BAKU, Azerbaijan, Mar. 12
By Ilkin Seyfaddini – Trend:
The “Sustainability and Value Addition in the Cotton Economy in Uzbekistan” project implemented by German development agency (GIZ), supports Uzbek textile industry to be a driver of economic growth and source of decent jobs, managing consultant of Gherzi International Consulting Organization Laurent Aucouturier told Trend.
Commissioned by the German Federal Government, GIZ implements projects for more than 25 years in Uzbekistan, in the areas of health, economy and protection of natural resources. In 1992, a country office was opened in Tashkent. Other project offices in Jizzakh, Kashkadarya and Andijan regions as well as in Karakalpakstan are responsible for activities in the country’s rural areas.
"Priority areas for German-Uzbek cooperation are sustainable economic development and health. Additional projects cover areas such as good governance/rule of law, environment and climate change, education and vocational training," said Aucouturier.
He added that there are nine international and 62 national experts working for GIZ in Uzbekistan.
On behalf of the German Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) is implementing the global ‘Sustainability and Value Added in the Cotton Economy’ program. The partner countries included are Burkina Faso, Cameroon, India and Uzbekistan.
"Sustainable cotton production is defined according to the most important international standard systems (Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Fairtrade Cotton and Organic Cotton) as well as national reference definitions and frameworks. The second component focuses on entrepreneurship and the downstream segments of the textile ‘pipeline’ beyond ginning, in order to develop and strengthen domestic capacities for processing sustainable cotton," said Aucouturier.
According to him, on international level, the program aims to foster sustainability along the entire supply chain in close cooperation with the lead firms of the cotton-based textile and garment value chain. On global level, the program supports transfer of know-how and innovations between the partner countries.
"The objectives of the global program are to increase the income of cotton farmers and textile workers, to protect natural resources and to create new income opportunities and employment perspectives within the relevant cotton economies," said Aucouturier.
Gherzi Group is a leading industrial consulting company offering integrated, independent services in management, financial, manufacturing, supply chain management, logistics and engineering consultancy with more than 100 professionals. Company’s specialists cover management, finance, textiles, technical textiles, garments, textile supply chain and project management. Gherzi has undertaken more than 7,500 textile-related assignments worldwide in more than 70 countries. Gherzi boasts of a diverse client encompassing private & listed companies, international development organizations, financial institutions and government agencies.
Gherzi services in Uzbekistan could encompass several fields including strategic visioning exercise for textile companies, feasibility studies for new projects, market-access study, strategic alliances, company’s audits, industrial performance improvement, etc.
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