October 22, 2008
Politics:
President receives head of Dubai Holding
Economics:
UzEmirateHolding joint investment company created
Uzbekistan to increase production of food crops
Strategies of insurance market development considered
Society:
TashkentAle – 08 Launched in Tashkent, to Last for a Week
Temur State Museum in Tashkent Turns 12, Paper Writes
Youth Prefers Extreme to Drug Addiction, Event Reveals
Asian U-16 Football Championship Ends in Tashkent – Report
POLICY
PRESIDENT RECEIVES HEAD OF DUBAI HOLDING
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received UAE minister for Cabinet of Ministers issues and chairman of Dubai Holding Muhammad Abdulla Al-Gargavi at Oqsaroy residence on 22 October.
“We highly value the dynamically developing bilateral relations,” Islam Karimov said. “The visit of the delegation of Uzbekistan to the United Arab Emirates this March was very fruitful. The agreements reached during the visit are currently being implemented.”
During that visit, the two states signed a number of documents covering areas like security, tourism, environment, science, securities market, as well as investment, economic and technical cooperation.
In the UAE, President Islam Karimov held talks with Vice President, Prime minister and Ruler of Dubai Emirate Sheikh Muhammad bin Rashid Al-Maktum, and they discussed a wide range of issues related to bilateral relations. Among those issues was cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Dubai Holding.
The volume of trade turnover between Uzbekistan and the UAE made up USD 93.1 million in 2007. More than 70 joint ventures have been founded in the country with participation of the UAE investments, which operate in the fields of production of foodstuffs, electronics, textile, construction materials and provide transport services.
Muhammad Abdulla Al-Gargavi said his country attached a great importance to development of trade-economic and investment cooperation with Uzbekistan.
During the talks, the sides also exchanged views on the further expansion of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates.
ECONOMY
UZEMIRATEHOLDING JOINT INVESTMENT COMPANY CREATED
On 22 October, the government of Uzbekistan, the Reconstruction and development fund of Uzbekistan and the Dubai Holding company signed an agreement on creation of a joint investment company UzEmirateHolding. The document was signed during the visit of the UAE minister for Cabinet of Ministers issues and chairman of Dubai Holding Muhammad Abdulla Al-Gargavi to Tashkent.
The charter capital of the company, set up under the patronage of the President of Uzbekistan and the Ruler of Dubai Emirate, comprises USD 1.25 billion. Of that figure, 80% will be provided by Dubai Holding, and 20% by the Reconstruction and development fund of Uzbekistan. The company, headquartered in Tashkent, will conduct financial activities in the country and abroad, and will assist attraction of direct foreign investments in Uzbekistan.
The relations between Uzbekistan and the UAE are developing dynamically in all spheres. More than 70 joint ventures have been founded in the country with participation of the UAE investments, which operate in the fields of production of foodstuffs, electronics, textile, construction materials and provide transport services. Over 20 companies of the UAE have opened representative offices in Uzbekistan.
The activities of the Reconstruction and development fund of Uzbekistan, created in 2006 on the initiative of the President, cover implementation of projects of modernization and technical re-equipment of the economic sectors. The fund is currently participating in the development and implementation of investment projects in the oil and gas, chemical and power sectors. It effectively cooperates with various foreign financial institutions.
Dubai Holding is one of the largest companies of the United Arab Emirates. The holding unites seven large companies operating in the fields of high technologies, telecommunications, energy, industry, realty, finances and tourism.
UZBEKISTAN TO INCREASE PRODUCTION OF FOOD CROPS
The President of Uzbekistan signed a decree on 20 October on measures to optimize the crop lands and increasing production of food crops.
The water shortages over the past several years have created difficulties for growing cotton and seriously affected the cotton productivity. The farmers have especially felt this in the past two years, and particularly this year, when the average water availability at irrigated lands accounted for only 75 percent of the normal. Shortages of water have negatively affected cotton growing and created additional difficulties in almost all regions of the country.
To overcome these problems, a wide range of measures aimed at ensuring the rational use of irrigation water, including introduction of returning water supply, modern water-saving agricultural practices and tightening water usage control system, was introduced.
In this situation, further optimization of the use of cultivated lands, with consideration of growing water shortages and increasing the production and reliable supply of foodstuffs, acquires a particular importance. The issues of food security have become particularly important in the recent years in the whole world. World prices for grain grew twice on the average compared to 2006, and vegetable prices increased more than twice.
The above-named Presidential Decree envisages reduction of the lands for cotton cultivation and increasing the grain sowing lands by almost 50,000 hectares, as well as significant increase of the production of vegetable, oil and other food crops.
STRATEGIES OF INSURANCE MARKET DEVELOPMENT CONSIDERED
The conference on the state of the insurance market and strategies of its development was held at the Legislative chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan. It was organized by the parliament’s Committee for labor and social issues and the State insurance inspection under the Finance ministry.
The participants said that the deepening of the socioeconomic reforms in the country required improvement of the legal norms regulating the new forms of social protection of the citizens’ interests, as well as labor and insurance relations.
The country recently adopted the laws on obligatory insurance of civil liability of car owners and on obligatory state social insurance against accidents at production and professional diseases. Currently, the law on obligatory insurance of civil liability of the employer is being developed. Additionally, the acting legislation is being constantly improved in order to regulate the developing insurance market.
SOCIETY
TASHKENTALE – 08 LAUNCHED IN TASHKENT, TO LAST FOR A WEEK
This week the “TashkentALE - 2008” Fourth International photo-biennale took off in Tashkent, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.
The exposition dedicated to the 2200th anniversary of the city of Tashkent – due in May next year – was organized alongside with the Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Forum, Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan and Tashkent House of Photography.
Along with Uzbek photographers the representatives of more than 20 countries such as Germany, Italy, the Great Britain, Russia, Japan, Canada, China, Pakistan, Israel and Vietnam are taking part at this international exhibition.
The delegates to the event have visited the Mustakillik (Independence) Square and laid wreath to the Independence and Humanism Monument which is a symbol of freedom, bright future and noble aspirations.
At the opening of the international exhibition the participants of the event have said that the arts, including the photography arts plays an enormous role in public life. Besides, it consolidates friendship and cooperation between the nations and countries.
Tashkent House of Photography worthily contributes to preserving and further developing national photography arts, as well as supporting photographers.
Along with the Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Fund and Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan the House successfully implements arts projects such as “My dear city – beautiful Tashkent”, “Esteemed fathers and mothers”, “Game of light and shade” and “Photographers of Uzbekistan”.
Thanks to attention and care shown in the country to development of photography arts such Uzbek photography masters as Rustam Sharipov, Iskander Sadykov, Pavel Kim, Vitaliy Myasnikov, Tursun Ali and Vladimir Zhirnov successfully partake at international exhibitions and contests.
Joining of Tashkent Photography House of International Federation of Photographic Art (FIAP) is yet another international recognition of high potential of the Uzbek photography.
TashkentALE – 2008 introduces to amateurs of photography arts the latest innovations of photo and video arts of the country and world, as well as promotes strengthening of international cooperation in this sphere.
From above 400 works of photographers of four continents – Asia, Africa, Europe and America – were chosen for exhibition. As a part of the biennale, a second international festival of actual photo - and video arts “East and West: on the intersections of Tashkent”, as well as various forums, concerts, roundtables, and master classes are going to be held in Tashkent and Bukhara.
TEMUR STATE MUSEUM IN TASHKENT TURNS 12, PAPER WRITES
The State museum of the History of Temur and his dynasty of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan turned 12 this year, the Pravda Vostoka newspaper reported.
The museum was established on the initiative of President Islam Karimov in 1996 on the occasion of the 660th anniversary of Amir Temur. The main goal of founding the museum was to broadly popularize the progress of science, enlightenment and culture of epoch of Temur and his dynasty, upbringing the forthcoming generation in a spirit of patriotism and love to Homeland.
The unique building represents synthesis of medieval Oriental and modern architectural styles. It has a round form with a big ribbed dome and parapets on a roof, opened courtyard and columns. From outside it is decorated with relief patterns. The exposition area makes up 2200 square meters. 1700 exhibits at the museum tell about history and culture of epoch of Amir Temur and his dynasty.
There are over 3000 displays at the storehouse. They are manuscript compositions, letters, the tools found at the Mausoleum of Gur Emir in Samarkand, ceramic and copper ware, books and coins. For over the past years 1 million and 400 thousand people, including the official delegations and foreign tourists have visited the museum. They wrote down their impressions in the Book of Honorary Guests. Based on that book the “Autographs” Exhibition has been launched.
The museum participates in innovative and fundamental grant projects the main directions of researches of which are to work out scientific and practical findings on the major directions of history, culture and enlightenment of area, make the Uzbek people and foreigners aware of history of epoch of Temur and his dynasty, collect written sources and tools of this period in the country and abroad, organize constant and short-term expositions, mobile exhibitions reflecting on the contribution of Amir Temur and his dynasty to the development of world scientific culture.
The personal exhibitions of young and gifted artists of Uzbekistan are being held at the museum. For example, in August this year the personal exhibition of Ekaterina Ivanova (Peri) “The pearl of the Orient” was launched there. It was dedicated to the 17th anniversary of State Independence of Uzbekistan and the Year of Youth.
YOUTH PREFERS EXTREME TO DRUG ADDICTION, EVENT REVEALS
The youth festival on the topic “Extreme against drug addiction” dedicated to the struggle against spread of drugs and other negative phenomena among young men and women, propagating healthy way of life and popularization of sports was held at the National Park of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, according to the Pravda Vostoka newspaper.
The event was held as a part of the Year of Youth State Program. The Soglom Avlod Uchun (‘For healthy generation’) Fund organized the event alongside with the respective ministries, state and public organizations and sports federations.
The fans of extreme and professional sportsmen in the city of Tashkent and Tashkent Province at the age of 6 up to 22 participated at the youth festival. For three days they competed in five directions of extreme sports. On the outcomes of contests the winners were awarded valuable prizes.
ASIAN U-16 FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ENDS IN TASHKENT – REPORT
On October 4 through October 18 this year the final tournament of the Asian Championship on football among juniors (U-16) was held in Tashkent, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.
The championship held once in two years hosted national teams of 16 countries of Asian continent. The Iranian juniors won the top prize. They have won a victory with a score 2:1 at the final standoff against national team of the Republic of Korea.
The Iranian national team was awarded gold at the closing ceremony of the championship at the Pakhtakor Central Stadium in Tashkent. The South Korean team received silver medals.
The footballers of Japan and the United Arab Emirates which secured next respective places have gained right to take part at the world championship on football among juniors due 2009 in Nigeria.
The national team of Uzbekistan secured a place at the top eight, according to the report.