January 20, 2010

Politics:
Legislative Chamber to hold first session
New mayors of regions appointed by the President's decrees
Economics:
Delegation of South Korea visits Uzbekistan
Central Bank of Uzbekistan issues license to new private commercial bank
Society:
National School of Nanotechnologists
Specialists in Quality Control

POLICY

LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER TO HOLD FIRST SESSION

The Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution on calling the first session of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis on 22 January.

In accordance with the article 81 of the Constitution, Constitutional Law on Legislative Chamber and article 5 of the Law on Central Election Commission, the first session of the parliament’s lower house is called by the Central Election Commission.

The CEC resolution states that the first session of the Legislative Chamber will be held on 22 January in Tashkent and will consider organizational issues.

The CEC members also considered preparation to the elections of the members of the Senate (upper house), scheduled for 18-23 January. (Source: National News Agency UzA)

NEW MAYORS OF REGIONS APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT'S DECREES

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov on 19 January signed five more decrees on the appointment of khokims (mayors) of regions.

The mayors have been appointed in accordance with Clause 15 of Article 93 and Article 102 of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan as well as decisions of Councils of people's deputies.

Thus, in line with the presidential decrees, Erkinjon Turdimov has been appointed khokim of Navoi region, Bakhodir Yusupov – khokim of Namangan region, Khamidjon Nematov – khokim of Ferghana region, Ollabergan Ollaberganov – khokim of Khorezm region, and Abdukakhar Tukhtaev – khokim of Tashkent city.

Early, on January 14 President of Uzbekistan appointed mayors of Kashkadarya, Jizzakh, Bukhara, and Andijan regions, and on 15 January – mayors of Tashkent, Surkhandarya, Syrdarya, and Samarkand regions. (Source: Uzreport Information Portal)

ECONOMY

DELEGATION OF SOUTH KOREA VISITS UZBEKISTAN

A delegation headed by the president of Korean Gas Corporation Chu Kang-Su has visited Uzbekistan. In the framework of the stay Korean guests visited the ground projected by Ustyurt Gas and Chemical Complex where they familiarized with the process of developing of Surgil field.

"The project of Ustyurt Gas and Chemical Complex is one of the biggest projects. It has been implemented by Korea and Uzbekistan. We believe that this project will be carried out very successfully and this year we are expecting to speed-up its development," Chu Kang-Su noted.

Negotiations were held also among chiefs of Uzbekneftegaz, Kogas and Kolon (South Korea). The guests exchanged opinions on the process of carrying out current projects and planned new directions of cooperation, including development of joint projects using compressed natural gas. (Source: Uzreport Information Portal)

CENTRAL BANK OF UZBEKISTAN ISSUES LICENSE TO NEW PRIVATE COMMERCIAL BANK

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has issued license to private closed-type joint-stock commercial bank Hi-Tech Bank for carrying out all types of banking operations.

The opening of the new bank with charter capital worth over 5.25 billion soums (51% of stakeholders are individuals) is a vivid example of fulfillment of requirements of the presidential Decree "On measures to stimulate the creation of private joint-stock commercial banks".

Priority directions of Hi-Tech Bank's activity is assisting to deepening of socioeconomic reforms, financing small and private business projects, as well as stimulating the formation of a new class of proprietors in the country.

The bank has been registered in the State Registrar of Commercial Banks. There are 31 commercial banks in Uzbekistan so far. (Source: Uzreport Information Portal)

SOCIETY

NATIONAL SCHOOL OF NANOTECHNOLOGISTS

This year, the first nanotechnologists in the field of manufacturing materials and machinery will graduate from Beruniy Tashkent State Technical University.

Four years ago, in 2006, when the first set in bachelor degree in this direction was declared, corresponding changes have been introduced in the university structure – a nanotechnologies department opened at the faculty of electronics and automatics. For all these four years, work on strengthening material-technical base of the department, improving a methodological basis of preparation of nanotechnologists was conducted in tandem with lectures.

For the purpose of better preparation of experts, the university set up close contacts with the Scientific Research Institute of Electronics, Scientific Production Association Akadempribor and other scientific establishments on the base of which all conditions for undergoing practical training are created.

But teachers consider that the most significant achievement of the department is that many students have already pursued science thoroughly. Their first results will already be announced in some months, during defence of final works of Bachelors and Master’s dissertations. It is obvious that rather soon the demand in these experts will sharply increase not only in scientific centers but in industries as well.

Comments

Nurulla Zikrillayev, professor, dean of the faculty of electronics and automatics:

“Young nanotechnologists are to be in high demand not only in scientific-research institutes of the country, but in major national enterprises dealing with production of household appliances and instrument making. Leading academics of the world promise by 2012 to launch the production of the first household appliances based on nanotechnologies.”

Boltaho’ja Umurzoqov, professor, head of nanotechnologies department:

“The beginning of personnel training in the field of nanotechnologies on the base of our university is a continuation of development of our university as a centre of nanotechnologies. As, heretofore, the university gets developed in this direction for ten years. In our research works we closely cooperate with domestic and foreign scientific centers. All this has helped to cope with a new task – preparation of experts of a new formation.” (Source: Uzbekistan Today newspaper)

SPECIALISTS IN QUALITY CONTROL

Universities have started training initial specialists to organize a system of the production quality control. Such specialists are currently in high demand at enterprises who have been improving their production processes by means of transition to international quality control standards.

Tashkent Chemical Engineering Institute is among the higher education institutions training a new format of specialists. People there are quite certain of the fact that such specialists, to be trained by 2011, will have no problems with employment. Enterprises of the chemical and food industry provided with specialists by the institute are highly competitive in the market. Moreover, today’s customer is quite sensitive to quality of the produce. The extent to which the production process meets international quality control standards is considered by customers as one of important criteria at the production quality assessment.

Not only have customer enterprises, but also the Uzbek agency O’zstandart been actively assisting universities in training quality management specialists. The agency provides teachers and students with necessary regulatory documentation and opportunity of arrangement of practical training in manufactures.

Opinion

Shuhrat Mutalov, head of the marketing department, Tashkent Chemical Engineering Institute:

The organization of training quality management specialists is the obvious example of opening new departments in universities at the request of potential employers. I think that the number of students in this specialty will grow with passage of time.

Dilorom Gafurova, director, IIChM Uzdonmahsulot Ltd:

We conduct quality testing and certification of cereals, wheat, bakery and macaroni products. Introduction of the quality control system meeting international standards has enabled us to arrange conditions for constant improvement. Today most our partners are interested in this experience, expressing their wish to introduce similar systems in their enterprises. Therefore I believe quality managers trained at universities will be in high demand in the job market. (Source: Uzbekistan Today newspaper)