Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that the country must annually increase exports by at least 30% in order to move to a new stage of economic development.

Noting the importance of exports for the development of the Uzbek economy, the head of state emphasized that last year the volume of supplies abroad decreased in four regions and in two key industries.

It was emphasized that half of all Uzbek exports are sent to four countries - Russia, China, Kazakhstan and Turkey. While the twenty main products that make up the bulk of exports are linked to the single market.

A third of exports are made up of raw materials, the prices of which depend on world market conditions, and opportunities for expanding links with alternative markets are not taken advantage of.

For example, using the GSP+ scheme, Uzbekistan has the opportunity to supply 6,200 types of goods to the European Union without duties, but only 384 types are actually supplied.

The President of Uzbekistan set the task of increasing the number of product categories exported to the EU to 700, and the volume of supplies to US$1.2 billion.

Problems with international product certification also hinder export diversification. In “driver” industries, less than 35% of enterprises meet international standards.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed to implement 1,700 international standards and 19 regulations by the end of the year, as well as transfer 1,200 enterprises to international quality standards.

The task has been set to agree on mutual recognition of certificates with 10 European countries.

The Technical Regulation Agency will be subordinate to the Cabinet of Ministers. Minister of Justice Akbar Tashkulov was instructed to bring the legal framework in this area to the proper level within two months. In case of failure to fulfill the assigned tasks, the minister will be dismissed from office.