Uzbekistan, one of the world’s largest cotton producers, has recently undergone a significant shift in its cotton industry. Now it is processing all cotton fiber and also started importing raw cotton to come out with finished products with high added value, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of Uzbekistan told a recent conference.
During the conference of the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) and International Apparel Federation (IAF) in Samarkand, Shavkat said that the nation had done away with the state monopoly on cotton cultivation and had developed and enhanced a cluster system that covered the entire process, from obtaining raw materials to producing finished goods.
The local cotton is being used to produce textiles, yarn, and garments, which are then exported as finished or semi-finished products rather than as raw cotton.
“Our reforms in this area have won the recognition of prestigious international organizations and the boycott on Uzbek cotton was lifted. We are continuing cooperation in this direction with the international coalition Cotton Campaign,” he added.
This shift is part of a broader strategy by the Uzbek government to reduce its reliance on raw material exports, develop its industrial base, and become a major player in global textile markets.
Earlier, raw materials accounted for about 70 percent of the sector’s exports, but today 60 percent of exported goods are finished products, he said.
Uzbekistan produces an average of 3.5 million tonnes of raw cotton annually.
