Chinese investors invested US$1 million to create capacities on processing of licorice in Karakalpakstan, autonomous republic in Uzbekistan.

LaneExtrakt, an Uzbek-Chinese joint venture, will be able to process 8,000 tonnes of licorice a year to produce glycyrrhiza, which is used in pharmaceutical industry. Licorice is available widely in Aral Sea basin.

In the first stage, the venture will process about 2,500 tonnes of raw material and export products to China and Japan.