Image credit: Said Khakimov

When Said Khakimov began his career in the carpet industry, he did not expect that he would later help shape the development of the sector. He started as a designer at a factory and then moved into finding international clients. That combination of product knowledge and direct experience with foreign markets gave him what he sees as an advantageous perspective on the industry. Over time, SAG appointed him Head of Production, while his responsibilities expanded across production, marketing, and sales. Today, he also serves as CEO of UZBRUGS LLC in the United States.

In large manufacturing companies, production and marketing are often managed separately. Said’s experience across both areas gave him a broader view of how operational and commercial decisions affect one another. “When you are personally involved in all key areas, you see the inner workings more clearly and can influence outcomes in advance,” he says.

From Regional Expansion to International Markets

One of the major projects Said worked on was the development of carpet rolls and artificial grass production in Uzbekistan. At the time, these products were largely imported to serve growing demand, including from the tourism sector. Establishing local production helped SAG broaden its product offering and support its presence in the domestic market. According to the company, its carpet products have since been supplied to hotels, airports, museums, educational institutions, and other large-scale projects across Uzbekistan.

As demand increased, production volumes also grew. According to SAG, its output doubled over the past six years, reaching 22 million square meters of flooring by the end of 2025. The company now exports to 10 countries, including the United States. SAG says it has opened three stores there, is preparing a fourth, and is developing its own logistics network as part of its broader international expansion strategy.

Developments in Carpet Manufacturing

Said has also been involved in innovation-focused projects within the textile industry. At his initiative, SAG began implementing large-scale recycling of PET bottles into raw material for carpet production. The project was designed both to optimize supply chains and to reduce plastic waste.

“What began a few years ago primarily as an environmental initiative to reduce plastic waste in Uzbekistan has now become an integral part of our production,” says Said. “Every day, we recycle about 1 million plastic bottles, sourced not only domestically but also imported from neighboring countries — Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kyrgyzstan.”

According to Said, the impact has extended beyond SAG itself. Other manufacturers have started adopting similar approaches, while some companies purchase recycled plastic material directly from SAG.

His work has also received international recognition. Said received a Globee Award in the “Business Leader of the Year” category for his contribution to PET recycling and sustainable textile production. In 2026, he was also invited to serve as a jury member for the BIG Innovation Awards.

From product design to manufacturing, international sales, sustainability initiatives, and expansion into the U.S. market, Said’s career has developed across several parts of the carpet business. His work reflects how combining operational knowledge with an understanding of international markets can support both business growth and industry development. The focus has been not only on scale, but also on building systems that can support long-term expansion.