Turkish companies such as Sanko Holding, Menderes Tekstil and Cetinkaya are heading to Uzbekistan now. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan? visit to Uzbekistan in December 2003 helped official relations to develop. "We can only be in the textile market with the assistance of Turks," said Uzbekistani President Islam Kerimov during the inaugural ceremonies of new factories over the weekend.
Sayhantohur, the first Turkish textile company in Uzbekistan, exports 200,000 to 250,000 items of ready wear a month to the United States. Sayhantohur, introduced to the Uzbekistani market by the Uzbekistani president in 1998, has so far made a $15 million investment. The firm has a total of five branches, two in Tashkent and one in Andijan. The total number of employees working for Sayhantohur is 1,000,25 are which Turks.
Fuat Em, the Turkish owner of Sayhantohur from Diyarbakir, said they would continue investing in Uzbekistan. Indicating there was a yarn factory recently built with an annual production capacity of 3,000 tons in the district of Margilan, the Fergana Valley Em said, it would be put into operation within the next 45 days.
Until now, Turkey had neglected Uzbekistan, Em expressed, referring to Erdogans visit to this country in December 2003 as the actual turning point. This visit has changed many things. "The two countries have had pleasing developments," Em asserted, emphasizing the Turkish government should not leave Uzbekistan alone. "Missions should be sent here, and missions should go to Turkey from here as well." The Uzbekistani government has a positive view about Turkish investors. The perfect example of this, according to Em, is the President's own inaugurations of factories. Kerimov's inaugurations are not only a source of pride for us but also for the whole of Turkey, concluded the owner.
