October 31, 2008
Politics:
Legislative Chamber passes several laws
Economics:
National industrial fair and cooperation exchange continues
Korean entrepreneurs interested in setting up new companies in Uzbekistan
Local Brick Company Extends Power Capacity, Gives Jobs
Khorezm region's GRP grew 8%
Navoi region posts 8% GRP growth
Ferghana region records 5.1% growth of GRP
Jizzakh region's economy grows by 9%
Surkhandarya GRP increases by 6.7% in Jan-Sep
Society:
Uzbek conference focuses on implementation of human rights
Schools are ready for winter
Uzbek Athletes Earn Gold, Silver & Bronze Medals in Russia
POLICY
LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER PASSES SEVERAL LAWS
Legislative Chamber (lower house) of Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan held a session and considered several laws on October 30, UzA reported.
MPs discussed a draft law "On introduction of changes and amendments to the Law of Uzbekistan "On insurance activity". The draft law sets order, which allows insurers act as investment mediator and carry out professional activity in the securities market. The law was passed with suggestions and amendments, proposed during the discussions.
Parliamentarians also discussed the law "On technical regulation", which is directed at ensuring security to health and life, property of legal entities and individuals, protection of environment, rational use of resources, elimination of technical barriers in trade, etc. The law was passed with suggestions and amendments, proposed during the discussions.
MPs considered a draft law "On introduction of changes and amendments to some legislative acts of Uzbekistan in connection with improvement of order of amnesty". The draft law was developed to procedure, regulating order of amnesty implementation at prejudicial proceedings and implementation of criminal punishments. The law introduces changes to several codes and law of Uzbekistan.
The Legislative Chamber also discussed a draft law "On ratification of Agreement on long-term good neighbourhood, friendship and cooperation of the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (Bishkek, 16 August 2007)". The law was passed and it will be directed to Senate for approval.
MPs also approved a draft law "On accession of Uzbekistan to the Second Facultative Protocol of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, directed to abolishment of death penalty (New York, 15 December 1989". The document will be sent to Senate for approval.
MPs also considered the activities of the Committee on science, education, culture and sport of the Legislative Chamber in 2005-2007 and nine months of 2008.
ECONOMY
NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL FAIR AND COOPERATION EXCHANGE CONTINUES
The National industrial fair and cooperation exchange continued in Uzexpocenter.
On the second day of events products of association “Uzeltehsanoat”, public joint stock company “Uzbekistan Temir Yullari” and “Uzavtoyul”, open joint-stock companies “Tashkent Tractor Plant”, “Tashkent plant for processing waste and scrap non-ferrous metals”, “Technolog”, “Uzmontazhmahsuskurilish”, “Uzkurilishmateriallari” and “Uzavtosanoat” were presented.
Presidential Decree of 12 November, 2007 «On measures to further enhance intra-and inter-sectoral industrial cooperation» was an important factor in the development of multilateral relations between industrial enterprises of our country.
Successive reforms undertaken in the country to improve the national transportation hubs and the development of railway links is providing real results. In particular, passengers and cargo transported by “Uzbekistan Temir Yullari” is increasing each year. The company continues the electrification of railway stations, construction of new railway tracks, works of maintenance of parks freight cars and locomotives. In this regard, there is an established effective cooperation with foreign partners.
Casting-Mechanical Plant is one of the leading enterprises in the «Uzbekistan Temir Yullari». The company specializes in manufacturing and repair of freight cars, manufacturing spare parts.
“Since the last fair exchanges of cooperation, our company has mastered production of 15 kinds of new products,” said the general director of the factory Farhad Kabulov. “In particular, at the fair, we are presenting spare parts for freight cars, excavators and pumps, washers, appliances and equipment for water supply pipes. There is great interest in our products that meet international standards. Earlier, it was imported from outside. Manufacturing them in the country provides not only comfort but also great economic benefits to the business of the country. During the first Republican fairs exchanges and cooperation, we have made several contracts totaling for 8 billion sums. At this time expect the increase of that. We are negotiating with representatives of entities operating in the industry and other fields, and signing mutually beneficial agreements.”
Our country is rapidly continuing localization in the automotive industry. The enterprises set up in the system of “Uzavtosanoat”, produce batteries, glasses, seats, bumpers, mufflers, fuel tanks, interior decoration products, car paints, tow and a host of other component parts, which proves the consistent development of automobile industry in Uzbekistan.
“Our participation in last year’s Cooperation exchange made good results”, said deputy chief of the department of localizing at the joint venture «GM Uzbekistan» Kandiyar Assadov.
“Previously, a significant portion of raw materials had been imported from abroad. As a result of participation in the event we solved many problems with raw material and strengthened our cooperation with domestic enterprises. For example, enterprises «Artsanoatplast» and «Spektr» supply us with plastic parts, stamping parts and assemblies. “
“In the past year, the company have signed about 30 contracts for 200 billion sums. This year we expect the figure of about 300 billion sums. A prerequisite for this is ten agreements signed during the two days since the start of the fair exchanges and cooperation. “
KOREAN ENTREPRENEURS INTERESTED IN SETTING UP NEW COMPANIES IN UZBEKISTAN
The meeting of the business delegates of South Korea and Uzbek entrepreneurs was organized by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of Uzbekistan and the Korean Polytechnic University, Narodnoye Slovo newspaper reported on 29 October. It is important to point out that this Korean institution does not only prepare qualified specialists, it also plays a major role in the development of small and medium-sized business in the country. At this time it cooperates with some 3,500 Korean companies. Within the frames of the visit of the Korean delegation a cooperation exchange was held in the format of addressed negotiation talks, in other words who would be talking to whom was agreed upon beforehand. Among the members of the Korean delegation were the representatives of the companies specialized in the construction industry, machine engineering, navigation systems for transportation, and others.
"The aim of the meetings is to raise the awareness of Uzbek entrepreneurs about the products manufactured in our country, and find partners for their distribution and sale in your country," the Head of the Academy of Industry and Corporation and the Senior Professor at the Technical University of the Republic of Korean Mr. Yeng Il Kim. "In addition to this, we would like to set up a number of new enterprises in your country. At this moment we have two specific offers on establishing and building factories to specialize in the production of PET, in particular PET packaging materials, and aluminum window frames." These plans may be set up in the form of foreign companies with 100% Korean capital or as joint ventures in partnership with local entrepreneurs. Both options are now being considered by the parties. It is not accidental that Korean entrepreneurs chose Uzbekistan as a location for launching new productions. The reasons include its geographical location in Central Asia, favourable investment climate and economic stability in the country. "Our marketing plans include export to all countries of the region," Mr. Kim said. "It is rather early to quote any figures regarding the potential volume of investments. This will depend on the capacity of the market, the equipment that's going to be required, and a number of other factors, but I would like to say that in order to launch just one line, one production we are planning to invest at least one million dollars," Narodnoye Slovo quoted Kim. The Korean party also showed interest in providing assistance in the training of specialists for small and medium-sized business.
LOCAL BRICK COMPANY EXTENDS POWER CAPACITY, GIVES JOBS
The “Temurbek kurilish service” Limited Liability Company secures highest indicators among other partner companies in Navoi Province on producing bricks, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.
Thanks to modernization of production, installing modern equipments at the enterprise it now produces up to 2 million bricks a month.
The rise of the company production capacities allowed to employ 70 people. Besides, launching of the plant for manufacturing ferroconcrete goods provides for the growth of its economic indices.
“The scales of construction and betterment works are being extended in the country. Thanks to this very fact the demand for construction materials are also on the rise,” the head of the company Jobir Temirov has said, “every day we send 7000-8000 pieces of bricks to our customers.”
At the moment, the company builds workshop on producing lime. With launching of it 30 more people will be employed, according to the report.
KHOREZM REGION'S GRP GREW 8%
Gross regional product (GRP) of Khorezm region increased by 8.8% in January-September 2008, the session of region's deputies said.
The session noted the production of consumer goods grew 11.5%. The agriculture output rose significantly.
The region attracted 39 billion soums of investments to production sphere, of which 11.4 billion soums are foreign investments and credits.
NAVOI REGION POSTS 8% GRP GROWTH
Gross regional product (GRP) of Navoi region increased by 8 in January-September 2008, the session of region's deputies said.
The session noted that industrial output in the region rose by 1.8% and agriculture production increased by 4.6%. The meeting underlined that the production of consumer increased by 14%.
The region's foreign turnover comprised US$732.3 million or increased by 22% year-on-year.
FERGHANA REGION RECORDS 5.1% GROWTH OF GRP
Gross regional product (GRP) of Ferghana region grew 5.1% in January-September 2008, the session of region's deputies said.
The session noted that industrial output in the region rose by 2.7% and agriculture production increased by 4.6%.
The meeting underlined that the production of consumer increased by 7.5% and the volume of rendered services up by 17.9%.
JIZZAKH REGION'S ECONOMY GROWS BY 9%
Gross regional product (GRP) of Jizzakh region grew 9% and exports rose 26.8% in January-September 2008, the session of region's deputies said.
The session underlined that the growth in construction comprised 41.7% and in service sector – 18% in the reporting period, UzA reported.
SURKHANDARYA GRP INCREASES BY 6.7% IN JAN-SEP
Gross regional product (GRP) of Surkhandarya region increased by 6.7% in January-September of 2008, the session of deputies of the region said in the session dedicated to the results of nine months of 2008.
The session underlined that the industrial output grew by 15.6% and services rose by 6.6%, construction increased by 18.1%.
In nine months of 2008, the region exported products for US$160.35 million, of which 13.5% fell to share of 44 joint-ventures.
The share of private sector in gross regional product comprised 66.7%. Currentlty, 25,000 small and private businesses work in the region.
About 29.085 billion soums of credits were issued to support private sector in the reporting period, UzA reported.
SOCIETY
UZBEK CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON IMPLEMENTATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
The Uzbek Supreme Court has hosted a conference on ensuring the implementation of President Islam Karimov's decree of 1 May 2008 "On an action plan dedicated to the 60th anniversary of adopting the Universal Declaration of Human Rights", Khalq Sozi newspaper reported.
Officials from the office of the Uzbek parliamentary commissioner on human rights (Ombudsman), the Prosecutor-General's Office and the Justice and Interior ministries, scientists from the Tashkent State Institute of Law and representatives of the media attended the conference. It was organized by the research centre for democratization and liberalization of judicial legislation and guarantee of independence of the judicial system under the Uzbek Supreme Court, in cooperation with the National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan.
The chairman of the Supreme Court, Boritosh Mustafoyev; director of the National Human Rights Centre of Uzbekistan, Akmal Saidov; and others emphasized that, under the guidance of President Islam Karimov, the observance of human rights and interests had been set as the most priority field of developing society, state organizational development, and domestic and foreign policy. They also said that human rights had been efficiently guaranteed in the country.
Regulations of the declaration are reflected in the Uzbek Constitution and national legislative norms. Uzbekistan strictly and efficiently implements the norms and requirements of other international documents on human rights as well.
SCHOOLS ARE READY FOR WINTER
By implementing the decree by President Islam Karimov from May 29 of 2008 “On measures to ensure the preparation of industries of the national economy to a sustainable work in the autumn-winter period 2008-2009” the department of education of Uchtepa district has done a lot of work.
Among 92 educational institutions controlled district education department, 33 are public schools, 50 are pre-school institutions. In addition, there are nine out of school facilities. During the year, there were carried out repair and construction and preparatory work for the autumn-winter period by district “Issikkuvvat” and “Uchtepa tamir” companies. In particular, there have been repaired roofs of pubic schools number 245 and number 287.
According to the Deputy Head of Department of Education of Uchtepa district Ikramov Aziz, currently all pre-school institutions in the district are fully heated. Preparations for the autumn-winter period in educational institutions continue.
UZBEK ATHLETES EARN GOLD, SILVER & BRONZE MEDALS IN RUSSIA
The World championship on universal combat was held in the city of Kaliningrad in Russia. The Uzbek athletes successfully participated at it, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.
N.Nuriddinov and A.Abdullaev in the 65- and 75-kg weight categories won a victory over all other athletes by bringing to the Uzbek national team gold medals. N.Kazakova secured a silver medal among women in the weight category of 70 kilograms and over.
The Uzbek sportsmen D.Amanov, D.Karaev and M.Turaev became bronze medalists at the contests among athletes in the weight category of 70, 80 and 85 kilograms, respectively.