Bashkortostan and Uzbekistan businesses are planning cooperation in agro-industriy and chemistry — CSR RB

The Center for Strategic Research of Bashkortostan, as part of the business mission of the republic in Uzbekistan, held a series of negotiations. The Turkish company Demeter Greenhouse systems, a member of the Association of Greenhouse Investors, Industrialists and Exporters of Uzbekistan, which has implemented 1,200 projects across the country, became interested in business development in Bashkiria. The company would like to build the most modern fifth-generation greenhouse in Bashkiria, announcing the parameters of the project for $72 million in investment and 300 jobs.

“Now their cost of tomatoes with delivery to Bashkiria is about $1.3. If the product is grown in the places of sale, it will cost 50 cents per 1 kg - more than half as much. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, there are suitable ready-made sites in Bashkiria. In the near future, representatives of the company will come to pick up a location,” Rustem Davletov, head of the CSR RB said.

Another emerging major project is Agroexpress: direct deliveries by rail from Uzbekistan to Bashkiria and back. “From Central Asia, you can bring fruits and vegetables to us, and we will send to Uzbekistan what they need - sugar, vegetable oil, chicken, beef. If it were possible to implement this project, direct transportation would significantly reduce the cost, and hence the prices for buyers. Uzbek companies Uzbekistan Railways, RZDL Transservis and Global Elite Logistic offered their wagons and services. They decided to send us a test batch of onions (so as not to use refrigerators), and see how fast and profitable it would be. In case of positive results, we will apply for the federal program,” the head of the CSR RB explained.

In the agricultural sector, another major project will be implemented - the cultivation of potatoes in Bashkiria by the Uzbek company producing Lay's chips. “A company from the city of Chirchik in the Tashkent region wants to rent 5,000 hectares of land and build a vegetable store. Potatoes are that rare vegetable that Uzbek businesses have to import because they don't grow potatoes. They were asked to consider the northeastern regions - on the one hand, potatoes grow well there, on the other hand, the economically depressed northeast needs investment. The next stage may be the construction of a processing plant,” Rustem Davletov added.

Ufa-based Ruskhim LLC and Uzbek 2F Tehnology Group LLC (Kokand, Ferghana region) agreed to establish in Uzbekistan the production of octane-boosting additives and solvents for the mining and metallurgical industry.

Ruskhim makes additives, with which, for example, gasoline 80 RON becomes 92 RON. The additives contain 60% ethylene, it is just produced in Uzbekistan. It is more profitable to make the product on the spot. Solvents are needed to isolate metals from ore.

Another successful project: the Ufa NIPI PEGAZ signed an agreement with the Uzbek design institute O'ZLITINEFTGAZ JSC on the establishment of a gas processing enterprise. “That is, our specialists, using their skills and knowledge, will work in Uzbekistan and make a profit. This is a success, I think,” the head of the CSR stressed.

In addition, the khokim (head of administration) of Chirchik, Davron Khidoyatov, suggested that Bashkir companies open a chemical park in the city, similar to the one implemented by the Tatarstan “Khimgrad”. PEGAZ, Ruskhim and RNG Engineering became interested in this proposal, the CSR of Bashkiria reported.

Author: Olga Murtazina