Uzbekistan increases its horticultural exports
In order to implement its priority tasks, the government of Uzbekistan is taking measures to increase the volume and expand the range of horticultural exports and to enter new markets.
Thanks to those measures, Uzbekistan exported 818,500 tons of fresh and processed fruit and vegetables in 2016 – up 38.3% on 2015. Of this volume, vegetables accounted for 242,100 tons, fruit for 229,600 tons and grapes for 96,200 tons.
Of the 65 types of fruit and vegetables exported by the country, fresh sweet cherries had the highest share in terms of value (14.4%), followed by raisins (12.8%) and fresh apricots (7.63%).
Uzbekistan exports horticultural produce to 43 countries. Last year, for the first time it exported capers to Italy and Spain, walnuts to Lebanon, raisins to Vietnam and Israel, dry vegetables to Belgium, fresh grapes and melons to Switzerland, and dry apricots to Holland.
In order to attract the attention of potential customers from various countries, two International fruit and vegetable fairs were held in Uzbekistan.
More than 300 professionals from 33 countries – representatives of trade, logistics and agricultural institutions and companies – took part, and export contracts valued more than €900,000 were signed. Export prices are regulated by the government of Uzbekistan.
Promotional activities also take place through trade houses, five of which were opened in 2016 in Russia and two in Kazakhstan.
There are plans to open more trade houses this year, namely in India, Germany, Poland, Latvia, the UAE and Belorussia.
To diversify its markets, the exporters from Uzbekistan plan to open regional offices in Kuwait, Oman, Japan and Korea, countries where there is demand for sweet cherries, melons, pomegranates, apricots, beans, legumes and dry fruit.
All these efforts are expected to deliver another yoy increase in Uzbekistan’s horticultural exports in 2017 – to the tune of 55% – to reach a volume of 1.27 million tons.
Source: http://uzagroexport.uz/2017/01/05/
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