26 June, 2006

Politics
Uzbek head resolves to create National Book Fund
Kazakhstan welcomes Uzbekistan in CSTO

Economics
ITE to open autumn season with textile exhibition
Centre presents product on training of young specialists
Chinese businessmen lease major trade centre in central Uzbekistan
UAE company plans to acquire Uzbek, Tajik mobile operators - reports

Society
New center to implement Korean-funded project
Youth internet – marathon opens in Uzbekistan
Concert of chamber orchestra to be held at State Conservatory
Great Silk Road exhibition to be held in Obihiro


UZBEK HEAD RESOLVES TO CREATE NATIONAL BOOK FUND

Uzbek President Islam Karimov signed a resolution to create National Book Fund under Finance Ministry on 1 June.

The presidential resolution "On measures on organisaion of National Book Fund under Finance Ministry of Uzbekistan" said it is directed to ensure sustainable and uninterrupted publication, supply and realization of books and manuals to general schools through consolidation of budget and off-budget funds.

The document approved suggestion on creation of National Book Fund under Finance Ministry and set its tasks.

The resolution said the fund will accumulate budget and sponsor funds, credits and grants of international financial institutions, rent fees for books and organize effective management of the resources. It will also finance purchase and delivery of books and manuals to libraries of general schools, including those distributed on rent basis. The fund will also assist publishing houses and enterprises, specializing on trade of books, through issue of short-term loans.

The resolution said the sources of financing of the fund are budget, payments for rent of books, grants, credits and sponsorship assistance of international organizations and financial institutions, legal entities and individuals, incomes from placement of free resources and others.

The document granted tax holiday to the fund, except single social payment and customs payments. (UzReport.com)

KAZAKHSTAN WELCOMES UZBEKISTAN IN CSTO

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev welcomed decision of Uzbekistan to resume its membership in the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) and said this will allow to strengthen southern borders.

As earlier reported, Uzbekistan has lifted its moratorium on active work within the CSTO, a coalition of former Soviet republics, and is now a fully-fledged member of the organization. This was announce at the CSTO heads of states in Minsk, Belarus, 23 June. Kazakh leader said: "Reinstatement of membership of Uzbekistan will promote formation of security belt in southern frontier."

Nazarbaev noted it is necessary to strengthen military compound of the organisation and increase attention to training and re-training of staff on fight against international terrorism, drug trafficking and other threats and challenges.

Kazakh head expressed concern over confrontation on Iran issue and instability in Afghanistan. He said the CSTO should fight against new threats and this will allow to transnational cooperation. (UzReport.com)

ECONOMICS

ITE TO OPEN AUTUMN SEASON WITH TEXTILE EXHIBITION

ITE (International Trade Exhibitions) Uzbekistan will open its autumn exhibition season with the largest textile exhibition in Central Asia – Textile Expo Uzbekistan 2006, a press release of the company said.

The release said the exhibition would take place at Uzexpocentre on 5-8 September. ITE (Great Britain) and ITE Uzbekistan organized the event at the support of Uzbekyengilsanoat (Uzbek Light Industry) state joint stock company, Uzbek State Committee on Demonopolisation and support of competition and businesses, Tashkent city administration, Uzbek Ipagi Association and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

Light industry is one of the perspectives sectors of the Uzbek economy and it ensures large share of employment, industrial output and production of consumer goods. The company said the number of foreign and local companies, wishing to participate at Textile Expo Uzbekistan, is increasing.

TextileExpo Uzbekistan 2006, organized this year for the third time, will be held in Central Pavilion and 5th Pavilion of Uzexpocentre, ITE said. The company said some 130 companies from 21 countries will participate in the event.

ITE said the Third Central Asian Exhibition "Textile, technologies and equipment for light industry - TextileExpo Uzbekistan 2006" increased by 100% on area and 40% on number of participating companies this year compared to previous year.

The release said Textile Expo Uzbekistan 2006 would present latest achievement of textile machinery and assist to establish business contacts with equipment producers, producers of raw materials and technologies for light industry, as well as ready products of Uzbek companies. (UzReport.com)

CENTRE PRESENTS PRODUCT ON TRAINING OF YOUNG SPECIALISTS

Innovation and Management Centre, working in management consulting since 1990, presented new product "Genesis of career growth" in June 2006.

The programme directed to form leadership skills among young specialists and effective business conduct, etc. The programme designed to form team, which is united with general view, values and strategic tasks.

The programme organized in seminar-training, group of discussion, business games, brain-storming and others. (UzReport.com)

CHINESE BUSINESSMEN LEASE MAJOR TRADE CENTRE IN CENTRAL UZBEKISTAN

Chinese businessmen have rented the Osiyo Karvon Saroyi trade centre in Jizzakh, the regional centre of Jizzakh region.

The Chinese businesses had already started equipping the centre to open a wholesale market there very soon.

"The renting of the trade centre to the Chinese businessmen is expected to positively influence the economy of the region. The trade centre, built in line with Eastern architectural style, has all the conveniences for traders and buyers," the report said. (UzReport.com)

UAE COMPANY PLANS TO ACQUIRE UZBEK, TAJIK MOBILE OPERATORS - REPORTS

Etisalat of the UAE plans to acquire mobile communication companies in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, UAE media reported.

The reports said Mohammed Omran, Etisalat's President, said the company is aiming to secure licences in Yemen, Russia, Greece, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The UAE company plans to acquire from 70% to 85% stake in mobile operators in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, the reports added.

Etisalat has been the telecommunications service provider in the UAE since 1976, and has built up a modern telecom infrastructure and established itself as an innovative and reliable operator.

Etisalat stands 140th among the Financial Times Top 500 Corporations in the world in terms of market capitalization, and is ranked by The Middle East magazine as the 6th largest company in the Middle East in terms of capitalization and revenues.

The corporation is the largest contributor outside the oil sector to development programmes of the UAE Federal Government, and is an award-winning socially responsible corporation. Etisalat has also won accolades from across the region for its nationalization programme. (UzReport.com)

SOCIETY

NEW CENTER TO IMPLEMENT KOREAN-FUNDED PROJECT

Uzbek Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev signed a resolution to create Center on development of multimedia general educational programmes to implement South Korean-funded project on equipment of Uzbek schools.

The resolution of Cabinet of Ministers "On measures on creation of Centre on development of multimedia general educational programmes under Public Education Ministry" said the center will implement project funded by South Korean Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF).

The EDCF allocated US$30 million soft loan to the Uzbek government to implement project "Informatization of general schools in Uzbekistan". The credit issued for 30 years under 1% APR.

The center's main tasks are development of electronic educational multimedia software, adaptation and localization of educational resources and publications from other languages to languages, used in education process in Uzbekistan.

The center will also develop and hold trainings of staff of institutes and re-train staff of public education. (UzReport.com)

YOUTH INTERNET – MARATHON OPENS IN UZBEKISTAN

Youth Internet - Marathon dedicated to the 15th anniversary of Independence of Uzbekistan will be held within Uzbekistan information and communication week Uzinfocom-2006. Agency of Communication and Information of Uzbekistan, Women's Committee of Uzbekistan, Computerization and Information Technology Developing Center UzInfoCom, Tashkent State University of Information Technologies, UN Information Center, UNDP's Project "Capacity Building for Internet Technologies Development and Promotion", UNDP's Project "Assisting the Government of Uzbekistan in the formulation and implementation of ICT policy for the development of Uzbekistan" (ICT Policy Project), Central Asian Gateway and "InfoCOM.UZ" Information-analytical magazine are organisers.

The marathon will be held within 24 June and 30 September and children and youth between the ages of 5 – 35 can participate in the event.

The organisers said the goal of the event is to demonstrate the use of educational, professional, information, communication and fostering opportunities of Information and Communication technologies (ICT) in everyday life for broad auditorium of Uzbekistan's youth.

Expected outcomes are discovering talented and promising youth from regions who has skills of the creative use information technology in study, work and everyday life, increasing the number of youth with skills and knowledge of ICT opportunities; raising awareness of youth on modern development issues and expansion of their outlook in this field, popularization of computer and Internet opportunities to broad audience, mass media coverage of ICT opportunities and internet resources created by youth on national languages.

The marathon held in five categories, including "Best Picture or Poster dedicated to the role of IT in the development of social and economical life of youth", "Best Website devoted to Uzbekistan's Youth", "Best Knowledge of Quick Search for information in the Internet", "Best Application of the Computer in Educational Purpose" and "Best Use of Communication Opportunities of the Internet in Educational and Professional Activity". (UzReport.com)

CONCERT OF CHAMBER ORCHESTRA TO BE HELD AT STATE CONSERVATORY

Culture and Sport Ministry of Uzbekistan will present a concert of chamber orchestra led by Ulugbek Imamov on 29 June.

The chamber orchestra will perform serenade of Elgar, Concert Fantasy of Frolova and others. Nilufar Alimaksumova is soloist. (UzReport.com)

GREAT SILK ROAD EXHIBITION TO BE HELD IN OBIHIRO

Art exhibition "Great Silk Road and is heritage" will move from Hakodate city to Obihiro city (both in Hokkaido prefecture), a press release of the Fund Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan said.

The release said the exhibition would end on 9 July in Hakodate and move to Obihiro, where the exhibition will open on 15 July.

Fund Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan, Hakodate administration organized the exhibition at support of the Uzbek embassy in Japan. The exhibition was organized in other prefectures of Japan a year ago, the release said. (UzReport.com)