FOOD INDUSTRY STAKES ON TECHNOLOGIES

By the end of 2020, food industry of Uzbekistan has scheduled to implement 180 investment projects on modernization of production totaling over $596 million.

The industry enterprises are currently upgraded with the latest production lines by Austria, Germany, Poland, Republic of Korea, China and other countries. This ensures the production of high-quality products that are competitive in the international market. As a result, ‘Made in Uzbekistan’ branded food products are sold in more than 80 countries. In the last decade alone, exports of fruit juice have doubled, other food products increased by an average of 1.5 times, foreign exchange earnings have increased six-fold.

The positive changes produce a positive effect on the increase in the standard of living and well-being of the population. For example, the consumption of meat and meat products was 31 kg, milk and dairy products - 183 kg, fruits, vegetables and melons - 107 kg per capita in 1990, while in the past quarter century these indicators have increased by 1.5 -2.5 times. Most importantly, the nutrition changes for quality products.

The establishment of the O’zbekoziqovqatholding company in early 2016 was a radical turn in the development of the industry. It is now entrusted with the widespread application of internationally accepted methods and principles of corporate governance, modernization of enterprises, channeling of investments into technical and technological extension, increase of processing of fruits, vegetables and other agricultural products, improvement of product quality and making it competitive in the international market.

Since the beginning of 2016, the head of state has adopted five resolutions and several other official documents, in line with which specialists have built a system that incorporates all processes ranging from cultivation of yields to their quality storage and exportation. Starting with this year, the work has begun with the introduction of the state order for the purchase of fruits and vegetables, potatoes, melons and grapes.

The O’Uzbekozikovkatholding company incorporates 188 industrial enterprises. In the first half of the current year, they produced industrial products for 2.1 trillion soums in comparable prices with the 9.1 percent growth YOY.

Enterprises have produced new kinds of products by 3.1 billion soums. $28.3 million was invested in modernization, technical and technological extension of production, as exemplified by recently commissioned companies like Angren Shakar, Mehnat Malt, Family Group, International Beverages Tashkent, Gold Dried Fruits, Sunny Fruit Production, Master Global Plus.

Partnered by ministries, agencies and local authorities, the company is currently implementing 1,085 projects, which envisage the disbursement of $201.5 million in 2016. As envisaged by the investment program, $53 million is invested in 43 projects, and $148.5 million - in 1,042 target territorial investment projects. Nearly 800 new food production facilities have been commissioned over the past period of the current year under the territorial investment programs alone.

The scale of construction of production facilities and modernization of existing enterprises has been expanding. The industry development program envisages the completion of 180 big projects totaling $596 million by 2020. The special focus is laid on the projects on storage and processing of fruits and vegetables. Most of them will be implemented in the countryside.

Improvement of quality and increase in the volume of manufactured products, as well bringing them up to the level of world standards ranks among the main thrusts of development of the industry for the next five years. To this end, it is planned to establish the companies, specializing in the production of packaging materials.

It is worth noting that the provision of food security and uninterrupted supply of affordable and high-quality food products for everyday consumption is the result of the implementation of the well considered policy of the Uzbek leadership, which is aimed at improvement of the living standards and welfare of citizens.

Jahon Information Agency