12 May, 2006
Politics
Uzbek leader meets his Russian counterpart in Sochi
President decrees to create Fund on Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan
Uzbek agency publishes comments on presidential decree
SCO FMs to meet in Shanghai next week
Economics
Russian companies can become owners of many objects – Karimov
Russian business can participate in Uzbek privatization processes
Uzbek-Italian business forum held in Tashkent
Uzbek oil and gas exhibition launches on 16 May
Uzbek-Korean Development Bank starts operation
UzKDB plans to become leader in Central Asia, CIS
Power Uzbekistan 2006 opens next week
IEG to organise tea, coffee exhibition in Tashkent
4m electronic meters to be installed in Uzbekistan till 2008
Oxus increases holding in Marakand to 85.78%
Society
Conference discusses treatment of TB in Uzbekistan
Delegation of Uzbek university visits Belgium
Westminster University in Tashkent hosts conference on education
Bukhara to host festival of Uzbek costume
POLITICS
UZBEK LEADER MEETS HIS RUSSIAN COUNTERPART IN SOCHI
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of Russia Vladimir Putin held negotiations in Sochi, Russia, to discuss development of bilateral cooperation on Friday, 12 May.
The Uzbek president arrived in Sochi with working visit on invitation of the Russian side.
The leaders of two states considered issues on economic and political cooperation, as well as situation in the region.
Speaking about ratification of Uzbek-Russian allied relations treaty, Putin said this was stage on formation of new quality of collaboration between countries.
Uzbek president expressed his gratitude to Russian parliament and president for ratification of the agreement.
President Karimov said it is historically important document. He said it will open new page and new opportunities in relations between Uzbekistan and Russia.
The leaders of two states discussed economic and energy issues. It was noted that the bilateral trade turnover between Russia and Uzbekistan reached US$2billion in 2005 and in the first quarter of 2006 it increased by 26.1% year-on-year to US$402 million.
Presidents discussed issues on participation of Uzbekistan in Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC). Eurasian Economic Community is also economic union and unites Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan joined the community on 25 January 2006.
Uzbek president suggested to strengthen regional integration, including through attraction of Russian capital to privatization of strategic objects in Uzbekistan.
Uzbek leader said the Russian companies can participate in privatization processes in Uzbekistan and own Uzbek assets. Uzbek leader underlined high development of relations between Uzbekistan and Russia and offered increase efficiency of cooperation in investment sphere.
Leaders of Uzbekistan and Russian discussed perspective of further political contacts, military and military-technical cooperation.
Issues on ensuring stability and security of Central Asia were also discussed between leaders. The leaders of two states considered issues on expansion of cooperation in neutralization of threats and challenges from international terrorism and prevention illegal turnover drugs.
PRESIDENT DECREES TO CREATE FUND ON RECONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF UZBEKISTAN
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed decree "On creation of Fund on Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan" on Thursday, 11 May.
The decree aimed to ensure realization of projects on modernization and technical re-equipment of leading, first of all basic sectors of economy, achieve dynamic, sustainable and balanced social-economic development of the country, as well as to carry out effective structural and investment policy.
The fund is created under Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan and has legal status. The charter capital of the fund will be US$1 billion.
The document entrusted Cabinet of Ministers to develop and approve regulation on fund within a month. The decree said the Fund would accumulate financial means of the government, economic entities, commercial banks, foreign funds and investors and other interested structure.
The fund will finance important projects, which will have great impact in realization of priority tasks in development of economy, structural reforms and modernization of production. The fund will also credit programmes on modernization and technical re-equipment of strategic important enterprises, first of all basic sectors of economy.
The fund will ensure financing modernization and re-equipment of enterprises in fuel-energy complex, chemical industry, machinery and nonferrous metallurgy.
The fund will finance realization of national socially significant state programmes and projects on formation of production and non-production infrastructure in perspective, but undeveloped regions.
Financing of modernization and development of transport and telecommunication networks will be also among priorities of the fund. The fund will organize joint financing of the projects with international financial institutions, credit establishments in Uzbekistan and foreign countries.
The decree said international and foreign funds and investors, interested in realization (co-financing) important investment projects in Uzbekistan, can be added to structure of founders of the fund with decision of the government. At the same time, they will join Council on Fund Management.
The main sources for formation of the fund will be additional receipts, formed in the result of favourable conjecture of world prices to strategic resources and taxes and payments from economic entities, set by the Cabinet of Ministers during adoption of state budget for coming year.
Assets of the government in foreign currency, incomes from realization of product-sharing agreement with foreign partners, funds received from realisation of state property to foreign investors in hard currency in excess of set volumes in state budget's income, investment incomes from management of assets of the fund and other receipts and incomes will be used in formation of the fund's assets.
Cabinet of Ministers was entrusted to form assets of the fund at the volume of US$1 billion at the account of the fund at the Central Bank within 2006/09.
The document set that the supreme body of the fund is Council on Fund Management. The decree approved its structure and set the council's tasks.
In particular, the council will develop main directions of the fund's activity, allocate funds to commercial banks to refinancing (co-financing) enterprises, set interest rates on loans and others.
The council will control over targeted and effective use of funds and timely allocation of credit lines to commercial banks and repayment of loans.
The presidential decree exempted fund from all types of taxes, duties and obligatory payments, except single social payment.
UZBEK AGENCY PUBLISHES COMMENTS ON PRESIDENTIAL DECREE
Uzbekistan News Agency (UzA) published comment on presidential decree "On creation of the Fund on Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan", signed on 11 May.
Commenting necessity of creation of the fund, the report said the fund will promote systematic and gradual modernization of economy, speed up economic sectors, which should be locomotive of the Uzbek economy and lay ground for sustainable economic development in perspective.
Second, the fund should assist to use existing potential of the country fully, first of all in utilization of natural resources.
Total resources of natural gas in Uzbekistan comprise 7.8 trillion cubic metres, oil and condensate about 1 million tonnes. At the same time, exploration of oil-and-gas bearing regions in Uzbekistan is only 28.2% and on perspective Ustyurt and Surkhandarya region – only 7–8%.
The natural resources of Uzbekistan valued at the volume of US$11 trillion, of which only 17% explored. Uzbekistan is rich for copper, uranium, metals and other materials. Uzbekistan needs large investments in exploration, mining and processing of raw material on modern technologies.
Third, integration of Uzbekistan to world economic system and expansion of access of Uzbek goods to world markets and increase of export, it will be required to develop transport communication, modern production and social infrastructure, in perspective, but in undeveloped regions. The investments will be required to realize these.
Fourth, important task is speeding up development of production, which will ensure processing of existing resources to ready products.
Fifth, the serious attention is need to development and introduction to production of new technologies, especially in information-communication sphere. New technologies will allow to increase effectiveness of production and competitiveness of products.
The report said the realization of social programmes, like National School Development Programme and National Staff Training Programme, is also one of priorities. The implementation of these and other programmes will require great investments. The report said investment into human is one of the most effective investments.
Uzbekistan needs to mobilize significant resources and creation of the Fund with large capital. For this reason, the charter capital of the fund will be formed at US$1 billion.
The report said the creation of the Fund became possible thanks to strengthening of economic potential and accumulation of resources necessary to realization of strategic tasks.
The fund will accumulate existing resources and direct it to development and modernization basics sectors of Uzbek economy.
Among founders of the fund are Finance Ministry and largest Uzbek commercial banks, including National Bank of Uzbekistan, Asaka Bank, Uzpromstroybank and others.
SCO FMS TO MEET IN SHANGHAI NEXT WEEK
Foreign Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), six-member regional organization, will gather in Shanghai next Monday for an annual meeting.
"The foreign ministers will attend the regular meeting of the SCO Foreign Ministers' Council, which will pave the way for the SCO summit scheduled for mid June in Shanghai," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Tuesday.
"The foreign ministers will discuss how to deepen the SCO cooperation in all fields and confer on international and regional issues of common concern," the spokesman said.
Dubbed a new model of regional cooperation, the SCO is made up of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.
ECONOMICS
RUSSIAN COMPANIES CAN BECOME OWNERS OF MANY OBJECTS – KARIMOV
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov at the meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sochi ON 12 May dwelled on the presence of Russia in the Uzbek market. It is necessary to raise the effectiveness of investment activity, he said.
"Uzbekistan differs advantageously from other countries firs of all because it did not hasten with privatisation processes. Strategic objects need solution of the issue connected with privatisation," Karimov said.
"Russian companies can take an active part in this process, so that they could not only be present at the market, but also acquire a lot of large property objects," the Uzbek leader noted.
RUSSIAN BUSINESS CAN PARTICIPATE IN UZBEK PRIVATIZATION PROCESSES
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov said the Russian companies can actively participate in privatization processes in Uzbekistan.
Meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Sochi, Russia, on Friday, Uzbek leader said the Russian companies can participate in privatization processes in Uzbekistan and own Uzbek assets.
Uzbek leader underlined high development of relations between Uzbekistan and Russia and offered increase efficiency of cooperation in investment sphere.
UZBEK-ITALIAN BUSINESS FORUM HELD IN TASHKENT
Hotel Dedeman Silk Road Tashkent hosted a business forum of Uzbek and Italian business circles on 11 May.
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Italian-Uzbek Trade Chamber (CIUZ) and Chamber of trade, industry, agriculture and handicraft of Milan (Promos) are organizers of the event.
The aim of the business is further development of trade-economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Italy. The meetings focused on cooperation and mutual beneficial cooperation in textile and natural resources.
Luigi Iperti, president of CIUZ, said Italy can assist Uzbek business in production of modern goods both for internal and external markets, including Russia and the west.
Uzbekistan is one of the largest producers and exports of cotton and silk, he said. Now, it should become largest produce of textile products and ready garments, he added.
Iperti said Italy has modern equipment and technologies, which is necessary for Uzbek entrepreneurs to development. Italy will assist Uzbek business to occupy important positions in fashion industry, he added.
Giovanni Calalaluna, member of council of CIUZ, said Uzbekistan possesses oil, gas and gold and Italy does not have them. Bit if unite two economies, the cooperation will be mutually beneficial, he added.
CIUZ was founded on 15 November 2002 and unites large, small and medium enterprises working in various sectors. Currently, it has 36 member-companies. Last year, the chamber opened office in Tashkent.
The main aim of the chamber is to acquaint Italian businesses with economic potential of Uzbekistan and boost trade turnover between two countries.
In September 2005, the delegation of Tashkent commerce chamber visited Milan and the current visit is return, Iperti said. He said that the Uzbek businesses visit Italy to establish trade relations.
Iperti said such meetings allow to establish mutual beneficial relations among business circles of two states. He said tourism should be added to relations between countries.
He said Italian journalists visited Uzbekistan and their articles should boost inflow of Italian tourists.
Angelo Persiani, Ambassador of Italy to Uzbekistan, said the Italian government is interested in development of cooperation. He said Uzbekistan has great opportunities to lead in many sectors.
UZBEK OIL AND GAS EXHIBITION LAUNCHES ON 16 MAY
International exhibition and conference Oil and Gas Uzbekistan (OGU-2006), largest event of oil and gas sector of Uzbekistan, will mark its 10th anniversary.
The jubilee exhibition will be held on 16-18 May in Tashkent at Central Pavilion o Uzexpocentre. ITE Group Plc of Great Britain and ITE Uzbekistan are organsers of the event.
Uzbek exhibition is part of series of specialized events, organized by ITE Group Plc in various oil and gas exporter countries, including MIOGE in Moscow, KIOGE in Almaty, TUROGE in Turkey and others.
The exhibition is organised at the support of Uzbekneftegaz national holding company, Tashkent city administration and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.
Over 700 companies from 35 countries participated in the exhibition since its establishment and over 50,000 people visited it. The exhibition demonstrates achievements of local and foreign companies in oil and gas sector.
This year, the exhibition will be attended by over 120 companies from 15 countries, including Germany, Iran, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, USA, Turkey, Ukraine and others. It is expected that over 800 official delegates will participate in the conference. According to forecasts, over 10,000 people will visit the exhibition this year.
The area of the exhibition expands by 30% this year compared to previous year. ITE Uzbekistan said the share of Russian companies make up 40% from total number of participants or increases by 15% compared to last year's exhibition.
The significant place in the expositions will be allocated to modern technologies on intensification of oil and gas mining and processes, as well as use of alternative sources of energy.
Within the exhibition, the conference entitled "Silk Road in 21st century: role of oil and gas sector in integration of Central Asia states" will be held at InterContinental Hotel.
UZBEK-KOREAN DEVELOPMENT BANK STARTS OPERATION
Uzbek-Korean Development Bank (UzKDB), the Uzbek-Korean joint bank, received a licence to carry out banking activity in Uzbekistan.
A South Korean delegation led by the governor of the Korea Development Bank, Chang-Lok Kim, has arrived in Uzbekistan to attend the opening ceremony of the bank.
The delegation met the chairman of Uzbekistan's Central Bank, Fayzulla Mullajonov, on 6 May. During the meeting, the relevant licence was handed over.
The official opening ceremony of the bank took place on Monday, 8 May.
As earlier reported, Korea Development Bank purchased 61% stake at UzDaewoo Bank from Daewoo Securities. The KDB is one of the largest banks of the world with assets of US$95 billion. KDB has A rating with high credit solvency.
UZKDB PLANS TO BECOME LEADER IN CENTRAL ASIA, CIS
Uzbek-Korean Development Bank (UzKDB) will focus its efforts to become leading bank in Central Asia and in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), president of Korea Development Bank (KDB) Chang-Lok Kim said at official opening ceremony of UzKDB in Tashkent on 8 May.
As earlier reported, UzKDB, Uzbek-Korean joint venture, received license to carry out banking activity in Uzbekistan on 6 May. On 8 May, the bank organized official opening ceremony with participation of Uzbek officials, foreign finance specialists and representatives of KDB.
A South Korean delegation led by the governor of the Korea Development Bank, Chang-Lok Kim, has arrived in Uzbekistan to attend the opening ceremony of the bank.
The delegation met the chairman of Uzbekistan's Central Bank, Fayzulla Mullajonov, on 6 May. During the meeting, the relevant license was handed over.
The official opening ceremony of the bank took place on Monday, 8 May.
As earlier reported, Korea Development Bank purchased 61% stake at UzDaewoo Bank from Daewoo Securities. The KDB is one of the largest banks of the world with assets of US$95 billion. KDB has A rating with high credit solvency.
Other shareholders of UzKDB are European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (28%), National Bank of Uzbekistan for Foreign Economic Activities (5.5%) and Turon Bank (5.5%).
It was noted KDB's purchase of controlling interest in UzDaewoo Bank is important event both for economy of Uzbekistan and Central Asian region.
Chang-Lok Kim said the aim of new bank is long-term and wide-scale work not only in Uzbekistan, but also expansion of impact of Korean bank in Central Asia and further in CIS. He said Russia is key country in CIS region.
He said the bankers' efforts would be directed to turn UzKDB to leading bank in Central Asia.
One of the first steps of leadership of the bank will be increase of charter capital twice within three years. Currently, the charter capital is equal to US$9 million.
According to preliminary estimates, the KDB's initial investments to the Uzbek economy will make up US$2 million.
POWER UZBEKISTAN 2006 OPENS NEXT WEEK
First Uzbek international exhibition "Energy and Energy Saving – Power Uzbekistan-2006" will be held in Tashkent on 16-18 May.
The exhibition will be organized at Intercontinental Hotel along with "Oil and Gas Uzbekistan – OGU-2006", which will be held on the same time at Uzexpocentre.
ITE Group Plc and ITE Uzbekistan are organisers of exhibition at official support of Agricluture and Water Management Ministry, Tashkent city administration, Uzbekenergo and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.
Organisers hope that the exhibition will become one of the key events of power sector of Central Asian region.
Importance of Power Uzbekistan 2006 connected with important priorities of deepening of economic reforms in Uzbekistan in 2006, among of which is to undertake measures to ensure firm economy of energy resources.
The exhibition will grant opportunity to specialists of the sector to exchange information, familiarise with new technologies in energy sector and its development, as well as establish partnership relations.
Over 40 companies from Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, France, Turkey, Estonia and Uzbekistan will participated in the exhibition. The share of Uzbek companies in the exhibition made up 40% from total number of participants. The Russia's share is 30%.
IEG TO ORGANISE TEA, COFFEE EXHIBITION IN TASHKENT
International Exhibition Group (IEG) and its representative office in Uzbekistan – IEG Uzbekistan will organise First International Specialized Uzbekistan Exhibition "Tea and Coffee", which will be held on 9-11 June 2006 at UzExpoCenter in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
"Tea & Coffee 2006" Exhibition is a unique event, which will be undertaken for the first time in Central Asia. It is aimed at demonstration of centuries-old tea and coffee traditions of various countries, achievements of leading companies in tea and coffee producing and processing.
The exhibition is also focused on shaping the development prospects of tea industry in Uzbekistan. "Tea & Coffee 2006" is intended for wide range specialists, experts and businessmen operating in tea & coffee producing, processing, distribution and confectionary industry.
Within the framework of "Tea & Coffee 2006" event exhibitors will have opportunity to present their countries by special stands. Consequently the National Stands of Turkey, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russia, India, Indonesia, Sri-Lanka, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Iran, Vietnam and others would be organized.
The exhibition is officially supported by the Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan, Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Uzbek Food Processing Association , and embassies of the foreign countries in Uzbekistan ( India, China, Japan, Indonesia, Russia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, etc.).
4M ELECTRONIC METERS TO BE INSTALLED IN UZBEKISTAN TILL 2008
Over 4 million electronic meters will be installed in Uzbekistan till 2008 in line with resolution of Cabinet of Ministers "On measures on cardinal improvement of mechanism of settlement for use of electricity" and "On realization of additional measures on strengthening of system on counting and control over realization and use of electricity".
Uzbek news agency (UzA) reported that Elektron hisoblagich (Electronic Meter), an Uzbek-Chinese venture, produces 70,000 modern electronic metres annually.
Founders of Tashkent-based venture are Uzbekenergo state joint-stock company, Toshkent shahar electr tarmoqlari korhonasi and Hangzhou Zhongya Tehnology Co. Ltd of China, the report said.
It added the venture produces monophase and three-phase electronic metres. The report said Uzbek and Chinese specialists developed system on electricity counting and supervisory control. The project is under examination in places.
OXUS INCREASES HOLDING IN MARAKAND TO 85.78%
Oxus Gold plc has acquired an additional 2,906,407 ordinary shares of Marakand Minerals Limited, mainly from individual shareholders.
The company said following the acquisition, Oxus has increased its shareholding from 83,753,577 to 86,659,984 ordinary shares representing an increase from 82.91% to 85.78% of the ordinary issued share capital of Marakand.
As consideration for the purchase of the shares, application has been made to the London Stock Exchange for 968,800 new Oxus shares to be admitted to the AIM Market.
Dealings are expected to commence in the new ordinary shares at 17 May 2006. The new ordinary shares will rank pari passu with the existing shares of the company. Following the allotment the total issued share capital of the Company will be 298,107,972 ordinary shares.
The Oxus group was established in 1996 and listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) in London in 2001. Oxus' Amantaytau gold mine in Uzbekistan was built in a record ten months. Having poured first gold in December 2003, the oxides operation is currently ramping up to full production of 190,000 oz/pa at a cash cost of US$106/oz.
Marakand is developing the Khandiza deposit, a volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit that contains zinc, lead and copper sulphides and associated sliver and gold. Khandiza is located in southeast Uzbekistan in the Surkhandarya region.
The deposit was identified in 1957 and was well explored during the Soviet era. By the end of 1974, 77,000 meters of core drilling and 19,000 meters of underground exploration development had been completed, together with a considerable amount of metallurgical testwork on bulk samples, enabling a Soviet Feasibility Study to be prepared. The project was evaluated by Oxus Resources Corporation from 1996 until the formation of Marakand in November 2003. A confirmation drilling programme (30 holes totaling 3,776 meters) was completed by Oxus in 2001. Marakand completed its feasibility study in September 2004, which confirmed the project is financially and technically robust.
SOCIETY
CONFERENCE DISCUSSES TREATMENT OF TB IN UZBEKISTAN
Two-day conference entitled "Analyze of tuberculosis spread in Uzbekistan" opened in Tashkent on 11 May.
The conference discusses actual problems of diagnosis, monitoring, counting and reporting within National Programme on Fight Against Tuberculosis in Uzbekistan.
TB specialists will exchange information on current state of work sin fight against tuberculosis in Uzbekistan and discuss use of electronic systems on epidemiological control in the country and abroad.
It is planned to hold contest on the best electronic systems on epidemiological control of TB in Uzbekistan and the results of contest will be announced in the end of the second day.
Efforts of Uzbekistan in cooperation with various parents allowed to success in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of TB. Implementation of DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) strategy allows to reveal and treat people with TB.
DELEGATION OF UZBEK UNIVERSITY VISITS BELGIUM
A delegation of Tashkent State Technical University led by its rector Sh. Shoobidov visited Polytechnic Faculty in Mons, Belgium.
The visit organized within programme of presidential fund Istedod on improvement skills of young pedagogical and scientific staff.
Polytechnic Faculty of Mons was founded in 1870 as High Mining School. Currently, it is one of the leading technical universities of Belgium. Over thousand students study at the university. The faculty participates in European education programmes like ERASMUS, TEMPUS, TACIS.
The visit to Belgium is return visit. A delegation of Belgium faculty led by its rector Serge Boucher visited Uzbekistan in April 2003. During that visit, the sides determined directions of interaction and inked memorandum on cooperation.
The current visit allowed to concretize and stir up relations between the sides. The Uzbek scientists visited chairs, laboratories, acquainted with organization of education and scientific process at the Polytechnic Faculty.
During the visit, presentation of Tashkent State Technical University was held and the rector of Tashkent university acquainted participants with existing education system and staff training in Uzbekistan, as well as reforms in the sector.
Tashkent State Technical University and Polytechnic Faculty of Mons signed agreement of cooperation. The document envisages cooperation in research and training of staff, realize programmes on students' and professors' exchange, joint implementation of research projects, seminars and others.
Serge Boucher said in interview that the agreement is good result for the visit of the Uzbek delegation and pledge for successful cooperation in future. He said that Polytechnic Faculty of Mons would actively participate in the joint projects with the Uzbek side.
WESTMINSTER UNIVERSITY IN TASHKENT HOSTS CONFERENCE ON EDUCATION
International Westminster University in Tashkent hosted a conference "Management of international education: international trends and local sustainability" on 12 May.
Abdudjabbar Abduvahitov, rector of Westminster University in Tashkent, said it is the second event in series of annual scientific conferences. The first of which was held in 2005 and it was entitled "Competition and competitiveness".
Organiser of the event is International Westminster University in Tashkent, organized on initiative of Uzbek president on 16 January 2002. British Council sponsored the conference.
The aim of the conference is to organize forum to discuss key problems connected with management of higher education in Uzbekistan, which is in transaction process.
The conference allows Uzbek and Central Asian specialists to exchange experience with their European and western colleges.
BUKHARA TO HOST FESTIVAL OF UZBEK COSTUME
Festival "Uzbek costume. Traditions and contemporaneity" will be held in Bukhara on 16-17 May, press release of organizers said.
Osiyo Ramzi Couturiers Association, Uzbek Art Academy and Fund Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan are organizers of the festival. Bukhara regional administration and Bukharatex are official supporters of the event.
The festival aimed at revival of national traditions in art of Uzbek people through studying and presentation of Uzbek national costume in historic and modern fashion context.
Organisers hope that the festival will support to stir up creative research of modern designers and receive wide resonance among public. The festival comprises three blocks – exhibition of Uzbek historic costume, competition of designers and conference entitled "Problems of training staff to textile and light industry of Uzbekistan".
The exhibition will demonstrate evolution and diversity of national costume of Uzbek people.