TASHKENT (TCA) — The Uzbekipaksanoat (Uzbek Silk Industry) Association and the Italian Silk Association have agreed on the establishment of an Italian industrial park in Uzbekistan, the Jahon information agency reported. The park will house companies specializing in the processing of cocoons, the manufacture of silk products, as well as equipment and necessary components. The parties have already agreed on the creation of the first joint venture to produce finished goods from silk. The emergence of the park, according to experts, will increase the export of silk products to the European Union, as well as enter new markets in European countries. In addition, the association is negotiating with Turkish textile companies to produce new goods – silk carpets and the painting of silk fabrics. Within the framework of the program of measures on integrated development of the silk industry until 2021, approved by the Uzbek government, about 30 mills for the processing of cocoons are currently being modernized in the country. Also, work is underway to organize 11 new specialized enterprises for deep processing of silkworm cocoons worth $83.2 million, most of which are planned to be commissioned this year. As part of the modernization, agreements were signed for the purchase of new equipment from such well-known companies as Van De Wiele, Picanol and Reggiani. As a result, it is planned to double the production of raw silk in three years and increase the figure to 3 thousand tons per year, and also through the deep processing of raw materials to increase the production of silk fabrics eightfold, reaching 11.2 million linear meters per year. Back in 2016, the extent of the use of production capacities of silk-processing enterprises in Uzbekistan was only 17%, and in 2017 it reached 54%. In 2016, products for $20.9 million were exported, and last year the figure reached $37.7 million. Today, Uzbek enterprises produce four types of goods: raw silk, silk wool, silk fabric and finished silk products, while last year the manufacturing process was concentrated on raw silk alone. By 2021, it is planned to establish production and export of at least five types of silk goods.
