Tashkent textile summit: Results of reforms in Uzbekistan

The Capital of Uzbekistan Tashkent hosted the Textile Summit on 11-12 October, organized during the Tashkent Textile Week, which is traditionally held every year in the spring and autumn, writes the Uzbekistan Textile and Garment Industry Association.

The event was opened by H.E. Ms. Tanzila Narbaeva, the chairwoman of the Senate of Uzbekistan, as well as the chairwoman of the National Commission for Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labour, EU Reporter informed on November 24.

First of all, special emphasis was placed on the major reforms in Uzbekistan, implemented on the principles of openness and transparency. As a result, it can be seen that peace, stability, prosperity and human rights have increased in the country. The Textile Week is also benefiting the reforms as the number of participants, contracts and international partners are expanding from year to year.

At this point, it should be noted that in the implementation of such reforms, the legal framework in the fields of economic, social, and human rights is being improved, and institutional foundations are developing.

At the same time, the National Commission for Combating Human Trafficking and Forced Labor and its departments in the regions are responsible for the control of the implementation of laws at the appropriate level. It was also mentioned about the organization of work on the introduction of international standards into the legislation and practice of Uzbekistan.

Narbaeva touched on several achievements in Uzbekistan in recent years. Among these, the process of analyzing the work being carried out was implemented, relations with international partners were established, and as a result, the cotton boycott imposed on Uzbekistan by the international coalition "Cotton Campaign" was canceled in March of this year, the worst forms of child labor were declared by the United States Department of Labor.

It is also worth noting that in the annual report, Uzbekistan is ranked 9 with the highest indicators among the countries that have implemented significant changes, and that the US Department of Labor removed Uzbekistan cotton from the list of goods produced using forced labor.

Uzbekistan, with its results and successes achieved in a very short period of time, being a model for other countries is not the assessment of the Government of Uzbekistan, but the assessment of the US Government. In turn, such international recognition imposes responsibilities and duties.

The republic is the largest country in Central Asia with 35 million inhabitants. Every year, 600-700 thousand young people, 50 per cent of whom are women, enter the labor market. The textile sector is distinguished by the wide range of opportunities for creating decent jobs for them.

Also, one more point is worth noting. As a result of the creation of cotton-textile clusters under the leadership of the President of the State, the use of the most modern technologies in production, and the creation of jobs, the export of textile products of Uzbekistan reached 3 billion dollars in 2021.

When entering world markets and industrial development, scientific approaches are being used, new modern technologies are being introduced, innovative projects, production standards are being widely applied, and of course special attention is being paid to environmentally sustainable, socially oriented production, and openness and transparency are being ensured in the value chain.

In the textile industry, emphasis on environmental problems, identification and elimination of factors, improvement of the waste processing system and development of the circular economy, as well as comprehensive protection of the rights and interests of employees, and wide implementation of the principles of decent work for employees, are also receiving great attention. Also, active work is being carried out in Uzbekistan to introduce the standards of advanced projects such as Better Work, BCI.

Today, a road map has been developed and adopted according to the requirements and directions of international organizations and partners, and control has been established within the framework of the Parliament's activities.

In general, the Textile Summit is very important for Uzbekistan. Therefore, the Summit contributes to the development of the textile industry, ensuring stability in the textile supply chain, modern production of national products, expanding their export geography, concluding new deals with partners and developing projects, and these goals are achieved.