Turkish footwear manufacturers are stepping up their investments in Uzbekistan’s leather and footwear industries, according to local reports.

A $1mn investment in the manufacture of leather, footwear and fur goods in Tashkent’s Ahangaran district is the latest of a string of investment announcements.

Discussions between the head of Layki, a Turkish footwear and textile market firm, and Fakhriddin Boboevoy, chairman of the Uzcharmsanoat Association, a trade association representing Uzbek leather, footwear and textile firms, focused on Layki’s bid for land and other matters such as the exchange of best practices.

Previous Turkish-backed plans announced in recent months include a leather and footwear production complex in the small industrial zone of Ahangaran. It will comprise of 26 projects with a total value of $30mn.

Turkish company Warboots, which has already committed $50 million to an enterprise to produce military footwear in Uzbekistgan, has declared an interest in production at Ahangaran, The Times of Central Asia reported.

The publication also noted that among other Turkish companies keen to set up operations in the Ahangaran zone are Gratto, which is looking at possibly investing in a tannery that would export products to Italy and other Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries.

Uzbek company Magna Sport is, meanwhile, in talks with Turkey’s Bursa Eldiven Sanayi to produce industrial gloves, while Turkish brand Myfit is liaising with Uzbek enterprises for the production of licensed goods under an outsourcing system.