February 12, 2009
Economics:
Uzbek Minister, Chinese Envoy Sign Exchange Notes in Tashkent
Companies Active in Attracting Home-Stays for Jobs - Report
Company Modernization Paves Way for its Power Capacity Growth
GM Powertrain Uzbekistan announces leadership team
Society:
New Diagnostic Lab Inaugurated to Prevent Grave Diseases
Reforms in Medical Sphere Allow Better Services to Population
Seminar Focuses on Protecting Flora and Forests in Uzbekistan
ECONOMY
UZBEK MINISTER, CHINESE ENVOY SIGN EXCHANGE NOTES IN TASHKENT
The signing of exchange notes on allocation of the gratuitous grant worth 25 million Chinese Yuan (3,7 million US dollars) took place at the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan, the Press-Service of the ministry has been quoted as to have reported by the Pravda Vostoka newspaper.
On behalf of the Government of Uzbekistan the document was signed by the Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade Elyor Ghaniev and on behalf of the Government of People’s Republic of China – the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of Uzbekistan Yuy Hunzyun.
The grant is going to be directed to purchasing mobile automobile scanning system for the work at customs stations. It will serve for preventing contraband, arms and drug substances trafficking, according to the newspaper.
The signing of exchange notes serves as yet another evidence of successful development of the Uzbek-Sino cooperation in all directions, and firstly, in the sphere of extending bilateral economic relations.
COMPANIES ACTIVE IN ATTRACTING HOME-STAYS FOR JOBS - REPORT
In line with the Decree of President on development of the home-stay labor a tangible work is now being held in Navoi Province, as well. In particular, the opportunities of the home-stay labor are effectively used in private sector.
The practice of home-stay employment has been introduced in Uzbekistan not long ago which aims to ensure employment of population, especially given tough times in the world economy, at every corner of the country, including in the faraway countryside areas.
The practice is described as follows: for example, the home-stays such as craftsmen, sewers, female embroiders and producers of various crafts and products sign contracts for delivery of their products to markets via major or medium industrial company or producer which ensures realization of the home-stay-made products.
In its turn, the state in the person of one company or another will oversee the realization of contracts and will count the employment years for the home-stays as work record and accordingly will issue a work record card that would enable workers to seek pensions on their retirement.
According to the Uzbekistan National News Agency, 30 home-stay workers now work at the Al-arab Sherzod private production company in the Nurota District. Last year the company produced goods worth 275 million Uzbek soums.
“We are working with housewives based on contracts,” the director of the firm Farmon Ibodov said. “Thanks to profits we have gained we had opened shops on processing marble and cotton. The demand for a quality-cut marble is on the rise.”
According to him, this year they are going to open up a sewing shop and produce modern men’s and women’s clothes. They are active in attracting home-stays for work, creating all conditions for them and in such a way - raise their interest in job.
COMPANY MODERNIZATION PAVES WAY FOR ITS POWER CAPACITY GROWTH
A special attention is now being paid in Uzbekistan to modernize production and actively introduce new technologies, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.
The work on technical and technological re-equipment of enterprises is now also underway in Namangan Province. The Mujiza-N Limited Liability Company produces quality and delicious bakery products. More than 400 local people are employed with the company, the report by the news agency has said.
“Recently we have modernized our manufacturing shops in line with international standards,” the deputy executive officer of the company Abdukhalil Razzokov said. “Apart from that we have installed new equipments on kneading and cutting of dough. For such purposes the enterprise and local investors allotted 515 million Uzbek soums.”
While speaking to the new agency Mr. Razzokov has also said that as a result the production capacity of the enterprise saw its rise.
More than 90 tons of products are made per day. Thanks to modernization, starting from the second quarter of this year the company expects to increase this figure to 136 tons.
At the moment, the new equipment – the vacuum press and installation on packing products with a power capacity of 1-2 tons of macaroni is being installed at the company. With its launching the assortment of goods will be extended which will pave way for creating new jobs, according to the report.
GM POWERTRAIN UZBEKISTAN ANNOUNCES LEADERSHIP TEAM
General Motor's new joint venture engine manufacturing operation, GM Powertrain Uzbekistan, today announced its leadership team that will oversee the manufacture of small, fuel-efficient engines.
"The creation of GM Powertrain Uzbekistan will further develop the growing automotive industry in this country," said Mike Arcamone, Vice President of GM Powertrain Europe, at a ceremony at the United States embassy in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
Andor Paizer will head operation as Managing Director of GM Powertrain Uzbekistan. Paizer joins GM Powertrain Uzbekistan from his previous role as Plant Director, GM Powertrain Hungary.
Danny D'Haese has been appointed Chief Financial Officer for GM Powertrain Uzbekistan having previously held the position of Financial Controller, GM Powertrain Europe in Torino, Italy.
Mike Arcamone is appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board. He is joined by board members Manfred Kranner, Executive Director Manufacturing Operations and Grant Fitz, Chief Financial Officer, of GM Powertrain Europe; and two representatives of the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
GM Powertrain Uzbekistan is a joint venture between General Motors and Uzavtosanoat. The powertrain operation builds on the existing cooperation between GM and Uzavtosanoat which established the vehicle joint venture, GM Uzbekistan, in October 2007. GM Uzbekistan currently builds Chevrolet and GM Daewoo vehicles including Captiva, Epica, Lacetti, Nexia, Matiz and Damas in Asaka in the Andijan province.
GM holds the majority 52 per cent stake in the General Motors Powertrain Uzbekistan CJSC which will be a separate entity but run in coordination with GM Uzbekistan.
Construction of the manufacturing operations began in the Tashkent Region in late December 2008 with start of production due to commence in March 2011.
"Through these partnerships GM is bringing important manufacturing know-how, technology, training and employment opportunities as well as great looking, safe, affordable, fuel efficient vehicles to the people of Uzbekistan and the region," Arcamone said.
The GM Uzbekistan vehicle joint venture operation employees more than 5,000 people and the GM Powertrain Uzbekistan joint venture will create 1,200 additional jobs.
GM Powertrain Uzbekistan will manufacture GM's 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 liter gasoline engines which are currently produced by GM operations in South Korea and China predominantly for the Asia Pacific market.
The capacity of the plant will initially be matched to meet demand from GM Uzbekistan, with a maximum capacity of 360,000 units a year as demand in the region grows.
GM Powertrain Uzbekistan will run on a three-crew, three-shift manufacturing model with six production days a week.
SOCIETY
NEW DIAGNOSTIC LAB INAUGURATED TO PREVENT GRAVE DISEASES
The new diagnostic laboratory has been inaugurated at the Center of Gossanepidnadzor (the State epidemiological control) of the Kashkadarya Province, the Jahon Information Agency website reported.
All conditions have been created at the new laboratory. The laboratory accomplishes work on revealing infectious diseases and preventing risk of their spread. The infectious and virus agents are being discovered by using latest computers. The modern medical apparatus is used in conducting analysis.
“Over 30 laboratories that conduct analysis of various diseases are operating in the province,” the director of the Center of Gossanepidnadzor of the Kashkadarya Province Aziz Khasanov said. “For example, examination of imported goods for possible bird flu and other infectious diseases are held. At the same time, the incoming and outgoing travelers pass through medical examination at the laboratories of veterinary and sanitary check-points established at the state customs and border posts at the airport, highways and railways.”
In a bid to prevent perilous diseases the composition of river water and food are also examined at the chemical, bacteriological, virus laboratories and laboratories of radiation hygiene. Thanks to such efforts in 2008 the level of spread of acute respiratory virus diseases has noticeably reduced.
Also, other purposeful measures aimed at safeguarding health of citizens and preserving stable epidemiologic situation are being consistently continued, the report by website has said.
REFORMS IN MEDICAL SPHERE ALLOW BETTER SERVICES TO POPULATION
The purposeful and scrupulous work is now being accomplished in Surkhandarya Province to strengthen material and technical basis of medical establishments, introduce new methods of diagnostics and treatment, implement programs on protecting the health of mother and child, as well as consolidate healthy way of life, the Narodnoye slovo newspaper wrote.
Thus, in the framework of the Salomatlik – 2 Project financed by the World Bank 189 rural medical stations were supplied with modern furniture and latest equipment. Thanks to sponsorship aid on the part of the German organization and Japanese grant, the logistical and technical basis of the Regional medical center was replenished with new medical tools and laboratory equipment, the newspaper also wrote.
At the moment, the residents of the southernmost region of Uzbekistan are serviced by 72 hospitals, over 300 ambulance stations, family medical polyclinic and clinics, 15 centers of health and over 20 first-aid departments.
According to the Regional department of healthcare, last year alone three rural medical stations were built in the area. Also, the buildings of Regional blood transfusion stations were overhauled. The first aid departments of the Kyzyryk District and other medical establishments have been repaired and refurbished which allowed to appreciably increase the quality of servicing the citizens.
SEMINAR FOCUSES ON PROTECTING FLORA AND FORESTS IN UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan pays attention to preserving the stability of environment and its biodiversity, carefully treating natural resources and developing forestry. As a result, the area of green plantation and blooming gardens yet more increases, according to the local news agencies.
The projects implemented in cooperation established between the Head department of forestry at the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Economy of Uzbekistan and various international organizations give positive results, the reports say.
In particular, the projects that are implemented jointly with the UN Food and agricultural organization promote development of forestry, rational use of natural resources and elaboration of effective methods on protecting flora and fauna based on leading experience.
The Facility program being carried out in this direction is aimed at broadly covering the results of reforms in the mass media related to protecting the forests in Uzbekistan, as much as careful treatment of nature by people since protecting and augmenting forests are the duty of every person.
The delegates to the seminar that was held at the Head department of forestry at the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Economy of Uzbekistan spoke on abovementioned issues.
The participants of the event analyzed the activity on strengthening cooperation of specialists of the sphere with mass media outlets and raising efficiency of covering the pressing tasks in the media reports.