WIDE DEMONSTRATION OF RESULTS OF ECONOMIC REFORMS

The I International Fruit and Vegetable Fair ended at the UzExpoCentre in Tashkent.

The fair, held in accordance with the resolution of the President of our country Islam Karimov “On measures on organization and holding annual International Fruit and Vegetable Fair” from June 1, 2016, was organized by the ministries of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Agriculture and Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the holding company “Uzbekozikovkatholding”, the Association “Uzbekozikovkatzahira”, specialized foreign trade company “Uzagroeksport”.

According to the holding company “Uzbekozikovkatholding” during the fair were signed and concluded 270 contracts for the export of fruit and vegetable products valued at over 2 billion dollars. The vegetables will account for 27 percent of export products, grapes - 25%, fruits – 20%, dried and processed products - 17.6%, legumes - 8.4%, melons – 2%. Fair is over, but the signing of the contracts is ongoing.

The participants of the scientific-practical conference “The superiority of fruits and vegetables in Uzbekistan” conducted in the framework of the I International Fruit and Vegetable Fair, got acquainted with the climatic conditions, high consumer qualities of vegetables and gourds cultivated in Uzbekistan, the results of ongoing work in the field of modernization and diversification. The conference provided an opportunity to discuss and exchange views and experiences on the implementation and introduction of cost-effective technologies in the cultivation of fruit and vegetable and melon production, improvement of the system of processing and export of fruits and vegetables, products protection from diseases and pests, breeding and seed production, the use of water-saving technologies.

The agrarian sector of Uzbekistan is dynamically developed. Currently, this sector of the economy of our country makes a significant contribution to the country’s gross domestic product and has a considerable share in exports. All of this - the result of wide-ranging economic reforms implemented under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. During the reorganization of economic industries, including fruit and vegetable sector and related processing industries, diversification and modernization, technical and technological renovation of production - great transformations in this sector were carried out.

Departments of fresh and dried fruits, citrus, vegetables, melons, legumes, nuts, spices, beverages, packaging technology, refrigeration, transport and logistics operated at the international fair. Production of fruit and vegetable sector of Uzbekistan has been widely represented in the exhibition of more than 170 companies from all regions of our country. They have demonstrated a wide range of fruits and vegetable products, and offered their services. The presentations of potential of the regions in the fruit and vegetable sector also were conducted.

Participation in the I International Fruit and Vegetable Fair of more than 300 business representatives from the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Japan, Italy, France, Malaysia, India, Russia, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and other countries once again illustrated the interest of foreign manufacturers and trading companies in cooperation with Uzbekistan.

According to the foreign participants, such effective cooperation is developed through favorable investment and business environment established in our country. Foreign investors and partners, working along with other sectors, in the agricultural sector, have been provided tax and customs benefits, other preferences that creates favorable conditions for the successful business managing in our country.

Participation of the many domestic manufacturers in the fair allowed to expand the scope of their partners. According to experts, the holding of International Fruit and Vegetable Fair creates for producers in Uzbekistan a good opportunity to establish direct business relations with foreign partners and increase the supply of our products to the world market.

In the framework of the event, participants visited the enterprises, farms, orchards in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Khorezm, Jizzakh and other regions and familiarized with the results of reforms for the development of agriculture, the cultivation process of fruits and vegetables, a system of high-quality storage and packaging, preparation for export.

In short, this fair, initiated by the President of our country, contributes to the negotiation and the signing of contracts between entrepreneurs of our country and foreign partners, exchange of experiences, enhance the perspectives of cooperation, attract foreign investment, improve the export potential of Uzbekistan.

UzA