President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the International Ceramics Center built in the Rishtan District.
In the past, Rishtan potters worked in their own houses, in small workshops. There were no conditions for foreign tourists.
After the adoption of the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of November 17, 2017, the ample scope for the development of handicrafts and the activities of craftsmen is provided. Based on this document, handicraft centers were built in Kokand and Marghilan. The new center in Rishtan is dedicated to his famous pottery school.
20 double-storey houses, a museum of the Rishtan history and a banking services center have been built here. The workshops and shops are located on the first floors of the houses. The craftsmen’s families live on the second floors.
There are also hotels in the houses with accommodation for 6 people. Thus, the foreign tourists can check in and learn about the work of potters.
About 250 jobs have been created after the opening of the center. The ceramic products are exported to the United Arab Emirates, Czech Republic, Turkey, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and other countries.
The President visited the workshop of the People’s Master of Uzbekistan Alisher Nazirov, where he has observed the master’s pottery exposition.
“These products have not only hard work and soul in them, invested in their creation but also our history. We are reviving national traditions in all areas. It is necessary to popularize ceramics too and to carry it in every home. In addition, it is highly valued abroad, because it is beautiful, high quality, environmentally-friendly. If there are such products in every house of our country, they will be a source of national pride and spirituality”, said Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The President also visited the houses of famous potters Muzaffar Saidov and Sharofiddin Yusupov and had a warm conversation with them.
The officials were instructed to provide potters with working assets and benefits, assist them in opening stores in other regions, organize exhibition and trade stands at the embassies of our country abroad.
The International Ceramics Center houses the regional branch of the Hunarmand Association and a training center.
Under the construction, the mausoleum of Khoja Rushnoi, located here, was also renovated. The Head of state visited the mausoleum.
The measures on providing jobs for youth and women in the region, reducing poverty in the context of makhallas were discussed.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev talked with residents of the Uchkuprik District, who opened sewing workshops in their homes and provided jobs for their neighbors in the makhalla. To expand their activities, the officials were tasked with building a modern complex for seamstresses in a location convenient for logistics.