11 July, 2006

Politics
Uzbek President receives German Foreign Ministry’s State Secretary
Uzbekistan crime statistics lowest in CIS
New Uzbek consul starts work in Osaka
Al-Arabia broadcasts reports on Uzbekistan

Economics
Uzbek bank receives Deal of the Year - 2005 Award from British magazine
Uzbek committee notes increase on social advertisement
Revenues of Uzbek advertisement market rises by 22% year-on-year
State Joint Stock Railway Company "O'zbekiston temir yo'llari" invitation tender on "Signalling and Telecommunication Systems"
Uzbek company to build $20 mln aluminum composite panel plant in Russia

Society
Ancient Christian inscriptions found in Urgut district of Samarkand region
Russian Foreign Center holds second round of Discover Russia! Contest

POLITICS

UZBEK PRESIDENT RECEIVES GERMAN FOREIGN MINISTRY’S STATE SECRETARY

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received State Secretary of Germany`s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Hernot Erler on 10 July in Tashkent.

The sides discussed issues of development of cooperation between the two countries, as well as important regional and international problems.

Relations between Uzbekistan and Germany include cooperation in political, trade-economic, and socio-cultural spheres.

A number of business delegations from Germany visited Uzbekistan in the recent months, including Daimler-Chrysler, EADS, MAN Ferrostaal AG, LEMKEN GmbH and others.

Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Germany made up USD 326 million last year. (UzA)

UZBEKISTAN CRIME STATISTICS LOWEST IN CIS

Over the historically short period since its independence, Uzbekistan made major achievements on its path towards building a democratic state and a free civil society, which were recognized by the international community.

It would be absolutely right to say that President Islam Karimov's decree dated 1 August 2005 "On abolition of the death penalty in the Republic of Uzbekistan" marks a crucial, decisive stage in the moderation of criminal punishment.

The decree states that the death penalty is to be scrapped completely from 1 January 2008, replaced by life imprisonment or long jail terms.

This is yet another demonstration of commitment to humanity and tolerance, the qualities typical for the Uzbek people.

With relaxation of the criminal law, there has been a sharp fall in serious and especially serious crimes. In 2005, these almost halved, as compared with 2000, from 31,276 to 17,863.

In 2005, Uzbekistan had the lowest in CIS rate of crime per 100,000, that is, 319 as against 2,488 in Russia, 1,969 in Belarus, 1,044 in Ukraine, 966 in Kazakhstan, 955 in Georgia, 814 in Moldova and 647 in Kyrgyzstan.

Over the past five years, the number of prisoners shrunk by the factor of 2.5. Uzbekistan now has 150 prisoners per 100,000 population, while USA has 701, Russia 606, Belarus 554, Kazakhstan 522, Turkmenistan 489, Ukraine 415 and Kyrgyzstan 390.

These figures alone are a clear indication that the reform is bearing fruit. (BBC Monitoring Central Asia)

NEW UZBEK CONSUL STARTS WORK IN OSAKA

The Uzbek government appointed Toshio Toura, advisor of Toray International, as honourable consul of Uzbekistan is Osaka, Japan.

Koko Chuma, state minister on administrative reforms, underlined economic and cultural potential of Kansay region, centre of which Osaka and proposed to creation Osaka-Uzbekistan Friendship Association. Chuma expressed readiness to participate in the work of the organisation, the report said.

Yoshinori Ono, Japanese MP, called new honourbale consul of Uzbekistan to show example of people diplomacy, directed to deepening friendship relations between two states in business and public levels.

Toshio Toura, in his turn, expressed gratitude to the Uzbek government for high trust and said he will do his best to strengthening relations between Uzbekistan and Japan. (“Jahon” Information Agency)

AL-ARABIA BROADCASTS REPORTS ON UZBEKISTAN

Al-Arabia, UAE-based independent satellite channel, broadcasted several programmes on Uzbekistan in June, Uzbek Foreign Ministry's Jahon news agency reported.

The report said the head of correspondent bureau on Southern-Eastern Asia Bakir Atiyani visited Uzbekistan in April and studies history, culture, traditions and customs of Uzbek people and shot video materials.

Atiyani shot Tashkent Islam Unoversity, Tashkent State Oriental Studies University, Friday praying at Tashkent-based Sheih Zayniddin mosque, Kukaldosh madrasah, State History Museum, etc.

The agency said Al-Arabia broadcasted reports entitled "Studying Arabic language in Uzbekistan", "Chayhana (tea house) in Uzbekistan", "Arabs in Uzbekistan" and "Kurash in Uzbekistan".

It is added that the channel is preparing reports entitled "Islamic university in Uzbekistan", "Historic tour to Uzbekistan".

Al-Arabia is independent satellite channel, which was founded in 2003 in Dubai, UEA. Middle East News is founder of the channel. The channel broadcasts in Arabic to over 300 million people in Middle East, Europe, Southern-Eastern Asia and Southern Asia and America. (“Jahon” Information Agency)

ECONOMICS

UZBEK BANK RECEIVES DEAL OF THE YEAR - 2005 AWARD FROM BRITISH MAGAZINE

Asaka Bank, the second largest Uzbek bank, received Deal of the Year - 2005 Award of Global Trade Review Magazine (UK).

The bank said on its web site that the award was given to the deal on purchase of 50% stake of South Korean Daewoo Motors by Uzavtosanoat. The deal involves US$55 million facilities arranged by JP Morgan Chase to Asaka Bank supporting the UzDaewoo Auto car manufacturing plant.

The facilities were particularly significant as they helped the company stabilize its production and export schedules and by so doing improve market conditions in the region. The plant is a significant foreign exchange earner, exporting vehicles to neighbouring countries in Central Asia and Russia.

The facilities supported UzDaewoo Auto in acquiring the remaining 50% of the plant from creditors and also supported the manufacturer in importing key components for manufacturing cars at the plant. As with any vehicle production line continuity of production is essential. Coming as it did, the facilities acted in a very timely manner for UzDaewoo Auto, the Uzbek bank's web site noted.

JPMorgan Chase was able to structure the deal as it enjoys a long-standing relationship with Asaka Bank, one of the largest government-owned commercial banks in Uzbekistan. Within the structure JPMorgan Chase provided a number of innovative solutions which addressed a range of issues, including volatile market dynamics and risk management of those elements and was designed with enough flexibility to meet the growing credit needs of UzDaewoo Auto.

JPMorgan Chase spokesman said: "Our highly effective working relationship with Asaka Bank and the Uzbekistan government, as well as our ability to structure a flexible solution, were distinguishing characteristics of this deal." Signing and closing of this deal took place in May 2005, with disbursement scheduled through May until October 2005. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK COMMITTEE NOTES INCREASE ON SOCIAL ADVERTISEMENT

The volume of social advertisements is increasing in Uzbekistan, analysis of Uzbek State Committee on Demonopolization, Support of Competition and Entrepreneurship said.

The committee said in Uzbekistan social advertising is regulated by the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On Advertising". The law has separate provisions dedicated to the concept. According to the law, entities engaged in the production and publication of social advertisements are entitled to certain benefits. Particularly, social advertisements are published by mass media free of charge. The volume of social advertisement being published should not fall below 5% of coverage allowed for advertisements. As the attention to the concept increases, the volumes of published social advertisements grow rapidly from year to year. The committee said broadcast time of social advertisements on television rose from 9,870 minutes in 2003 to 10,270 minutes in 2004 (up 4% against 2003) and to 14,550 minutes in 2005 (up 41% against 2004).

At the example of television, one can trace a substantial increase (41%) in the broadcast time of social advertisements. The same situation is observed in other spheres: for the radio the increase made up 60%, and for the printed media – 20%. (UzReport.com)

REVENUES OF UZBEK ADVERTISEMENT MARKET RISES BY 22% YEAR-ON-YEAR

Revenues of Uzbek advertisement market increased by 22% year-on-year to 1.66 billion soums in 2005, analysis of Uzbek State Committee on Demonopolization, Support of Competition and Entrepreneurship said.

The committee said on its web site that the share of television in total revenues of 2005 increased by 6%, while the share of print media decreased by 2% and external advertisement fell by 3%.

According to the committee, the revenue from advertisements comprised 1.45 billion soums in 2004, of which 31% fell to share of television, 9% to radio, 14% to print media and 46% to external advertisement.

The committee said local producers and joint ventures, like Uzdunrobita, Coscom, Unitel, Coca Cola Bottlers, Ecolot, UzDaewoo, Quva Mebel and others, are main advertisers.

The analysis of the committee underlined that the advertisements on television increased by 20% year-on-year to 2010 hours in 2005. It added that 75% of advertisements promotes local products, 23% promotes products of joint ventures and 2% - foreign companies.

The Uzbek committee said the volume of advertisement on television is increasing 30-50% annually in the regions.

The volume of radio advertisement remained at the same level in 2005 compared with 2004 despite number of radio stations increased. The main share of advertisement fell to local producers. (UzReport.com)

STATE JOINT STOCK RAILWAY COMPANY "O'ZBEKISTON TEMIR YO'LLARI" INVITATION TENDER ON "SIGNALLING AND TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS"

Project ID:No 03
Source of financing:State Joint Stock Railway Company
Opening date:15.06.2006
Closing date:13.09.2006
Contact info:Interested eligible bidders may obtain further information on the bid form and look at the bidding documents at the office of Mr. F.S. Jalalov, Chief of Project Implementation Unit (PIU) of the State Joint Stock Railway Company “O’zbekiston Temir Yo’llari” 7, T. Shevchenko Street, Tashkent, 700060 Republic of Uzbekistan, Telephone No: 00 998 71 1388426 Fax No: 00 998 71 1331566 and 00 998 71 1400282.

Text announcement: State Joint Stock Railway Company "O'zbekiston temir yo'llari" Invitation to Bid Tashguzar-Kumkurgan New Railway Construction Project

Loan No UZB-P8

Contract No 03 – Signalling and Telecommunication Systems

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan has received an Official Development Assistance (ODA) Loan from Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) towards implementation of Tashguzar-Kumkurgan New Railway Construction Project under Loan Agreement dated October 15, 2004 and intends to apply (where appropriate, “a portion of”) the proceeds of the loan to payments under the "Contract No 03 – Signalling and Telecommunication Systems".

Disbursement of an ODA Loan by JBIC will be subject, in all respects, to the terms and conditions of the Loan Agreement, including the disbursement procedures and the “Guidelines for Procurement under JBIC ODA Loans" dated October 1999.

State Joint Stock Railway Company “O’zbekiston temir yo’llari” appointed by THE Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan now invites sealed bids from eligible bidders from eligible source countries for the purpose of the Project.

A complete set of bidding documents may be purchased by any interested eligible bidder from June 15, 2006 on the submission of a written application to the above address and upon payment of a non-refundable fee of US $ 1000 (one thousand United States Dollars) ONLY for bidding documents of each Contract through bank transfer to bank account at National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan, SWIFT CODE: NBFA UZ 2X, CHIPS UID: 317699. Correspondent account of the Mirobod Branch: 100111. Correspondent account of the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the CITIBANK N.A. NEW YORK. N.Y. SWIFT CODE – CITI US 33. DATK "O'zbekiston temir yo'llari": Toshkent sh., 700060, T.Shevchenko, 7, MFO 00875 INN 201051951, P\c 20210840900600315010.

On submission of the confirmation slip from the above bank, bidding documents will be issued to the authorized representative of the bidder or, if required by the bidder, they can be couriered to bidder's given address at an additional cost of US $ 200 (two hundred United States Dollars). State Joint Stock Railway Company “O’zbekiston Temir Yo’llari” will not be responsible for any delay or loss of these bidding documents by the courier company.

State Joint Stock Railway Company “O’zbekiston Temir Yo’llari” will not be responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by bidders in connection with the preparation or delivery of bids.

The last date of bid submission is September 13, 2006.

State Joint Stock Railway Company “O’zbekiston Temir Yo’llari” is not bound to accept the lowest priced or any bid that it may receive. (UzReport.com)

UZBEK COMPANY TO BUILD $20 MLN ALUMINUM COMPOSITE PANEL PLANT IN RUSSIA

Uzbekistan's Roison Building Technology plans to build a plant to produce aluminum composite panels under the Alubond brand name worth about U.S. $20 million in Russia's Yaroslavl Region, the company's General Director Doniyar Rakhmatullayev said Monday.

The first part of the plant worth about $5 million is expected to be completed sometime in September-November, Rakhmatullayev said. By this time the plant will have an annual production capacity of 1.2 million square meters of aluminum composite panels. In the future the output of the plant will be increased to 5 million square meters of panels per year, Rakhmatullayev said.

Of raw materials used by the plant, 70% will be from Russia, while the rest will be supplied from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, Rakhmatullayev said.

Roison Building Technology is a subsidiary of Uzbekistan-U.S. joint venture Roison Electronics. The U.S.’ Ridal Company owns 51% in Roison Electronics, while unspecified Uzbek individuals own 49%. (PRIME-TASS News Agency)

SOCIETY

ANCIENT CHRISTIAN INSCRIPTIONS FOUND IN UZBEKISTAN

Eastern-Sogda Archaeological Expedition of the Science Academies of Ukraine and Uzbekistan found a new epigraphic monument – inscriptions in Sogdian language (Iranian language, close to Persian and Tajik) with the use of Armenian graphics (language close to today's Hebrew) - during the excavations of the early medieval Christian monastery in Urgut district of Samarkand region. The ancient engravings like these are a unique discovery. There are only a few of them in the world. Now their number has increased by around twenty.

Two years ago, local residents were building a road in Urgut mountains and a bulldozer hit the side of a hill. The cut opened up the finding that required the involvement of archaeologists.

The monastery was built in the late 9th century and existed approximately until the 13th century. A Zoroastrian temple Jar-Tepe and a temple of a pagan deity Aspan who could be the protectress of Urgut were located nearby.

In the mountain cave, near the monastery engravings in Sogdian and Syrian languages were found. One inscription used Chinese hieroglyphs, and scientists suggest that it could be written by some palmer from Sinjan. The world knows only one such monument discovered in 1922. These are "visitors'" notes, such as such and such (a Syrian name with the title of an ecclesiastic was here, as well as sentences like "good weather" or "it's snowing".

The monastery has survived intact. It appears that the structure has suffered neither fires nor attacks. The monument is in ideal shape: if it is dug out and restored, it will be good to stay in. The monastery is located at the top of the hill, on the mountain terrace with the area of 25 by 100 meters. A river runs by the two sides of the hill. The monks dug a tunnel 150 meters long and took water directly from the river through ceramic water pipe to the monastery wells 13-15 meters deep. The walls of the monastery are built with double brickwork from adobe bricks. The walls are four meters high. This monumental structure was a good protection against mudflows and landslides. All the common futures of monastery architecture that has its roots in Mesopotamia and Syria are evident. The most interesting is the fact that the structure is built from the adobe brick, although originally such structures were made of stone.

Scientists think that from the very beginning the ancient structure was being built according to a general plan: it has many subtle architectural details, the floor is covered with thin ceramic tiles of high quality and a layer of alabaster, the walls have fragments of paintings. (UzReport.com)

RUSSIAN FOREIGN CENTER HOLDS SECOND ROUND OF DISCOVER RUSSIA! CONTEST

The second round of the competition entitled "Discover Russia!" conducted among the students of higher educational facilities of Tashkent was held on 7 July at the Russian Center of Science and Culture.

At the beginning of the vent, all competitors received souvenirs – calendars of Russian Foreign Center.

"The tasks of the Discover Russia! Contest are unusual, topical and should be interesting to competitors. For many years, Uzbekistan and Russia had good relations, and as everyone knows, today these relations are improving. We are very glad to note the growing number of students from the universities of Tashkent showing interest in the history and culture of Russia," said the Chairman of the jury, Doctor of Historical Sciences Anatoliy Sagdulaev.

The competition is conducted in the form of a quiz that includes historical questions, work with video-materials, oral question and answers, etc.

Rafael Davletaraev (National University of Uzbekistan named after Ulugbek, mechanical-mathematical faculty), Shohruh Abdullaev (University of World Economy and Diplomacy, International Law faculty, 3rd year), Dilnoza Abdullaeva (University of World Economy and Diplomacy, 3rd year), Irina Kononova (National Universityof Uzbekistan named after Ulugbek, 3 year), and other students participated in the second round of the Discover Russia! Contest.

The results of the contest will be announced during the award ceremony to be held on 17 July at the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Uzbekistan. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Russia to Uzbekistan Farit Muhametshin will hand over the awards to the winners of the 2nd round of the Discover Russia! Contest. (UzReport.com)