A seasoned Japanese textile manufacturer with established global distribution channels is eyeing Uzbekistan as its next production destination. Okamoto Corporation, which supplies major retail chains including Walmart, Amazon, and Costco, held exploratory talks in Tashkent on October 6 to assess the feasibility of localizing manufacturing operations in the Central Asian republic.
The discussions centered on three strategic pillars: launching joint manufacturing ventures in the textile sector, establishing localized production facilities, and potentially opening a permanent representative office in Uzbekistan. Company leadership received a detailed presentation of the country’s investment framework, including sector-specific incentives for textile enterprises and the regulatory environment designed to support foreign manufacturing operations.
Okamoto Corporation brings substantial credentials to potential partnership discussions. Founded in 1948 in Nara Prefecture, the company operates textile manufacturing facilities across Japan, China, and Thailand, complemented by a U.S.-based distribution network. With annual exports surpassing 100 million dollars, the corporation’s established relationships with leading global retailers position it as a significant potential contributor to Uzbekistan’s textile sector development.
The meeting between the corporation’s President and CEO Ryutaro Okamoto and Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Ilzat Kasimov at the ministry headquarters reflected Uzbekistan’s broader strategy to attract advanced manufacturing technologies and expand export-oriented production capacity.
Both parties expressed readiness to transition from exploratory conversations toward concrete implementation frameworks, marking another development in the expanding economic ties between Uzbekistan and Japan.
For international textile manufacturers and related industries, Okamoto’s interest in Uzbekistan underscores the country’s growing appeal as a competitive production hub in Central Asia. The convergence of targeted government incentives, developing infrastructure, and strategic geographic positioning creates compelling reasons for companies seeking to diversify their manufacturing footprint beyond established Asian production centers. The textile sector’s expansion also generates downstream opportunities for manufacturing equipment suppliers, construction contractors, and logistics operators serving industrial clients in the region.
