In the context of a growing population, ensuring food security is becoming an increasingly urgent task. Global climate change and lack of land and water resources create additional agricultural difficulties. Despite this, this year, Uzbekistan harvested 9 million tons of grain, more than 3 million tons of cotton, over 16 million tons of vegetables and melons, 5 million tons of fruits and grapes, 4 million tons of potatoes, and more than 15 million tons of meat and milk. 343 projects were implemented in the food industry.

At the same time, there are significant opportunities for localizing production. It is necessary to increase the production of bread, meat and dairy products, vegetable oil, confectionery, and soft drinks.

Specific measures in these areas were discussed at the meeting.

In recent years, confectionery exports have quadrupled and reached $13 million. Thanks to the possibility of direct import of raw materials, packaging products, and labels, the cost of production has decreased by 20 percent, which has significantly increased competitiveness. These benefits expire on January 1, 2025. To support producers, a proposal to extend the benefits for another 2 years is being considered.

There are 408 enterprises in the fat and oil industry, but the lack of raw materials in the country does not allow them to operate at full capacity. If the export of fat and oil products is allowed, the production volume can increase by 120 thousand tons, and an additional 240 thousand tons of feed meal will be produced.

The Deputy Prime Minister has been instructed to submit proposals on this issue, considering market requirements.

The number of national brands with halal certification is increasing; they actively export meat products to the countries of the region and the Arab states. However, the standard shelf life of sausages is set at 3 months, of which 2 months are spent on delivery to foreign consumers. Production and export can be doubled if the shelf life is brought into line with European standards and increased to 4-12 months. In this regard, it was instructed to adapt the relevant standards to international standards.

To expand the production of dairy products, it was noted that it is necessary to organize testing laboratories in Namangan, Samarkand and Tashkent regions. The practice of labeling such products regarding the use of natural or dry milk in production will be established.

The production of soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages, such as natural juices from fruits and vegetables, is actively developing. Over the past five years, their export has increased ninefold and reached $35 million. However, due to the existing duties on the import of tropical fruits and orange juice concentrate, the products are inferior in competitiveness to goods from other countries. In this regard, exempting imports of tropical fruit concentrate from customs duties was proposed. 

At the meeting, the responsible persons reported on mutually beneficial partnerships with industry enterprises within the framework of the program “From Poverty to Prosperity”. The President instructed to improve the quality and increase the work’s scale next year.