9 times. If in 2016 the industry employed 183 thousand people, now there are more than 357 thousand of them. By the end of 2021, the number of jobs will reach 401,000, or an increase of 2.2 times is expected.

In 2016-2020, 288 projects worth US$2.26 billion were implemented in the textile and clothing industry of the regions with the creation of 53,977 new jobs and US$993.7 million in export potential.

If we analyze the achievements over the past period in the industrial sector, we will see first of all that:

Today there are more than 7 thousand enterprises in the industry. The volume of production by enterprises in 2016 amounted to 12.6 trillion soums, and by the end of 2020, production increased 3.4 times and amounted to 44 trillion soums.

Analyzed by product type (in product line):

- yarn production in 2016 amounted to 367 thousand tons, and by 2021 increased by 2.1 times and reached 778 tons;

 - yarn production in 2016 was 246 million sq. m, by 2021 increased by 2.8 times and reached 705 million sq. m;

- the production of knitted fabrics in 2016 was 51 thousand tons, and by 2021 it increased by 3.1 times and reached 160 thousand tons;

- the production of hosiery amounted to 51 million pairs in 2016, by 2021 showed high growth rates (7.8 times compared to 2016) and amounted to 400 million pairs;

In the field of export of textiles and clothing:

At the end of 2016, we had 308 exporting enterprises in the industry around the world. In 2016, textiles were exported to 43 countries of the world for a total of US$681.1 million, of which the share of value-added products was 40%. In 2020, the export of textile products was carried out for a total amount of US US$1.9 billion (2.8 times more than in 2016), to 72 countries of the world (1.6 times more than in 2016), the share exported products with high added value accounted for over 50%.

By the end of 2020, the share of yarn in total exports increased to 50.7%, while the share of finished products with high added value increased to 49.3%.

For information, in the 1st half of 2021, the export of textiles amounted to US$1.36 billion (26% of the country’s total exports), and the average monthly export amounted to about US$230 million.

Total this year products were exported to 58 countries (50 countries in 2020), including Russia - 32.8% (US$454 million), China - 23.8% (US$329 million), Kyrgyzstan - 13.0% (180 million dollars), Turkey - 13.9. million dollars (192 million dollars). The share of these countries in total exports amounted to 84% (US$1.1 billion).

The number of enterprises engaged in the export of products amounted to 1,063.

On the implementation of investment projects:

In 2016, 33 investment projects were implemented for a total of US$145 million, including 37.4 thousand tons of yarn and 4.2 million square meters were produced. cotton fabrics. In 2020, 71 investment projects worth US$474 million were implemented, including the production of 128 thousand tons of yarn and 35 million square meters. m of cotton fabrics. In addition, new projects have been launched for the production of 6,000 tons of knitted fabric, for sewing 89.2 million pieces of garments. As a result, if in 2016 4 thousand jobs were created, then in 2020 more than 18 thousand jobs were created by new investment projects introduced into production.

On the production of new types of products:

Enterprises are also working on the development of new types of products, including:

Production of a large number of synthetic (polyester) threads (Ne-80/1, 60/1, 50/1);

Production of blended yarn from viscose fiber;

Production of medical protective products (disposable) from nonwoven materials;

Production of shirts and shawls (65% cotton, 35% polyester);

Production of mixed fabrics (70% cotton, 30% polyester);

Denim production (75% cotton, 25% polyester);

Production of semi-woolen fabrics;

The production of blended fabrics, heat-resistant aramid fabrics for workwear and uniforms was launched.

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