The events are aimed at strengthening the cooperation between and within the industrial sectors. This, in turn, leads to increasing the production of the import-substituting and competitive products and growth of the volume of local products on the internal market.

“The fair and exchange will be held for the third time this year,” acting head of the industrial fair’s executive organ A.Kutumov told UzA.

If last year almost 300 local companies participated in the fair, this year their number will significantly increase, he said.

Besides, foreign companies interested in establishing beneficial partnership relations with Uzbek producers will also participate in the events.

During the 2008 fair and exchange, agreements and contracts for the total sum of 1.4 billion soums were signed. The preliminary register of the deals shows that this time the figure will be even higher.

Starting from this year, the previously national fair and exchange have acquired the international status, UzA reported.

According to Kutumov, representatives of more than 650 foreign companies from 45 countries will arrive in Uzbekistan for signing deals for purchase of local production.

The sectors to be presented at the fair include geological research, processing of mineral resources, new technologies, car building, agricultural machinery, electrical appliances, chemical, pharmaceutical, light and food industries, construction materials, transport and others.