A Chinese-Uzbek joint venture LaneExtrakt has been commissioned in Qoraqalpogiston Republic’s Chimboy District, Uzbek newspaper Ozbekistan Ovozi reported on 16 June.

The enterprise will produce glycyrrhizic acid, which is widely used in preparing medicines, from roots of liquorice, which is abundant in the Aral Sea region.

Chinese partners have invested US$1 million in the enterprise, which has the capacity of processing 8,000 tonnes of the raw material a year.

Some 2,500 t of liquorice root has been processed in the first phase of the production. Seventy-five people are now working at the enterprise. Next year, when the second phase of production starts, 1,000 people will be employed here.

The output will be exported to China and Japan, as well as to a number of European countries, the report said.