Opportunities for Uzbekistan’s light industry to enter European markets are expanding
2026-09-09 17:50:00 / News
On September 7–9, 2026, as part of the visit of Rukhullo Zikrillayev, Deputy Director of the Agency for the Development of Light Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan, to the Republic of Serbia, a series of meetings and negotiations were held aimed at developing trade, economic and industrial cooperation between the two countries.
On September 7 in Belgrade, the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Serbia was held. The meeting focused on prospects for cooperation between the textile and light industries of the two countries, the effective use of existing opportunities, and the implementation of new joint projects.
During the meeting, it was noted that Serbia could serve as an important trade and logistics bridge for Uzbek textile products entering European markets, while Uzbekistan is ready to serve as a reliable partner for Serbian companies seeking access to the markets of Central Asia and the CIS.
Particular attention was also paid to the possibility of transitioning to a free or preferential trade regime for textile and apparel products in order to increase the efficiency of bilateral trade. It was noted that bilateral negotiations on the preparation of a relevant agreement have already commenced.
On the same day, a meeting was held with leading representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia. The discussions focused on establishing direct business contacts between entrepreneurs of the two countries, implementing joint cooperation projects, and increasing mutual supplies of products. The Serbian side acknowledged the high quality of Uzbek textile products and their competitiveness in the European market.
On September 8 in Belgrade, targeted B2B meetings were organized for representatives of light industry enterprises within the framework of the Business Forum involving business communities from Uzbekistan and Serbia. During the meetings, representatives of companies from both countries familiarized themselves with each other’s production capabilities and discussed promising areas of mutually beneficial cooperation in textile and apparel manufacturing, as well as industrial cooperation.
On September 9 in the city of Vranje, the Uzbek delegation visited the production facility of “Yumco”, one of Serbia’s major textile manufacturers. During the visit, the delegation familiarized itself with the company’s production capacities, main areas of activity, and opportunities for further cooperation.
In addition, Rukhullo Zikrillayev held a meeting with the Mayor of Vranje. The meeting addressed the development of industrial cooperation at the regional level, the presentation of the production and investment potential of Uzbek entrepreneurs, and the implementation of new joint projects.
One of the key areas of the negotiations was the possibility of using Uzbekistan’s existing production capacities and raw material base to ensure the timely and high-quality fulfillment of large orders from “Yumco’s” European partners. The parties agreed to jointly develop an effective model for integrating production processes and industrial cooperation.
The agreements reached create new opportunities for expanding the presence of Uzbekistan’s light industry in European markets, increasing export potential, developing production cooperation with foreign partners, and integrating domestic enterprises into international value chains.