November 14, 2007
Economics:
Uzbek, Italian intergovernmental working group meets to discuss trade cooperation
The value of the banking capital
Crystallization of big chemical industry
Uzbekneftegaz, Lukoil Overseas start supply of gas from Khauzak area
Society:
ISESCO-Led Forum Takes Off In Samarkand & Bukhara
Khorezm Mamun Academy Reopening Turns 10
National Design State & Prospects Addressed In Tashkent
10 Year-Old Talent Found Best In Contest, Earns Top Gifts
Specialists learn how to prepare reports on gender issues
ECONOMY
UZBEK, ITALIAN INTERGOVERNMENTAL WORKING GROUP MEETS TO DISCUSS TRADE COOPERATION
On November 13 the Third session of the Uzbek-Italian Intergovernmental working group on trade, economic and industrial cooperation and export credits met in Tashkent.
The representatives of ministries and departments, companies and firms of two states participated at the meeting, UzA reported.
Mr. Juraev, deputy minister of foreign economic relations, investments and trade of Uzbekistan, said the relation between two states is developing successfully in many spheres, including trade-economic and humanitarian.
The report said the trade turnover between two states made up US$42.2 million in January-September.
It added the exports of Uzbekistan to Italy grew by 37.2% in comparison with last year. Some 42 joint ventures with Italian investments work in Uzbekistan and seven Italian companies have their offices in the country.
Mr. Milos Budin, deputy foreign trade minister of Italy, said Italy is interested in development of cooperation with Uzbekistan. Favourable investment climate in Uzbekistan attracts interests of Italian businesses, he said. He added that the aim of Italy is to further expand and strengthen mutual beneficial cooperation in energy, economy, agriculture, textile, food industry, banking-finance sector and tourism.
The session discussed the issues of increase of bilateral trade turnover and expansion of the production range of the ventures. The sides discussed economic potential of two states and perspectives of cooperation, as well as issues on further strengthening of bilateral relations.
On the same day, the business forum of Uzbekistan and Italy took place. The business circles of two state participated in the work of the forum, UzA reported.
Italian businesses got acquainted with privatization processes, reforms in economy, development of private businesses, potential of machinery, oil, mining, food, light industry and other sectors of Uzbekistan.
THE VALUE OF THE BANKING CAPITAL
The state has continued the course on integration of banking system, having raised requirements to the minimal size of the authorized capital of Uzbek banks. According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan of January 1, 2008 the minimal size of the authorized capital of newly created commercial banks will make 5 million euro, for private banks – 2.5 million euro in soum equivalent.
The state has also continued the policy on tax stimulation of attraction of means in long-term actives, which can be used for financing investments into a fixed capital. According to the document, since the 1st January, 2008 for the period of 3 years the percentage incomes of legal persons received from deposited and debited securities of commercial banks for the term of more than 1 year are released from the taxation.
Also the Republican Association of Collection of Payment is exempted from payment of value added tax and the property tax under the condition of target direction of liberated means for strengthening of material base of the collection service.
The decision determines that the commercial banks, which have licenses for realization of the banking activity, have the right to carry out professional work on the securities market as the investment intermediary operating investment actives and the investment adviser. At the same time commercial banks do not require reception of the separate license for realization of the specified kinds of activity.
It is recommended to the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan, commercial banks, credit unions, microcredit organizations and insurance companies to develop and provide in a month the realization of concrete measures on the expansion of the network of bank establishments, including the mini-banks, special cash departments, and exchangers with their arrangement in territory of the food markets.
Special value is given to attraction of means of business subjects and physical persons who are carrying out the activity in the food markets, on savings and urgent deposits, including temporary storage of available assets from realization of agricultural production, with charge of percentage incomes to investors per every day of storage of means.
Among prime measures it is also offered to activate the process of granting to dehkan facilities, trading-purchasing firms and other subjects of small and private business of credits and microfinancial services, and also services on insurance of risks related to delivery, storage and realization of agricultural production in the food markets.
Currently the volume of assets and the cumulative capital of commercial banks in comparison with 2000 have increased by 7.6 and 7.4 times respectively. The volume of contributions of the population has grown by 38 times, receipts of cash money resources in cash departments of banks - by 8.1 times, credit investments in real sector of economy - by 5 times. Such high rates speak about the growth of trust in the banking system. Bank contributions today are not only effective savings mean, but also investments in development of the real sector of economy.
As a push to it, undoubtedly, has served toughening requirements to own capital of the credit organizations. Tax privileges which commercial banks have received for the period till January 1, 2012, at granting medium and long-term credits for modernization of manufactures according to the decision of the Head of the State, and also active capitalization of financial sector have raised interest of the enterprises to attraction of means inside the country.
By the character of interaction with other sectors of economy the banking system of Uzbekistan resembles bank systems of developed countries, which are carrying out intensive pure crediting of the national nongovernmental sector. In essence this variant of development means activization of the potential of long-term crediting of the economy able to give a push to the growth of industrial investments.
CRYSTALLIZATION OF BIG CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
The Uzbek chemical and petrochemical industry is quite stable but its potential is not fully used up. The ChemPlast 2007, the first Central Asian international exhibition that has taken place this week in Tashkent’s “O’zekspomarkaz” is a real opportunity for the country to show its progress and opportunities.
Favorable opportunities in consumer market, motor-car and farming industries stimulate the technological development of the chemical and petrochemical enterprises. Establishing new industries (primarily, polymers in chemical industry) must increase the depth of processing raw materials and semi-finished products and share of innovative goods. Therefore, the exhibition’s organizers: the world exhibition operator of the British ITE (International Trade and Exhibitions) intended to make narrow specialization expositions dominant here. Over 30 participants from 12 countries around the world presented the visitors their equipment and technologies for plastic manufacture and processing and raw materials and resources for petrochemical industry. The exhibition was organized with the support of Uzbek Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Agricultural and Water Resources.
The absolute leader in this segment of market is the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex that was launched in late 2001 and it continues developing its production and enlarging it. The “Uzbekneftegas” National Holding Company plans to increase the complex’s capacity from current 125 thousand tons to 225 thousand tons of polyethylene a year on the basis of ethane, extracted on sets of the “Shurtanneftegas” Subsidiary Company by piping transportation to the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex. Another investor, Korean Gas Corporation (KOGAZ), shows its activeness as well. The company aims to participate in the construction of a new gas chemical complex worth around US$ 1 billion on the “Surgil” gas field in Ustyurt. The capacity of new complex that is to be built by 2012 will be around 150 thousand tons of polyethylene and polypropylene.
The expansion of industrial integration with other industries will be a leading aspect of developing the chemical and petrochemical sector in near time. The Uzbek tubing industries, inspired with upturn of construction and communal markets are organizing new productions. The OSC “Jizzax plastmassa” chooses the import substitution in manufacturing pipes for water supply and sanitation as a priority. The market perspectives induce the company to launch new enterprises. “Taking into consideration desire of our customers, we are expanding the range of our products”, said Hayser Mambetov, the company’s engineer, in an interview with the Uzbekistan Today. “We aim to set up production of pipes of 630 millimeters thick and pipe-bends for drinking and technical water supply and sanitation with the capacity of 3.2 thousand tons”.
Another participant of this exhibition, Volgograd OSC “Caustic” developed rather ambitious investment program. The JV “Navoiplast”, set up by the Russian company and OSC “Navoiazot”, intends to construct a plant for manufacturing hydrate of sodium and polyvinylchloride in Uzbekistan. It will have output of 120 thousand tons of polyvinylchloride and 80 thousand tons of hydrate of sodium a year. The new plant is to be launched in Navoi by 2009. The total volume of planned investment is US$ 200 million. Specialists of the “O’zkimyosanoat” think that products of the “Navoiplast” will be of high demand not only in the domestic market but also in CIS countries where demand for polymers has doubled in last three years and tendencies to reduction of demand is not observed now. Polymeric goods are widely used in construction (plastic windows, linoleum, sanitary engineering, panels) and packaging. Both market segments show stable growth, therefore, investment in polyvinylchloride projects promise quite rapid return.
Moreover, the matter concerns not only the link “chemistry — oil processing” but also prolongation of technological chain from raw deliverer to final manufacturer in the sector of auto-components where investment activeness is marked. Increasing output in mechanical engineering attracts local, Russian and foreign investors. A number of polymeric component part manufacturers are already acting under the production localization program in the CSC “UzDaewoo auto” and “O’zqishloqmash-xolding”.
UZBEKNEFTEGAZ, LUKOIL OVERSEAS START SUPPLY OF GAS FROM KHAUZAK AREA
Uzbekneftegaz national holding company and Lukoil Overseas have started the supply of gas from the Khauzak area (Bukhara region of Uzbekistan) within the framework of implementation of the PSA for the Kandym-Khauzak-Shady-Kungrad project, Uzreport.com Business Information Portal reported.
The start of the gas supply is the most important stage of the implementation of the Khauzak gas field development project. As of today, five wells have been commissioned in the field, a gas treatment unit has been started, gas-refining facilities at the Mubarek gas plant and the gas transportation via the Central Asia-Center Pipeline have been prepared, according to a press release of company.
Starting from 8 November, continuous supply of feedstock from the wells to the Dengizkul-Mubarek pipeline is being ensured. All equipment that has passed the necessary inspection, start-up and commissioning and pilot operation is working in a normal mode.
The field is fully staffed; the engineering and technical personnel underwent relevant training at the professional training centers of the gas industry of Uzbekistan and Russia. Marketing services started commercial operations for selling the marketable gas, the release said.
At the same time, further drilling and additional exploration of the area are carried out using three drilling rigs. All construction, assembly and commissioning operations are carried out at the highest technical, technological and organizational level with obligatory observance of the strictest environmental and industrial safety requirements.
The ceremony of starting up the Khauzak gas field will be held at the end of November this year.
SOCIETY
ISESCO-LED FORUM TAKES OFF IN SAMARKAND & BUKHARA
As has been reported by the Information Agency “Jahon”, on November 13 this year the International scientific and practical conference “Uzbekistan – Homeland For Great Thinkers of Islamic world” opened in Samarkand. On November 14 the Conference moved onto the ancient city of Bukhara, where it has continued its work.
The prominent scientific and public figures from the countries of Near and Middle East are participating at the said Conference, Muzaffar Zakhidov and Ghayrat Shukurov of the Information Agency “Jahon” reported from Samarkand.
While speaking to the Information Agency “Jahon” the participants of the event shared their views on contribution of scholars and thinkers of Uzbekistan to the development of Islamic civilization, as well as the current undertakings of the Uzbek leadership and the people on preserving the historical, spiritual and architectural monuments.
“The goal of our visit to Uzbekistan is to promote further development and strengthening of scientific, cultural and spiritual relations between the people of Uzbekistan and Arab states through prism of common Islamic religion”, - the Professor at the Bahrain University Umar Abdul Aziz Ali has said. “I want to note that there is long standing traditionally friendly ties between Uzbekistan and the Arab world”.
It is an open secret that the outstanding scholars and thinkers lived and worked on the ancient soil of Movarounnakhr. Thanks to their scientific feat they have enormously contributed to the dissemination of Islamic teaching.
According to the prominent Egyptian scholar, the founder of the Institute for Asian Researches az-Zakozik Rafat al-Sheikh, holding of such conference in Samarkand and Bukhara is “an evidence of recognition of flourishing of Islam in the Uzbek soil”. “We know that 57 states are the members of the ISESCO”, - al-Shaikh has further said, “and the fact that Tashkent has been announced by this respected international organization as the capital of Islamic culture in 2007 is another confirmation to the aforesaid”.
Abdulla bin Arafa of Morocco, who represents the ISESCO at the Conference, has said: “During our visit to Uzbekistan we have become convinced that the large-scale work on preserving and reviving the historical monuments of culture is now underway in the country. It is of an enormous cultural, political and economic significance, which promotes the globalization of cultures. ISESCO will strive to support the efforts of Uzbekistan on preserving of its invaluable Islamic cultural heritage”.
According to the head of the department for Orient at the University of Ayn-Shams Majid Mahluf of Egypt, “in the medieval centuries among the mamlyuks, who ruled Egypt, there were also the Uzbeks. There was a man by the name Uzbek Saif. He was very influential and strong-willed military commander, who has left his trace in the history of Egypt. In particular, he built the Friday Mosque in the center of Cairo. Thus, up to date in honor of this mosque the park has been preserved in the downtown Cairo, which is called “Uzbekiya”.
“If to speak about “takiyas” (part of the territory of one state or another, where the Muslim pilgrims could stay there along their travels to holy Mecca), I would like to say that such Uzbek “takiya” has been in place alongside the contemporary Salahitdin Fortress in Cairo. Some sources say that one of such Muslim pilgrims, who used to stay awhile on his route to Mecca, was the great compiler of hadeeth (sayings, orders and traditions of holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), Imam Bukhariy. His scientific works testify to the aforesaid”, he added.
According to Mahluf, the aforementioned facts are evidence of close historical and cultural ties between the Uzbek and Arab people, as well as invaluable contribution of the scholars and thinkers of Uzbekistan to the development of Islamic civilization.
KHOREZM MAMUN ACADEMY REOPENING TURNS 10
The Khorezm Mamun Academy, which has been revived ten years ago upon the initiative of President of Uzbekistan, serves the noble goal – to develop the native science and strengthen the international cultural and scientific cooperation.
On November 11, 1997 President Islam Karimov signed the Law “On reviving the Khorezm Mamun Academy”, according to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.
At the festivities on the occasion of the 1000th anniversary of the Khorezm Mamun Academy the Uzbek Leader said that this academy is one of the ancient cradles of civilization, which stands on the same rank with the Plato Academy in Athens, Alexandria Library, renowned Baghdad Academy of “Baytul-Hikma”, and serves as a vivid example of the Oriental Renaissance.
The history of the Academy, which has been glorified with the name of “Dorul-hikma”, dates back the early tenth century. Such researches as those in astronomy, mathematics, medicine, chemistry, geography, mineralogy, history, philosophy, literature and theology were undertaken there. The scholars of the Academy were engaged in translations and studied the works of Indian, Greek and Arab scholars.
Ten centuries have passed before the Academy has again been reopened – now on the territory of modern Uzbekistan. The profound work on further raising the scientific potential of the country is now underway.
At the moment, the Museum of History of Science operates at the Khorezm Mamun Academy. The modern information resource center offers about 17,800 copies of books, more than one hundred of them make up the rare historical manuscripts and lithography. Besides, there is a publishing department at the Academy, which issues the Khorezm Mamun Academy News Bulletin and other science collections.
The scholars of the Academy are cooperating with a number of scientific institutions. Such relations were established with the Sorbonne University and Academy of Sciences of France, the Egyptian University Ayn Shams, the Korean University Kwon-hi, the Royal Scientific and Research Center Faysal in Saudi Arabia and other prestigious scientific institutions.
Recently a group of scholars from Malaysia specially arrived in Uzbekistan to propose about the exposition of the Khorezm Mamun Academy Museum to be held at the exhibition “The contribution of Muslim scholars to the world civilization” due in this country in 2008.
NATIONAL DESIGN STATE & PROSPECTS ADDRESSED IN TASHKENT
Early November this year the scientific conference dedicated to the prospects of the national design was held in Tashkent. The Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan jointly with the Kamoliddin Bekhzod National Institute of Arts and Design organized the event, Uzbekistan National News Agency reported.
The leading artists, designers, architects, professors and teachers at the higher educational institutions, as well as students participated in it.
The Rector of the Institute A.Egamov, senior scholar secretary of the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan K.Akilova and others are reported to have said that the work now underway in the country to develop the national design, support and encourage the creative workers of this sphere turns successful.
The development of the design is indissolubly related with such spheres as construction and architecture, fine and applied arts, textiles and others. This direction is consistently developing in harmonic combination with national and modern traditions.
At the moment such higher educational institutions of Uzbekistan as the National Institute of Arts and Design, the Abu Raykhon Beruniy Tashkent State Technical University, the Tashkent Architecture and Construction Institute and the Samarkand State Architecture and Construction Institute are training the qualified cadres in this direction.
The participants of the conference comprehensively analyzed the training of designers and spoke on the prospects of development of design in Uzbekistan, outstanding problems of industrial design, as well as history of national clothes of various provinces around Uzbekistan.
Within the framework of the event the fashion show of national clothes created by the Uzbek students of the aforesaid institute has been demonstrated, the report also said.
10 YEAR-OLD TALENT FOUND BEST IN CONTEST, EARNS TOP GIFTS
Upon the initiative of President Islam Karimov a special attention is now paid to upbringing of harmonically developed young generation in Uzbekistan. It bears its results.
The win of the fourth-grade student at the Republican specialized music academic lyceum named after Glier Tokhirjon Askarov serves a vivid example to this, the local papers reported.
He was recognized as the best at the 30th International contest of young pianists “Le Muse” held in October this year in Italy. The young gifted musician has been awarded the presents from the President of Uzbekistan. The scholars of music studies, artists, teachers, representatives of the community and students participated at the event held on such occasion at the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan.
President Islam Karimov, who receives his fee as an Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan hands over it as scholarships to the gifted students at the Republican specialized music academic lyceums named after Uspenskiy and Glier. Daniil Khalikov, Nodir Khoshimov, Sherali Tursunmatov and Bekhzod Abdurakhimov have been honored with such scholarships.
Now the ten year-old Tokhirjon Askarov is among them. He has successfully performed at the “Sanat gunchalari” contest, republican competitions, as well as festivals of artistic creation. The music forum in the Italian city of Acropolis – the first international contest in his life. The Uzbek young musician has virtuoso performed the works of prominent foreign and Uzbek composers at the contest of talents with participation of the representatives of more than 15 countries and earned top marks.
At the event in Tashkent the Professor of the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan Marat Gumarov, mother of the young pianist Zarifa Askarova, the teacher of the Glier Republican specialized music academic lyceum Iroda Jakhongirova are reported to have thanked the President for the care and attention shown in supporting the young talents.
Tokhirjon Askarov was awarded with the presents of the Uzbek Leader – the piano and the modern computer.
“I am much inspired and excited with such wonderful presents of our President”, - the young musician has said. “My father, my mother, my teachers and friends, all together are glad with me. As a gratitude to such care I will earn only “A” (‘stands for mark five in the Uzbekistan education system as the top one earned by students in schools and colleges’) and strive for more biggest creative successes”.
The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Rustam Kasymov is reported to have participated at the event.
SPECIALISTS LEARN HOW TO PREPARE REPORTS ON GENDER ISSUES
A group of specialists of Uzbekistan will get acquainted with methodologies on scientific and social research on gender issues at UNDP-backed training on November 13-15. The training will be followed by a three-month distance course.
The joint project of the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan and UNDP "Legislative and Institutional Capacity Development for Women's Empowerment in Uzbekistan" organized the training. The project goals are to support and build the capacity of the government, civil society and mass media in reducing the gender gaps via raising awareness of and implementing the recommendations of the UN CEDAW Committee to Uzbekistan. It is envisaged to achieve the goal via building the capacity of researchers, improving their professionalism in conducting of scientific and sociological research on gender issues.
The training aims to promote research on the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and women's rights issues. About 25 specialists, post-graduate students and sociologists, engaged in scientific and sociological researches, are taking part in the work of the training.
This training serves as an induction session to a three-month distance course, which will be held from December 2007 to February 2008. The results of the course will be summed up in March 2008 at the concluding meeting.
During this initial training the participants will get familiarized with various aspects of women's rights protection, including gender equality, respective legislation, issues of violence against women, research methodologies, preparation of reports and others.
The training will be delivered by Ms. Marianna Muravyeva who holds a Ph.D. in History of Family Law from Saint Petersburg State University. She works as senior lecturer in Law and Political and Legal Theories of Herzen State Pedagogical University. Ms. Muravyeva is the author of various publications on crime and sexual violence, marriage and family, gender issues and others.
Malika Inakova, project manager of "The Legislative and Institutional Capacity Development for Women's Empowerment in Uzbekistan", said: "The training is directed at improving skills and knowledge [of scholars] in qualitative and comprehensive research of problems, connected with the position of women in Uzbekistan. In its turn, this will create strong scientists' network, who will communicate and conduct studies in gender issues. The network will help to strengthen the scientific base [in the country] and propose concrete measures to improve legislation and show that the improvement of the society is connected with the well-being and the prosperity of women."
The CEDAW Convention adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is an international document on the rights of women. Uzbekistan was the first Central Asian country to ratify the convention in 1995 and has reported twice to the CEDAW Committee on its implementation. The country will present its next report in August 2008.