§ 16. Light industry

Light industry makes consumer goods­. It is the most dynamical branch of the industry which distinctive feature is the labour demand, possessing ­ professional skills, art culture and taste. Powerful influence on light industry development was rendered by scientific and technical progress in which result there were changes in a branch raw-material base, the newest technics and modern technologies began to take root. Recently ­ increased requirements to the manufacture organisation, quality and registration of half-finished products, an accessories, end production ­ and etc. are shown ­ more and more.­

The light industry structure is difficult enough and reflects ­ technological stages of processing of natural or chemical ­ raw materials.

On territory of republic objects of light industry are located non-uniformly. It is connected with a principle of placing of their structures. For example, raw manufactures, which directly ­ are a part of agroindustrial complex (cotton cleaning factories, factories ­ on clearing and wool manufacture), are concentrated in areas where there are agricultural raw-material bases. Textile, tanning­, fur and other enterprises are in the cities having qualified personnel and the basic consumers­.

Recently the share of production of the final manufactures arriving ­ directly to the consumer (sewing, knitted­, carpet and fur products, headdresses, the tanning goods) increases. The end production differs in higher cost; therefore trade in finished articles is the ­ most favourable to manufacturers.

The textile industry. Textile branch is one of the most ancient branches of light industry. In Kazakhstan, as well as in other countries, this branch from the manufacture based on manual knitting, has turned to the manufacture introducing modern ­ technological processes and having the newest technics.

Relative density textile and clothing industry in economy ­ of Kazakhstan in 2008 has made 1,5 %.

Raw materials for the textile industry are the clap and wool. The enterprises for clap clearing take place near to ­ raw materials sources­. Cotton cleaning factories operate in Southern - Kazakhstan area (Shymkent, Slavyanka, Maktaaral, Turkestan­). Wool washing factories are located in Semei and Taraz. In the South Kazakhstan area on the basis of local cotton raw materials and its processing it is formed large cotton claster.

The republic south has the big possibilities for the organisation cotton-spinning claster. Annually here gathers more than 400 t a clap-raw 7 % from which are processed on the place. In Southern Kazakhstan the free economic zone "South" is created. The economic ­ zone in general claster to a chain "raw materials - fibre - fabric - finished article" carries out a binding role between a cotton economy ­ and spinning, sewing manufactures. The control system ­of the cotton processing manufactures develops­, ­ improvement of control, the account in this branch is required­.

After preliminary processing of clap and wool threads are spun, then they are painted and send on cotton industrial complexes.

Fabrics from clap of various type (chintz, coarse calico, nap, gauze etc.) and different mission (linen, costume, lining, decorative ­ etc.) are issued by the cotton industry­. Process of manufacturing of the fabric consists of several ­ stages and demands enterprise specialisation (for example, dyeing, drawing printing).

The woollen industry. A woollen fabric is the most expensive ­ products of the textile industry. The structure of kinds of woollen fabrics is various. They are worsted, half-woollen­, thin cloth, thick coth wool kinds. High-quality ­ woollen fabrics let out on Kargaly (Almaty area) and Kostanai industrial complexes.

Except this, in the country operate sewing, knitted, notions, stocking and other enterprises. Garment factories are available in all cities and the regional centres.

In Almaty, Karaganda, Shymkent, Ust Kamenogorsk, Zhezkazgan factories of knitted products (the bottom and top ­ knitted clothes) are located­.

Stocking factories are available in Semei, Karaganda and Shymkent. In Astana the spinning industrial complex, in Ust Kamenogorsk - industrial complex of silk fabrics work.

The tanning branch is based on manufacture of skins. Great value ­ have factories on manufacture of the skins, located in Uralsk­, Kyzylorda, Taraz and Kostanai. At these factories the ­ sheep, fox, wolf, hare skins, skins of muskrat are processed­, etc.

In economy of Kazakhstan relative density of processing of the skin, manufacture ­ of footwear and products in 2008 has made 0,027 % of the skin. The domestic tanning raw materials go for export.

For the purpose of satisfaction of demand for light industry products ­ in the country the small and average enterprises which are letting out ­ fur and leather products are created­.

The shoe industry. The shoe branch is expedient for placing ­ near to raw materials and consumption sources. For footwear manufacturing different kinds of raw materials are used. Footwear kinds also are various­: leather, textile, rubber and plastic. The basic shoe enterprises are available in Almaty, Semei, Taraz, Karaganda, Kyzylorda, Kostanai and Taldykorgan. However at these enterprises footwear release was reduced several times now.

One more branch of the light industry providing household requirements of the population is manufacture of porcelain ­ and faience products. Porcelain factories are located in Astana and Kapshagai.

In July, 2008 the government of Kazakhstan has created working group on improvement and light industry development. Kazakhstan has possibility not only to restore former level of light industry, but also to create new manufactures. For this purpose there are all preconditions: internal manufacture of natural raw materials, cotton ­ fibre, wool and the tanning raw materials, steady demand for the cotton yarn in the countries of Asian-Pacific region­, makes affinity of the Russian commodity market, which capacity ­ more than 10 billion dollars, possibility of export to Europe and to the Near East.