Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 14 November, a meeting was held at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan with First Deputy Chairman Islam Jasimov with Mr. Jacopo Turini, representative of the mission of the Delegation of the European Union (EU).

During the meeting, issues related to the implementation of the Resource Efficiency in the Agri-Food Industry (REAP) project, implemented by the Chamber jointly with the Regional Environmental Center of Central Asia (CAREC), were discussed.

The main goals and objectives of the REAP project are:

- providing practical assistance to small enterprises (in the Tashkent, Ferghana and Bukhara regions) in reducing the cost of production based on the introduction of resource efficiency technologies;

- assisting local financial institutions in introducing new financing instruments based on the concept of sustainable consumption and production;

- assisting in the integration of lean production practices into existing agricultural clusters;

- institutional development of local organizations in matters of the impact of production processes on the environment in the long term.

As part of the project’s implementation, over the past period, 12 technical consultants (TCs) have been trained with skills, knowledge and tools to support enterprises in Uzbekistan.

Trained local technical consultants, together with international experts, conducted initial assessments and resource efficiency calculations in Uzbekistan for 136 small and medium-sized enterprises (230 enterprises planned).

These enterprises are supported in implementing measures to improve resource efficiency in order to save raw materials, energy and water resources, which provides tangible savings and reduces the cost of production.

Islam Jasimov informed the representative of the EU mission about the implementation of state programs adopted in accordance with acts of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the field of reducing energy and resource costs in the economy based on the widespread introduction of energy-saving technologies in production, expanding the use of renewable energy sources, increasing energy efficiency in various sectors of the economy.