President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on March 18 to discuss increasing investments and exports in agriculture and food industry, engaging with entrepreneurs in these sectors. The president emphasized that future meetings will involve direct dialogues with industry representatives to address their concerns. Over 100 active exporters and logistics companies were invited to the event.
Mirziyoyev supported the proposal to transfer trade houses in Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain, the USA, and Kazakhstan under entrepreneurs' management. Additionally, plans to open trade houses in major port cities like Nagoya (Japan), Mersin (Turkey), Rotterdam (Netherlands), Qingdao (China), Klaipeda (Lithuania), and Doha (Qatar) were discussed.
Recently, the first private laboratory with international accreditation was inaugurated at the Agro-Services Center in Yukorichirchik. Similar modern laboratories will be established in Zangiata, Fergana, and Samarkand this year with investments totaling $8 million. Furthermore, a reference laboratory will be set up in Tashkent to ensure compliance with international standards, supported by a $12 million grant from the World Bank.
The president highlighted the need to revise the participation system in international exhibitions based on entrepreneurs' ratings. Businesses with high and medium ratings will receive 100% funding for exhibition participation upfront, while those with low ratings will be compensated 50% of expenses upon providing necessary documents.
To address the issue of insufficient working capital faced by many export companies, $1.5 trillion Uzbek soums will be allocated from the Business Development Bank this year. Exporters will receive preferential credit up to 50% of the contract amount with farmers and storage facilities, at an 18% annual interest rate with a grace period of six months for up to 1.5 years.
Refrigerated containers will be introduced for products requiring optimal temperature during transportation, such as fresh fruits, juices, confectionery, jams, to reduce spoilage. Special attention will be given to packaging to minimize natural losses and product damage, emphasizing the need for modern enterprises and experienced designers.
Plans are set to produce food products worth at least 100 trillion Uzbek soums this year, with exports reaching $1 billion and the launch of 528 projects under regional programs totaling $833 million. $310 million has been allocated to finance these projects, aiming to increase food exports by $200 million.
A commission led by the Prime Minister will be established to oversee fruit, vegetable, and food exports. A three-year program covering the entire production cycle from cultivation to storage, packaging, processing, and sales will be developed. Support measures for 2362 agricultural export enterprises will be implemented, along with the creation of a platform for dialogue with exporters to exchange information on available products, demand, and prices in external markets.
Mirziyoyev previously noted that 80% of fruit and vegetable exports are directed to markets in only five countries with prices below $1 per kilogram. Last year, 126,000 tons of grapes were exported to 52 countries, with 77.7% sold to 12 countries at prices below $1 per kilogram. In 2023, vegetable and fruit sales increased to 1.76 million tons (+1.1%) and $1.18 billion in value (+3.3%), with Russia, Pakistan, China, and Kazakhstan being the main export markets for fruit and vegetable products.
