The enterprise purchased equipment for US$16 million, while overall project cost estimated at US$21 million.

The venture, located in Syrdarya region, will produce 160 tonnes of paper a day from cotton stem and wheat straw, Expressinform reported.

Asl Qogoz will realize products in internal and external markets.

According to official data, currency Uzbekistan consumes 114,000 tonnes of paper and cardboard and 36,000 tonnes of cellulose.

Local print market consumes annually about 110,000 tonnes of typographical and offset paper a year. Share of Uzbek producers is 10-12% and other paper imported from Russia.