Uzbekistan, South Korea firms partner to launch ecological textile dyes

Uzbekistan-based Indikim Group Co. is collaborating with South Korea firm Rainbow to manufacture and export ecological dyes for use in the textile industry. The endeavor involves the extraction of natural pigment from agricultural plants and its subsequent adoption in the light industry both domestically and overseas.

The project is expected to be completed in 2017 and entails a total investment of $1 million. Indikim plans to export more than 80 percent of its output at full capacity. Apart from ecological dyes, the company intends to produce a range of powder and natural food colorants.

For its part, Rainbow has provided advanced laboratory and manufacturing equipment to aid in QC and production. The process of obtaining dyes will not differ from South Korea technology to ensure the quality and competitiveness of the products in the international market.

The first batch of seedlings for the dyes were planted in the Central Asia nation's Khorezm, Jizzakh, Samarkand and Tashkent regions in 2014. From these, the company extracted red, yellow, green and indigo pigmentation. In spring 2016, test seedlings were planted on an additional 45 hectares of land.

Rainbow is currently working to establish a specialized research center in Uzbekistan that will issue safety certification for textile products.

Last September, the South Korea company participated in the International Russian Federation Textile Exhibition in Moscow. Indikim was likewise present and made a presentation on the benefits of using of environment-friendly dyes in the textile industry. A number of Russia textile companies already signed agreements to procure ecological dyes from the company.