05.05.2026

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on ongoing work and future plans in the leather and footwear industry.

In recent years, a range of measures has been implemented to support enterprises in the sector, expand production, and increase exports. In the first quarter of this year, production in the leather industry grew by 25 percent, reaching 962 billion soums. By the end of the year, production is projected to increase to 5.4 trillion soums, with exports rising to 110 million dollars. By 2030, production in the leather and footwear industry is expected to reach 12 trillion soums, exports to 500 million dollars, and 12,000 new jobs to be created.

At the same time, the industry retains significant untapped potential. Despite the large volumes of hides and wool procured across the country, the level of deep processing remains low. In particular, only about 30 percent of sheep and goat skins are processed. Of the 40,000 tons of wool procured annually, just 6,000 tons, approximately 15 percent, undergo processing.

The presentation reviewed proposals aimed at ensuring the effective utilization of enterprise capacities, deepening the processing of raw materials, increasing the share of finished products, and expanding export geography.

In particular, plans envisage the establishment of specialized leather and footwear industrial zones in the Akhangaran district of the Tashkent region and the Shakhrikhan district of the Andijan region. These zones will include production facilities, engineering and utility infrastructure, as well as logistics hubs, design centers, and professional training centers. The management of the industrial zones will be entrusted to a dedicated directorate under the Light Industry Development Agency.

A modern, environmentally compliant industrial cluster for leather processing will be established in Akhangaran. Currently, in around 70 percent of the country’s 32 leather processing enterprises, treatment facilities are outdated, and a unified centralized system is lacking. In this regard, a centralized treatment facility will be constructed within the new zone, enabling the reuse of up to 8,000 cubic meters of treated water per day in technological processes.

Particular attention was paid to expanding the raw material base. To support entrepreneurs, proposals were put forward to organize the centralized import of cattle hides from neighboring countries under a single window mechanism, as well as to compensate transport costs and provide processing enterprises with working capital.

Improving the system for the collection and primary processing of small livestock hides was also identified as a key priority. Measures were considered to establish collection and primary processing points for leather raw materials in the Navoi, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, and Tashkent regions, as well as to stimulate processing enterprises.

To expand wool processing, it was proposed to establish a new complex in the Syrdarya region. Its capacity will be designed to process up to 30,000 tons of wool. The implementation of the project will enable the creation of a complete production chain, from raw materials to finished products, thereby significantly increasing added value, as well as expanding exports and generating new jobs.

Plans were also reviewed to increase footwear production, including specialized footwear, and to expand cooperation and joint projects with foreign partners in this segment.

The expansion of artificial leather production was also addressed. It was noted that, in the global market, major brands are increasingly shifting towards artificial leather due to environmental considerations, cost efficiency, and technological advantages.

In Uzbekistan, it is planned to implement seven promising projects in this area. As a result, production lines will be established to manufacture up to 50 million linear meters of materials, covering a significant share of domestic demand while also boosting exports.

The Head of State emphasized that the benefits provided to the industry would not yield results on their own, precise calculations and practical implementation were required for each enterprise, project, and target market.

Responsible officials and regional leaders were instructed to ensure the financial rehabilitation of enterprises, the full utilization of production capacities, the production of competitive import-substituting goods, and the provision of practical assistance to entrepreneurs in obtaining international certification.