September 21, 2007
Politics:
Members of Legislative Chamber of Parliament meet
Economics:
Uzbek Chamber To Hold Polish, Belarusian Expos In Tashkent
Possibilities and prospects of establishing Eximbank in Uzbekistan discussed
“InfoComExpo Uzbekistan 2007” Held In Town
Tender for 57.67% interest in JizzakhPlastmassa: deadline for offers postponed
Society:
Uzbekistan, Among Others, Marks UN-Declared Peace Day In Country
New information-resource centre opened in Ferghana
‘Poems About Great City’ Expo On Samarkand Held In Tashkent
POLITICS
MEMBERS OF LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER OF PARLIAMENT MEET
On September 19 a meeting was held at the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis (parliament) of the Republic of Uzbekistan, UzA reported.
The members of parliament approved the agenda suggested by the Kengash (Council) of the Chamber.
Draft Law "On introduction of addenda to the Article 542 of the Criminal-Procedural Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan" was presented by the member of the Committee for Legislation and Judicial-Legal Issues F. Kamilov. The MPs then received the answers to all their questions concerning the draft law. In the course of the discussion they noted the importance of the addenda being introduced to the Criminal-Procedural legislation, and passed the bill.
A member of the Committee for Budget and Economic Reforms K. Toshmatov reported on the draft law "On introduction of amendments and addenda to the laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On budget system" and "On treasury execution of the State Budget". The MPs analysed each of the provisions of the law. The representatives of all fractions took part in the discussion and noted the importance of the document to further improvement of the legislation on the conditions of the treasury execution of the State Budget. At the same time, some of the MPs made comments, pointing out the need to make some of the provisions concerning the spending of budget funds and the main tasks of the Treasury clearer, and more precise. In view of the suggestions received, the Legislative Chamber did not pass the bill in the second reading. The responsible member of the Committee was assigned to include all the corrections suggested during the meeting, and present the final version in the third reading.
Reports on the draft laws "On mandatory insurance of auto-civil liability of vehicle owners" and "On introduction of amendment and addenda to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan in view of the adoption of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On mandatory insurance of auto-civil liability of vehicle owners" was delivered by the Chairman of the Committee for Legislation and Judicial-Legal Issues N. Ismailov. The presentation of the draft laws was followed by a question-and-answer, in the course of which the MPs discussed the conception of the documents. In particular, they noted that mandatory insurance of auto-civil liability should become a full-value instrument of protection of the interests of both individual citizens and legal entities that suffer damages as a result of accidents involving means of transportation.Particular attention was given to the need to clearly define the status of the parties in mandatory insurance, as well as the order and terms of compensation (coverage) of damages in insurance cases. The Legislative Chamber approved the main provisions of the draft laws, with due regard to the comments and suggestions made, and passed them in the first reading.
ECONOMICS
UZBEK CHAMBER TO HOLD POLISH, BELARUSIAN EXPOS IN TASHKENT
Early October the “SSP-Expocontact” company of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan will hold two events – the National exhibition of the Republic of Poland and the National exhibition of the Republic of Belarus, according to the Business Information Portal Uzreport.com.
The National exhibition of the Republic of Poland will be held from October 2 through 5 at the “Uzexpocenter” in the city of Tashkent.
More than 30 producers of construction materials, household items, goods, and chemical products, medicines, cosmetics, packages for food products, household techniques, stock-breeding, and others.
On October 3 to 5 the national exhibition of the Republic of Belarus will be held at the “Intercontinental-Tashkent” Hotel, the website has reported.
More than 40 companies that represent the machine building, chemical and pharmaceutical preparations, construction materials and painting products, production of polymers, equipments for restaurants, cafes, bars, as well as equipments for enterprises of food and processing industry, household techniques and textile.
Within the framework of the exhibition the stands of the leading Polish and Belarusian companies will be demonstrated, as well as business talks with the business people of the both countries will be held.
POSSIBILITIES AND PROSPECTS OF ESTABLISHING EXIMBANK IN UZBEKISTAN DISCUSSED
A roundtable meeting on "Improvement of the institutional system for export promotion: possibilities and prospects of establishing Eximbank in Uzbekistan" was held on 19 September at Grand Orzu Hotel in Tashkent.
Within the frame of the "Developing the potential and strengthening the institutions for assisting foreign trade and attracting investments to Uzbekistan" Project run by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, the UNDP is providing support to the Government of Uzbekistan in strengthening the institutional and regulative environment for further development of foreign trade and strengthening its contribution to sustainable economic growth and improved livelihood of people.
For the purpose of improving the institutional system of export promotion, the project team is developing analytical recommendations relating to the prospects and practical aspects of establishing an export and import bank in Uzbekistan, which would stimulate the country's export with a high value added through integration of a special set of export financing instruments.
To achieve consensus on the main issues concerning the establishment of export and import bank (Eximbank), the project is actively involving all concerned parties - both in the public and private sector – in the development and discussion of the analytical report. The project's experts are also examining all the available analytical materials and world best practices and international experience to prevent any mistakes or shortcomings in the foundation and functioning of the Eximbank of Uzbekistan.
Thus, on 15-19 May 2007, the project's consultants and the representatives of the Ministries and agencies of Uzbekistan went on an introductory trip to the Czech Republic, which has successfully developed and integrated an effective institutional and regulative system of supporting and financing exports.
During the roundtable, a presentation of the report was followed by the discussion of the main conclusions concerning the possibilities and prospects of establishing an Eximbank of Uzbekistan, the international experience in supporting export through the mechanisms and schemes of export financing through eximbanks, and the organizational and legal issues relating to the establishment and functioning of the Eximbank of Uzbekistan.
The representative of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Economy, the Reconstruction and Development Fund, the Central and the National Banks of Uzbekistan, UzbekInvest Export and Import Insurance Company, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and exporting trade companies participated in the meeting.
“INFOCOMEXPO UZBEKISTAN 2007” HELD IN TOWN
On September 18 the Eighth Uzbek International Exhibition “Telecommunications and information technologies – InfoComExpo Uzbekistan 2007” opened in Tashkent, the local agencies reported. The event was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Committee on coordination of development of science and technologies at the Cabinet of Ministries of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent city municipality, “Uzeltehsanoat” association with an assistance of international exhibition companies “ITE Uzbekistan” and “ITE Exhibition & Conferences Ltd” (the United Kingdom).
The exhibition offered the visitors all modern directions of the sphere of telecommunication and information technologies. The companies of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Japan, China, Italy, Hungary and Turkey demonstrated their products and services.
The chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan A.Shaikhov is reported to have said that the creation of favorable investment climate in the country serve as an important factor to further expand the trade and economic relations with foreign countries, integrate to the world economy, in particular, exchange experiences and master the latest information machinery.
The exhibition has a profound importance to study the demand and proposals, develop trade, and create necessary conditions for establishing the joint enterprises. The main goal of the event is to further develop the sphere of telecommunication and information technologies, as well as to attract the foreign investments.
TENDER FOR 57.67% INTEREST IN JIZZAKHPLASTMASSA: DEADLINE FOR OFFERS POSTPONED
On September 18, the State Property Committee issued a statement saying that the deadline for offers for the shareholding in JizzakhPlastmassa (Jizzakh Plastic Factory) Open Joint-Stock Company was being extended to the mid-October this year, Uzreport.com Business Information Portal reported.
The statement said that the tender had been invited for 57.67% stake in the abovementioned company, and the starting bid was US$3.63 million. At the same time, the investor should take on investment obligations of at least US$5 million. Preference will be given to companies prepared to offer the highest bid for the shareholding, and take on the largest volume of investment obligations.
It is also important to note that JizzakhPlastmassa OJSC is one of the leading enterprises of the chemical industry of Uzbekistan, specialized in the production of polyethylene (plastic) film, plastic pipes and plastic consumer goods. It is located 180 km away from Tashkent, and has convenient local motor and railways. The factory was launched in 1972, and in June 1996 in accordance with the Order of the State Property Committee it was reorganized into a shareholding company.
SOCIETY
UZBEKISTAN, AMONG OTHERS, MARKS UN-DECLARED PEACE DAY IN COUNTRY
In September 2001 all UN member-state unanimously adopted the UN General Assembly Resolution on “UN International Day of Peace” and officially defined annual day of September 21 as a global ceasefire and rejection of violence all around the globe, reported the UNDP in its news release.
In 2007 the social contest of Uzbekistan with the support of the Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan, Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan, “Mehrjon-sport” International Charity Fund and representatives of UNDP and UNICEF in Uzbekistan are expected to hold festive events dedicated to the International Day of Peace.
The central event should become a minute of silence at the schools and higher educational institutions. The organizers of the event are also expected to address to youth with presentations “Peace without conflicts”, prepared with the support of UNDP in Uzbekistan.
Besides, the same day ceremonial gatherings and contest “Voice of children against violence”, appearances of children’s groups, cultural centers and presentation of drawings of children will be held at the Babur Park in Tashkent.
NEW INFORMATION-RESOURCE CENTRE OPENED IN FERGHANA
According to Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov's Resolution of 20 June 2006 "On organization of information-resource support of the population of the republic", measures are being taken in Ferghana region to improve the library system, UzA wrote.
With this aim in mind, a new information-resource centre has been opened at Ferghana Regional Institute for Training and Improvement of Qualifications of Teachers. The centre has all the modern equipment and an extensive resource fund (books), and all the necessary conditions have been created for the readers.
The students of the Institute have the opportunity to use the required literature, study resource, and electronic textbooks. The electronic catalogues of the available literature have been formed. Work on the organization of electronic library is being completed.
‘POEMS ABOUT GREAT CITY’ EXPO ON SAMARKAND HELD IN TASHKENT
The art exhibition “Poems about great city” dedicated to the 2750th anniversary of Samarkand has been opened at the “Renaissance” art gallery in Tashkent, the Uzbekistan National News Agency reported. Samarkand is one of the ancient cradles of the Uzbek national state and spirituality.
This city worthily contributed to the development of world civilization and science with its rich history, unique culture, great thinkers, as well as unique historical and architectural monuments. At the exhibition one may get acquainted with the works, which reflect the landscapes of the city, its centuries-old monuments, people, markets, traditions and values.
Among them there are “Creation of legend” and “Bibikhonim” by Muborak Yuldashev, “Shokhi Zinda” by Akrom Bakhromov, “Samarkand. The Great Silk Road” by Gafur Abdurakhimov and others.