December 12, 2007

Politics:
President of Uzbekistan receives Vice Prime Minister of South Korea
President of Uzbekistan receives head of Petronas Corporation
Indonesian parliamentary delegation visits Uzbekistan
International observers start work in Uzbekistan
Islam Karimov meets voters in Ferghana region
Akmal Saidov meets voters in Ferghana region
Dilorom Tashmuhamedova meets voters in Tashkent
Asliddin Rustamov meets voters in Tashkent region
Economics:
Petronas CEO Arrives In Uzbekistan, Sides Ink Documents
Production of railway cars starts in Tashkent
404,100 tonnes of agricultural products to be stocked for winter
Society:
Students improve knowledge on women's rights protection mechanisms
UNDP sums up "Taraqqiyot sari" TV quiz show, awards winners

POLITICS

PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN RECEIVES VICE PRIME MINISTER OF SOUTH KOREA

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Economy of South Korea Kwon O-kyu on December 12 in Tashkent.

“We consider the Republic of Korea as a reliable partner of Uzbekistan,” Islam Karimov said.

Kwon O-kyu emphasized that South Korea was interested in developing cooperation with Uzbekistan in the banking and financial sectors, as well as investment projects.

The talks focused on the further strengthening of cooperation in trade, economy and investments between the two states.

The Republic of Korea has supported reforms in Uzbekistan since the early days of the country’s independence.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, during the May 2005 visit of the President of South Korea Roh Moo-hyun to Uzbekistan, proposed raising bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership.

In March 2006 Islam Karimov paid a visit to Seoul, during which a Joint declaration on strategic partnership was signed.

South Korea is one of Uzbekistan’s largest economic partners. The total volume of South Korean investments in Uzbekistan has exceeded USD 1.5 billion to date.

138 joint ventures created in partnership with South Korean investors operate in Uzbekistan, as well as representative offices of 37 South Korean companies.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan recently registered the representative office of the Export-Import Bank of South Korea in Tashkent.

PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN RECEIVES HEAD OF PETRONAS CORPORATION

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received president of the Malaysian Petronas Corporation Tan Sri Dato Sri Mohd Hasan Marikana on December 11 in Tashkent.

The sides discussed issues of development and implementation of the new joint projects.

Head of Petronas said the company was interested in expansion of its participation in investment projects in Uzbekistan.

In October 2005, Uzbekneftegaz national holding company and Petronas signed a memorandum of cooperation and an agreement on joint development of oil and gas resources. These documents envisage attraction of hundreds of million dollars of investments in the fuel and energy complex of Uzbekistan.

During the current visit to Tashkent, Uzbekneftegaz and Petronas signed a memorandum of cooperation in the oil and gas industry and agreements on partnership.

Petronas Corporation was set up in 1974 and currently operates in 30 countries.

INDONESIAN PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS UZBEKISTAN

Agung Laksono, Speaker of the House of Representatives of Indonesia, held talks with Erkin Khalilov, Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, on December 12 in Tashkent.

The sides discussed the present state and perspectives of relations between the legislative bodies of Uzbekistan and Indonesia. They said inter-parliamentary cooperation between the two states was developing successfully.

On the same day, the Indonesian parliamentary delegation held negotiations with Chairman of the Senate of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Ilgizar Sabirov.

The members of the Indonesian delegation got acquainted with the activity of the Parliament of Uzbekistan.

They also visited the Tashkent aircraft production plant named after Chkalov, and the State museum of Timurids history.

INTERNATIONAL OBSERVERS START WORK IN UZBEKISTAN

A meeting with a group of representatives of the CIS Executive Council was held at the Central Election Commission (CEC) of Uzbekistan. They arrived in Uzbekistan to participate in the elections of the President as observers. First vice chairman of the CIS Executive Council Vladimir Garkun is heading the Staff of the observers mission.

The chairman of the Central Election Commission Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov informed the CIS Executive Council representatives with the presidential election campaign, as well as the work of the CEC and regional and district election commissions.

Vladimir Garkun said experts of the CIS Executive Council had carefully studies the Law on Elections of the President of Uzbekistan and made a conclusion about its full compliance with international standards.

A total of more than 80 observers from the Commonwealth of Independent States are expected to arrive in Uzbekistan, including 5 chairmen of the regional central election commissions.

The Staff of the CIS Executive Council mission will start its work in Tashkent in a few days. Its branches will work in the regions of Uzbekistan – Bukhara, Samarkand and Ferghana.

The similar meeting was held at the CEC with the head of the mission of observers from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Ambassador Walter Siegl.

The OSCE ODIHR representative was informed on the separate aspects of the national election legislation related to voters rights, as well as creation of equal conditions for presidential candidates for using mass media in their election campaigns.

A total of 24 observers will participate in the OSCE ODIHR observers mission.

Observers from other international organizations and states are expected to arrive in the coming days.

ISLAM KARIMOV MEETS VOTERS IN FERGHANA REGION

Candidate to the post of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met voters in Ferghana region on 11 of December.

Chairman of the 12th Ferghana district election commission R.Tajiyev opened the meeting. The participants received information on the program of the candidate, which covers such issues as continuation of wide-scale economic and sociopolitical reforms, strengthening democracy, ensuring supremacy of the law and social justice, supporting farmers, small business and private entrepreneurship, improvement of the investment climate, reducing the tax burden, introducing high technologies in production and improving the people’s well being.

Islam Karimov made a speech at the meeting.

Ferghana region occupies a special place in the life of Uzbekistan due to its nature, rich history and high economic and social potential. Tens of large industrial enterprises contribute to the country’s economic potential.

The reforms implemented in all spheres in Uzbekistan are giving significant results. This can be seen from the improvement of the people’s well being and regular increase of the sizes of pensions and social allowances, as well as real incomes of the population. Processes of modernization and democratization of the country, liberalization of the economic and political spheres are also continuing.

The participants of the meeting said the measures implemented to ensure social and economic stability, development of economy and strengthening Uzbekistan’s independence are directly linked with the name of Islam Karimov.

They emphasized that supporting the candidature of Islam Karimov was a reliable guarantee of the continuation of the wide-scale reforms and increasing the people’s prosperity.

The speakers called on the voters to take an active part in the elections of the President of Uzbekistan, to be held on 23 of December 2007.

AKMAL SAIDOV MEETS VOTERS IN FERGHANA REGION

Candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan from the initiative group of voters Akmal Saidov met voters in Kokand, Ferghana region on 12 of December.

Chairman of the 12th Kashkadarya district election commission R.Tajiyev opened the meeting. The authorized representative of the candidate, head of Kokand city branch of Tadbirkor Ayol association Sohibahon Ergasheva presented the biography and the program of the candidate to the gathered.

The program states that wide-scale reforms implemented in Uzbekistan in the years of independence have produced notable results. Reforms in economy, sociopolitical life, legal system, science, education, healthcare and other spheres serve to protecting the rights of the people.

The candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan Akmal Saidov made a speech at the meeting.

The participants expressed their views of the program of the candidate. They called on the voters to take an active part in the elections of the President of Uzbekistan scheduled for 23 of December 2007.

Conduction of the elections of the President of Uzbekistan on a multiparty and alternative basis, in particular, participation of a candidate from a group of voters, is a proof of the fact that principles of democracy are being observed in the country.

DILOROM TASHMUHAMEDOVA MEETS VOTERS IN TASHKENT

Candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan from the Adolat Social Democratic Party Dilorom Tashmuhamevoda met voters in Tashkent city on 11 of December.

Chairman of the 2nd Tashkent city election commission A.Ahmedov opened the meeting. The authorized representative of the candidate, head of Sabir Rakhimov district spirituality and enlightenment council F.Parmonova familiarized the gathered with the candidate’s biography and program.

The program states that wide-scale reforms implemented in Uzbekistan in the years of independence have produced notable results. The country’s economy is developing and the people’s well being is improving. Reforms in the economic and sociopolitical spheres, science, education, healthcare and culture are deepening.

The candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan Dilorom Tashmuhamevoda made a speech at the meeting.

The meeting participants expressed their views on the candidate’s program and called on the voters to take an active part in the elections of the President of Uzbekistan scheduled for 23 of December 2007.

Conduction of the elections of the President of Uzbekistan on a multiparty and alternative basis is a proof of the fact that principles of democracy are being observed in the country.

ASLIDDIN RUSTAMOV MEETS VOTERS IN TASHKENT REGION

Candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Asliddin Rustamov met voters in Tashkent region on 11 of December.

Chairman of the 11th Tashkent regional election commission S.Kurbonkulov opened the meeting. The authorized representative of the candidate, chairman of the PDP’s Tashkent regional council S.Agzamov familiarized the participants with the biography and the program of the candidate.

The program states that wide-scale reforms in the country have given significant results. The economic potential of Uzbekistan has strengthened, the people’s well being has improved and the attention to social protection of the population has increased.

Candidate to the post of the President of Uzbekistan Asliddin Rustamov made a speech at the meeting.

The participants of the meeting said conduction of the elections of the President of Uzbekistan on a multiparty and alternative basis was a proof of the fact that the national election legislation complied with international norms.

They called on the voters to take an active part in the elections of the President of Uzbekistan due on 23 of December 2007.

ECONOMY

PETRONAS CEO ARRIVES IN UZBEKISTAN, SIDES INK DOCUMENTS

On his visit to Uzbekistan President of Petronas, one of the world’s largest corporations based in Malaysia, Tan Sri Dato Sri Mohd Hasan Marikan met with the deputy prime ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan Rustam Azimov and Ergash Shoismatov, the “Pravda Vostoka” newspaper reported.

During the talks the sides have underscored that the cooperation between Uzbekistan and Malaysia in the oil sphere, as well as in other areas, has been consistently developing. The agreements secured at the summits of leaders of the two countries serve as an important legal basis to it.

Petronas Corporation is one of the largest companies around the world specialized in the oil and gas sector. At the moment, it operates with companies and firms from more than 30 countries.

At the meeting in Tashkent the parties are also reported to have exchanged views on further expanding the bilateral cooperation in the sphere of oil and gas, elaboration and implementation of the mutually beneficial joint projects.

In Tashkent Uzbekneftegaz National Holding Company and Petronas, also otherwise known as Petroliam Nasional Berhad, signed the Memorandum of cooperation in petrochemical industry and the Agreement of cooperation.

PRODUCTION OF RAILWAY CARS STARTS IN TASHKENT

Foundry-mechanical plant of the Uzbekistan Railways company started production of railway cars.

The enterprise, which previously repaired diesel and electric locomotives and cargo cars, will produce closed and half-open cars.

A representative of Uzbekistan Railways told UzA the company’s annual demand in new cars equals to 1,500.

Vice Prime Minister of Uzbekistan N.Khanov participated in the presentation ceremony of the new production.

404,100 TONNES OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS TO BE STOCKED FOR WINTER

The reforms being consistently implemented in Uzbekistan under President Karimov's administration are aimed at further improvement of population's livelihood.

Particular attention being given to the agricultural production, and maintenance of sufficient stock of agricultural products in order to keep the prices down during the winter season is also a vivid example of these efforts, UzA reported. Work on the stocking of fruit, vegetables and melons and gourds for schools, kindergartens, hospitals and other social infrastructure facilities is being completed.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Management of Uzbekistan has informed that in order to satisfy the population's needs for the agricultural products during the winter season, 404,100 tonnes of agricultural products need to be stocked. Many trade and service companies are working hard towards meeting this target. UzUlgurjiSavdoInvest Association is also actively participating in this work.

We have taken all the measures to stock up the required amount of agricultural products and satisfy the demand of the domestic market," the Head of the Department for Foodstuffs of the Association Negmatjon Ahmadjonov said. "In this process we received some active support of the Ozik-Ovkat Mollari (Foodstuffs) Republican Specialised Wholesale Trade Base, and its branches in Samarkand, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions.

In order to prevent the deficit of agricultural products in the markets, and the increase in the prices for them on the territorial bases, almost 40,000 tonnes of agri-products have been stocked, including 10,000 tonnes of potatoes, 10,000 tonnes of onions, 5,500 tonnes of carrots, 7,400 tonnes of rice, etc. For the purpose of their proper storage, more than a thousand warehouses the total area of which exceeds 51,000 square meters have been prepared and equipped. Also refrigerator facilities with the total capacity of 61,000 tonnes are being used. This should allow us to store the goods in good condition till the next harvest.

All these measures should ensure sufficient supplies of agricultural products to the markets at convenient prices during the winter season.

SOCIETY

STUDENTS IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS PROTECTION MECHANISMS

A group of students of the Academy for State and Social Construction (ASSC) under the President of Uzbekistan got acquainted with international and national mechanism of protection of women's rights on 12 of December, Uzreport.com Business Information portal reported.

The seminar titled "International and national mechanisms of protection of women's rights" is aimed at raising awareness of government officials on international and national documents on protection of women's rights, including the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the recommendations of CEDAW Committee to Uzbekistan.

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. It is expected that the Government of Uzbekistan will submit its next report to CEDAW Committee in August 2008.

The CEDAW Committee recommended that the Convention and the Committee's general recommendations be made integral part of legal education and trainings of government officials at all levels.

The ASSC trains public sector managers to assume managerial positions both within public administration institutions, such as khokimiyats, government offices, Ministries, public and economic organizations, as well as other institutions of public management. The students include middle level managers and young entrepreneurs aspiring for a career in the public sector.

About 25 students of the ASSC participated in the seminar, which took place at the conference hall of UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan. The participants got familiarized with issues of gender equality, stereotypes, prejudices and discrimination, international human rights documents and others.

The seminar was organized jointly by UNDP projects "Improving Public Sector Management Skills through Building Training and Research Capacity of the State Academy for State and Public Construction under the President of Uzbekistan" and Legislative and Institutional Capacity Development for Women's Empowerment in Uzbekistan", implemented in cooperation with the ASSC and Women's Committee of Uzbekistan respectively.

Muattara Rahimova, manager of "Improving Public Sector Management Skills through Building Training and Research Capacity of the ASSC" project, said: "Such events are important for our students. They learn about international agreements on protection of human rights and women's rights, in particular. This way we contribute to the implementation of recommendations of CEDAW Committee and raise gender awareness of government officials."

UNDP SUMS UP "TARAQQIYOT SARI" TV QUIZ SHOW, AWARDS WINNERS

The awarding ceremony of the TV quiz show winners within the framework of the TV programme "Taraqqiyot sari" ('Towards the development'), which took place in 2007, was held at the office of UNDP "ICT policy" Project on 11 December.

The participants of the quiz consisted of the TV viewers of various age and from all parts of Uzbekistan, but the most active participants were from the secondary and higher educational institutions.

It is pleasant to mention the interest of Uzbek TV viewers in TV programme "Taraqqiyot sari", which covers Information Communication Technology (ICT) sector. The viewers of the show found the news block and thematic blocks with coverage of the latest developments in the field of ICT very interesting and as they were learning from it, they contributed to the improvement of the show, making it even more interesting.

With three years on air, "Taraqqiyot sari" TV show has its own audience, with great interest in ICT. "We thank all participants and viewers of TV Show for their active participation. We wish them all the best of luck and further victories in all endeavors," a press release of UNDP office said.

It is worth to note that the organizers received over 100 letters to contest and the winners of TV Show "Taraqqiyot sari" are: 1st place - Jamshit Mayakupov (Tashkent), prize - Digital camera Canon A-460; 2nd place - Umid Sheripov (Khorezm), prize - DVD Player; 3rd place - Abdulgani Bazarov (Namangan), prize - mobile phone Nokia 2626.

Besides that, the jury of competent IT professionals awarded 3 special prizes for the most active participants of TV Show. For example, Nazokat Nazarova (Khorezm), Nadira Hoshimova (Tashkent) and Dilorom Nazarova (Khorezm) were awarded with USB Flash drives.

The winners expressed their gratitude to the members of creative team of "Taraqqiyot sari", in preparation of which both UN Development Programme specialists, and journalists of Uzteleradiocompany are involved, for the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and knowledge in the field of information technology.

Jamshit Mayakupov from Tashkent said he took part in TV Show for the first time and it was a great pleasure to be its main prize winner. Umid Sheripov from Khorezm noted that he answered questions of the quiz with the help of the Internet sites on IT sector, and various magazines, devoted to information technology.

UNDP "Assisting the Government of Uzbekistan in the formulation and implementation of ICT for development policy" (ICTP) is a joint project of UNDP and the government of Uzbekistan and is aimed at supporting the development of ICT policy in Uzbekistan and facilitating use of ICT for achieving development goals.