OREANDA-NEWS. On October 14, 2008 The fourth International Uzbek cotton fair opened in Tashkent. Its organizers are the Ministry of foreign economic relations, investments and trade, international agency Cotton Outlook, Uzpakhtasanoat association and the Uzbek center for cotton fiber certification Sifat.

Opening the forum, Prime minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev said cotton growing occupied one of the most important places in the economy of the country. Large-scale reforms have been implemented in the sector, a transparent mechanism of cotton exports has been created, and the demand for Uzbek cotton is growing on the world markets, he said.

More than 300 companies and 450 representatives of the cotton business from 34 countries are participating in this year’s cotton fair. During the two-day event, its participants will be able to get acquainted with the cotton industry of Uzbekistan and sign direct contracts for delivery of Uzbek cotton fiber.

More than 1,000 samples of cotton fiber of this year’s harvest are demonstrated at the Uzexpocenter, where the fair is being held. The certification of the cotton fiber is done on the basis of the latest international standards. The quality and mass of the fiber is controlled by the network of laboratories of the Sifat center.

Uzbekistan is increasing the volumes of deep processing of cotton fiber internally through development of own textile companies. This will allow to process up to 50% of locally produced fiber at the country’s textile enterprises.

The participants of the cotton fair will visit Yangiyul cotton processing plant, Toshkent tola cotton terminal and textile enterprise Muruvvat-tex in Tashkent region. They will also participate in the trade sessions at the Uzbek commodity exchange.