BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec. 23
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
Uzbekistan is interested in promoting textile products to the markets of third countries, Trend reports referring to the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) in Uzbekistan.
According to the expert of CERR Ruslan Abaturov, the market of the EAEU countries is a traditional, main, and promising sales market for increasing export supplies of Uzbek textiles and clothing.
“In terms of the further development of the textile industry, Uzbekistan is interested in obtaining detailed information on the activities of the Eurasian technological platforms, participation in-state purchases of textiles and clothing in the EAEU countries and the joint promotion of products to the markets of third countries,” he said.
He noted that the own production of the EAEU countries is not able to cover the demand of the 184 million population, which explains the significant volumes of imports of these products.
At the end of 2019, the countries of the union imported textiles and clothing from third countries for $13 billion, imports over the past three years increased by 38 percent. At the same time, the share of Uzbek textiles and clothing in the EAEU market amounts to only 6.4 percent.
The export of the domestic textile industry to the EAEU increased by 44 percent over three years, of which export to Russia increased by 35 percent, to Kyrgyzstan - 2 times, to Belarus - by 80 percent.
At the same time, investments from the EAEU in the textile and clothing industry of Uzbekistan grew - in 2017 investments amounted to $1.4 million, and in 2019 it was already $65.2 million.
“This is the result of a policy aimed at expanding economic cooperation with countries of the near and far abroad,” he noted.
Despite the pandemic, trade in textiles and clothing between Uzbekistan and the EAEU continued to grow - export volumes to the EAEU by the end of 10 months 2020 reached nearly $820 million (31 percent more than in the same period last year).
In addition, the EAEU countries account for more than 53 percent of the total exports of textiles and clothing in Uzbekistan. This year, imports of textiles from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are actively increasing.
The expert said that staying in a new status within the EAEU will give Uzbekistan the opportunity to obtain information on the activities of Eurasian technological platforms, participate in government procurement of textiles and clothing in the EAEU countries, and jointly promote products to the markets of third countries.
According to the results of studies carried out by CERR at the end of last year, it was revealed that new status within the EAEU could have a beneficial effect on the textile and clothing, and knitwear industries.
Also, competition is expected in the domestic market to increase due to a decrease in import customs duties and, as a result, an increase in imports of textiles and clothing from third countries, especially China and the countries of Southeast Asia. Reducing transport costs for domestic exporters and reducing non-tariff barriers will lead to an increase in export volumes.
---
Follow the author on Twitter: @romakayeva