BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 1
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
Uzbekistan has recently received permission to export pomegranates to China, and is currently expecting to obtain a permit for the export of lemon and prunes, Chief Specialist of the Export Promotion Department of the State Plant Quarantine Inspection of Uzbekistan Muslim Khalilov said, Trend reports citing podrobno.uz.
According to the information, China is one of the priority countries for Uzbekistan in terms of exports. At the same time, the total share of Uzbekistan in terms of supplies to this country is still small.
“We strive to raise our level in this regard and request permits for new products. Today, there are about 500 exporting companies to China in Uzbekistan,” Muslim Khalilov said.
To date, 14 types of products from Uzbekistan are exported to China, including cherries, melons, fresh and dried hot peppers, sesame seeds, walnuts without shells, sweet and bitter almonds, peanuts, raisins, dried apricots, mung bean, grape seeds.
Khalilov noted that in general it takes from one to five years to get a permit for one item. During this time, each proposed position goes through an average of eight stages of checks.
The chief specialist also added that the coronavirus pandemic has affected exports. Thus, if in 2019 Uzbekistan exported about 550 tons of sweet cherries to China, then in 2020 the figure amounted to only 147 tons.
“But at the same time, last year the export of mung bean increased, from 28,000 tons in 2019 to 75,000 tons in 2020,” Khalilov stressed.
It was noted that with all the restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, statistics still show an increase in shipments to China. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, 55,000 tons of agricultural products totaling $48 million were exported to China in 2020 and 92,000 tons of fruits last year, which brought in a profit of $71.5 million.
In addition, at the moment, negotiations are underway to expand the range of products for supplies to foreign markets, in particular, to China.
“We have recently received permission to export pomegranates, and soon it will be delivered to the China. Some small formalities are left”, Khalilov said
Khalilov added that this year it is expected to obtain a permit for the export of lemon and prunes. “These positions have already passed almost all stages of the checks. Until 2023, we will promote grapes, plums, peaches, persimmons and others”.
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