President of our country Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited «Karshi leather» joint venture in Karshi, familiarized with the program of further development of the leather industry in the region, promising projects for cultivation of horticultural products, creation of a new logistics center, as well as vineyards in Yakkabog’, Kitob, Shakhrisabz districts. 

Development of the leather and footwear industry in Kashkadarya region plays an important role in high-quality processing of raw hides, harvested in the region. A targeted program for 2017-2018 years on the implementation of 18 investment projects worth 12.9 million US dollars has been developed in the region. 

In accordance with the program, 5 projects on footwear industry in Karshi, Dehqononod, Kitob and Nishon districts, a project on manufacturing leather accessories in Kitob district, and a project on manufacturing finished leather at “Karshi leather” enterprise will be realized. This will allow to process 1 million astrakhans annually, manufacture 460 thousand pairs of footwear and 100 thousand leather accessories and generate employment for over 200 people. 

The project for 9,1 million US dollars under implementation at “Karshi leather” enterprise was presented. As a result of realization of this project, high-quality and competitive finished leather products will be manufactured with annual exports for 45 million US dollars. The enterprise, which will be commissioned gradually, will employ over 300 people, mainly recent college graduates. 

In a conversation with the founders of the joint venture and foreign investors, the President of Uzbekistan highlighted the need to effectively organize production process, close cooperation with relevant agencies and regional khokimiyat in this regard, analysing the foreign markets, constant expansion of the geography of exports. 

Kashkadarya region has huge opportunities in processing and exporting fruit and vegetable products. «Shakhrisabz» logistics centre will serve these purposes. The logistics centre, to be organized on the base of former sericulture factory, will specialise in receiving, sorting and processing fruits and vegetables, carrying out laboratory analysis on the level of world standards, packaging as well as exporting them fresh, cooled and dried forms. 

With commissioning of the centre in full capacity, annually over 25 thousand tons of products will be exported to the countries of Europe, CIS, China, India, South Korea and other countries. One thousand people will be employed here. Farmers and rural population will be able to sell grown products for 80 billion soums per year. 

«Big agro export» LLC, specialised in growing, storing and processing 8 thousand tons of lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, and other agricultural products annually, is founded in Chiroqchi district. The enterprise with 194 ha land and 14 million US dollars investments will include a greenhouse in 2 ha for growing seedlings, a cooling storage with a capacity of 4000 tons. As a result of implementing the project, annual export of products for 6,8 million US dollars and creation of 90 permanent and 500 seasonal jobs is expected. 

New vineyards on 5 thousand ha land will be created in Yakkabog', Kitob and Shakhrisabz districts in 2017-2019. A project on processing 4 thousand tons of grapes per annum will be realized in Yakkabog’ district. 

The Head of our state stressed that these projects have an important significance in further increasing the cultivation of agricultural products in the region and expanding their processing, uninterrupted supply of products to the domestic market and increasing their exports and consequently raising the quality of life of people. 

The scientists of our country presented a project on cultivating medicinal plants in the forest land. In accordance with the project, from this year on saffron plantations will start to appear in the mountain and foothill areas of Kashkadarya region. This plant is widely used in medicine and food industry. Its cultivation in local conditions will widen its use as a raw material in pharmaceuticals and its exports as a food spice. 

The President of our country underlined that the flora of Uzbekistan is rich in medicinal plants and saffron has been widely used in folk medicine since ancient times. The specialists of the sphere were given recommendations on increasing the types of such plants and expanding their plantations.