KHUJAND, February 16, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- The Khujand-based enterprise, Nourtex, has halved production of cotton yarn and cotton cloth due to loss of product market in the Russian city of Ivanovo, the Nourtex production director Firouza Homidova told Asia-Plus today.

According to her, Nourtex last year produced cotton yarn, cotton cloth, and batting for only 760,000 somoni, which was 50 percent fewer than in the previous years.

Only 38 persons now work for Nourtex. In 2008, the enterprise delivered equipment for production of gypsum plasterboards from China.  This, however, has not improved financial condition of the enterprise due to lack of outlet.  The gypsum-plasterboard-production line is currently standing idle.

“We are currently seeking investors for purchase of modern equipment in order to manufacture competitive products,” the production director said.

Until 1999, the enterprise had produced various cloths and women’s headscarves.  It was privatized in 1999 and renamed Zarbof.  Open joint stock company (OJSC) Nourtex was founded on the basis of Zarbof in 2002. Local entrepreneur Nourullo Usmonov assumes the 67 percent ownership interest in the enterprise and the employees own 33 percent of the shares in Nourtex.