About 139 new production capacities were opened in the food industry in the reporting period and production growth made up 7.2% in January-September 2009.

In particular, consumers received 116,000 tonnes of refined oil, 5,700 tonnes of margarine, 217,000 tonnes of sugar and 32,000 tones of soap.

The industry also started to produce 40 new products and these products are highly demanded in Uzbekistan.

The Association said over 11.4 billion soums were directed to modernization and re-equipment in nine months of 2009.

Programme on attraction of foreign investments to edible oil, fat and food industry is implemented in Uzbekistan, which envisages to attract foreign investments for US$24.5 million to modernization of local enterprises. The programme of also envisages implementation of 10 projects with total cost of US$51 million, including reconstruction and re-equipment of existing production lines. --0--