26 July, 2006
Politics
Uzbek head approves visa free regime with Belarus
Russian president approves Uzbekistan's accession to EurAsEC
Economics
President signs decree on land privatization
Uzbekistan repairs 2.500 km of roads this year
Indian firm offered two blocks in Uzbekistan - report
UzAgroExpo 2006 to be held in Tashkent in November
Mini-MBA program for managers and specialists of small and private companies
Bond congress on securities market of Uzbekistan and Central Asia
Society
Exhibition of Art College graduates' degree works being held
Xingjian Uyghur muqam art ensemble visits Tashkent
Uzbek tennis players won Russian tournament
POLITICS
UZBEK HEAD APPROVES VISA FREE REGIME WITH BELARUS
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov approved agreement between government of Uzbekistan and government of Belarus on mutual visits of citizens, which was signed in Tashkent on 19 January 2005.
The Uzbek leader signed a corresponding resolution on 12 July and entrusted Foreign Ministry of Uzbekistan to inform Belarusian side on completion of inter-state procedures.
The agreement envisages visa free travel, including transit, between Uzbekistan and Belarus based on documents, which certify identity and citizenship.
The document said citizens of two states will need their passports or certificate of citizenship (for those people under age of 16), diplomatic passport or service passport, to travel between countries.
RUSSIAN PRESIDENT APPROVES UZBEKISTAN'S ACCESSION TO EURASEC
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the Federal Law on Ratification of the Protocol on the Accession of Uzbekistan to the Agreement on Foundation of Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC), the President's press service said.
The Law "On ratification of the Protocol on the Accession of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Agreement on Foundation of Eurasian Economic Community of 10 October 2000 and the Protocol on Introduction of Amendments and Additions to the Agreement on Foundation of Eurasian Economic Community of 10 October 2000" was passed by the State Duma of the Russian Federation as of 5 July 2006 and approved by the Council of Federation of the Federal Assembly as of 14 July.
The Protocols signed in Saint Petersburg on 25 January of this year create legal framework for the Uzbekistan's full-righted membership in the EurAsEC. In accordance with these documents, the country will fully accept the rights and obligations under the agreement on foundation of the organization. Moreover, the decision-making procedure within the organization and the financing of the activity of its agencies will be changed in view of the redistribution of the percentage values of the countries' contributions to the organisation's budget and number of their votes.
The EurAsEC includes Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The EurAsEC creation treaty was signed in Astana, Kazakhstan, on 10 October 2000. Uzbekistan officially joined to the organisation on 25 January in Saint Petersburg. The organization aims at promoting the creation of the common customs and economic space in the CIS. The coordination of WTO accession efforts of the member countries is another priority of EurAsEC.
ECONOMICS
PRESIDENT SIGNS DECREE ON LAND PRIVATIZATION
President Islam Karimov signed the Decree "On privatization of land areas occupied by buildings and structures of legal entities and citizens" on 24 July 2006.
The document is intended to stimulate further expansion and raise the importance of private property in the economy, create favorable conditions for business development, strengthen legal guarantees of private enterprise, ensure purposeful and effective use of the areas of land occupied by privatized companies, as well as create strong stimulus for the development of the markets of housing and mortgage.
The Decree establishes the order, according to which, starting from 1 January 2007, legal entities – residents of the Republic of Uzbekistan will have the right to privatize the areas of land occupied by the buildings and structures, production infrastructure objects they own or have privatized, as well as adjoining land areas, the size of which is to be determined by the production needs with proper consideration of technological processes, city planning rules and regulations.
Privatisation of the land areas is a voluntary process based on the market prices. The transfer of ownership rights is to be performed in accordance with the active legislation.
Non-privatized land areas used by legal entities, residents of the Republic of Uzbekistan, on constant basis are to be re-registered for long-term rent for the period of up to 50 years, but at least 30 years before 1 January 2008.
The right for long-term rent of the land area may be terminated or the area of land rented may be reduced before the completion of the rent period specified in the agreement under the conditions envisioned by the land legislation.
The document provides the residents of the Republic of Uzbekistan the opportunity to privatize land areas allotted to them for individual housing construction and servicing of the dwelling house before 1 January 2008.
As a part of such procedure, areas of land issued for individual housing construction and servicing of dwelling house are privatized in the order specified below on voluntary basis by the citizens possessing land areas on the rights of continuous use or life-long inheritable ownership, within the limits and in the amount factual as of the moment of the issuance of this Decree and specified in the cadastre documents issued in accordance with the established order; during the sale of land areas for individual housing construction on auction basis in the amounts established by the legislation, with the subsequent state registration of the ownership right in the established order; on obligatory basis during the sale or granting (except for close relatives) of the individual dwelling house on the agreement of the parties, by the person granting or person accepting the property.
The decree establishes that privatization of land areas allowed for individual housing construction or servicing of a dwelling house, within the limits and in the amount established by the cadastre papers, is done strictly at market prices.
The cost earlier paid by the citizens for the land areas for individual housing construction and servicing of the dwelling house is accounted for in identification of the amount to be paid for privatization of the land areas on the results of auction trades, the decree says.
The circulation of the privatized land area is not limited, including the deals on the purchase and sale, exchange, granting, inheriting, and leasing, and may serve as a pledge, including the cases of application for the loans of banks and other crediting institutions.
Funds received from the privatization of the land areas will be fully transferred to the state budget, with further direction of the 80% of funds to the republican budget, and 20% - the corresponding local budgets for purposeful utilization for the development of infrastructure and territories. At the same time, at least 3% of funds received by the republican budget from the privatization of land areas are issued to cover the costs of inventory, development and correction of the general plans and schemes of engineering infrastructure, formation of cadastres and economic zoning of lands.
UZBEKISTAN REPAIRS 2.500 KM OF ROADS THIS YEAR
An old Uzbek saying states "where there is road – there is movement ahead". The road builders of Uzbekistan have achieved impressive results over the 15 years of independence. Thanks to their efforts, the traffic on the roads of the country totalling 42,530 km was uninterrupted and safe.
This year, over 2,500 km of roads were repaired, State UzAvtoYol (Uzbek Motor Road) Company said. Moreover, new roads are to be laid using the latest technology and modern machines and mechanisms. Over 30,000 road workers will be employed in the work. On the majority of objects, construction is done in 2-3 shifts.
The repair and reconstruction of the roads and streets of Margilan, the city preparing to celebrate its 2000th anniversary is nearly complete. The repairs of highways to Samarkand airport, Samarkand-Karshi and Samarkand-Navoi roads are also close to completion.
As for Karshi, another city preparing to celebrate its 2,700th anniversary, a 5 km road segment will be fully renewed. Moreover, on the occasion of the anniversary of independence, road construction and repair companies administered by KashkadaryoAvtoYol (Kashkadarya Motor Road) Association will reconstruct and expand another road segment stretching for 5,650 meters.
Special importance in the construction of roads is given to Syrdarya region.
The maintenance of the 1,422 km long segment of highway passing through this steppe zone and bearing international, state, and regional importance is included within the functions of the regional construction subsidiary SirdaryoAvtoYul (Syrdarya Motor Road). Last year its workers repaired and reconstructed the roads for some 8 billion soums. Around 10 streets of the regional capital went through major repairs. A part of the Tashkent-Dushanbe highway passing through Syrdarya, Baht and Gulistan was also repaired. 30-km long segment Gulistan-Gagarin was expanded and newly paved with asphalt; separation borders were laid along the center of the road. As a result during the past year traffic on this road increased 2-3 times.
"Our organisation unites 10 companies," said the head of SirdaryoAvtoYul Toshpulat Bobojonov. "Thus, Mirzaobod Mahsus Yul, Syrdarya Special Road Company, and MelioTransKurilish specialise in the repair of bridges. And the growing requirements of the market economy improve the quality of work of these road construction and repair organisations."
INDIAN FIRM OFFERED TWO BLOCKS IN UZBEKISTAN - REPORT
Gas major GAIL (India) Ltd has informed the petroleum ministry that it has been offered two exploration and production blocks by Uzbekistan's Uzbekneftegaz (Uzbek oil and gas), the Financial Express reported.
A GAIL team will shortly leave for Uzbekistan for the due diligence to invest in these two blocks, the report said.
If the project is found to be viable, GAIL may seek a partner for the development of the blocks, it said.
UZAGROEXPO 2006 TO BE HELD IN TASHKENT IN NOVEMBER
IEG Uzbekistan will organize International Agriculture Exhibition – UzAgroExpo 2006 - in mid November 2006. Tashkent-based Uzexpocenter will host the event.
The main purpose of this exhibition, which will be held on 14-16 November, is presentation of whole agriculture potential of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as achievements of leading world companies, including agriculture crops cultivation, agriculture machinery, technology for agriculture products processing, various finished products, transportation methods and export opportunities.
It would be unique opportunity for agriculture sector representatives, as well as highly developed and developing countries to familiarize with new technologies, investigations and finished products of the world business leaders, the organisers said.
Exhibition is expected to be visited by wide rank of visitors: authorities and specialists of state bodies, scientific organizations, big industry enterprises, as well as businessmen and farmers, acting in agriculture and food industry. Everybody visited the exhibition would find the companies' stand, with which he would be definitely interested in.
MINI-MBA PROGRAM FOR MANAGERS AND SPECIALISTS OF SMALL AND PRIVATE COMPANIES
On 14-18 August 2006 Kelajak Ilmi International Business School together with the William Davidson Institute, the University of Michigan Business School, and the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan will conduct an intensive training course "Global Management" for the managers and specialists of small companies and private enterprises.
General Management Program (GMP) is a 5-day certified "mini-MBA" program in the areas of finance, accounting, marketing, strategy, leadership, etc.
For the first time the program will be conducted in Russian language. Thus, in addition to the lectures, students will participate in groupworks, intended to improve their critical thinking, problem solving and teamwork skills.
The classes will be conducted for seven hours every day. The organisers will provide program participants with study materials and handouts, as well as lunch and snacks.
BOND CONGRESS ON SECURITIES MARKET OF UZBEKISTAN AND CENTRAL ASIA
A bond congress "Securities market of Uzbekistan and Central Asian countries. Opportunities for emitters and investors" will be held for the first time in Uzbekistan on 29 September, 2006.
The Delta Max Capital company and the Cbonds.ru news agency will act as organizers of this event.
This congress will become the first international congress, dedicated to the market for securities of Uzbekistan.
The securities market of Uzbekistan is strongly developing - issues of bonds and shares are being carried out, secondary market's circulations are increasing.
However, foreign participants virtually do not know this market. This congress is called to fill this gap.
A programme of the congress comprises an exchange of experience, discussion of problems and prospects of development of securities markets in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, the experience of the formation of a securities market in Russia and opportunities of the Russian market for participants from the Central Asian region.
Over 120 people will take part in the bond congress - representatives of banks, stock exchanges, financial centers, investment and commercial banks, investment companies, emitters, institutional investors, representatives of state agencies for managing a securities market of Uzbekistan, and also Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Russia.
Reports on the following subjects will be represented at the congress: contemporary state and the trend of development of a securities market of Uzbekistan; the comparative analysis of development of securities markets in Central Asian countries; investment opportunities on the securities market of Uzbekistan for foreign investors; the distribution of securities (shares, bonds) in the Russian market, the possibilities on the distribution of securities of foreign emitters; the market for securities of Kazakhstan, and work opportunities for foreign investors; investment opportunities in the securities market of Kyrgyzstan and the state of a bonds market in Kyrgyzstan; credit notes (CLN) as a tool of international loans and a public proposal of shares (IPO) - the technology of implementation.
A team of the companies of the Delta Max Group has been set up on the initiative of skilled professionals working on the securities market of Uzbekistan from its most origination.
The idea about providing entire complex of consulting services in the administrative and investment sphere serves as the basis of its creation. At present the company concluded contracts about cooperation with the Inter-bank trading system, the Capital Bank joint-stock commercial bank, with the Russian Spetsotsenka estimated company and with the Russian Cbonds.ru news agency.
SOCIETY
EXHIBITION OF ART COLLEGE GRADUATES' DEGREE WORKS BEING HELD
An exhibition of the degree works of the 2006 graduates of the Republican Art College of the Arts Academy of Uzbekistan is being held at the Tashkent Central Showroom.
Several dozens of paintings and graphical works, posters on the fight for peace and against drug abuse, billboards, previews to musical works and albums, sketches of stage props as well as sculptures are displayed at the exposition.
Visitors show special interest in the sculpture compositions entitled "Pensive girl" by J. Turaev, and "Shepherd" by N. Eberganova.
As for the paintings, some of the best works include Turgunov's "Family", Isaev's "Inventor", Egamberdiev's "Bazaar", Botirov's "Young Sculptor", Saparov's "On Hirmana", Baynazarov's "Tragedy", Hasanova's "Fatima and Zuhra", etc.
It is important to note the contribution made by experienced artists, who supervised young talents as they did their projects.
XINGJIAN UYGHUR MUQAM ART ENSEMBLE VISITS TASHKENT
Xinjiang Uyghur Muqam Art Ensemble of the People's Republic of China will hold concerts on the stage of Turkistan Palace on 29-30 July in Tashkent.
The concerts were organised with the assistance of the Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan as well as Chinese Association for Foreign Cultural Affairs and its branches in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Chinese National Cultural Center in Uzbekistan, Uyghur National Cultural Center, as well as Chinese companies and restaurants operating on the territory of Uzbekistan. Han Zhengtang will head the delegation to arrive in Tashkent. Among other members of the delegation will be his deputies Ai Niwaer Abuduxukuer, Zhang Lili, and others.
The programme scheduled for the nights is very extensive. It includes the playing of national musical instruments, performance of folk songs – all accompanied by dancing. Both collective and solo songs will be performed. Overtures, collective songs and dances will be performed in the first part of the concert. During the second half, solo songs, as well as excerpts from the Uyghur drama "Unchem" will be performed. One of the most impressive dance items will be "motley dance". In general, Uyghur artists will perform over 20 pieces.
UZBEK TENNIS PLAYERS WON RUSSIAN TOURNAMENT
Uzbek tennis players won both single and double titles of Penza Cup-2006, which was held in Russia last week.
Farrukh Dostov claimed single title and US$7,2000 of Russian tournament, while Murad Inayatov and Denis Istomin clinched double title and US$6,200.
All three players are members of Uzbekistan Davis Cup team.