DUSHANBE, 07.08.2018. /NIAT “Khovar”/. A delegation of textile and clothing sector of Tajikistan has started its week-long study tour program in Uzbekistan yesterday, August 6. The ground breaking initiative is meant to enhance the knowledge of Tajik textile and clothing industry leaders on neighbouring Uzbekistan’s latest experiences in the field and initiate new business cooperation.  

According to the International Trade Centre in Dushanbe, the Tajik delegation is a well-represented and includes senior representatives from seventeen Tajik textile and clothing companies, two consulting companies, two universities, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Union of Private Sector Development, as well as international organizations. The delegation members will take full advantage of this opportunity to understand the current state of the textile and clothing industry in Uzbekistan and establish direct business linkages.

The visit is jointly organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Tajikistan, “Uztextilprom” Association, Tajik consulting companies “ACT Development Group” and “Business Consulting Group” under the International Trade Centre’s Global Textiles and Clothing Programme (GTEX) funded by the Government of Switzerland.

The delegation will visit the leading textile and clothing companies in Tashkent, a local university and a business association, clothing stores, as well as meet with the Uzbek counterparts to discuss possible cooperation at different levels and to sign a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation.

Saidmumin Kamolov, ITC National Programme Manager in Tajikistan, says, the textile and clothing industry in Uzbekistan is considered an important export-oriented sector and is dynamically growing. Uzbekistan is among top-ten cotton producers in the world, but currently mostly exports cotton yarn, which reportedly accounts for around 60% of the total textile export volume. Under the new economic reforms, the country plans to shift from export of raw cotton into ready garment.

Mr. Kamolov adds: “We are thoroughly happy with the new developments in relationships between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, which has provided us with this opportunity to organize a visit to this country and learn from its experiences. I believe that the visit will be productive for Tajik textile and clothing stakeholders to give them some ideas to improve the business environment in the country and to open doors to a new market and new business contacts”.

The Tajikistan delegation will experience the daily work of the Uzbek textile and clothing companies, and get familiarized with the overall business environment and procedures in the country. The trip will give the sectoral associations and other TISIs, academia, as well as companies from both countries a right moment to establish direct contacts and consider prospects for further cooperation, including possibilities of establishing joint ventures.