Tajikistan has taken the top spot in light industry growth among Central Asian countries in 2023. Compared to Kyrgyzstan's 18.8% growth, Uzbekistan's 17.4%, and Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan's 8%, Tajikistan's textile and sewing production increased by 14.1% in January 2024.
According to the Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan, textile production saw a significant increase, particularly a 2.9-fold growth in fabric production. Cotton fabric production increased by 1.7 times and hosiery by 14.8%. The total production volume, including cotton cleaning products, reached 5.6 billion somoni, up by 18.9% from 2022.
The light industry accounts for 11.8% of Tajikistan's total industrial output, ranking 4th in mining, food production, and electricity generation. The textile sector comprises over 80% of Tajikistan's light industry, followed by sewing and footwear production.
In 2023, Tajikistan produced over 127,000 tons of cotton fiber and aims to increase fiber production to 138,000 tons and cotton yarn to 57,500 tons by the end of 2025. The government views the textile and sewing industry as a priority for the country's future development.
Over the past decade, hundreds of enterprises have opened in the sector, with 183 new light industry enterprises established in 2023. New production capacities have mainly focused on cotton and cotton fiber processing, leather, medical cotton, sewing products, socks, furniture, and bags.
One successful new enterprise is the spinning production of CJSC "Juntai - Dangara Sin Silu Textile," with an annual capacity of 24,500 tons of cotton fiber and 530 permanent jobs provided.
