South Korean CL LCD (former CYR) will build cement production plant at Bulakbashi district of Andijan region. The protocol of understanding was signed between Uzbek private trade-production company Rivoj and CL LCD in Tashkent on 27 August.

The event became important step to expand mutual beneficial contacts between Uzbek and South Korean businesses and attraction of foreign investments into Uzbek economy.

South Korea is one of the largest trade partners of Uzbekistan and it occupies the first place among Asian-Pacific region. Trade turnover between countries made up US$151.3 million in January-March 2007, of which US$15.7 million fell to share of Uzbekistan’s export.

Currently, Uzbekistan has six major cement factories – all part of the UzQurilishMateriallari JSC. In 2006, their aggregate output exceeded 5.58 million tonnes of cement, up 10.2% compared to 2005. In general, 12 types of cement are produced in the country, including portland cement, white cement and oil-well cement.

Portland cement dominates the market with 99.3% of the aggregate production output. The shares of white and oil-well cement are insignificant. About a fifth of all cement produced in the country (up to 1 million tonnes) is exported to the neighbouring countries: 31.3% to Tajikistan, 20.8% to Kazakhstan, 20.3% to Turkmenistan, 17.3% to Afghanistan, 10.2% to Kyrgyzstan. In 2006, cement export volume grew by 18.5% to US$37.9 million.

The government of Uzbekistan adopted decision to modernize existing capacities and launch of new cement plants in various parts of the country.