February 25, 2009
Politics:
Uzbek, Turkmen official delegations hold talks
Presidents of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan met with journalists
Opening of new building of Turkmenistan Embassy in Tashkent
Economics:
Tashabbus-2009: achievement of national entrepreneurship
Chemical industry exports rises by 30% in 2008
Ferghana region's economy grows by 6% in 2008
Navoi region posts 8.1% growth of economy
Tashkent region's economy grows by 4.7%
Surkhandarya region's gross regional product grows by 7.4%
Khorezm region's gross regional product up 7.6% in 2008
Society:
Human Rights protection in focus
To educate and bring up in creative environment
New medical centers for youth
POLICY
UZBEK, TURKMEN OFFICIAL DELEGATIONS HOLD TALKS
The negotiations of the official delegations of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan under the chairmanship of the presidents Islam Karimov and Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov started at the Durmen residence.
The main attention during the talks will be paid to the issues of trade-economic and humanitarian cooperation.
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are among the world’s leaders in gas transportation. In the conditions of the increased demand for energy resources and the global economic crisis, the cooperation of the two countries in this area has a particular importance.
The neighboring states have a great potential for transit cargo transportation. The annual volume of export and import cargo transported via the territory of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan reaches almost 2.5 million tons.
PRESIDENTS OF UZBEKISTAN AND TURKMENISTAN MET WITH JOURNALISTS
Meeting in Durmen residence between Presidents of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan has ended. As a result of negotiations between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan sides signed a number of bilateral documents, UzA reported.
Islam Karimov and Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov met with media representatives. The Presidents noted that the talks were held in a spirit of openness, mutual trust and respect, constructive dialogue and the agreements will serve the further development of Uzbek-Turkmen relations and interests of the peoples of both countries.
Leaders of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan highlighted the similarities and unity of views in the fields of bilateral relations as well as on the international and regional issues.
OPENING OF NEW BUILDING OF TURKMENISTAN EMBASSY IN TASHKENT
During the state visit of Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov to Uzbekistan in March 2008, the foundation of the new embassy building was laid. Built in short-term, the new embassy building made a great impression on the distinguished guest.
Islam Karimov noted that the greatness, beautiful appearance of the new building symbolizes the development of Uzbek-Turkmen relations.
Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov stressed that the completion of the new building for the Turkmenistan Embassy in Tashkent, indicates the beginning of a new era of bilateral relations and expressed confidence in further acceleration and development of mutual cooperation.
ECONOMY
TASHABBUS-2009: ACHIEVEMENT OF NATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
Tashabbus-2009 competition among businesses, farmers and handicrafts to the prize of the President of Uzbekistan, will be launched soon. The competition became effective mechanism on promotion of best practices and achievements of national entrepreneurship, Uzreport Information Portal reported.
The main organizer of the competition is the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan. It is organized in assistance and support of the State Committee on Demonopolization, Support of Competition and Entrepreneurship, Association of Farm Entities and Handicrafts Association.
Businesses, farmers and handicrafts, who achieved high results, will participate at the competition.
Winners of the competition will be determined on such nominations as "The Best Entrepreneur of the Year", "The Best Farmer of the Year", "The Best Handicraft of the Year" and special nominations as "The Youngest Entrepreneur of the Year", "The Youngest Farmer of the Year", "The Youngest Handicraft of the Year", "The Best Businesswoman of the Year", etc.
The competition will be held in district, city, regional stages and the results will be summed up in national stage. National stage will be held on 30-31 March 2009.
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY EXPORTS RISES BY 30% IN 2008
Export of enterprises of Uzkimysanoat (Uzbek Chemical Industry) increased by 30% in 2008 compared to 2007, UzA reported. The report did not elaborated on value of exports.
Introduction of modern technologies at the enterprises helped to decrease electricity consumption. For example, Navoiazot decreased electricity consumption by 13.5 million kWt per hour and natural gas by 3.16 million cubic meters.
The chemical industry is implementing modernization and technical re-equipment programme. The programme envisages implementation of 30 projects and spent US$291 million. The programme will help to increase output by 1.5 times and decrease consumption of energy resources.
Enterprises of Uzkimysanoat currently produce over 150 types of chemical products, including fertilizers, chemical reagents for energy sector, polyethylene, etc.
FERGHANA REGION'S ECONOMY GROWS BY 6% IN 2008
Gross regional product of Ferghana region grew by 6% in 2008 and industrial output rose by 2.8%, agriculture production – 5.1% and rendered services – 22.1%.
About 12 joint ventures have been commissioned in the region in 2008 and over 3,600 small and private businesses were formed.
There were also shortcomings in 2008. It was noted that some enterprises in the region are bad condition and some of them are decreasing production. It was said that the region should boost work on attraction of foreign investments and introduction of modern technologies.
NAVOI REGION POSTS 8.1% GROWTH OF ECONOMY
Gross regional product of Navoi region increased by 8.1% in 2008, a meeting of the deputies of Navoi region said at the meeting.
The meeting said production of consumer goods increased by 15.2% and agriculture output rose by 5.1%. Rendered services grew by 24.6% and construction works – 21.1%.
It was said that real income of population grew by 25% year-on-year in 2008.
TASHKENT REGION'S ECONOMY GROWS BY 4.7%
Gross regional product of Tashkent region grew by 4.7%, a meeting of the Tashkent region's deputies said.
The region posted 0.3% growth of industrial output and production of consumer goods rose by 11.3%. Agriculture output increased by 6.1% and rendered services – 26.2%.
About 16 new industrial enterprises have been commissioned in 2008. It is planned to launch another 45 new enterprises, engaged in construction, light industry and agriculture, in 2009.
It was noted that 16 of 89 existing industrial enterprises failed to produce planned volume of products.
The meeting underlined that 37 enterprises should be modernized.
SURKHANDARYA REGION'S GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT GROWS BY 7.4%
Surkhandarya region posted 7.4% growth of gross regional product and 11.8% growth of industrial output in 2008.
The region increase production of consumer goods by 12.6% and rendered service by 13.1% in the reporting period.
Share of small and private businesses in gross regional product comprised 67.2%.
About 44 existing joint ventures in the region produced goods and rendered services for 97.246 billion soums in 2008.
Last year, about 67 enterprises have been commissioned.
KHOREZM REGION'S GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT UP 7.6% IN 2008
Gross regional product of Khorezm region increased by 7.6% in 2008 and industrial production grew by 10.3%.
Production of consumer goods in the region rose by 8.9% and retail trade turnover up by 14.9% in the reporting period. Rendered service grew by 14.4%.
Share of services in gross regional product made up 43.5% and small businesses – 66.1% in 2008.
The region attracted 174 billion soums in 2008 due to all financial resources. About 12 billion soums were attracted to industry.
In particular, Khonqa-parrandachilik was equipped with equipment for 1.45 million euros and Gilamchi-Carpet, an Uzbek-Turkish joint venture, installed modern equipment on carpet weaving.
The region plans to attract US$15.5 million to its economy in 2009.
SOCIETY
HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION IN FOCUS
The Commission for Constitutional Human Rights and Freedoms Observance held an extended session to discuss the results of the activities of the Human Rights Commissioner (Ombudsman) under the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.
Last year, as Ombudsman Sayora Rashida has noted, may be described as exemplary in terms of Uzbekistan’s commitment to the democratic path of development and progressive advance towards civil society. For our Republic, Year 2008 was a year of exclusive attention to human rights issues. In this regard, an important role was played by Presidential Decree “On Action Program dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”, which was adopted in May last year. It contributed to the adoption of significant measures to improve national legislation, to the expansion of Ombudsman’s powers, and to the strengthening of the status of national institutions for human rights.
During the period in question, the Human Rights Commissioner carried out a significant amount of work aimed at assisting the improvement of national legislation in human rights, monitoring of its implementation, consideration of citizens’ appeals, restoration of violated rights and freedoms. Last year the Ombudsman received 9 thousand appeals and in most cases citizens’ violated rights were restored. Regional representatives provide considerable assistance with the Ombudsman’s endeavors.
The report also provided many instances of the Human Rights Commissioner’s active participation in international cooperation in human rights protection. One of the main objectives of this dialog is to develop ties between national human rights institutions and ombudsmen in foreign countries and to raise international awareness of democratic reforms being carried out in Uzbekistan.
The Ombudsman’s report was also discussed at sessions of factions and committees of the Parliament’s Lower Chamber.
TO EDUCATE AND BRING UP IN CREATIVE ENVIRONMENT
Implementation of the program The Year of creative environment development in educational institutions was summed up for the first six months. It is reckoned for kindergartens, schools, pedagogical universities, advanced training and retraining institutes.
All mapped out measures are successfully materialized. Besides, regulation on small academies under schools aimed at stimulation of the pupils’ interest to scientific activity was elaborated and is put to use. Stands and albums telling about the bright events of the school history are created by joint efforts of teachers and schoolchildren. Councils of boys were established there who take part in the public life of the educational institution. Practice of holding special pedagogical councils fully dedicated to the discussion of the best experience of organizing the outside work with pupils became widespread. They favor experience exchange between different educational institutions’ teachers and dissemination of positive skills.
“On the whole, the program’s implementation brings the expected results. Owing to the creative teachers’ approach to the educational work the study process becomes more interesting and rich in content, and therefore, its quality increase, creative abilities of pupils reveal,” Said Khidirov, main specialist of the department on State standards improvement and introduction of progressive pedagogical technologies of the Ministry of public education concluded.
NEW MEDICAL CENTERS FOR YOUTH
All regions of Uzbekistan finished establishing juvenile dispensers providing diagnostic, consultative and medical assistance.
“The arrangement of such clinics as ours,” Makhbuba Arifkhanova, head doctor of the Tashkent municipal juvenile dispenser says, ”was caused by the necessity of the further strengthening of the youth’s health. Most of our patients are boys and girls within 15- and 18-year range. This is a complicated age first of all for teenagers themselves because socially they are already not children but not yet adults. They get free consulting, diagnostics and treatment of different diseases.”
Currently, the majority of juvenile dispensers are still in their establishment process: their staff is being formed, material and technical base is strengthening. The Tashkent Municipal Juvenile Dispenser has more advanced experience among them because it was established in 1996 as a pilot institution of this type. There is even own surgery service where doctors perform medium surgeries.
“It is of no small importance that a patient is given a free assistance in any case,” Makhbuba Arifkhanova emphasized. “We forward a teenager with a complicated diagnosis to a specialized clinic. Both we and our regional colleagues have an opportunity to arrange a state-paid treatment at any leading medical research institute or center.”
The present day juvenile dispensers are the dynamically developing medical institutions. Besides the state, they are supported by sponsors such as leading enterprises of the country. This proves one more time that the new medical centers are able to meet in full the tasks they face, and the youth’s health is always in safe.