The British Embassy in Tashkent and the mission of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) on Friday signed a partnership agreement to work together on projects aimed at supporting agricultural and textile small businesses in Uzbekistan. The document was signed by British Ambassador Tim Torlow and the USAID Mission Director Michaela Meredith.

According to the British Embassy, this is the first partnership agreement between the parties, which should help more Uzbek exporters to maximize the benefits of the UK Trade Scheme for Developing Countries (formerly known as the Generalized System of Preferences - GSP). Uzbekistan was the first country in the world to be admitted to the UK Preferential Trade Scheme, which allows 91% of goods from Uzbekistan to be exported to the UK at a zero rate.

The project, funded by a UK government grant, aims to increase exports of agricultural and textile products to the UK, the European Union and other countries. It will include capacity building and training activities in Samarkand, Bukhara, Namangan, Sirdaryo and Karakalpakstan, including training women in digitizing embroidery designs and support in finding buyers to sell embroidered textiles.

The project will also provide training to local farmers and agricultural companies on the environmentally sound use of pesticides and fertilizers, production and post-harvest practices, as well as food safety and certification. They will be supported to increase sales and enter new export markets.

While, the project also aims to support the export of freeze-dried fruits and vegetables certified internationally.