Andijon region is unique. The easternmost part of the country and the fertile Farghona Valley is known as the native land of Bobur, and a modern center of science, education, agriculture and industry. Long before AD, in the time of the state of Davan, people used to come here for ‘heavenly’ horses. In the middle of the last century the region turned into a flagship producer of cotton and textiles. The machine building, a new branch of economy, originated there in the years of independence.

Uzbekistan Today reporters hit the road to see what the cheerful, friendly and hard-working people in Andijon are living on now.

Rail transport is most likely to become the most popular means to connect the easternmost region of the country with other regions as one of the most comfortable after the completion of the railroad through the Kamchik pass. The railway station and its square in Andijon are to be significantly transformed by the launch of the rail communication: the reconstruction is currently in full swing.

The Bobur Square in front of the station decorated with a monument to this great poet and statesman is being notably beautified. Doing that the Andijon masters seek to preserve all the valuable buildings: they even had to move some buildings a few meters aside. The Bobur Avenue, one of the central streets of the city, is divided into two sections by the station square. The construction of a railroad bridge is to start in the nearest future, which is expected to remarkably streamline and simplify the traffic in the station square and add originality to its architecture.

Another major street of Andijon, the Uzbekistan Avenue, has changed over the last three or four years as well. Though, the city is changing all over: the construction of new cultural, sporting and social facilities is underway. Other settlements of the region follow the example of Andijon: the roadway is being expanded; roadside old houses are replaced with new, better, comfortable and functional ones. The prevalence is given to two-story buildings: the first floor will be intended for business, including offices, shopping malls and other infrastructure facilities, and residential facilities above them. This is a very efficient solution taking into account that Andijon region is the country’s smallest region (4.3 thousand sq. km) and the most populous one at that (641 people per one sq. km),.

The urban citizens make up more than half the region\'s population. The regional center is a major administrative, industrial and cultural city. Asaka is known for cars. A city park Khonobod is not just the country’s first to meet the sunrise for being the most eastern one, but it is also famous for its cable and textile products. There are a total of 51 big industrial enterprises in the towns of the region. Food processing, petroleum, chemical and petrochemical industry, metal processing and power generation is well developed there along with the machine building, light and electrical industries.

Administratively the region is divided into 14 districts: Oltinkul, Andijon, Asaka, Baliqchi, Boz, Buloqboshi, Jalalquduq, Izboskan, Qurghontepa, Marhamat, Pakhtaobod, Ulughnor, Khujaobod and Shahrikhon. Irrigated agriculture is prevailing. Animal husbandry has been boosting over the recent years.

At the same time, the small business is actively developing both in towns and in the countryside. The region runs more than 39,100 small businesses, most of which are engaged in agriculture, trade, catering and construction.

Andijon business circles actively cooperate with foreign partners. 86 foreign invested enterprises operate in the region today. Trade relations with foreign partners are expanding. In 2012 alone, the region exported products valued at $895.2 million, with the share of finished products in exports of 94.8%. The list of exported goods includes cars, cotton and its products, shoes, silk, cables, aluminum-plastic composite panels for cladding of buildings, vegetables, fruits, canned vegetables and fruits. A total cost of import operations last year was $1.9 trillion. The list of imported products is dominated by cutting-edge industrial equipment and chemical products, ferrous and non-ferrous metals.

Technologies of Effectiveness

Like other regions of the country, Andijon region has also built its farms and small economies over the twenty years, which now produce almost all agricultural products. At the new stage of their evolvement the farms are currently adopting knowledge-intensive, high-tech and highly effective methods of production. The region has many greenhouses. The majority of them use light greenhouse constructions. For example, the Bahor farm in Shahrikhon district grows up to 40 tons of tomatoes and 25 tons of cucumbers per season in film-covered greenhouses. Meanwhile, most farmers are working on reequipping their greenhouses to obtain higher yields. For instance, Davron Agrosanoat agricultural company of Buloqboshi district, the owner of the region’s largest greenhouse, plans to shift his economy to the biogas. The representative of the company is currently gaining skills in Korea.

“We grow cucumbers, tomatoes, cauliflower, bell peppers and lemons on five and a half hectares,” says Ravshan Nasirov, head of Davron Agrosanoat. “The shift to the biogas will effectively tackle the problem of heating greenhouses in winter. We have enough of biofuels, the crop and animal waste, so we only need to learn how to use it and save oil. Moreover, biogas devices provide greenhouses with good fertilizers. Most importantly, in the long term we will provide the market with vegetables not only in early spring, but in winter too.”

Davron Agrosanoat introduced us to intensive gardening, another new high-tech solution for the country\'s agriculture.

“We cannot do without intensive technologies in our new garden as well,” says Ravshan Nasirov. “We brought seedlings of these apple trees from Serbia last year, now you can see some ovaries of apples, so we expect some yield. However, these trees require special care. Our climate is hotter than it is in their homeland, so we have to create special conditions for them. Can you see water dispensers at the top of espailers?! In hot days, they help to create a special microclimate for the trees.”

Livestock breeders cannot do without science. They produce about a quarter of the total output of farms and small economies. In order to increase the livestock efficiency the region is developing pedigree economies: they provide farmers with highly productive pedigreed animals. One of the largest specialized pedigree farms Guliston-Nuri Istiqbol in Shahrikhon district grows 550 heads of black-motley, Swiss and Simmental breeds. Diversified farms are engaged in pedigree breeding as well. There is an Oq Suv Farm in Qurghontepa district, for instance, with 250 heads of livestock. They deal with the Holstein breed.

Introduction of high technologies increases productivity of all households engaged in crop and livestock production. This is a motivation for the development of processing and food industry. New agricultural production processing plants have been established directly under farms in recent years. For example, the Rasul-D farm in Shahrikhon district launched a company Milk-Yoghlogi specializing on milk products. Oq Suv farm of Qurghontepa district runs a workshop on manufacture of cheese, which is ordered by Tashkent pizzerias and even Uzbekistan Airways Company. Gulistan-Nuri Istiqbol farm is also getting prepared for construction of a milk processing plant. The construction plan for the milk processing plant is already ready: it is planned to produce five types of products. So far the farm daily supplies the largest processors with three tons of milk.

Much attention is paid to the upgrade and construction of new warehouses and fridges for fruits and vegetables. Davron Agrosanoat detailed us about the work in this direction. Its officials note the growing demand among farms for the services of fruit and vegetable warehouses and refrigerators. “Last year, we completed the upgrade of the existing refrigerator: we introduced a special system that lets all the gas emitted from fruit and vegetables out,” said Ravshan Nosirov. “We are currently completing the construction of the second one. Once there is a demand for the services, we will work to satisfy it.”

Cooperation with research centers is another important direction of development of farming. Scientists help farmers with introduction of advanced highly efficient agricultural and animal husbandry technologies.

A Smart Approach

Construction of seed production laboratory is underway at Oq Suv farm. This is just another manifestation of innovative activity of the farmer towards the better performance. “We certainly select and cultivate the varieties of cotton and grain which give the highest yield in our climatic conditions,” says Alijon Ahmedov, the head of the farm. “However, we are going to achieve the better results through the organization of elite seed breeding. The laboratory will select solely healthy and high-quality seeds for planting.” Alijon Ahmedov has more than one hundred patents and certificates for innovative proposals introduced in agricultural practices: the farmer approaches everything with innovative acumen.

Wheat crops at Oq Suv start with the experimental ground. 25 different wheat varieties, both domestic and foreign, are currently tested there.

As the farmer explains, the comparison helps to understand what grade is better for growing under local conditions. The owner is proud of the four new varieties he bred himself. This year it is planned to start their testing on the state level. On the next experimental ground wheat grows together with green peas. This ‘neighborhood’ has a positive effect on both the plants, and most importantly, spares the land.

As we came to the cotton field, the farmer told about other innovation: \"There is a widespread technology that a tractor should pass a field thrice before planting: it plows, furrows and fertilizes. However, my research shows this affects the fertile properties. As I have learned, the less mechanical stress on the soil, the more fertile it is. Thus, we have developed a plow, which allows to passage a field only once before planting, and make all necessary operations. This device works in a way that a furrow is formed where there was a ridge, and the ridge is formed in the place of the furrow, concurrently bringing all the necessary fertilizers in the soil.\"

The farmer’s pride is in his machinery fleet: ten new tractors New Holland, Case, Magnum, Klaas and TTZ, and a diversity of different add-on mechanisms for land and plants treatment. The farm has many working units for tractors, which were developed with the direct participation of the farmer. They include a trailed cotton-picker, a variety of plows and much more. Facts and Figures

There are 6,541 farms and 476,454 small economies in Andijon region

. In 2012, they manufactured products valued at 2.4 trillion soums (Currency rates of CB from 183.06.2013 1$=2084.95 soums), or 107.6% of the volume of 2011. This included more than 292,200 tons of cotton, 646,400 tons of grain, 201,100 tons of potatoes, more than 1,100,000 million tons of vegetables, 439,400 tons of fruit and 52,300 tons of grapes. Livestock breeders supplied the market with 105,000 tons of meat in live form, 655,400 tons of milk, 276 million eggs, 2,128 tons of wool and 3,318 tons of silkworm cocoons.

Born by Independence

The cars made in Asaka have become the most popular across the country and are known far beyond the borders of Uzbekistan for seventeen years since their release. As the industry developed it originated many companies engaged in the production of spare parts for domestic cars.

There are eight manufacturing plants in the Andijon region established by Uzavtosanoat Company in cooperation with Korean partners.

Uzbekistan Today reporters get to know about their development.

The plant of Uz Koram Co joint venture manufactures bumpers and dashboards. Uz Sam Jung Co. joint venture produces fuel tanks and other big spare parts for cars. Uz Tong Hong Company is engaged in the production of seats. Uz Dong Yang Co. joint venture specializes in manufacturing car interiors; Uz Dong Vong Co. JV manufactures mufflers. Uz Hanwoo JV produces noise insulation materials, Uz Koji JV produces car harnesses, and Uz Dong Zhu Paint Co JV manufactures specialized automotive paints.

The paramount importance is attached to the work on improvement of quality control systems. For example, Uz Koji Company has been recently certified as compliant with the international standard ISO 16949:2009 and launched a quality control laboratory.

“Quality and safety of cars manufactured by our customers largely depends on our production,” says Oleg Nigmanov, Manager General at Uz Koji. “Our enterprise has been originally prioritizing product quality.

Our cutting-edge high-tech equipment is operated by 1,600 highly skilled staff. The quality control laboratory is another step we took to improve the system of ensuring high reliability.”

As the car manufacture is growing the power of spare parts producers is increasing. For example, Uz Koji opened an additional workshop last year to timely cope with the increasing volumes of orders. By the end of 2013 Uz Tong Hong Co is planning to increase the production of seats for different car brands.

It is important that the spare parts manufacturers are working on expanding the product range. This is beneficial in terms of filling the market with competitive products. For example, Uz Koji established a manufacture of wire harnesses for the Tashkent Tractor Plant and keeps expanding the list of its customers. Uz-Dong Zhu Paint Co. is producing not just car paints, but also the construction paints. The production facilities of Uz-Tong Hong Co. help deliver basketballs and sport shoes.

Toward Modernization and Growth

Each year, the gross regional product of the Andijon region increases by 8-10%. Sustainable economic growth in the region is provided by textile, food, electric engineering and chemical industries, machine building, metalworking and power sector along with automotive industry. The enterprises representing these industries actively contribute to increasing the volume of production of import-substituting and export-oriented production.

Light industry remains the most labor-intensive sector. Nowadays it employs about 40% of manpower in Andijon region. It is represented by spinning, weaving and sewing enterprises, and shoe factories. It is noteworthy that the number of light industry enterprises operated by the latest high-tech equipment has significantly increased over the recent years. For instance, an Uzbek-Chinese joint venture Nan Yang Red Cotton Angel Textile in Izbaskan district was based on the bankrupt cotton yarn manufacture. It started its operation with a complete upgrade. A part of the equipment was purchased through direct foreign investment, and the other - through the loan of the National Bank of Uzbekistan. For two years the company has been supplying its products to China, Russia and Moldova. Furthermore it is projecting to develop the manufacture, and expand the product range. According to the deputy director general Yusuf Umarov, it is planned to establish weaving and the manufacture of finished products.

Companies of electrical industry develop new kinds of products. We learned about this by visiting Khonobod. For example, the joint venture Andijonkabel, ranking among the country’s oldest manufacturers of cable products focuses not only on the domestic but also on the foreign market.

“Competition in the cable industry in Uzbekistan, as well as in the foreign market, was a strong motivation for systemic upgrade and diversification of the production,” says Anvar Ahmedov, quality manager at Andijonkabel “We are currently getting prepared for the launch of a new item, the motor wires. The equipment assembly is underway. We purchased equipment of the latest generation, which is fully automated with a computerized system of quality control. This production will be focused primarily on the foreign consumer.”

In the process of reformation the product range has significantly expanded in the region\'s oldest enterprises as well: Tojmetall manufacturing the equipment for light industry, Irmash for hydraulic pumps, Andijonmash for metal constructions, Andijon Mechanical Plant. For instance, the Andijon Mechanical Plant is presently busy with building new tanks for transportation of petroleum products, their overhaul and refurbishment with the extension of the life of the freight cars, production of spare parts and accessories. For the first time in Uzbekistan the plant launched the manufacture of components for hydro power plants.

New enterprises make a great contribution to import substitution. Three years ago Uzbekistan launched its own manufacturer of automotive and industrial filters under the brand name Filtr.uz with the establishment of SDK Group And Company in Shahrikhon district. The list of its largest customers includes enterprises of GM-Uzbekistan, Navoi and Olmaliq mining and metallurgical complexes, Angren Logistics Center, Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex.

“Our capacity enables up to produce 3,500 varieties of filters, but so far we produce about 150 types of products,” said Otabek Samatov, director general. “The further expansion of the list entirely depends on the orders.”

Over the past few years the region has handled the manufacture of new building materials. For instance, the composite panels under Alkopon brand name of AND-POLIC JV occupied their decent niche in the market and enjoy both domestic and foreign demand. Moreover, the company is constantly working on expansion of its product and color range.

New Frontiers

A new brand of Minleaks has recently appeared in the global knitwear market. Consumers choose this product largely because of the quality and price ratio. Buying the products of this brand, they buy the clothing that does not deform or lose its color.

The brand is the result of a large-scale complex of measures on the upgrade, financial recovery of enterprises and increase of the output of finished products sold by the Government.

The clothing under the Minleaks brand is manufactured by Asakatekstil Ltd. The spinning mill was established in 1983 and initially specialized in the manufacture of calico. It has turned into a leading manufacturer of knitwear quite recently, after the large-scale upgrade, which started in 2006.

“It all started with the dismantling of obsolete equipment and purchasing of new equipment for the production of knitted fabric through our own funds and the loan of the National Bank. The production is now exported to China and Turkey,” says Jamshid Saydaliev, Director of Asakatekstil. “At the same time, our business plan always prioritizes expansion of the product range and its scope.”

In 2011, the company purchased new equipment for dyeing of knitted fabric. Today, the factory is able to produce the knitwear of almost any color. This originated the idea of the launch of a new workshop, which would deal with tailoring. It was opened in 2012, following the acquisition of sewing and packing equipment. The stock includes shirts, dresses and underwear. The products have already won their consumers not only in Uzbekistan, but also in Russia.

Facts and Figures

In 2012, the companies of the region produced 235,500 vehicles, 1,174,000 pairs of leather shoes, 5.8 million square meter of finished fabrics, 4,323 tons of construction paint, 5,411 tons of soap, 94,700 tons of oil products, 664 million kilowatt-hours of electricity, as well as furniture for 3.7 billion soums and low-voltage equipment for 292 million soums. Food industry enterprises showed good results too. They produced 32.905 canned fruits and vegetables, 13,199 tons of vegetable oil, 100 tons of flour.

Facts and Figures

In the region there are 456 kindergartens, 742 schools, 12 academic high schools and 117 vocational colleges, along with four universities. A library network consists of 241 information resource and library centers. Among the institutions of culture and education there are 149 club, 2 museums, 3 theaters, 27 music and art schools, 23 cinemas, 24 recreation parks. There are also 28 stadiums, 780 sports halls, 42 swimming pools, 217 galleries, 151 tennis courts and 3,524 other sports facilities. There are 86 clinics and rural health centers and 41 hospitals.

(Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)