Since 2019, large French companies are closing consultancy and expertise contracts with Uzbekistan’s government organizations and companies. This Central Asian country is open to foreign investment, which benefits both sides.

After launching its first store in the Uzbek capital on December 24, Carrefour opened two more supermarkets back-to-back in Tashkent on January 14 and January 21 marking the first major international distributor’s arrival to Uzbekistan and even to the whole Central Asia.

By 2022, the French brand will open five supermarkets and two hypermarkets in Tashkent in total through franchising by the Emirati group Majid al Futtaim, which specializes in retail and malls. This commercial development will create 2,500 direct and indirect jobs and will get about 600 local suppliers to supply these stores.

Another major French retailer, Market Rungis, is developing a network of wholesale markets. On December 9, 2020, Semmaris, the managing operator of the national market Rungis, in the remote presence of the Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan and Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness of France signed a framework agreement with the Republic of Uzbekistan. According to the agreement, Semmaris will help to start a network of wholesale fruit and vegetable markets in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Andijan.

“We will provide exclusive and strategic assistance and expertise within two to three years to start eight agro-logistics centres throughout the country, including three wholesale markets under a 15 million euro contract. Also, we will advise and assist the government of Uzbekistan in managing this project,” explains Stefan Layani, President of Semmaris.

Read also: French Rungis to help Uzbekistan build 8 agro-logistics centres

Nuz.uz reported that this future agro-logistics infrastructure project’s capacity will be 3 million tons of fruits and vegetables per year. It will contribute to Uzbekistan’s agricultural sector’s structuring, which is still partially occupied by informal markets.

“Uzbekistan is committed to an ambitious agricultural development policy by 2030, which involves the modification of its logistics infrastructure and raising the level to avoid the loss of 30%, or 20 million tons of fruits and vegetables, during their harvest and storage,” the head of the French company said.

Сообщение Carrefour and Market Rungis extend cooperation with Uzbekistan in retail and agricultural logistics появились сначала на EastFruit.

The Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev and the President of the French company Rungis Semmaris Stefan Layani discussed joint projects in the agricultural sector, the Information Service of the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan reports.

During negotiations, participation of the French company Rungis Semmaris in 2019-2022 were in regards to the project for the construction of 8 large agro-logistics centres. The centres will have a capacity of 3 million tons and will be created on an area of ​​145 hectares in the Andijan, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Samarkand, Surkhandarya, Tashkent, Fergana, and Khorezm regions of Uzbekistan.

The cost of the project is equivalent to $244.7 million. The loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is $197 million. The contribution of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the project is $47.7 million

According to the Minister of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, further expansion of deep processing of products will give an impetus for further development of their food industry and an increase in exports.

Read also: Salt-tolerant varieties of agricultural crops are planted in Uzbekistan with the support of FAO

Implementation of this project is within the framework of ADB’s Horticulture Value Chain Infrastructure Project in accordance with Uzbekistan’s Presidential Decree No. PP-4406 “On additional measures for deep processing of agricultural products and further development of the food industry” (dated 29 July 2019). It also includes the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. 761 on Measures to Implement the Project “Development of Infrastructure for the Value Chain in the Horticultural Sector” with the Participation of the Asian Development Bank (dated 11 September 2019).

Rungis Semmaris is one of the world’s largest wholesale food markets with turnovers of over $1.5 million per year and over 12 billion tons per year.

The meeting also identified specific tasks for the effective implementation of the joint project.

Сообщение French Rungis to help Uzbekistan build 8 agro-logistics centres появились сначала на EastFruit.