UZBEKISTAN IS A NEW TEXTILE HUB
The Uztextileprom Association has been a member of IITMF since 2014. In your opinion, what fundamental changes have taken place in Uzbekistan’s textile industry during this period that contribute to the country’s emergence as a textile hub in Central Asia?
The change that the Uzbek textile value chain has undergone is extraordinary. Uzbekistan has evolved in a very short time span from a country that has exported the vast majority of its cotton to a country that is now consuming almost all its cotton. In the future, Uzbekistan will very likely become a cotton-importing country.
Next year, ITMF celebrates the 120th anniversary of its establishment. At the same time, Uzbekistan’s textile, garment, and knitwear industries have also crossed the century mark as an industry. To what extent does it meet today’s global strategies, criteria, and standards?
In 2024, ITMF will celebrate its 120th anniversary. The global textile and garment industry has undergone enormous change since ITMF’s founding year in 1904. At the time of its foundation, cotton was the dominant fiber. After the advent of man-made fibers in the 1930s, especially polyester, the world’s textile industry expanded both in diversity and volume. Nowadays, polyester is the most important fiber, especially polyester filament. Nevertheless, cotton remains a very important short-staple fiber. Uzbekistan’s textile value chain supplies mainly cotton-based products. To be able to offer a broader range of products for customers around the world, the Uzbek textile value chain is investing in new machinery and processes. Already today, the Uzbek textile industry is meeting the most relevant criteria and standards that allow them to supply brands and retailers around the world. The challenge for the Uzbek textile industry as a newcomer is to create awareness and build trust in its reliability. This needs a certain period of time. By engaging in international platforms like ITMF, the Uzbek textile industry will meet its peers from other countries, learn about important trends and how to react to them, and be able to identify partners for cooperation with international partners.
For the last 5 years, Uzbekistan Textile has faced a lot of changes. We observed how international organizations like the ILO, UNECE, IFC, BCI, World Bank, etc. start their active policies in Uzbekistan. How do you feel about these changes in the international area and how do they affect international textile trade?
In a very short period of time, the Uzbek textile industry was transformed into an internationally competitive producer and acceptable supplier. This was only possible by engaging with these international governmental organizations. Now Uzbekistan is a recognized supplier and will be able to supply customers around the world, especially international brands and retailers. Without this openness and engagement, this would not have been possible.
Which are the main challenges for Uzbek textiles to enter the global supply chain and hold a good position?
The main challenges for the Uzbek textile industry are to diversify its product offerings. This means that it must expand its use of fibers to include man-made fibers. Blended fabrics offer more properties and functionalities and, hence, more value-added. Another challenge is engaging with new customers and supplying new markets. The global market for textiles and apparel will continue to grow in the coming years, driven by a larger world population and higher per-capita income. This will provide countries like Uzbekistan with many opportunities to become integral parts of global supply chains.
In your opinion, what are the future development trends for Uzbekistan as one of the leading textile countries in the world?
Uzbekistan has all the requirements to become a relevant player in the global textile industry. The objective should be to place Uzbekistan as supplier of quality textile products that meet the demand of international brands and retailers, like speedy deliveries, sustainable production with renewable, climate-friendly energy consumption, use of recycled fibers, etc.
