To effectively promote the development and exchange of the international sewing machinery market, the China Sewing Machinery Association (CSMA) organized a delegation to Uzbekistan for market research and exchange from September 10 to 11, 2024. The delegation was led by Chen Ji, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of CSMA, with participation from companies including NICERBT, Lejiang, Original, Xinanhe, Moss, and Shirferly.

During the visit, the delegation first attended the CAITME 2024 Central Asian (Uzbekistan) International Textile Machinery Exhibition, visited booths of Chinese companies such as Supreme, Zoje, Hover, Dingxin, Dison, and Worlden, gaining in-depth insights into the local demand for sewing machinery. The delegation held a discussion with Donire Khabibullaev, Director of the Project Management Office of the Uzbekistan Textile and Garment Industry Association, exchanged ideas on the development trends of the local textile and garment industry. The delegation also visited PRONTO TEXTILE GROUP, a well-known garment company in Tashkent, held a discussions with company executives and toured the production plant to learn about the company's development and its sewing equipment application and demand.

CAITME is a professional international exhibition for the textile and garment industry in Central Asia, covering the entire production chain from yarn to finished garments. 2024 marks the 15th session of the exhibition, covering an area of approximately 10,000 square meters, with dozens of sewing equipment companies from China, Turkey, and Uzbekistan participating.

The delegation learned that, Uzbekistan is the second-largest economy in Central Asia, accounts for 60% of the Central Asia 's population, making it the largest consumer market in the region. The acceleration of urbanization, improvement in living standards, and increased consumption capacity are driving the growth of Uzbekistan’s home textile industry, creating significant demand for products such as bedding, curtains, towels, carpets, and tapestries. The textile and garment industry is a supporting industry of Uzbekistan’s national economy and a key sector for export earnings, with cotton textiles, silk, and garment processing forming the core of its industrial chain. Currently, Uzbekistan has over 7,000 textile companies employing more than 600 thousand workers. According to Chinese customs data, Uzbekistan’s textile exports amounted to USD 3.05 billion in 2023, including USD 1.3 billion of finished textile products, USD 1.2 billion of yarn, USD 384.8 million of knit articles, and USD 164.9 million of hosiery. The total import and export value was approximately USD 3.5 billion. In recent years, the Uzbek government has introduced policies to actively encourage the textile and garment industry to expand product exports, increasing the domestic processing of cotton to reduce direct cotton exports.

Through in-depth visits and discussions, the delegation provided a detailed introduction to Uzbekistan's stakeholders on the development of China’s sewing machinery industry in recent years, as well as the latest advancements in automation and intelligent technology. Chen Ji stated that in recent years, the textile and garment industries in Central Asian countries, especially Uzbekistan, have developed rapidly, and the market potential for sewing equipment is enormous. Although market demand may fluctuate in the short term due to various factors, the long-term expectation remains a "blue ocean" with vast opportunities. For many years, Chinese sewing machinery companies have closely aligned with user needs, actively engaging in product innovation and service upgrades, and has established well-known brands and companies with strong market influence in the region. Looking forward, Chinese sewing machinery companies should strengthen their connections with textile and garment enterprises in Uzbekistan and other regions, improve market service channels, and further respond to the demand in Central Asian markets. By doing so, they can assist local textile and garment companies in enhancing their equipment technology and production capacity, contributing positively to the development of Uzbekistan's textile and garment industry.