Uzbekistan unveils ambitious plan to revive silk industry by 2030
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed comprehensive plan to develop the country’s silk industry
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a comprehensive plan to develop the country’s silk industry, emphasizing its strategic importance for economic growth, rural employment and export potential, UzDaily.com reported.
Sericulture and silkworm cocoon production provide income for rural populations and support local employment. However, challenges across all stages—from feed production to cocoon processing—have limited the sector’s growth.
A major priority is increasing domestic production of silkworm seed, or grena, which is currently largely imported. By 2030, Uzbekistan aims to use 75% locally produced grena. This will involve restoring breeding stations and establishing new facilities: two in the Fergana and Khorezm regions this year, and additional production enterprises in Bukhara and Namangan. Between 2027 and 2029, four more enterprises are planned in Tashkent, Jizzakh, Samarkand, and Surkhandarya regions.
Support measures include covering half of the costs for hiring qualified foreign specialists and seasonal workers, with seasonal employees exempted from personal income and social taxes.
Strengthening the feed base
Enhancing the mulberry feed base is essential for improving cocoon quality. Between 2026 and 2030, the plan calls for: establishing 8,000 hectares of new mulberry plantations; planting 41,500 hectares with single-row mulberry; restoring 15,000 hectares of existing plantations.
This will result in planting 200 million mulberry saplings and increasing the feed base by 30%. Cocoon production is projected to rise from 30,000 tons in 2026 to 36,000 tons by 2030.
Industrial sericulture and social support
The sector will be organized under a new system involving the Uzbekipaksanoat Association, regional AgroPilla structures, and sericulture clusters to coordinate farmers, home-based workers, and cocoon producers. Low-income families and social benefit recipients will receive a 35% subsidy per kilogram of cocoons through the “mahalla seven” program, as well as loans up to 20 million soums for equipment.
Industrial cocoon farming will be expanded to stabilize production volumes and quality. Clusters organizing these farms will be exempt from land and property taxes until Jan. 1, 2029.
To increase added value, the government plans to improve the quality and processing of local raw silk. Implementation of 21 investment projects worth $200 million by 2030 will allow processing of up to 75% of cocoons—approximately 3,000 tons of raw silk—yielding 18.5 million linear meters of silk fabric. Efforts will also focus on promoting products to new markets and developing national brands.
Digitalization
The plan includes creating a unified information system to track the feed base, maintain enterprise registries, manage reporting, and monitor grena volumes, harvests, and cocoon collection points in real time.
President Mirziyoyev instructed responsible agencies to strengthen the feed base, expand domestic grena production, implement industrial sericulture methods, and increase the share of finished products in the sector’s exports.
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