President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited a joint venture Listem-Fergana in the city of Ferghana.

The company, organized jointly with partners from South Korea, produces X-ray equipment. It is the only manufacturer of such high-tech medical machinery not only in our country, but also in the entire region.

The project cost of the enterprise is 8 million dollars, and it is capable of producing 300 pieces of X-ray machines of two kinds per year. During the first phase of the project, 35 people were provided with work. By the end of the year, about 100 more jobs are expected to be created.

Currently, efforts are underway to implement the second phase of the scheme. As a result, it is planned to bring the annual production to 500 pieces, to expand the range of products to more than 10 types. All this would help supply the domestic market with affordable and high-quality medical equipment, which today is imported into our country at the expense of tremendous foreign exchange funds. After the enterprise reaches its full capacity, it plans to establish exports.

Listem-Fergana products are in great demand already. The first model of the enterprise – the digital radiograph Smart DR – costs 50 thousand US dollars, which is thrice as cheap as foreign counterparts. For example, similar equipment from Philips costs 144 thousand dollars, the Siemens device is $168 thousand.

With the use of Smart DR it is possible to serve 15 patients an hour. Pictures are stored in the memory of the device for up to 5 years, which is important for monitoring the dynamics of the disease. Shots can be sent via the internet to other doctors for distance collective diagnosis.
   
The head of state noted that correct diagnosis is important for improving the health of the population, while the production of medical equipment in our country will have immense economic and social effect. Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed to uplift the level of localization and skills of workers in the enterprise, and promote industrial cooperation.

The premises have served today also for the consideration of projects on the organization of production of electric vehicles jointly with Hyundai in the Kokand free economic zone, of coal mining at the Vodil deposit, of manufacturing environmentally friendly paper made of stone, as well as the modernization of Ferganaazot and Kokandsuperfosfat joint-stock companies.

The President approved the presented projects and noted the need to pay special attention to quality and deadlines in their implementation.