2 August, 2006

Politics
Security services of Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Russia prevented activity of transnational drug group

Economics
Uzbek-Arab joint venture launched in Navoi region
PAYNET opens first payment points in Tashkent city
Russian company sends compressor spare parts to Uzbekistan
UzMedExport invites companies to tender for supply of X-ray equipment
Russian customs official visit Uzbekistan

Society
Kamalak Addresses Successes, Shortcomings On Its Session
314,000 Applicants Run in Uzbekistan for Studentship as of 2006
Tashkent Public Education Department Receives Computers
Regional specialized cardiological center opened in southern Uzbekistan

POLITICS

SECURITY SERVICES OF KAZAKHSTAN, UZBEKISTAN AND RUSSIA PREVENTED ACTIVITY OF TRANSNATIONAL DRUG GROUP

The Committee of National Security of the Republic Kazakhstan, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation and the National Security Service of the Republic of Uzbekistan have carried out an interceptive operation to prevent the activity of a transnational criminal grouping involved in the international illegal drug trafficking, the press-service the Committee of National Security of the Republic Kazakhstan reported.

The result of this operation became the detention of a leader and an active member of an international drug grouping in Karaganda [administrative centre in northern Kazakhstan] on 27 July while they were attempting to smuggle about 17 kg of heroin to Russia.

Joint operative elaboration of drug smuggling channels was conducted by security services of three countries during several years. A number of other members of this transnational drug grouping were already caught red-handed in 2005 in the territory of Kazakhstan and Russia.

As a part of criminal proceedings being investigated by the Committee of National Security of the Republic Kazakhstan and the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, measures are being taken to bring to responsibility of other persons involved in criminal activity of this grouping.

ECONOMICS

UZBEK-ARAB JOINT VENTURE LAUNCHED IN NAVOI REGION

New Uzbek-UAE joint venture opened in Kyzyltepa district of Navoi region, which will produce yarn from cocoons.

Malabar-Silk will process 120 tonnes of cocoons and export half of products. The report said the founders of venture are Kyzyltepa Ipagi, Samarkand Singapore and partners from the UAE. The new company, will employ 100 people.

The foreign specialists are installing new equipment at the enterprise and the official opening of the venture will take place on the eve of Independence Day of Uzbekistan, which will be celebrated on 1 September.

PAYNET OPENS FIRST PAYMENT POINTS IN TASHKENT CITY

PAYNET, payment system, started its work in Uzbekistan and announced that it opened its first five payment points in Tashkent city.

The company said in its release that it has started to enter into agency relationship with business entities of Uzbekistan, wishing to cooperate in the field of payment solutions and to represent services of PAYNET.

"As the project is in a pilot stage, now PAYNET opens payment points only in Tashkent city. In a longer term it is planned to render services on all territory of Uzbekistan through a wide dealer network," the company said.

Location of payment points could be found on corporate web-site of PAYNET which was launched on 31 July 2006. There also could be found more detailed information about PAYNET system, instructions for users and other useful information for visitors.

The company said at present, it is possible to pay Internet services of Sarkor-Telekom, Ars-Inform and ROL with use of PAYNET. Soon it will be possible to accept payments for wide range of services, including cellular services, IP-telephony, utility payments and others, the release added.

"Opening payment points and starting payment activity do not stand for official launch of the payment services. Official launch of service will be announced later at the end of a pilot stage and with the start of large-scale realization of project," the company concluded.

RUSSIAN COMPANY SENDS COMPRESSOR SPARE PARTS TO UZBEKISTAN

Ural Compressor Plant shipped large volume of spare parts to capital repair works of compressors VSHV 2.3/230 and VSHV 3/100 to Uzbekistan. The company said in total 28 sets of spare parts were sent to Uzbekistan.

Uzbekenergotaminlash (Uzbek Energy Repair) open joint stock company, one of strategic partners of Ural Compressor Plant, has ordered spare parts.

Ural Compressor Plant's foreign economic relation department said Uzbekistan is one of priority countries for Russian plant. The department added that it was the first large shipment of company to Uzbekistan.

UZMEDEXPORT INVITES COMPANIES TO TENDER FOR SUPPLY OF X-RAY EQUIPMENT

Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau (KfW) Bank has extended a 2.5-million-euro grant to the Government of Uzbekistan to bolster fight against tuberculosis in line with the Directly Observed Treatment (DOTS) Strategy.

It is envisioned that a certain portion of the grant will be used to cover the payments on the contracts, for which the Government invites special tenders.

The Ministry of Healthcare of Uzbekistan commissioned UzMedExport to serve the function of the official supply agent. Thereby, UzMedExport acts on behalf of the Healthcare Ministry in inviting competent companies to tender for the supply and installation of X-ray equipment at the Republican Central Jail Hospital in the city of Tashkent and Tuberculosis Hospital in the cityo f Nurabad. The tender budget makes up some 335,000 euros.

Tenders submitted should include all medications listed in the specified amounts. The tenders will be evaluated by price indicators. The tender is open for all suppliers.

Tenders should be submitted to UzMedExport by 3 October 2006 and accompanied by a bank guarantee for at least 1.5% of the euro amount of the bid. The tender offers will be unsealed the same day in presence of the representatives of participants wishing to attend. The owner of the winning tender will have to register all the equipment supplied to the Republic of Uzbekistan at the Head Department for Quality Control of Drugs and Medical Technology operating under the Ministry of Healthcare of Uzbekistan.

RUSSIAN CUSTOMS OFFICIAL VISIT UZBEKISTAN

A delegation of Russian Customs Service visited State Customs Committee on 25-27 July, a press service of Uzbek committee said on 2 August.

The press service said the sides held consultative working meeting of experts of customs officials of Russia and Uzbekistan.

The commits said representatives of Uzbek Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade and its subsidiaries, Chamber of Commerce of Uzbekistan and Trade Office of Russia in Uzbekistan participate in the first half of the meeting. In the second half of the meeting, the customs bodies of two states considered a draft agreement between Russian Customs Service and Uzbek Customs Committee on simplification of customs registration process of fruit and vegetable products and protocol between Russian Customs Service and Uzbek Customs Committee on organization of exchange of preliminary information on goods and transport means, moving across border.

The sides also discussed issues on exchange of documentations on customs inspection of goods and transport means.

The press service said the Uzbek and Russian official agreed drafts of the above-mentioned documents. The service noted that the meeting between Uzbek and Russian customs officials was held in warm and friendly atmosphere.

SOCIETY

KAMALAK ADDRESSES SUCCESSES, SHORTCOMINGS ON ITS SESSION

Republican Children’s Organization Kamalak now unites more than four million children at the age of 7 till 14. Recently, the presidium of the organization held its field session in Namangan o¬n the outcomes of the first half year, according to report by UzA website.

Delegates of the Republican council and organization’s affiliate offices in provinces, towns and districts also participated at the session, where they have addressed the successes and shortcomings in their activities.

Besides, they have paid a special attention in improving the activity of primary organizations of Kamalak at schools, colleges, and lyceums, and enlisting new more members, as well as expanding cooperation with other public organizations, including the public Kamolot youth movement and youth units of political parties and movements.

314,000 APPLICANTS RUN FOR STUDENTSHIP AS OF 2006

On August 1 this year higher educational institutions nationwide in Uzbekistan held entrance tests for prospective students successfully.

This year about 314,000 prospective students filed applications to higher educational institutions, according to the State Test Center of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The leading institute of higher education – the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulughbek received 10,000 applications o¬n 35 study areas. Tests were held yesterday and o¬nly 1,665 young people will become students of the university o¬n the outcomes of tests.

This year the applications are revealed to be for 2,000 more than those for previous years. This is evidence of an increasing regard o¬n the part of the state for the education of youth. The young men and women have significantly raised their interest in receiving the high standards of education. They also wish to acquire a relevant profession and become skilled specialists in their area of studies.

Upon the initiative of Uzbek leader the provisions of the Law “On Education” and National Program of Cadres Training are gradually being enforced into life. Entrance examinations, which now take place based o¬n the tests, have been proved by time.

Faculty members at the Tashkent Medical Institute of Pediatrics, as much as at other educational institutions, have prepared well for the tests day, the report indicated. The institution trains children’s doctors, specialists in the area of medical pedagogic training, and higher educated nurses.

“This year we have 400 more prospective student applicants compare to last year,” – Mr. Nuriddin Tairov, the chief secretary at the registrar’s office, said, “and this year 2,000 young men and women filed applications to earn the bachelor’s degree, but in line with student acceptance limit sheet o¬nly 420 of them are expected to become students”.

Indeed, it is difficult to imagine today’s life without information technologies. In this, the Tashkent Information Technologies University is the largest of its kind in an entire Central Asia. Last year the university launched its affiliate campuses in Karshi, Nukus, Samarkand, Ferghana, and Urgench.

“The youth are increasingly becoming interested in information and communication technologies,” – the university Rector Sodikjon Kasymov said, “the fact that this year the ratio of prospective students to attend the university is ten to o¬ne, or nearly ten applicants at a time are willing to become a student, is a vivid proof of the aforesaid”.

This year the university has launched new study areas – mobile communication systems, information and library studies, and information and computer technology services.

Nizami Tashkent State Pedagogical University this year accepted more than 17,000 documents, but it o¬nly shall accept 2,645 students to seek a bachelor’s degree. This is significantly much more compare to previous years, according to university officials.

Popular departments among prospective students are revealed to be those of history, psychology, the Uzbek language and literature, mathematics, geography, chemistry, and biology.

University is reported to have also launched new study areas, such as physical training and children’s sports.

In keeping with the resolution by President Islam Karimov “On acceptance to higher education institutions of the Republic of Uzbekistan for the academic year 2006/2007” the total quota allotted for the training of students seeking bachelor’s degree accounts for 51,604 people.

TASHKENT PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPARTMENT RECEIVES COMPUTERS

Tashkent Head Department for Public Education received 250 modern computers, TV sets and projectors in keeping with the agreement earlier reached with the Republic of Korea. Now several schools in Tashkent shall be equipped with a modern technology.

National program for cadres training accords a significant importance to the consolidation of international cooperation in the sphere of education.

Based o¬n this the Ministry for Public Education of Uzbekistan has been effectively cooperating with such countries as Russia, China, Germany, and Japan. Joint projects are now being implemented o¬n raising the teacher skills, introduction of information and communication technologies at schools, further improving of publishing the textbooks, and other school literature.

The project "Equipping general education schools with information technologies" is now successfully realized jointly with South Korea in the Uzbek education system. Thus, within the framework of the aforesaid project a number of schools in Tashkent received the latest computer technology.

Total cost of this project accounts for US $30 million. Besides, the project provides for the assistance in vocational education for the teachers at schools, establishing the exchange of experience between educational institutions, and supplying them with modern equipment.

REGIONAL SPECIALIZED CARDIOLOGICAL CENTER OPENED IN SOUTHERN UZBEKISTAN

Regional specialized cardiological center has been open in Karshi on the basis of the former cardiologic dispensary, a site of the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan reported. An opening ceremony was attended by deputy health minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, doctor of medical sciences, professor M.H.Khojibekov, the head of the Regional administration, N. Zayniev, the head of the central administrative board of public health services, R.K.Rahmanov, the chairman of the women's committee for Kashkadarya Region, deputy head of the Regional administration, I. Sh. Karimova, representatives of the society Nuroniy [Elders] and the Mahalla Jamgharmasi [Neighborhood Foundation] in Kashkadarya Region, chief physicians of medical and preventive treatment facilities.

The National Holding Company Uzbekneftgaz [Uzbek oil and gas], the Shurtangazkhimkompleks [Shurtan gas chemistry complex], the Shurtangaz and the Mubarekneftgaz [Mubarek oil and gas] enterprises supported the construction of the center. The Sughdiana LTD company carried construction work. This event is dated for the 15th anniversary of Independence of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

A surgical branch designated for carrying out heart surgeries is planned to be constructed under the center in the near future.