Extension of benefits for confectioners and new standards for meat products. Plans for the development of Uzbekistan's food industry are underway.

Uzbekistan, Tashkent – According to AN Podrobno.uz, the President has outlined plans for the development of the food industry through 2025. Key priorities include boosting exports, implementing international standards, supporting local producers, and enhancing the competitiveness of products, as reported by a Podrobno.uz correspondent.

https://podrobno.uz/cat/economic/prodlenie-lgot-konditeram-i-novye-standarty-dlya-kolbasnykh-izdeliy-kak-planiruyut-razvivat-pishchev/2024-12-11 08:12:48

At a meeting chaired by Shavkat Mirziyoyev, it was noted that, given the increasing population of Uzbekistan and the limited natural resources, food security has become a critical issue. Despite the challenges, the country has achieved significant success. Specifically, in 2024, 9 million tons of grain, 3 million tons of cotton, 16 million tons of vegetables and melons, 5 million tons of fruits and grapes, 4 million tons of potatoes, as well as over 15 million tons of meat and milk were produced. Furthermore, 343 projects have been implemented in the food industry.

Nevertheless, there remains considerable potential for localizing production, especially in areas such as the manufacturing of bakery products, dairy, vegetable oil, confectionery, and beverages. The meeting discussed measures to support and stimulate the industry.

In particular, a proposal was considered to extend benefits for the confectionery industry, which has allowed for a 20% reduction in production costs and an increase in exports to $13 million.

The possibilities for developing the oil and fat industry were also discussed. Currently, a lack of raw materials prevents 408 enterprises from operating at full capacity, but granting permission for product exports could boost production by 120,000 tons and additionally yield 240,000 tons of feed meal.

Special attention was given to the export of meat products, particularly "halal" meat, which is in demand in Arab countries. To enhance competitiveness, it was proposed to extend the shelf life of sausage products to 4–12 months by adapting the standards to international requirements. Currently, a three-month shelf life is set, two of which are consumed in transportation to foreign consumers.

To expand dairy production, plans are underway to establish testing laboratories in the Namangan, Samarkand, and Tashkent regions. A labeling practice will be introduced for such products, indicating whether they use natural or powdered milk.

Active development is also observed in the beverage sector. Over the past five years, exports of soft and non-alcoholic drinks have increased ninefold, reaching $35 million. To boost competitiveness, it was suggested to exempt the import of tropical fruits and concentrates from duties.