15 June, 2006

Politics
Uzbek President meets Chinese leader in Shanghai
Chinese President Hu Jintao thanks Uzbek president
Uzbek head assures new Shanghai business body of support
International coalition ineffective in drug fight in Afghanistan, says Uzbek leader
SCO members put fight against "three evil forces" top priority
SCO members issue joint communiqué
SCO members issue declaration, vowing to protect common interests
Expanded meeting of the SCO leaders ends
SCO member states' leaders sign documents on fighting terrorism
Economic, security co-op take SCO priority: Uzbek scholar

Business
SCO leaders meet representatives of newly created Entrepreneurs Council
SCO Interbank Association members meet in Shanghai
Russia's President proposes creation of SCO energy club
ADB and Uzbekistan discuss action plan for regional cooperation in Central Asia
ADB loans to Uzbekistan to soon reach 1 bln USD - official
Over 7,000 people visit Tea and Coffee Exhibition
Trade mission of Tomsk region starts visit Uzbekistan
LUKOIL completes engineering design of environmental facility in Uzbekistan

Society
Uzbek artists to attend Israeli cartoon exhibition

More information about the Republic of Uzbekistan you could find from the Internet site: www.uzbekistan.be

POLITICS

UZBEK PRESIDENT MEETS CHINESE LEADER IN SHANGHAI

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met the President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao today, 14 June, in Shanghai, China.

In the course of negotiations, parties noted the increasing pace of development of bilateral relations. It was emphasized that agreements reached in the course of the state visit of the Uzbek leader to China last year, in particular, the Interstate Agreement on Partnership Relations, Friendship and Cooperation would take cooperation to the new level.

President Karimov emphasized that Uzbekistan saw a reliable friend and a close partner in China, and highly appreciated Beijing's initiatives on further development of bilateral cooperation and improvement of SCO activity.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, in turn, noted that China viewed Uzbekistan as a state that held the key position in Central Asia. According to Chinese leader, the strategic importance of Uzbekistan in the regional and international geo-politics, its great economic potential, efforts and initiatives to strengthen security raised the interest of China in development of bilateral cooperation.

During the meeting, parties discussed the issues of Uzbek-Chinese relations, SCO development, as well as issues of regional and international importance. (UzReport.com)

CHINESE PRESIDENT HU JINTAO THANKS UZBEK PRESIDENT FOR SUPPORT ON "EAST TURKESTAN", TAIWAN

State President Hu Jintao met at the Shanghai Xijiao Guesthouse on 14 June with Uzbek President Islam Karimov, who had come to attend the Sixth Meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Hu Jintao said that last year, we jointly signed the "Treaty Between China and Uzbekistan on Friendly and Cooperative Partnership," which has pushed the relations between the two countries into a new stage of development. The two sides have supported each other politically, their cooperation has deepened with each passing day, and their coordination has become closer, thus making contribution to promoting regional and world peace and stability. China thanks Uzbekistan for its firm support on the Taiwan issue, cracking down on the "East Turkestan" terrorist forces, and other issues, and will, as always, support Uzbekistan in taking a road of development that is in keeping with its national conditions. He said that at present, trade and economic cooperation between the two countries are developing rapidly, but there is still great potential. We are willing to strengthen friendly and mutually beneficial cooperation with Uzbekistan in trade, economy, energy and other areas. China is willing to work together with Uzbekistan to promote the continuous development of the relations between the two countries so that the two countries and the two peoples will forever be good neighbors, good friends and good partners.

Being the host country of the Regional Antiterrorist Agency, Uzbekistan has made important contribution to smoothly activating the agency and bringing its role into play. We are willing to work together with Uzbekistan and other member states to continue to cooperate and support the Regional Antiterrorist Agency Executive Committee.

Islam Karimov said that all meetings between President Hu Jintao and me have effectively promoted the development of bilateral relations. Uzbekistan is satisfied with the rapid development of the cooperation in various areas between the two countries. Whenever the Uzbek people were in difficulty, the Chinese people would offer their support and help and the Uzbek people have experienced sincere friendship. Uzbekistan has attached great importance to Uzbek-Chinese relations and is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in political affairs, trade, economy, education, pharmaceutics and cracking down on the "three forces," and constantly raise the level of the relations between the two countries. We have full confidence in the future of Uzbek-Chinese relations.

Islam Karimov said that the heads of state of the SCO member states will again gather together in Shanghai tomorrow and this will be of great historic significance. Uzbekistan is ready to cooperate with China to make the meeting a complete success.

After the meeting, Hu Jintao and Islam Karimov attended a ceremony for signing documents on cooperation between the two countries.

Also present at the meeting and the signing ceremony were Chen Liangyu, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and secretary of the Shanghai Municipal CPC Committee, and Tang Jiaxuan, state councillor. (New China News Agency)

UZBEK HEAD ASSURES NEW SHANGHAI BUSINESS BODY OF SUPPORT

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov assured newly created Business Council that Uzbekistan will do its best to successful implementation of its goals and tasks.

As earlier reported, the Business Council or Entrepreneur Committee was set up in Shanghai within the framework of the SCO heads of states summit on 14 June. The council was set up as a non-governmental structure that brings together leading businessmen. The founding meeting approved its charter regulating the work of the council and its permanent secretariat, which is to be based in Moscow.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov, addressing a meeting, said: "I think it was rightly stressed that without the creation, or the integration, of the legal foundations for economic cooperation, investment programmes and trade between the countries, it would be hard to move forward in the direction set for you (the Business Council)."

"In support of all goals and tasks mentioned, and backing the wishes of my colleagues, I would like, for my part, to give an assurance that the Uzbek side will do whatever is necessary for the goals and tasks set by the Business Council to be successfully implemented," Uzbek leader added. (UzReport.com)

INTERNATIONAL COALITION INEFFECTIVE IN DRUG FIGHT IN AFGHANISTAN, SAYS UZBEK LEADER

Troops of the international coalition in Afghanistan act ineffectively in fighting drugs in Afghanistan, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said on Tuesday, 15 June.

Speaking at a meeting of the Council of Heads of States of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Islam Karimov expressed concern over an "escalation of drug production in Afghanistan".

He stressed that the troops of the international coalition "are showing a low effectiveness" in the anti-drug struggle in Afghanistan.

Karimov also criticised some states that are seeking to readjust the Asian region to their own interests and are guided by this motive in recognising the region's countries as democratic or non-democratic.

Speaking about general problems of the region, Uzbek President Islam Karimov called for the rational use of water and energy resources.

SCO MEMBERS PUT FIGHT AGAINST "THREE EVIL FORCES" TOP PRIORITY

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members issued a joint communiqué in Shanghai on Thursday, saying that the fight against the "three evil forces" remains the organization's top priority.

"It remains the top priority of the organization to combat the threats posed by terrorism, separatism and extremism as well as illegal drug trafficking, which have not diminished but aggravated in scale and degree," says the joint communiqué?, which was released after the SCO concluded its annual summit.

On the day when the organization was founded, the six heads of state signed the Shanghai Pact on fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism. To coordinate SCO members' efforts in fighting the "three evil forces", the SCO set up a regional anti-terrorism agency in Tashkent, capital of Uzbekistan.

The joint communiqué says the heads of state spoke positively of the work done by the SCO regional anti-terrorism structure, and were convinced that this structure has the potential to better perform its duties and carry out its mission.

The SCO members have conducted three joint anti-terrorism military exercises and will hold another one in Russia in 2007.

SCO MEMBERS ISSUE JOINT COMMUNIQUE

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members issued a joint communiqué in Shanghai on Thursday, saying that they will enhance cooperation on world stage.

"The SCO will try to expand cooperation among member states in the international arena in various forms and by various means," the communique says, which was issued at the end of the SCO summit.

Founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, the SCO comprises China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Presidents of the six member states attended Thursday's summit.

The communiqué says the organization will hold regular consultations with observers and international organizations concerned. "This is fully applicable to the SCO-Afghanistan Contact Group which is already functioning."

According to the communiqué, the heads of state pointed out with satisfaction that the initiative endorsed by the Council of Heads of State in Tashkent 2004 on establishing cooperative relations among international organizations in the Asia Pacific was warmly and widely received.

They welcomed the signing of cooperation documents between the SCO and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Eurasian Economic Community (EURASEC), according to the communiqué. "They reiterated that the SCO is ready to forge similar ties with other international organizations and financial institutions on the basis of equality and mutual respect," the communiqué says.

"The SCO Secretariat should, together with the Executive Committee of the SCO Regional Anti-terrorist Structure, closely follow the implementation of cooperation documents signed between the SCO and other organizations and energetically promote concrete cooperation with the observers," it says.

The heads of state also entrusted the Council of National Coordinators to make recommendations on the procedure of SCO membership enlargement, the communiqué says, adding that this procedure should fully conform to the purposes and goals set forthin the Charter of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, ensure the effectiveness of all treaties that form the legal basis of the SCO, help strengthen its unity and guarantee the applicability of the principle of consensus to consultations on all matters and at all levels of the SCO.

According to the communiqué, the next meeting of the Council of Heads of State will be held in Bishkek in 2007. Kyrgyzstan will assume SCO presidency next year.

SCO MEMBERS ISSUE DECLARATION, VOWING TO PROTECT COMMON INTERESTS

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) members issued a declaration, saying the organization is working on a multilateral document in a bid to secure lasting friendship and cooperation in the region on Thursday, 15 June.

"The member states will remain friends from generation to generation and will never be enemies against one another," says the declaration, which was issued after the SCO members concluded an annual summit in Shanghai.

The members pledged not to join any alliance or international organization that undermines the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of SCO member states, according to the declaration.

The members are also committed that they do not allow their territories to be used to undermine the sovereignty, security or territorial integrity of other member states, and they prohibit activities by organizations or gangs in their territories that are detrimental to the interests of other member states.

"To this end, SCO member states will conduct, within the SCO framework, consultation on the conclusion of a multilateral legal document of long-term good-neighborly relations, friendship and cooperation," the declaration says.

The members also emphasized in the declaration that the international community should show respect and understanding to the unique historical and cultural traditions of central Asian nations.

"The governments of central Asian countries should be supported in their efforts to safeguard security and stability, maintain social and economic development and improve people's livelihood," the declaration says.

Meanwhile, in case of emergencies that threaten regional peace, stability and security, the declaration says the SCO members will study the possibility of establishing a regional conflict prevention mechanism within the SCO framework.

The declaration says SCO member states will continue to tap the potential of the organization, enhance its role and work to turn this region into one that is peaceful, coordinated in development, open, prosperous and harmonious.

They also promised to strengthen coordination and cooperation in international and regional affairs and take a common position on matters involving SCO's interests. "SCO has the potential to play an independent role in safeguarding stability and security in this region," the declaration says.

EXPANDED MEETING OF THE SCO LEADERS ENDS

A session of Council of heads of states of member-states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) ended in Shanghai on Thursday.

One of the main issues of the SCO summit became international information security. Russian President Vladimir Putin called leaders of the SCO member states to strengthen attention to social problems, healthcare and humanitarian cooperation.

The session also considered issues on coordination mechanism on fight against drug trafficking and energy club of the SCO, which will allow to expand cooperation in transport-communication sphere.

The four observers are represented by Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf, Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad and Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Murli Deora.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation is a regional alliance of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. The heads of state of these six countries signed a declaration on its formation in Shanghai on 15 June 2001. Mongolia, India, Pakistan and Iran have observer status in the organisation.

The aim of the organisation is to stabilise the situation in Central Asia, consolidate friendship and good-neighbourly relations among the member-states, and develop cooperation in the political, economic, scientific and other spheres. (UzReport.com)

SCO MEMBER STATES' LEADERS SIGN DOCUMENTS ON FIGHTING TERRORISM

A number of documents have been signed on results of the sixth session of the Council of heads of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states.

The documents include a declaration on the fifth anniversary of the SCO founding, a statement on international information security, a resolution on SCO secretary-general and another on the secretariat, a resolution on fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism from 2007 to 2009, an agreement on joint anti-terrorism actions among member countries, and an agreement on cutting off the infiltration channels of terrorists, separatists and extremists.

The new edition of the Regulations on SCO Secretariat was prepared in line with the instructions of the SCO 2005 summit on increase of the role of the organisation's headquarters. According to the document, the secretariat coordinates, ensures information-analytical, legal and financial-organisational activity of the organisation, supervises the implementation of SCO bodies' decisions.

The decision on change of higher SCO official – now it is not executive, but Secretary-General of the SCO – should impart a new quality impulse to the organisation's work as a whole, increase the effectiveness of its constantly working bodies in deed of more responsible tasks of the SCO.

SCO member states' heads also approved the Statement on the international information security, and the Programme of cooperation in fighting terrorism, separatism and extremism for 2007/09.

Moreover, the SCO summit participants inked an Agreement on the order of organisation and holding of joint antiterrorist actions on the territory of the SCO countries, on the cooperation in the field of revelation and elimination of the channels of penetration of people involved in terrorist, separatist and extremist activity, on the cooperation in the sphere of education.

SCO leaders also signed a Protocol on results of constituent session of the SCO business council and the Action Plan to support regional economic cooperation among the Interbank union (IBU) member banks within the SCO.

The action plan characterises the strategy of unification for the period of its formation. The document determines practical steps on improvement of the mechanism of IBU functioning, making it a flexible tool of financial provision of multilateral investment projects in the SCO format.

Priority attention is paid to the task of development of the order of selection, evaluation, approval and realisation of investment projects. It is planned to develop credit and settlement operations. The document is intended until 2010 and is aimed at filling the SCO activity with economic component.

ECONOMIC, SECURITY CO-OP TAKE SCO PRIORITY: UZBEK SCHOLAR

Economic and security cooperation take priority of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) after the legal framework has been completed, said K. Turubekov, professor with Uzbekistan's Institute of Oriental Studies, in an interview with Xinhua.

In light of the fact that the SCO has formed a solid legal basis, the group should take economic, trade and security cooperation as a breakthrough point and tap potentials in transportation, energy, infrastructure and environmental protection, Turubekov said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

The SCO member states are making efforts to strengthen economic and trade cooperation bilaterally or within a multilateral framework, he said.

Over the past five years since the SCO's founding, the six member countries have been holding high the banner of peace, cooperation and joint development, made great achievements and demonstrated its vigor and efficiency, Turubekov said.

"In 2003, the SCO worked out a compendium for economic and trade cooperation. In 2004, the group outlined concrete plans for trade cooperation. Some Uzbek scholars believe the six SCO members will put the plans into practice one by one under the principles of equality and mutual benefit and in a progressive order," the professor said.

The SCO is an intergovernmental organization founded in Shanghai on June 15, 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Its sixth annual summit meeting is scheduled to be held in Shanghai on Thursday. (Xinhua)

ECONOMICS

SCO LEADERS MEET REPRESENTATIVES OF NEWLY CREATED ENTREPRENEURS COUNCIL

On 14 June heads of states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member countries met representatives of the newly established SCO Entrepreneurs Council.

Chinese President Hu Jintao, Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Tajik President Emomali Rakhmonov and Uzbek President Islam Karimov congratulated the entrepreneurs on the newly established SCO Entrepreneurs' Committee, Xinhua reported on 14 June.

Representatives of entrepreneurs from the six SCO members - China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan - gathered here on the eve of the summit to set up the committee and explore ways for enhancing regional economic cooperation.

"The establishment of the SCO Entrepreneurs' Committee has built a very good platform for closer exchanges and cooperation between businesses of the six SCO economies," said Chinese President Hu Jintao while meeting the entrepreneurs.

Among the SCO member states, the factors of sound economic development, complementary economic structure, improving trade and investment environment, and opening markets have created good conditions and opportunities for regional economic cooperation, he added.

"Active participation of the entrepreneurs will definitely make the SCO render substantial results in economic cooperation and bring more tangible benefits to the peoples of the member countries," the Chinese president said.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov said: “Without bringing closer the legal base in the field of investment programs and intergovernmental goods turnover, it will be hard for us to move in the right direction.”

The SCO Entrepreneurs' Committee is a non-governmental organization to promote multilateral cooperation in trade, finance, science and technology, energy, transportation, telecommunication and agriculture.

More than 140 large and medium-sized businesses from the six countries have become full members of the committee.

China will provide loans or assistance within its capacity to fund a number of transportation, telecommunication and electricity projects among the SCO members so as to boost regional economic growth, Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan said at Wednesday's meeting marking the establishment of the committee.

About 200 entrepreneurs and officials attended the meeting.

But Tang did not give any details about these projects or how much China's aid will be worth.

Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce Yu Guangzhou said Tuesday that some US$2 billion worth of business contracts and loan agreements are expected to be inked on the sidelines of the SCO summit.

Yu said the deals would include a highway project connecting Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, two high-voltage electricity lines in Tajikistan, a cement plant in Kyrgyzstan with a daily production of 2,500 tonnes, and a hydropower station in Kazakhstan.

The six SCO member countries take up 60% of Eurasia and their population accounts for a quarter of the world's total. The six economies reported a combined GDP of US$1.5 trillion in 2004.

To date, investment between SCO members has surged to US$15 billion, covering mainly oil and gas exploration, transportation, telecommunication, electricity, chemical industry, construction material, project contract and agriculture.

In a bid to promote trade and economic cooperation among SCO members, China pledged in 2004 to offer US$900 million of preferential export buyer's credit to other SCO members.

China had basically put the fund in place, said Chinese President Hu Jintao at the end of May during a joint interview with media representatives from the six SCO member states.

China reported 37 billion U.S. dollars of trade with other SCO members in 2005, up 212% over that of 2001, according to the Ministry of Commerce of China.

The ministry said China's actual investment in the other five SCO members totaled US$8 billion last year, four times the 2001 figure. (UzReport.com)

SCO INTERBANK ASSOCIATION MEMBERS MEET IN SHANGHAI

The second meeting of the Board of senior members of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Interbank Association was held in Shanghai on Wednesday, 14 June.

Speaking at the session, Deputy Secretary General of the SCO Jumabekov said the Interbank Association completes its formation and enters to practical work phase,

Jumabekov said the association should become heart of economic interaction within the SCO, ensure turnover and inflow of new capita to realize important projects of member-states and development of the organization.

Dmitriyev, chairman of Russia's Vnesheconombank, said the agreement on interbank cooperation within the SCO dated 26 October 2005 laid a ground for long-term and promising process. He said the association should become important part of economic interaction within organization.

Within the sixth session of Council of heads of states of the SCO, members of Interbank Association will sign several agreements on six projects for US$740 million.

National Bank of Uzbekistan and China Development Bank completed preparation works for signature of credit agreement for US$20 million, which will be used to finance development of small businesses.

Uzbek banker said at the meeting that the association is not formality, but the cooperation is fruitful.

Governor of China Development Bank Chen Yuan noted the SCO leaders put task to create conditions for free movement of goods, capitals and technologies within near 20 years. In this connection, the member of Interbank Association should unite efforts, effectively withstand against competition and risks, assist in genera development and prosperity of the region and contribute to promition of regional economic cooperation within the organization, he said. (Xinhua)

RUSSIA'S PRESIDENT PROPOSES CREATION OF SCO ENERGY CLUB

Russia's president Vladimir Putin on Thursday proposed creating an energy club within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and said Russia could finance some economic projects pursued by the six-nation regional forum.

Speaking at the SCO's annual heads-of-state summit, Vladimir Putin said: "I believe that creating a SCO energy club is a pressing issue, as is more intensive cooperation in transport and communications."

"Russia is considering financing some projects in the economic sphere," he said, adding that the forum had the "appropriate organizational and legal structure" to advance lucrative economic projects.

The SCO, founded in 2001 by Russia and China plus former Soviet Central Asian republics Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, originally dealt with security and confidence-building issues, but has broadened its priorities to include economic cooperation as well as transportation, disaster-relief, and cultural projects.

It should be noted that proposal on creation of energy club was made during the international conference on "Energy market of Central Asia: tendencies and prospects", which was held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in mid December 2005. (UzReport.com)

ADB AND UZBEKISTAN DISCUSS ACTION PLAN FOR REGIONAL COOPERATION IN CENTRAL ASIA

Uzbekistan Government officials and ADB representatives today, 15 June, discussed in a workshop a draft Comprehensive Action Plan (CAP) to deepen regional cooperation in Central Asia.

The workshop is the first of a series in the Central Asian Regional Economic (CAREC) Program member-countries aimed at gaining guidance from the governments of participating countries on the goals, objectives, expected outputs, priority investments and initiatives, and performance indicators that should serve as a medium-term framework for CAREC.

"Only through coordinated actions and shared vision for the region can Central Asia again become a strategic crossroad, linking People's Republic of China (PRC), Russia, Europe, India, and the Middle East," says Donneth Walton, Officer in Charge of ADB's Uzbekistan Resident Mission, who chaired the workshop.

The workshop was co-chaired by Mr. M. Askarov, Acting Head of the United Information-Analytical Department on Economy and Foreign Economic Relations of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, and Mr. D. Husband, Senior Advisor of the CAREC Program. Senior officials from the ministries of finance, economy, foreign economic relations, investments and trade, State Customs Committee, state energy company Uzbekenergo, oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz, and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry participated in the workshop.

The participants noted the importance of finalizing the CAP, which is expected to be approved at the 5th Ministerial Conference on CAREC in October 2006 in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, PRC. It will be a strategic framework, upon which the priorities for regional cooperation and the proper sequencing of initiatives will be decided.

The participants also reviewed the current status of the CAREC Program and discussed the regional cooperation goals and objectives of the Government of Uzbekistan and key expected outputs from regional cooperation in the priority sectors. They also discussed issues related to private sector involvement, improved access to the regional and world markets, and possible inclusion of new sectors in the CAREC Program, including tourism, human development, agriculture, and environment.

The workshop follows the Fourth Ministerial Conference of CAREC, which took place on 5-6 November 2005 in Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic, and the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) in Urumqi, on 10-11 April 2006.

The CAREC Programme is an alliance comprising eight countries—Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, PRC, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan—and six multilateral institutions (MIs): ADB, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, International Monetary Fund, Islamic Development Bank, United Nations Development Programme and World Bank.

CAREC aims to promote economic growth and raise living standards by encouraging regional economic cooperation. The Program has concentrated on financing infrastructure projects and improving the region's policy environment in the priority areas of transport, energy, trade policy and trade facilitation. The combined assistance of the MIs for these sectors is expected to exceed US$1.45 billion during 2006-2008.

Uzbekistan joined ADB in 1995. Cumulative lending to the country now stands at US$914.7 million for 19 loans. ADB has also approved grants to Uzbekistan totaling US$32 million.

ADB, based in Manila, is dedicated to reducing poverty in the Asia and Pacific region through pro-poor sustainable economic growth, social development, and good governance. Established in 1966, it is owned by 65 members – 47 from the region. In 2005, it approved loans and grants for projects totaling US$6.95 billion, and technical assistance amounting to US$198.8 million. (UzReport.com)

ADB LOANS TO UZBEKISTAN TO SOON REACH 1 BLN USD - OFFICIAL.

A total amount of loans to Uzbekistan by the Asian Development Bank will reach one billion dollars this year, the outgoing ADB’s country director in Uzbekistan, Sean O’Sullivan, told reporters on Tuesday.

Alone over the past two-and-a-half years, Uzbekistan has received 215 million dollars worth of loans which have been used for projects to improve the health of mothers and children, improve water supply in rural areas, publish textbook and develop the agricultural sector.

The first in Central Asia high-speed train Tashkent-Samarkand was launched with the help of the ADB. It also helped to open a car corridor to China across Kyrgyzstan, build a highway from Termez to the Afghan province of Gerat, O’Sullivan told reporters.

A new program for cooperation with the ADB was approved in March. It is aimed mainly at reducing poverty, particularly in rural areas, the country director explained.

Uzbekistan joined the Asian Development Bank in 1995. As of the present moment, it has already received loans worth almost 915 million dollars. (ITAR-TASS)

OVER 7,000 PEOPLE VISIT TEA AND COFFEE EXHIBITION

All participants of the exhibition "Tea and Coffee" noted successful participation in the first exhibition, and expressed their intention to participated in the next Tea and Coffee Exhibition to be held in 2007, says the message of the organizer of the exhibition International Exhibition Group Uzbekistan (IEG Uzbekistan).

The Tea and Coffee Exhibition was held on 9-11 June at the showroom of the UzExpoCenter, which according to the organizers was visited by over 7,000 visitors. The organizers noted that the exhibition was visited not only by the local specialists, but also by guests from abroad, countries such as Vietnam, Mongolia, Great Britain, Germany, Russia, Kazakhstan, Georgia and Iran.

"They [participant companies] have achieved the set aim – to establish new contacts, conduct negotiations, sign contracts, and present their products to consumers. As a result, not only participant companies but also visitors and specialists were satisfied with the exhibition," says the note.

The organizers are convinced that the exhibition established a new tradition of demonstrating the national tea-drinking traditions, as much as it becoming the venue for the meetings of the participants of the market of tea, coffee and all associated industries: packaging, food and confectionary industries.

The note of the IEG Uzbekistan states that 20 companies from eight countries of the world participated in the exhibition. (UzReport.com)

TRADE MISSION OF TOMSK REGION STARTS VISIT UZBEKISTAN

Administration of Tomsk region (Russia) in cooperation with Tomsk Chamber of Commerce and Industry are organizing trade-economic mission of business circles of Tomsk region to Tashkent on 14-16 June.

The delegation includes some 30-35 entrepreneurs and it is led by deputy governor of Tomsk on economic policy and investments Oxana Kozlovskaya.

The mission includes heads of machinery, timber enterprises and education complexes. (UzReport.com)

LUKOIL COMPLETES ENGINEERING DESIGN OF ENVIRONMENTAL FACILITY IN UZBEKISTAN

During the course of implementation of the Kandym-Khauzak-Shady-Kungrad PSA LUKOIL Uzbekistan Operating Company completed the engineering design of a temporary storage and waste management facility for drilling cuttings on the Khauzak and Shady blocks in Bukhara Region (southwestern Uzbekistan), the Russian company said in its release on 14 June.

The facility is the first of its kind in the Republic of Uzbekistan. Design of the site was carried out by the Baku subsidiary of the LUKOIL?VolgogradNIPImorneft Institute, which was the winning bidder at the tender. Local contractors, Uzgipromeliovodkhoz institute and Neftegaztekhnologiya enterprise, were actively involved in the work, it added.

Meticulous engineering geological surveys of the terrain were carried out during the site selection phase in order to study the soil, the depth of ground water and watertight rock. The work was carried out under the oversight of the regional and republican environmental protection committees. The design and budget documentation successfully passed peer reviews in government authorities of Republic of Uzbekistan.

The facility will provide for separate collection, transportation and disposal of drilling waste (drilling wastewater and drilling cuttings), as well as regeneration and re-circulation of used drilling mud. The stabilization and solidification method has been selected for the disposal of drilling cuttings (stabilization is a chemical reaction as result of which the components of the cuttings become less soluble). The design capacity of the waste disposal site is 12,000 tonnes per year, the release noted.

Work on the disposal of drilling waste, as well as all other petroleum operations under the PSA will be accompanied by environmental monitoring carried out by a specialized organization, which has a certified and accredited laboratory. Construction of a network of monitoring wells is planned to ensure control of ground water and its physical and chemical properties and bacteriological composition within the sanitary protection area.

The PSA for the Kandym-Khauzak-Shady-Kungrad project was signed on 16 June 2004 in Tashkent and came into effect on 24 November 2004. The project is being implemented by a consortium of investors, which includes LUKOIL Overseas (90%) and Uzbekneftegaz (10%). The duration of the PSA is 35 years. Commercial production is planned to start in the fourth quarter of 2007. Peak annual production of natural gas will exceed 10 billion cubic meters, while cumulative production under the project could reach 207 billion cubic meters of gas. (UzReport.com)

SOCIETY

UZBEK ARTISTS TO ATTEND ISRAELI CARTOON EXHIBITION

On 13 June, the Embassy of Israel and the International Caravan-Saroy of Culture "Ikuoo Hiroyama" opened the exhibition of caricatures of Uzbek artists, who would like to participate in the 12th International Cartoon Exhibition in Israel.

Artists from Uzbekistan are regular participants of this event and last year well-known Uzbek cartoonist Mr. Radik Azizov got the Second prize and seven drawings of the Uzbek artist were included to the catalogue consisted from 350 caricatures sent from 53 countries. The last year topic was transportation and safety traffic.

The following artists from Uzbekistan will participate in the 12th International Cartoon Exhibition in Israel: R. Azizov, A. Vasikhanov, A. Gvardin, I. Zvereva, J. Ibragimova, M. Ishonkulov, B. Kalanov, S. Mamatkulov, V. Muromtzev, N. Popov, H. Sadikov, L. Tiora, Sh. Turapov, N. Usmanov and R. Egamberdiev. (UzReport.com)