Uzbekistan, one of the world’s biggest cotton producers, will host two important international gatherings on cotton next month, the Uzbekistan Embassy’s Charge d’Affaires Kahramon Shakirov said in Jakarta.

"The next III International Uzbek Cotton Fair and IV International Cotton and Textile Conference will take place in Uzbekistan from Sept. 10 to 12, 2007 in Tashkent," Shakirov told The Jakarta Post on Friday

Both the events, Shakirov said, would be organized by the Uzbek government in cooperation with the International Cotton Advisory Committee and Cotton Outlook.

Uzbekistan is currently the fourth-largest cotton producer and the second-biggest exporter of cotton in the world. Indonesia is the world’s second-biggest importer of cotton.

While welcoming Indonesian buyers to the conferences, Shakirov said it would be a good opportunity to have business links with their Uzbek counterparts.

"The conferences will provide an opportunity to sign contracts on Uzbek cotton to set up long-term cooperation in cotton trading as well as to be familiar with the qualitative characteristics of Uzbek cotton and with the latest innovations in trade and logistics," Shakirov said.