BAKU, Azerbaijan, Feb. 24
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
German retailers and clothing brands are considering the potential for cooperation with textile companies in Uzbekistan, Trend reports referring to Uztekstilprom Association.
The chairman of the Uztekstilprom Association Ilkhom Khaidarov and Dr. Klaus Mangold, who previously held senior positions at Daimler Chrysler AG, TUI AG (Germany), Alstom S.A. (France), Ernst & Young (USA), Metro AG (Germany), and Continental AG (Germany), Rothschild GmbH (Frankfurt am Main) discussed the interest of German clothing brands in cooperation with Uzbek clothing manufacturers.
According to Klaus Mangold, many German companies are re-evaluating the textile supply chains on which the development of German textile machinery depends in the context of the coronavirus pandemic.
“Data show that textile exports from Uzbekistan have declined. However, German retailers are ready for dialogue and in the second half of 2021 a large delegation from Germany is scheduled to visit, which is expected to include famous clothing brands,” he said.
In turn, Ilkhom Khaidarov spoke about the achievements in the textile industry, in particular, about reforms in the cotton sector, the successful implementation of projects in cotton and textile clusters, subsidies for product certification by the Uzbek government.
The parties paid special attention to the implementation of the project jointly with the German Community for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the international consulting company Gherzi on the Export promotion and fashion incubator project, deepening cooperation with Better Cotton Initiatives, and approving Uzbekistan's application with the European Commission to obtain the status of a GSP + beneficiary.
Also, great interest from the German side was aroused by the issues of achieving great results in cooperation with the Cotton Campaign and the report of the International Labor Organization on the results of the 2020 harvest, which for the first time this year confirmed the absence of systematic forced labor during the cotton harvest in Uzbekistan.
In addition, Klaus Mangold spoke about the initiative of the European-Uzbek Association for Economic Cooperation (Eurouz), which will serve as a bridge between Uzbek producers and consumers from the European Union.
Eurouz is a project of a non-governmental business association representing the interests of the European Business Community in Uzbekistan, headquartered in Brussels. Through the electronic platform, which is being developed by Eurouz, Uzbek manufacturers will be able to present their products on the European market.
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