11 November, 2011

Politics:
Uzbekistan, Czech Republic consider issues of developing cooperation
Uzbekneftegaz, MOL Group ink memorandum
Economics:
Number of employed population in Uzbekistan reaches 11.893m in Jan-Sep
Uzbekistan expects 8.4% GDP growth in 2011
Society:
Uzbek universal fight team wins 13 medals in Moscow
Youth festival held in Namangan

POLITICS

Uzbekistan, Czech Republic consider issues of developing cooperation

The Fifth Uzbek-Czech joint intergovernmental commission on economic, industrial and scientific-technical cooperation was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on 8 November 2011.

The participants exchanged opinion on perspective directions of developing trade-economic, industrial and scientific-technical partnership between two states.

The sides considered issues of further expanding relations in such areas as fuel-energy, banking-finance, agriculture and water management, transport and transport communication, food industry, electrotechnical and tourism. They also discussed issuing of increasing number of joint ventures and increasing trade turnover, as well as implementation of perspective projects.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan Shavkat Tulyaganov said that the protocol was signed in the result of the session. The document determined priority directions of cooperation in trade-economic and investment sectors for 2012.

He said that businesses of two states are not actively work on implementation of those agreements, which were reached at the sessions of the commissions. He said that the sides achieved agreement on exchange of information, including on tenders and implemented projects.
Deputy Minister of Transport of the Czech Republic Ivo Vikidal stated that the Czech Republic is interested in gradual development of cooperation with Uzbekistan on all directions.

He said that the regularly held sessions of the intergovernmental joint commission helps to strengthen and further expand cooperation between Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic. He added that intergovernmental commission is one of effective tools for developing bilateral ties.

Ivo Vikidal stated that the results of trade-economic relations do not meet economic potentials of Uzbekistan and the Czech Republic. He said that the Czech Republic considers Uzbekistan as potential partner with huge natural resources.

The Czech official said that the sides should move from trade to economic cooperation. According to him, the sides can cooperate in introduction of innovations and development of services.

On the same day, Tashkent hosted an Uzbek-Czech Business Forum and bilateral negotiations of the businesses of two states.

Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Czech Republic made up US$35.4 million in January-August 2011, including exports – US$3.9 million and imports – US$31.5 million.

Currently, there are 14 enterprises, operating in Uzbekistan, with participation of the Czech investors, of which four are with 100% Czech capital. At the same time, twelve Czech companies and firms were accredited at the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade. (Source: UzDaily.com)

Uzbekneftegaz, MOL Group ink memorandum

Uzbekneftegaz national holding company and Hungary’s MOL Group signed a memorandum of cooperation in oil and gas sector on 7 November 2011.
The document envisages creation of working group, which will present report to both sides each quarter. The first report will be presented after three months from the day of signing of the document.

Within the memorandum, the sides will also carry out geologic exploration works in Uzbekistan, discover perspective fields for joint development with further production of gas-chemical goods.

MOL Group explores and mines oil and gas, processes, transports, stores and distributes oil products to Central and Eastern Europe. (Source: UzDaily.com)

ECONOMY

Number of employed population in Uzbekistan reaches 11.893m in Jan-Sep

Average number of employed population in Uzbekistan made up 11.893 million people in nine months of 2011, which grew by 2.5% year-on-year, the joint statement of the Ministry of Economy of Uzbekistan and the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said.

In January-September 2011, over 815,400 new jobs were created within the territorial programme, of which 512,400 (62.8% of total number) in rural areas.

Significant part – 519,700 (63.7%) of jobs – were created in small and private business and 226,600 in service sector.

Uzbekistan created over 191,900 outwork jobs in the reporting period, including in cooperation with the enterprises – 55,800 and based on hiring agreement and family business – 136,100 jobs.

Average nominal payroll salary in last month of the period made up 693,551.5 soums (exchange rate to 09.11.2011 for 1 USD – 1769,22 soums), which is 28.5% higher compared to the same period of 2010.
Average size of pensions in last month of the period grew by 22.7% to 191,637.4 soums, the committee underlined. (Source: UzDaily.com)

Uzbekistan utilizes investments for 12.216 trln. soums in Jan-Sep 2011

Total volume of used investments in Uzbekistan made up 12.216 trillion soums (exchange rate to 09.11.2011 for 1 USD – 1769,22 soums) in nine months of 2011 or grew by 8% year-on-year in comparable prices.

According to the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan, the volume of centralized investments grew by 36.2% to 2.369 trillion soums and non-centralized investments by 3.1% to 9.846 trillion soums.

At the same time, the volume of budget resources in the volume of investments made up 850.1 billion soums (+26%), resources of Fund of Land-Improvement – 45.5 billion soums (-1.6%).

The volume of off-budget funds grew by 5.7% to 493.1 billion soums and Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan – by 82.5% to 514.6 billion soums.

Foreign investments and loans, attracted under the guarantee of the government, grew by 71.9% to 466.2 billion soums.

The funds of enterprises in total volume of investments reached 3.713 trillion soums (+10.7%) and population – 2.679 trillion soums (+27.8%). Uzbekistan attracted direct foreign investments and loans at the volume of 2.026 trillion soums.

The volume of issued loams by commercial banks and other loans grew by 45.4% to 1.427 trillion soums. (Source: UzDaily.com)

Uzbekistan expects 8.4% GDP growth in 2011

The Government of Uzbekistan expects that the gross domestic product (GDP) will grow by 8.4% and industrial output will increase by 9.3% in 2011.

In line with the forecasts, the agriculture production in Uzbekistan will increased by 6%, capital investments by 7.9%. This was announced at the session of the Committee on budget and economic reforms of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.

During the session, MPs considered main directions of tax and budget policy and the draft State Budget of Uzbekistan for 2012.

It was said that forecast of main macroeconomic figures, main directions of tax and budget policy, as well as draft State Budget for 2012 were developed to ensure sustainable, dynamic and balanced macroeconomic development of the country, modernize Uzbekistan, stable growth of real income of population.

Implementation of the offered measures on tax-budget policy for 2012, incomes of the State Budget will be 21.1% to GDP, expenses 22.1% of GDP, while deficit of the State Budget will not exceed 1% of GDP.

It was said that tax and budget policy envisaged implementation of complex measures on stimulating modernization of economy, support of business entities, small and private businesses, decreasing tax burden, improving investment climate, ensuring macroeconomic growth and improving population well-being.

Tax policy for 2012 is directed at further supporting and stimulating small businesses, single tax payment for industrial enterprises will decrease from 6% to 5%. Decreasing of single tax payment will allow small enterprises and microfirms to save 50 billion soums and direct them to expansion of production, introduction of new technologies and stimulate employees. It is planned to decrease minimal rate of income tax for individuals by one percentage points.

In the result of the adopted measures, tax burden to economy will decrease by 0.7% in 2012 compared to the previous year.
MPs underlined that the concept of tax and budget policy and draft State Budget for 2012 envisages several measures directed at stimulating internal demand.

It was said that the budget envisages further development of social spheres and targeted support of population. It is planned to increase salaries of the budget sector, pensions, stipends, allowances, etc.

Expenses to education sector will increase from 7.3% to GDP in 2011 to 7.5% in 2012, healthcare – from 2.8% to 2.9%. This will allow to finance all planned projects in healthcare system.

It is also planned to carry out reforms of inter-budget relations directed at increasing independence of state bodies and their interest to increase income of local budgets, as well as effective use of territory resources.

It was said that the draft State Budget for 2012 will ensure stable development of Uzbekistan and increase well-being of population. (Source: UzDaily.com)

SOCIETY

Uzbek universal fight team wins 13 medals in Moscow

The team of Uzbekistan won one gold, three silver and nine bronze medals at the Universal Fight World Championship in Moscow.

The competition with participation of over 250 athletes from nearly 40 countries was held in two styles – classic and light.

In light style, Dilshod Surkhonov (95 kg) defeated all rivals and won the gold medal, while Feruz Saidov won bronze.

In classic style, Quvvat Jumaniyozov won silver, while four-time world champion Alisher Abdullayev and Muhammadali Toshturgunov won bronze.
Agzam Khaydarov, who fought in two styles, won bronze and silver, and Nuriddin Dolimov Jamol Omonov got two bronze medals each.

In the women’s competitions, Nodira Kazakova also won in two styles – silver in classic and bronze in light. (Source: UzA News Agency)

Youth festival held in Namangan

The regional stage of the Yangi Avlod (New Generation) children’s creativity festival was held in Namangan.

The event, organized by the Fund “Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan”, Public Education Ministry and Kamolot youth movement, aims at identifying and supporting young talents.

The number of the festival participants has been growing annually. This year the event attracted more than 2,500 participants from Namangan region, compared to 2,000 last year and 1,300 in 2009.

380 boys and girls, together with 30 art ensembles, reached the regional final stage of Yangi Avlod. They demonstrated their talent in playing classic and national musical instruments, vocal singing, dance, applied and fine art, poetry, prose and theatrical performance.

26 participants and 2 ensembles, who were named winners, will represent the region at the national stage in Tashkent. (Source: UzA News Agency)