November 13, 2007
Politics:
Parliament Lower House Passes 2008 State Budget
Economics:
Expos In Town Speak On Promising Local Market & Potential
First National Industrial Fair and Cooperation Exchange to be held
SamarkandKimyo to increase nitrophos production to 250,000 tonnes
Meeting discusses institutional aspects of investment climate in Uzbekistan
Society:
On the conference “Uzbekistan – Homeland for the Great Thinkers of Islamic World” in Samarkand and Bukhara
Scientific conference discusses urgent issues of endocrinology
New academic textbook on European Union Law introduced at UWED
POLIITICS
PARLIAMENT LOWER HOUSE PASSES 2008 STATE BUDGET
On November 9 this year the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan held its meeting. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev, members of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as heads of the republican organizations participated at the event, the Uzbekistan National News Agency reported.
The lawmakers considered the draft of the State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2008, as well as the concept of the draft of new Tax Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan R.Azimov has appeared with a report on the said issues, as well as with co-report – the chairman of the Committee at the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis on budget and economic reforms A.Akhadov.
The detailed discussion of the draft of the main finance document of the country, during which the representatives of all factions at the political parties spoke, was held after answers to the questions. The lawmakers have said that the forecast of main macro-economic indices for 2008 has been worked out taking into account ensuring the sustainable and balanced growth rates, structuring and modernizing of economy, technical and technological renewal of its most important branches, further liberalizing the tax policy, establishing maximum favorable conditions for business, attracting the foreign investment. At the same time the social directivity of state expenditures remains in place, which envisages the consistent growth of citizen incomes, further increase of quality of services in the system of education and healthcare, as well as protecting the socially vulnerable layers of population.
Taking into account the views expressed during the discussion the Legislative Chamber is reported to have approved the State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2008 and adopted the respective resolution.
During the discussion of the draft of new Tax Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan the lawmakers have underscored the significance to further enhance the tax legislation of the country thanks to curbing the number of taxes and duties, maximum unification the tax bases and regulations of calculation on certain taxes, as well as the procedure of their payment, regulating the tax lifts, elaborating the clear, tested and the world-accepted principles of taxing.
Taking into account the suggestions proposed at the discussion of the document, the deputies are reported to have approved the concept of the draft of new Tax Code and have passed it in first reading.
ECONOMY
EXPOS IN TOWN SPEAK ON PROMISING LOCAL MARKET & POTENTIAL
The Third International Specialized Exhibition UZAGROEXPO-2007 – “Agriculture. Nutrition products”, UZPRODTECHEXPO-2007 – “Food equipment and technologies of production” and the Second International Specialized Exhibition “Tea and coffee” opened at the “Uzexpocenter” in Tashkent, according to the “Narodnoye slovo” newspaper.
The first exhibition is set up on individual sectors and includes the five specialized sections: “Agrotek” (agricultural techniques and equipment), “Cattle-breeding, veterinary medicine, feed”, “Agro-chemistry”, “Food and processing equipment” and “Food complex”. About 50 companies from the 17 countries around the world are exhibiting their products.
The “Tea and coffee” exhibition presents not only the products, but also the traditions of making these drinks in many countries. Thus, the event promotes not only the strengthening of economic, but also the cultural ties.
The equipment of making a big amount of tea and coffee is also displayed at the exhibition. It will assist to develop the vending in Uzbekistan that is to say by way of installing the vending machines at various places.
“Serikum Grup” Company presented the capabilities of one of such vending machines to sell tea, coffee, and other drinks adapted for the local market. The machines distinguished bills of various amounts, can work with coins and even gives out the change.
The organizers of the exhibition from the “EG Uzbekistan” Company have said that compare to last year the number of participants of the event saw their rise by 25%. This witnesses about the fact that the Uzbek market is prospective, as well as its profound investment potential.
FIRST NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL FAIR AND COOPERATION EXCHANGE TO BE HELD
On November 12-17 UzExpoCentre will host the First National Industrial Fair and Cooperation Exchange.
The organizers of the event plan maximum use of the opportunities potentially offered by the cooperation exchange, as one of the market mechanism of forming an offers' portfolio. They pay particular attention to the expansion of inter-industrial production cooperation, strengthening of the production networks within the industry and stimulating the production of finished goods. They want to encourage the modernization of productions, the manufacturing of new types of products, to motivate small businesses to produce components and parts for large businesses, and import-substituting products.
The total of 34 agencies and business associations, 142 enterprises of the departmental and 63 enterprises of regional subordination plan to participated in the fair and cooperation exchange. The enterprises of all regions of Uzbekistan, including Tashkent city and Karakalpakstan, and the representatives of small businesses will participate in the forum.
All participants of the fair will be given an opportunity to sign contracts for the procurement of goods produced from local resources and imported earlier into the country. Moreover, the enterprises and organizations that could not participate in the exchange will be given an opportunity to receive the information on the domestic products being offered on the website specifically developed for this purpose.
Within the frame of the cooperation exchange, all 34 enterprises will conduct presentations on the inter-industrial and intra-industrial cooperation, and will provide the list of goods they have to offer to local producers, including small businesses.
In order to ensure dynamic and stable development of the economy, the reduction of its dependency on external factors, speed up the integration of modern and efficient technology into production processes, wide the use of local raw and production resources, higher production of modern, competitive products, economic and rational use of currency resources, and creation of new jobs, the President of Uzbekistan has passed a resolution approving the programme on localization of production of finished goods, component parts and materials using local resources in 2006-2008.
The implementation of the production localization programme would reduce currency spending for imports, raise the efficiency of local production, expand the localization of production and enhance the cooperation contacts among the enterprises, as well as create new jobs and sharply increase the share of industrial production in the country's GDP.
SAMARKANDKIMYO TO INCREASE NITROPHOS PRODUCTION TO 250,000 TONNES
The Presidential Resolution of 27 July 2007 "On the Programme on modernisation, technical and technological re-equipment of the enterprises of chemical industry for 2007-2010" serves as a framework for the improvement of the activity of SamarkandKimyo Joint-Stock Company.
In 2005 the enterprise that had been idle for years launched the production of nitro-calcium phosphate (nitrophos), UzA reported.
"Nitrophos strongly differs from other phosphorous fertilizers used in agriculture," the head of SamarkandKimyo Oydin Hasanov said. "Apart from nitrogen and phosphorus it also includes calcium, and high level of dissolubility is very important in the climatic conditions of our country."
The products of the enterprises are supplied to the farmers in Karakalpakstan, Khorezm, Kashkadarya, Bukhara, Syrdarya and Samarkand regions. This year, 6,000 tonnes of nitro-calcium phosphate were exported to Kazakhstan and Afghanistan.
At this time, active measures are being put by the company's management to integrate modern technology. After the completion of the project worth over US$5.6 million, the enterprise will have the capacity to produce up to 250,000 tonnes of nitrophos yearly. This would also allow the creation of 150 new jobs.
MEETING DISCUSSES INSTITUTIONAL ASPECTS OF INVESTMENT CLIMATE IN UZBEKISTAN
The session of Expert Council on investment promotion was held in the conference hall of Poytaht hotel in Tashkent on November 9, Uzreport.com Business Information portal reported.
Two institutional aspects of investment climate were discussed: establishment of one-stop-shop for foreign investors and the issues related to enhancement of investment dispute resolution system.
The event was organized by the joint project of UNDP and Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade "Capacity Building and Strengthening Foreign Trade and Investment Promotion Institutions in Uzbekistan" with support of "Business Forum of Uzbekistan".
Investment attractiveness of the country for foreign investors is directly linked with investment climate in the country. A good investment climate is formed not only by establishment of a favorable regulatory framework and investment stimulating policies, but also very much by degree of effectiveness of their actual implementation, especially with regard to protection of property rights of the investors.
International experience shows that inefficient and difficult administrative procedures for conducting business can be a serious barrier for FDI even in countries with fairly liberalized investment climate. For improving attractiveness, many countries established one-stop-shops for foreign investors designed to provide wide range of services to investors within already established regulatory framework.
Moreover, one of the most important indicators of investment climate is the ability of the host country to ensure security of property rights of foreign investors through effective institutional and legal mechanism for investment dispute resolution.
On November 9, a meeting of the Expert Council on investment promotion was held with the purpose of analyzing the urgency of the issues of establishment of "one-stop-shop", identifying needs of investors on services of "one-stop-shop" and enhancement of the investment disputes resolution system in national legislation of Uzbekistan.
Representatives of foreign investors, think tanks, international organizations, as well as public and private sector participated in the event.
The meeting was mainly aimed at providing assistance in development of effective tools for foreign investment attraction. Currently, the project is working on elaboration reports, analyzing the prospects of establishment of "one-stop-shop" institution in Uzbekistan and recommending the ways for enhancement of investment dispute resolution system.
During the meeting of the Expert Council, which was held in business-like manner, participants exchanged their views and provided recommendations on the subject matter.
SOCIETY
ON THE CONFERENCE “UZBEKISTAN – HOMELAND FOR THE GREAT THINKERS OF ISLAMIC WORLD” IN SAMARKAND AND BUKHARA
The international scientific and practical conference “Uzbekistan – Homeland for the Great Thinkers of Islamic World” will be held on November 13-14 in the cities of Samarkand and Bukhara. The conference is held in connection with announcement of Tashkent by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) as the capital of Islamic culture in 2007.
The conference “Uzbekistan – Homeland for the Great Thinkers of Islamic World” is a logical continuation of the International scientific and practical conference “Uzbekistan’s contribution to the development of Islamic civilization”, which was held on August 14-15, 2005 in the cities of Tashkent and Samarkand and received a broad resonance in the Muslim world.
More than 60 participants including 24 scientists from the Middle East countries are participating at this held in Samarkand and Bukhara under the ISESCO auspices.
Upon their arrival in Tashkent the participants of the conference early morning of November 12 traveled to Samarkand by special train. In Samarkand the guests were acquainted with historical and architectural places of interest and visited the Memorial Complex of Imam al-Bukhariy.
The conference will start its work in Samarkand on November 13 and will continue in Bukhara. The participants of the conference including the prominent Uzbek and foreign scientists and historians will address the issues related to the study of the role of great scientists and theologians, the natives of Uzbekistan – to the development of the world and Islamic civilization.
For over the years of independence much has been accomplished in the country on the profound and comprehensive study of lives and activity of the theologians, scientists and thinkers who were born on the soil of ancient Movarounnakhr - Imam Bukhariy, Imam at-Termiziy, Imam Moturidiy, Makhmud Zamakhshariy, Burkhaniddin Marghinoniy, Bakhouddin Nakshband, Muhammad Khorazmiy, Akhmad Farghoniy, Abu Raikhon Beruniy, Abu Ali ibn Sino, Mirzo Ulughbek, Alisher Navoiy – and had attained a profound fame in Islamic world thanks to their scientific feat and great discoveries.
The International scientific and practical conference “Uzbekistan – Homeland of the Great Thinkers of Islamic World” will be covered by the Uzbek and foreign mass media accredited in the country.
SCIENTIFIC CONFERENCE DISCUSSES URGENT ISSUES OF ENDOCRINOLOGY
A scientific-practical conference on the urgent issues of endocrinology was held at the Science Academy of Uzbekistan.
The event was organized by the Ministry of Healthcare of Uzbekistan together with the Specialised Scientific-Practical Medical Centre of Endocrinology and the Endocrinologists' Association. Among the participants were scientists and doctors of Uzbekistan, as well as specialists from Russia, UK, and Kazakhstan, UzA reported.
Speaking at the conference the President of the Science Academy of Uzbekistan Sh. Salihov, the Director of the Medical Centre of Endocrinology S. Ismailov and others noted that the large-scale measures being implemented in the country on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov on intensive development of all fields of science, including medical, as well as on efficient implementation of the scientific achievements into practice serve for the strengthening of the population's health status, and improvement of the efficiency of medical services.
Several weighty scientific-practical projects are being implemented into life in the field of endocrinology. A bright example of this is the scientific-practical research aimed at the development and integration into practice of the scientific methods of diagnosis and treatment of the thyroid gland diseases, and the application of the advanced techniques of prevention and treatment of diabetes, hypophysic tumors, adrenal glands, and other endocrine diseases.
As a result of this research, a new method of surgical treatment of hypo-physic brain adenoma has been found and applied in practice. Today this method is widely practiced in the neuro-surgery division of the Republican Scientific Centre of Emergency Medical Aid.
As noted during the conference, for the endocrinology, as well as for the other fields of medicine, one of the important tasks requiring close attention is not only the creation of efficiency methods of treatment, but also the intensification of the preventive measures. The positive results in this context are produced through the creation of a solid legal framework for the provision of iodine-fortified salt for the population, as well as through active cooperation between the medical institutions and government agencies, public organizations and educational facilities.
An important guide for action to further improve the scientific-practical work in this sphere is the Presidential Decree of 19 September 2007 "On the main directions for further reforms and implementation of the State Programme of Healthcare Development", and the Resolution of 2 October 2007 "On measures to improve the organization of the activity of medical institutions of the republic." According to these documents, a Specilaised Scientific-Practical Medical Centre of Endocrinology has been set up on the base of the Scientific-Research Institute of Endocrinology of the Ministry of Healthcare of Uzbekistan and its clinic.
During the conference reports were delivered on the scientific discoveries in the field of endocrinology, the prospects of providing endocrinological services to the population of Uzbekistan, the new techniques and modern methods of diagnosis and treatment of a number of diseases. They exchanged opinions on the issues concerning the achievements of local and world medicine in this sphere.
NEW ACADEMIC TEXTBOOK ON EUROPEAN UNION LAW INTRODUCED AT UWED
Integration processes taking place in Europe these days have been at the forefront of the world's attention. An academic discipline that examines this phenomenon has equally been receiving the same extent of interest.
Research centers and institutions devoted to European Studies and integration processes have been functioning in most major countries. Almost all prestigious educational institutions in the world command carefully elaborated curricula on European Union Law.
In the meantime, academic courses focusing on that subject matter have lately been acquiring wider acceptance in Uzbekistan as well. Although a lot of hard work is still to be done, one can acknowledge that the initial fundamental steps are nonetheless being taken.
Starting from 2005, in particular, a course on European Union Law (European Union and Community Law) and the one on European Law have been introduced into academic curricula at the International Law Department, University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, and have so far enjoyed a wide popularity and success. Plans are underway at the UWED to establish a special department, later to become a faculty, dealing with European Union Law.
An academic textbook, written by young outstanding scholar Khaydarali Yunusov, is one of the first important steps towards the mentioned goals. The textbook is primarily intended for those who are interspersed in the integration process of the European Union and for the university students of Uzbekistan. To this end, it is the first textbook that was prepared in Uzbek and presents Uzbek national schools of EU Law with particular interests of Uzbek audience located outside the Union in mind.
It has been constructed upon the knowledge base accumulated by author when studying at higher education institutions in France as a grantee of the UMID Foundation created by Uzbekistan's President. The textbook reflects the essence of European Union Law, issues of European integration, its institutional system, as well as legal bases of EU-Uzbekistan relations.
Primary sources published in English and French are broadly used in the textbook, incorporating, therefore, the latest changes and amendments in the EU Law. The analysis of the Nice and Athens Treaties that entered into force in 2003-2004 clearly evidence that fact.
Besides, author examined the prospects of new draft a Constitution for European Union that is now in the process of ratification. Surely, such an approach in terms of a very dynamic and easily changing law of integration would add value to this textbook.
On the other hand, author's attempt to explain the nuances of European Union Law by analyzing and comparing it in correlation with national and international law may be considered as the other positive feature of the textbook.
Additionally, the textbook widely refers to the case law, what is a real novelty for traditional Uzbek Law School. Specific legal problem is explained deriving from the concrete legal fact. With this aim, frequent references to the practice of the European Court of Justice, International Court of Justice and International Courts of Arbitration make the topic very much interesting.
General issues of integration, the forms and stages of integration, historical and ideological basis of the European Union integration, institutional structure and the activities of the main bodies of the Union are explained in detail. Particular attention is given to the role that is played by the European Parliament and national parliaments in decision-making process. Special attention is drawn to the principles of proportionality and subsidiarity that are said to be "golden rules" of the integration.
The academic textbook consists of nine chapters, and is made up of 640 pages in total the annexes. Chapters are interrelated with each other, and at the same time carry independent profound meaning. Each chapter is composed of introduction, main body and short summary as a conclusion. Besides, every chapter starts with jokes and various sayings about the European Union that serves to improve the mood of the reader and raise his interest. This is one more evidence to the fact that entirely new approach was used in preparing the textbook.
Finally, in the annex of the textbook, you can find various statistical information concerning economic and political growth, geographic and demographic figures about the European Union member States, as well as a short chronological order of the process of the European integration.
Besides, the Uzbek translation of Shuman Declaration and the Treaty on the European Union are annexed for the first time and no doubt, it is one more specific feature of this textbook.
The academic textbook is written in accordance with educational standards and in compliance with relevant curriculum of the University of World Economy and Diplomacy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan.
The structure, contain, language, logical order of topics and the richness of the literature used in the textbook fully conform to the academic requirements of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of Uzbekistan.
It is introduced into the curricula of UWED, and has successfully been established as a textbook for such disciplines as EU Law (5th year undergraduates) and European Law (1st year Masters); and is approved and recommended as a academic textbook for the Law faculties students by the decision of the Coordinating Council for the activities of inter-university academic-methodological associations of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of Uzbekistan.
The textbook is suggested to the wide range of readers, specifically to the graduate and post graduate students of higher education, teachers and lecturers of Law institutions and faculties, practical workers and staff of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as of other institutions that specialize in foreign relations and European affairs.