19 July, 2012
Politics:
Meeting at the Oqsaroy
ECONOMY:
ECONOMY OF UZBEKISTAN GROWS BY 8.1% IN 1H
FOOD PRODUCTION IN UZBEKISTAN INCREASE BY 9.3%
Society:
MILITARY-MEDICAL FACULTY TO BE CRATED AT TASHKENT MEDICAL ACADEMY
AREA OF TASHKENT CITY TO REACH 41,800 HECTARES BY 2030
UZBEKISTAN EXPORTS TOURISM SERVICES FOR US$285.4M IN 1H
THE GOLDEN GUEPARD AND THE VISUAL ESTHETICS OF CINEMA
POLITICS
The current state and priority aspects of the Uzbek-French cooperation have been discussed during the conversation. The head of our state stressed particularly the experience of constructive interaction garnered by the two nations, and expressed satisfaction with the fruitful dialogue with France’s leadership.
The established relations with France in a great diversity of areas are highly appreciated in Uzbekistan and that country is considered a long-term and priority partner on the European continent.
A reliable backbone for the consolidation of ties has been built by the concurrence and similarity of positions and approaches of France and Uzbekistan on peace and stability issues, the dynamic inter-parliamentary bonds, the extensive potential of trade-economic and investment cooperation.
Minister Le Drian expressed gratitude to President Islam Karimov for a warm welcome and the opportunity to address key issues of bilateral relations and international politics, to exchange views on regional security and stability. Furthermore, France’s willingness to advance and enhance the entire spectrum of Uzbek-French interaction has been underscored.
Expounding in particular on the situation in Afghanistan, the French government member highly appraised Uzbekistan’s principled stance on the resolution of that decades-old conflict and our country’s considerable input into the peaceful reconstruction of the adjacent state.
Other issues of shared interest have also been deliberated during the meeting at the Oqsaroy.
ECONOMY
Economy of Uzbekistan grows by 8.1% in 1H
The gross domestic product (GDP) of Uzbekistan grew by 8.1% year-on-year in January-June 2012. This was announced at the session of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan.
The growth of industrial output made up 7% and agriculture production – 7.1%, construction works – 8.6%. The investments to fixed capital made up 7.6%.
State budget was executed with 0.2% surplus to the GDP. Inflation rate did not exceed forecasted parameter.
The session said that production of consumer goods rose 7.7% and localized goods – by 25.7%, retail trade turnover – by 12.5% and services – by 14%.
Share of services in GDP grew from 52.2% in the first half of 2012 against 48.3% in the same period of 2011.
Within the state programme “The Year of Family”, some 1.1 trillion soums were used due to all sources.
It was noted that the volume of exports increased by 18.8% in the reporting period and the country achieved significant current foreign trade surplus.
The session noted that Uzbekistan created 510,500 new jobs, of which 345,000 or about 68% were created in rural areas. (Source: UzDaily.com)
Food production in Uzbekistan increase by 9.3%
As a result of policy measures to further develop the industry and stimulate domestic demand, food production in Uzbekistan increased by 9.3% in the 1st half of this year.
In particular, as reported by the State Statistics Committee of the republic, the measures taken to improve the competitiveness of the food processing industry contributed to the increase in production of butter 4.5-fold, canned meat - 1.6-fold, canned fruits and vegetables - 1.4-fold, canned fish - 1.3-fold, non-alcoholic beverages - 1.3-fold compared with the first half of last year.
Also increased production of powdered infant formula for infant feeding (109.9%), sugar (107%), salt (103.4%), carbonated water (101.3%), wine grapes (117%), vodka and other alcoholic beverages (105.4%).
A significant increase in food production also provided significant growth in exports of processed products of fruits and vegetables by 6.3%, alcoholic and soft drinks - by 76.3%. (Source: UzReport.com)
SOCIETY
Uzbek NGOs receive grants for rendering services to vulnerable families
Fund Forum, Social Initiatives Support Fund, UNDP project “Inclusive Employment and Social Partnership”, Mahalla Republican Charity Fund and Parliament Commission on Management of resources of Public Fund on support of NGOs and other civil societies held a roundtable “Attracting NGOs into process of rendering social services to vulnerable services” in Tashkent on 6 July 2012.
Within the event, the NGOs received certificates, which won grants within the competition roundtable “Attracting NGOs into process of rendering social services to vulnerable services”, which was held from 24 April to 24 May 2012.
In June 2012, Expert Council selected the best projects and 19 of 80 projects received grants. Major part of the projects are directed at solving social problems, supporting people and children with limited liabilities, support of women and youth through holding educational establishments, and others. (Source: UzDaily.com)
Military-Medical Faculty to be crated at Tashkent Medical Academy
The Government of Uzbekistan adopted a decision on creation of Military-Medical Faculty under Tashkent Medical Academy.
The decision was adopted for further improving system of training medical service officer, improving skills of medical staff of Armed Forces.
The Faculty was created on the base of the Center on improving skills and re-training medical specialists of Defense Ministry and military chair of Tashkent Medical Academy.
According to the resolution of the government, faculty is high military-education establishment with status of legal entity.
Medical officers at the faculty will be trained on direction “Military Medicine”. The education term is two years.
Students of medical educational establishments of Uzbekistan, who graduated the fifth course, can apply to become student of new faculty. At the end of education, students will receive diploma and title of military doctor. (Source: UzDaily.com)
Area of Tashkent city to reach 41,800 hectares by
erritory of Tashkent city will increase up to 41,800 hectares by 2030. This is envisaged at feasibility study of general plan of the capacity city of Uzbekistan.
Currently, the size of Tashkent city makes up 33,500 hectares. The territory will expand due to acquiring territories of neighboring districts, which is considered now as suburbs, Econews.uz said.
The website said that the general plan on reconstruction of Tashkent city and its suburb zone till 2030 was discussed at the session of the Public council on environment problems and rational use of resources under the State Committee on nature protection of Uzbekistan.
Feasibility study of general plan determines basics, principles and key parameters of perspective development of Tashkent city and its suburb zone till 2030 and outlines the first stage of constructions till 2020.
The plan envisages optimization of industrial zones, located near residential areas and creation of full-scale sanitary-protection zones.
It was said that total area of large enterprises of Tashkent makes up 1,916.2 hectares. Currently, number of large enterprises is decreasing in the city and some premises and lands are freeing. Some 1,200 hectares are used irrationally. In the result, it was planned to reorganize many construction and transport enterprises and move them to suburbs of Tashkent city.
Analysis of transport network showed that the city does not have completed structure of highway network and transport junctions for continuous transport traffic and some parts of roads could not ensure free movement of vehicles. Further growth of traffic will decrease traffic security and increase expenses, noise and pollution. The plan includes measures on development of transport network to avoid traffic jams.
Tashkent annually produces 1,000 tonnes of wastes and only 10% of them are processed and other part transported to waste zones. The plan stipulates development of sorting stations and development of structures on waste processing and utilization. (Source: UzDaily.com)
Uzbekistan exports tourism services for US$285.4m in 1H
The volume of exports of tourism services in Uzbekistan made up US$285.4 million in the first half of 2012, the information service of the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said.
The committee said that the volume of tourism services’ exports grew from US$226.2 million in January-June 2011 to US$285.4 million in the first half of 2012.
At the same time, the committee said that share of tourism services in total exports of Uzbekistan made up 4% in the first half of 2011 against 3.2% in the same period of 2011. (Source: UzDaily.com)
The Golden Guepard and the visual esthetics of cinema
Amid preparations for the upcoming 2nd Tashkent International Cinema Forum “Golden Guepard” (September 30 – October 5), a group of leading local cinematographers and journalists came together to discuss ongoing preparations and swap ideas at the Fund Forum. Those gathered also focused on the slogan of the cinema forum and the role of production designers and cameramen in modern cinema.
The meeting was attended by leading Uzbek cinematographers such as Akbar Hakimov, the general director of the Cinema Forum, Nozim Tulahojayev, the art director of the cinema forum, film director Bahodir Odilov as well as famous and aspiring cameramen, production designers, costume designers and journalists.
Barely a month has passed since the previous cinematic meeting on June 13, but the organizers have come up with new interesting and important ideas and information about the upcoming cinema forum.
Thus far, over 100 entries have been submitted to the cinematic contest from the following countries: Russia, the Czech Republic, Poland, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Romania, Germany, India, Serbia, Georgia, Canada, Austria, Norway, Italy, Estonia, Hungary, Switzerland, Bulgaria, France, Denmark, Spain, the USA, Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, Japan, Great Britain, Azerbaijan, Israel, Armenia and the South African Republic. The extensive geography of the cinema forum is emblematic of increasing interest in the event.
Held by Fund Forum with support from Uzbekkino National Agency, the Golden Guepard has a permanent motto “Civilizations of the 21st Century: a Dialog of Cultures”, which mirrors the project’s primary goal: establishment and development of intercultural dialog among various countries through cinematic art. The annual cinema forum is given a different slogan every year, and this year’s slogan is “"The hidden harmony is better than the obvious”, a quote by ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus that, according to the organizers, reflects the essence of the upcoming cinema forum. Heraclitus talked about two types of harmony: hidden and obvious. The hidden harmony is, first of all, the underlying message of any phenomenon or concept.
Auteur films that the cinema forum presents exemplify the hidden harmony. This slogan will be employed by the selection committee as a tool for selecting entries.
The preparations for the Golden Guepard include discussion platforms. This year an international conference titled “Modern Cinema: Space, Time, Soul” is scheduled to take pace as part of the cinema forum. The conference will be attended by famous international cinema experts and actors.
The discussions of preparations for the Golden Guepard were followed by the second part of the meeting, which was dubbed “The Visual Esthetics of Uzbek Cinema”. This part of the meeting saw the participants discuss the state of Uzbek cinematography from the viewpoint of visual esthetics, the role of productions designers and cameramen in modern cinema, and the current problems in cinema and ways of addressing them. The discussions also featured young cameraman, costume designers, aspiring actors and actresses.
The main problem in Uzbek cinematography in this sense is that the bulk of films produced over the past years lack an artistic touch. The artistic component of cinema includes the work of a production designer, cameraman, costume designer, makeup artist and others. The lack of professionalism and superficial attitude to the creative aspect of film making has led many, primarily commercial, film studios to pay inadequate attention to the artistic and visual part of cinema.
To address the existing problems, suggestions came that famous cinematographers set up their own labs at schools to teach students skills, communicate and exchange opinions with film directors, representatives of film companies and producers.
Yet, notwithstanding the current problems and shortcomings, there has been positive dynamics which is seen in Uzbek cinematography as well as in culture and art at large and brought by projects such as Fund Forum’s Style.Uz Art Week and the annual Golden Guepard Cinema Forum held as part of the Art Week. In the words of Hakimov, the general director of the Golden Guepard, the cinema forum sets new goals and new standards to cinematographers so that they would work toward creating higher quality and more serious films in line with international standards. (Source: Fundforum.uz)