BMB-Opera Zafferano
The joint venture was established on 1 May 2020 by Uzbekistan’s BMB Trade Group and the Italian company Opera SRL to develop a medicinal-plants cluster in Bakhmal district of Jizzakh region. At the launch stage, five million saffron crocus bulbs were shipped from Brescia, Italy, to Uzbekistan.
The project covers saffron cultivation, processing and export. Its announced value was €34.4 million. By October 2023, the enterprise was cultivating saffron on 304.5 hectares, and reporting from the site stated that more than 70 million saffron bulbs had been brought from Italy and planted over the preceding three years.
The project has continued to expand its local production chain. On 8 October 2024, a saffron drying and processing enterprise was opened in Bakhmal district, adding post-harvest handling and processing to the cultivation base. Company updates published in July 2025 documented continuing fieldwork at the plantation.
BMB-Opera Zafferano combines Italian planting material and technical cooperation with land, labour and processing capacity in Uzbekistan. Its operating model extends from field cultivation to drying, processing, branding and export, creating a specialised international agribusiness project centred on a high-value crop.