00:00From household appliances to solar power components, electrical engineering is a powerful driver of Uzbekistan's economy, fueling new business, jobs and exports.
00:17But what about global trade challenges as the sector eyes further growth?
00:23Hello and welcome to the program.
00:25Uzbekistan's electrical engineering sector has grown eightfold in the past five years, employing more than 85,000 people.
00:37Last year, the industry produced more than 2.1 billion euros worth of goods, with exports making up just over half that value.
00:46More than 70 countries are now being reached.
00:49We've been to a high-tech hub in the capital, Tashkent.
00:56Manufacturing on a mammoth scale.
00:59This is Texnopark.
01:01It brings together 17 production facilities, covering an area bigger than 60 football pitches.
01:08We specialize on production of home appliances, commercial appliances, industrial heating and cooling solutions, and construction products.
01:17Right now, we've reached the capacity of around 1.4 million items manufactured annually.
01:25A 5,000-strong workforce makes it happen, working alongside the latest in production technology.
01:34Various technologies are assembled in one place, starting from raw material and component production, like injection molding, metal processing equipment,
01:46and also the final processes, like electronic assembly, laboratories, and assembly lines.
01:55Texnopark has sealed partnerships with big international companies like Samsung Electronics, and Italy's Pietro Fiorentini, which works in the energy sector.
02:06It supplies both domestic and foreign markets, with exports going to 25 countries.
02:14Right now, we already export to the nearby countries of the Middle East.
02:20We already entered to the European market, and our ambition to go to the U.S. market as well.
02:31Within this year, even, we already targeted to make our trial and pilot export to the U.S. market.
02:37Also, in Tashkent, this maker of wires and cables, including for solar power, already sends around 60% of its products abroad.
02:50Now, a loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is set to supercharge its exports further.
02:58To keep pace with production demands, the company is creating a training center for technical specialists.
03:26All feeding a sector, aiming to reach annual export volumes of almost 2.7 billion euros.
03:49Let's speak now to Merziyod Yunusov, who represents the electrical engineering sector.
03:59Merziyod, why all this expansion, and why now?
04:02As you know, Uzbekistan is a landlocked country.
04:06So, what are the government tasks to us is to switch our exports from traditional goods to more high-added-value products.
04:15And how about global trading challenges?
04:17We see these challenges as opportunities for our industry.
04:22Why?
04:23Because we have local talents, we have raw materials, and we have a very good agreement with the European Union.
04:31So, what we are trying to do is to invite international partnership, produce it locally, process it locally, and go not only for the regional market, as well as for the European market.
04:44Merziyod, thank you very much indeed for joining us.
04:46Well, that's all we have time for in this edition, but there's more business news at euronews.com.
04:52Thanks for watching, and bye for now.
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