13 July, 2006

Politics
Uzbek delegation visits China to discuss law-enforcement cooperation
Uzbekistan approves measures on control over financial operations

Economics
Economic Research Centre's Scientific-Problem Council held session
Round table discusses water consumption issues
UNIDO Clean Production Centre project launches its website
First Malaysian Tourism & Trade Fair to be held in Tashkent

Society
BeautyExpo Uzbekistan 2006 opens in Uzbek capital
Jewish Day Camp in Samarkand
Craftsmanship: traditions are kept
Tashkent-Flora 2006 to be held on 22-25 August
Uzbekistan moves 10 places up in FIFA ranking

POLITICS

UZBEK DELEGATION VISITS CHINA TO DISCUSS LAW-ENFORCEMENT COOPERATION

An Uzbek delegation headed by Minister of Justice Boritosh Mustafoyev paid visit to the People's Republic of China for an official visit on 27-30 June this year at the invitation of Chinese Justice Minister Wu Aiying.

The visit was aimed at further developing bilateral relations in the legal sphere and strengthening cooperation between the Uzbek and Chinese ministries of justice.

The visit is a practical expression of the further development of a cooperation agreement signed on 15 June 2004 by the Uzbek and Chinese ministries of justice, and of the expanding bilateral cooperation in the legal sphere following an agreement on cooperation in forensics signed on 25 May 2005.

At the end of the meeting, the sides agreed to further develop cooperation between the Uzbek and Chinese justice ministries and law-enforcement agencies as well. The Uzbek delegation also visited China's Supreme People's Court (SPC). The SPC vice-president, Su Zelin, told the visitors about the Chinese court system, and the future and specific aspects of the reforms being implemented in this field.

The Uzbek delegation also met Zhou Yongkang, the minister of public security and a member of China's State Council. The minister praised the achievements Uzbekistan has been making today. He particularly stressed the significance of establishing regular and strong relations between the law-enforcement agencies of the two countries.

B.Mustafoyev, the head of the Uzbek delegation, stressed the significance of relations between Uzbekistan and China. He recalled the following words from President Islam Karimov's speech at the fifth anniversary summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization: "Uzbekistan views China as a great neighbour and a reliable partner. Since the early years of our independence, this country has been supporting us."

The Institute of Forensic Sciences under the Chinese Justice Ministry also held a ceremony to sign an agreement on cooperation between the institute and the Sulaymonova forensics centre under the Uzbek Justice Ministry. The accord is aimed at implementing the agreement on cooperation in forensics between the Uzbek and Chinese ministries of justice.

UZBEKISTAN APPROVES MEASURES ON CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

The government of Uzbekistan approved order on submission of information to control over financial operations with an aim to fight terrorism and crime.

The resolution of Cabinet of Ministers "On order on submission of information, connected with counteraction of legalization of income, received from crime activity and financing of terrorism" said banks, investment institutions, exchanges, insurance companies, leasing companies, post companies, notary offices should submit information on operations of clients for sum over 4,000 minimal wages (minimal wage is equal to 10,800 soums) to authorized body – department on tax, currency crimes and legalization of crime income under General Prosecutor's Office.

The transactions for less than 4,000 minimal wages can be also controlled if individuals or legal entities suspected in terrorism or crime activity.

ECONOMICS

ECONOMIC RESEARCH CENTRE'S SCIENTIFIC-PROBLEM COUNCIL HELD SESSION

The scientific-problem council of the Centre of Economic Research (CER) held discussion of report "Modelling of influence of the change of taxes on the macroeconomic indicators", CER website said.

The report was prepared by a group of national consultants within the UNDP "Reform of tax system and development of new edition of Tax Code" project.

Requirements to the methods of analysis and evaluation of the consequences of made decisions are growing in conditions of stepwise socioeconomic reforms pursued by the Uzbek government. Therefore, there exists a sharp need of reliable tools of forecasting of the national economy, wide application of modern economic-mathematical methods of modelling to determine variants and priorities of socioeconomic policy of Uzbekistan.

A group of econometric modelling within the abovementioned UNDP project has studied modern approaches and the international experience of evaluation of impacts of tax regulation on economy and has conducted researches on the evaluation quarterly sequences of dynamics of macro indicators. The results of this analysis allow to define how the value of a macro indicator will change in case of change of factors determining its dynamics under the stipulation that other macroeconomic conditions and preconditions in the development of economy in forecast period do not undergo significant changes.

The participants also considered report "Youth employment in Uzbekistan". This review was prepared with assistance of a sub-regional bureau of the International Labour Organisation in Moscow and was developed on the basis of its requirements. The report is devoted to the issues of general assessment of the situation in the sphere of youth employment, revelation of existing problems in this sphere.

ROUND TABLE DISCUSSES WATER CONSUMPTION ISSUES

A meeting on "Management of water resources and water saving" has been held in the Centre of Economic Research within a series of round tables on most actual development issues.

The meeting was organised by the Social Policy Group and the "Economic review" magazine. The round table was attended by the representatives of the parliament, ministries and departments, Association of Water Users (AWU), farms, public and international organisations, research centres and higher educational establishments. During the meeting, the participants exchanged their views and made proposals to resolve actual issues on water resources management and water saving in the country.

A presentation was held within the seminar on the evolution of reforming the structure of management of water resources, advantages of a real management structure and its defects, the current state of water resources, their consumption on industries.

The second part of the round table discussed issues of introduction of market mechanisms in the water consumption, in particular, the necessity of introducing paid water consumption in agriculture, international experience in the field of collecting payment for water resources, account of factor influencing some prices for water, advantages, risks and barriers on the path of introduction of market mechanisms in water use.

UNIDO CLEAN PRODUCTION CENTRE PROJECT LAUNCHES ITS WEBSITE

Uzbek National Centre of Cleaner Production, founded on the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and with assistance of the UN Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) project, has launched its website in the Internet. The new resource is focused on support to the development of small and private entrepreneurship, as well as industrial enterprises of Uzbekistan. The two-language (English and Russian) website tells about the activity of the centre targeted at optimisation of production processes of enterprises, benefiting from introduction of cleaner production projects not having analogues in the country, and in the Central Asian region as a whole.

The project of UNIDO – Uzbek National Centre of Cleaner Production – started working in 2001 within an integrated UNIDO programme on technical assistance in Uzbekistan. The main task of the Uzbek centre is to promote the concept of Cleaner Production (CP) in priority branches of industries of Uzbekistan. This should result in economic beneficial changes at the enterprises and at the same time in improvement of ecological parameters, i.e. the CP concept is aimed at profitability increase of the industrial enterprises by constant decrease of consumption of raw materials, water and energy, eliminating toxic raw materials, reducing the quantity of emissions and wastes. At the same time the improvement of product quality and working conditions should be reached. The CP concept brings double benefit as economic and ecologic results. Being used constantly and consistently to all sites of the enterprises, the concept assists in performance of the basic requirements of an environment management system (EMS). It constantly establishes the achievable purposes and tasks at the enterprise and that can create conditions to implement the international standards of ISO 14000 series.

The new website also contains "Transfer of technologies" and "Exchange of wastes" sections, offering interested parties to participate in the process of building cleaner industrial sector of the country, loyal to the environment, respecting the interests of future generation.

FIRST MALAYSIAN TOURISM & TRADE FAIR TO BE HELD IN TASHKENT

First Malaysian Tourism & Trade Fair will be held at Intercontinental Hotel in Tashkent on 9-11 November 2006.

Association of Private Tourism Agencies (APTA) told UzReport.com that the Malaysian Embassy in Uzbekistan, National Tourism Office of Malaysia in Russia and CIS at participation of Malaysian Tourism Association and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia initiated the event.

The organisers hope that this initiative will supported by partners in Uzbekistan, including Uzbektourism, Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and Industry and APTA. It is expected that Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkmen and Tajik companies will participate in the exhibition. It is expected that the fair will present tourism products of Malaysia, cultural events and products of Malaysian handicrafts.

Trade exposition will present both Malaysian and Uzbek products. In particular, foreign exhibits will present such products as palm-oil and coconut oil, rubber products, paper, raw materials, chocolates, tea, medicaments and others.

The Uzbek side will demonstrate cotton, textile, cars and products of oil and gas sector and others, which highly demanded in Malaysian market.

The organisers hope that the fair will promote Uzbek-Malaysian relations and it will support development of trade-economic relations of Malaysia and Central Asian region.

SOCIETY

BEAUTYEXPO UZBEKISTAN 2006 OPENS IN UZBEK CAPITAL

The Second International Specialized Exhibition of Beauty Products in Uzbekistan, BeautyExpo Uzbekistan 2006, opened at Hotel Dedeman Silk Road in Tashkent on 13 July.

Three-day event is organised by TNT Productions Inc of the USA at support of Businesswomen's Association and Aesthetics Academy.

The event aimed at demonstration of achievement of beauty industry, exchange of experience and assist to development of international cooperation.

Around 35 companies from 13 countries, including Great Britain, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Korea, UAE, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, US, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, and Japan would participate in the event.

Zukhra Abdullaeva, head of Aesthetics Academy, said the exhibition is specific. Cosmetics market is popular and such exhibitions should increase cultural level.

The exhibition includes several sections, including Skincare products, professional care products and tools, beauty accessories, perfumery and aromatherapy, make up and nail varnish, haircare products, hygiene products and toiletries, natural cosmetics, raw materials and packaging, equipment and furniture facilities (fitness, spa, clinic).

JEWISH DAY CAMP IN SAMARKAND

This summer, Gan Israel Day Camp has welcomed children in Samarkand again. There is a diverse program for the campers, studying Jewish traditions while enjoying a summer of fun. To the great satisfaction of the organizers, there are twice as many children enrolled this summer than last year.

Each morning the children attended classes, while those who are 13 or older put on tefillin. The children went on outings to an entertainment park which was rented especially for the campers. Also, the kids spent one day at a resort with a swimming pool, other excursions and competed in various contests focusing on Jewish traditions and lifestyle.

On the last day of the camp, the children “shopped” at a “fair” where they could “buy” toys and writing tools with the tokens they won while participating in camp’s contests. A final banquet was also held on the last day of the season. At this feast, the campers shared their emotions and mixed feelings of excitement and sadness, since the time to say good-bye has come.

The parents are grateful to the Ohr Avner Foundation and Rabbi Yitzchak Yakobson of Samarkand for the care and attention given to each camper. (The federation of Jewish Communities of CIS)

CRAFTSMANSHIP: TRADITIONS ARE KEPT

Ravshan Sharipov of the mahalla (local community) of Hairiobod (Jizzakh region, Uzbekistan) is famous for his tandirs (clay furnace for baking Uzbek national bread). Every year he teaches his secrets to many apprentices.

"Thanks to the craftsmen such as Ravshan-aka, who keep the traditions of "master-apprentice", national crafts live on and develop," said the Chairman of regional craftsmen association Farruh Hamzaev. "In line with the Decree of the President of Uzbekistan on the measures to develop home-based labour, the issues such as creation of all the necessary conditions for craftsmen, the guarantee of the timely payment for the products they make and rise in their financial interest, are solved quickly."

As a result, in the first half of this year, craftsmen working at home produced goods for over 1.3 million soums. By the end of the year, the indicator is expected to double.

TASHKENT-FLORA 2006 TO BE HELD ON 22-25 AUGUST

The fifth anniversary exhibition-fair "Tashkent-Flora 2006" will be held on 22-25 August 2005, on the threshold of the 15th anniversary of Uzbekistan's independence at UzExpoCenter in Tashkent.

The thematic divisions of the exposition will include "Fresh cut flowers", "Compositions of dried flowers, plants and roots", "Herbs", "Artificial flowers", "Pot plants", "Decorative plants", "Seeds", "Fertilizers and plant protection means", "Ceramic ware", "Lawn-and-garden equipment and mini-technology", "Park furniture", "Accessories for flower compositions", "Irrigative and heating systems", "Landscape design services", "Plant cultivation techniques", as well as "Specialised printed publications".

State organizations, farming businesses, scientific research institutions, botanic gardens, parks, private firms, art teams, as well as entrepreneurs and amateur floriculturists from across Uzbekistan, CIS and other countries of the world are invited to participate.

UZBEKISTAN MOVES 10 PLACES UP IN FIFA RANKING

Uzbekistan moved 10 places up in July issue of FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking. The country gained 35 points in July and now it is on 50th place.

Uzbekistan is fourth country among AFC members in FIFA ranking after Australia, Iran and Japan. The country is on third place among CIS states after Ukraine and Russia.