In the conditions of global instability every state implements measures for primarily protecting sectors ensuring the most number of working places. Such sectors include textile industry, manufacturing construction materials and furniture in our country – almost 1 million citizens are employed there.

In the first 4 months of the current year the industrial output in the country increased by 6.3% and reached 290 trillion soums. The volume of export increased by 20% and reached 6 billion and 350 million dollars.

Issues of supporting and developing local industry were discussed at the meeting. An analysis was conducted on the current state in districts and sectors, existing shortcomings were determined.

For instance, nearly 7 thousand entrepreneurs in the textile industry produce more than 500 types of products. Some of them supply clothes to well-known international brands. However, despite the focus on quality, many manufacturers cannot officially confirm this. To date, only 244 enterprises have international certificates. Most of them are located in Tashkent and the Fergana Valley regions, in other regions they can be counted on fingers.

According to the decree of the President adopted in February this year, the state compensates not only the costs of obtaining international certificates, but also the costs of adapting production facilities to the relevant requirements. Therefore, the objective is to bring these opportunities to entrepreneurs and increase the number of certified enterprises in each region.

The Head of State put forward an important initiative to create a company to support national brands in Uzbekistan. Brand managers, designers and marketers from abroad will be attracted to this organization to help bring domestic brands to the global market. Products with international certificates and competitive quality will receive a quality label and will be promoted abroad.

Currently, there are no shopping centers in the country that sell exclusively national products. In this regard, construction of “Mall of Uzbekistan” complexes will begin in the cities. Stores in these complexes will be rented out to entrepreneurs at minimal prices. Such centers will provide a wide choice for shoppers and would be convenient for foreign tourists.

In the current difficult situation, deep processing of domestic raw materials and increasing added value is of particular importance. In this regard, a factoring system for manufacturers of finished products has been introduced, for which $100 million have been allocated.

In continuation of these measures, textile enterprises will be allowed to purchase yarn on factoring terms under a simplified procedure.

Another promising area of local industry is furniture manufacturing. There are 7,5 thousand enterprises in this sector, of which 920 were established last year alone. In 2023, furniture worth 6 trillion 700 billion soums was produced, exports amounted to $20 million.

Domestic entrepreneurs and craftsmen have the potential to achieve even higher figures. Many people want to move from manual labor to industrial production. In this regard, individual entrepreneurs in the furniture industry will be allowed to hire up to 5 workers.

Young entrepreneurs wishing to start or expand their activities in this area will be given loans of up to 5 billion soums for a period of 7 years at 18 percent per annum.

Furniture centers will be established in Sharof-Rashidov, Yanginamangan, Pastdargom, Urtachirchik, Kuva, Buvayda, Yunusabad and Uchtepa districts based on the experience of Khonka district.

Representatives of small businesses in this field may face difficulties when importing materials from abroad. In order to support entrepreneurs, reduce transportation costs and ensure supply of raw materials at affordable prices, a centralized supply of timber and wood materials will be organized. This will not create a monopoly - on the contrary, there will be a wider choice in the market. Entrepreneurs will be able to purchase this cheaper wood or raw materials from other suppliers or import them themselves at their own discretion.

For 14 types of raw materials, fittings and accessories a preferential customs duty of 1 percent will be established for a period of three years.

To stimulate the export activity of furniture makers, the cost of obtaining international certificates will be compensated, as well as 50 percent of the salaries of foreign designers, marketers and production engineers. The amount of compensated rental space at international exhibitions will be increased from 20 to 40 square meters.

Jewelry, which has long been valued in our country, can now become an additional driver of the economy. In 2023, the industry's output exceeded $200 million and exports grew by 17 percent to $92 million. 

However, even this represents only a small part of the country's potential, where more than 100 tons of gold is mined annually.

In this connection, additional benefits are also provided for the jewelry industry. Jewelers will be able to officially engage in trade in gold products as individual entrepreneurs.

Expenses for hiring foreign specialists in the amount of up to $2.5 thousand dollars will be compensated on condition of training at least 5 apprentices. It is also planned to switch to the industrial level of production and support national brands.

Imported equipment and components for jewelry production will be exempt from customs duties. The previously established procedure of buying gold in installments from Navoi and Almalyk mining and metallurgical plants will be extended for another 3 years.

Expenses up to $30 thousand for purchase of designs and molds from famous brands will also be compensated. Based on the experience of Türkiye, Dubai and Egypt, jewelry centers have already been opened in Tashkent, Andijan and Khiva. In the future, similar complexes will be gradually established in other regions.

To ensure sustainable supply of raw materials, the volume of gold offered at the exchange will increase from 6 to 8 tons. Gold reserves will be created in all regions.

Instructions have been given to reduce the share of shadow economy in the jewelry industry and stimulate legal activities.

In the conditions of a large-scale construction boom in the country, there is still a high demand for construction materials. About 10 thousand enterprises are operating in this sphere today. The main task is to ensure high quality of products and their competitiveness.

It was noted that it is necessary to make greater use of local construction materials and support this initiative by providing revolving loans to developers.

A registry of construction materials companies will be created on the “Shaffof Kurilish” platform and a quality rating will be introduced.

Reduction of production costs is impossible without improving energy efficiency. In this regard, the necessity of analyzing energy-consuming areas and introducing innovative, cost-effective solutions was emphasized.

At the end of the meeting the proposals of responsible managers and entrepreneurs on the discussed issues were presented.