Uzbek cotton was discussed at one of the government meetings in the USA. But sadly, when the American Minister of Labor reported that $250 million was saved in ensuring transparency in the cotton industry in Uzbekistan, Elon Musk laughed.
"Some things are so interesting that you can't believe it. Uzbek cotton farmers? It's like some kind of humorous sketch," said Elon Musk.
As is known, Elon Musk was appointed head of the "Department of Government Efficiency" by US President Donald Trump and has been granted extensive powers and access to many classified government data. So far, on Elon Musk's recommendation, 121 thousand federal employees have been laid off, and many financial aid projects have been suspended.
There is truth in Elon Musk's irony about Uzbek cotton. After all, during the first administration in Uzbekistan, the cotton industry was an extremely closed, non-transparent, and corrupt system. The profit from cotton also went not to the state budget, but to the pockets of a handful of corrupt officials. Forced child labor has become commonplace. As a result, many international brands boycotted Uzbek cotton, and the Uzbek cotton market began to fail.
After Shavkat Mirziyoyev came to power, as a result of a number of democratic and economic reforms, forced labor was ended, and the boycott on Uzbek cotton was lifted.
Abdullah Sayyid
