April 06, 2009
Politics:
Uzbek Leader Receives Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
In Tashkent President Sees Omani Minister of National Economy
Deputy FM-led Italian Delegation Visits Uzbekistan – Report
Uzbek Delegation Travels to Australia to Hold Consultations
Economics:
Uzbek, Omani Business Circles Hold Forum in Tashkent
Navoi Industrial Companies Make Competitive Goods - Report
Entrepreneurs Launch New Joint Venture in Samarkand Province
Industry Develops in Countryside, Newspaper Writes
Society:
Uzbek, Italian Surgeons Perform Miraculous Operation
Seminar on Temur’s Role in Uzbek Statehood Held at Museum
POLICY
UZBEK LEADER RECEIVES PRIME MINISTER OF KAZAKHSTAN
On April 3 this year at the Oksaroy Residence in Tashkent President Islam Karimov received the Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan Karim Masimov, the report by Jahon Information Agency said.
President noted the gradual development of the Uzbek-Kazakh relations, expansion of scale of trade and economic cooperation.
“This meeting is a fine opportunity to exchange views on the urgent issues of mutual interest,” President Islam Karimov is reported to have said.
The relations between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are based on the traditions of good-neighborliness and friendship. The views of heads of two states towards developing the bilateral relations and problems of both regional and international nature are close and similar, the report also said.
The two states support one another on the international arena. The community of stands of presidents promotes consolidation of trust in political sphere and mutual interest – in the economic area. Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan extend multilateral relations in the framework of such international and regional organizations as the United Nations, Commonwealth of Independent States and Shanghai Cooperation Organization.
In March 2006 with an aim to promptly tackle the outstanding issues related to bilateral relations and ensuring monitoring of implementation of the secured arrangements Islam Karimov and Nursultan Nazarbaev are reported to have initiated the establishment of the Interstate coordination council under patronage of presidents. In November the same year the first sitting of the Council took place, according to the report. The sitting addressed the issues of water use, energy sector, communications and trade.
The next sitting of the Interstate coordination council took place in July 2007. It has considered the implementation of arrangements secured during the top-level meetings. Besides, as a part of the sitting the sides discussed the bilateral trade and economic cooperation.
Kazakhstan is one of the main trading partners of Uzbekistan in the region. The free trade regime is now in place between the two countries. In 2008 the volume of trade accounted for 912,5 million US dollars. This figure exceeds the total indicator of trade of Uzbekistan with other Central Asian states.
For example, 167 joint ventures established along with participation of Kazakhstan partners are reported to have now been operating in Uzbekistan. At the same time, nearly one hundred Uzbek-Kazakh joint ventures are functioning in Kazakhstan.
At the Tashkent talks Prime Minister Karim Masimov has thanked the Uzbek Leader for a warm welcome and said that Kazakhstan was interested in comprehensive development of cooperation with Uzbekistan.
IN TASHKENT PRESIDENT SEES OMANI MINISTER OF NATIONAL ECONOMY
On March 31 this year at the Oksaroy Residence in Tashkent President Islam Karimov received the Minister of National Economy and Deputy Chairman of the Financial Affairs and Energy Resources Council of the Sultanate of Oman Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki, the report by Uzbekistan National News Agency said.
President said that Uzbekistan highly assesses the cooperation that develops with the Sultanate of Oman. He has also underscored that the meeting in Tashkent allowed to exchange views on the issues related to bilateral relations and, as a whole, the cooperation of Uzbekistan with the Arab world.
The relations between Uzbekistan and Oman are reported to have been gradually developing in the spirit of friendship and cooperation. The two foreign ministries have established the practice of holding the regular consultations.
Oman is one of the authoritative states in the Arab world. The cooperation with it opens up the prospects for Uzbekistan in terms of consolidating the relations with other Arab states. At the same time, Oman considers Uzbekistan as one of the leading states in Central Asia. It sees extending ties with Uzbekistan as a further strong bridge to do so with other countries in the region, as well.
Uzbekistan and Oman enjoy enormous fuel and energy potential, and have a substantial experience in developing the agricultural sphere. Both sides are interested in elaborating and implementing the joint projects in the oil and gas sector, holding research in agriculture.
The two countries have at their disposal broad opportunities for extending cooperation in the sphere of tourism. In particular, Oman manifests a keen interest towards historical monuments, as well as the sacred places of worship that are located and visited in Uzbekistan.
Oman has much welcomed the announcement by ISESCO of Tashkent as the capital of Islamic culture in 2007. The similarity and community of traditions and values of both nations serve as an important factor in expanding the humanitarian cooperation. At the moment, Uzbekistan and Oman are developing the close contacts in the sphere of science, education and culture. The Omani specialists constantly participate at international scientific conferences in Uzbekistan.
At the Oksaroy talks in the Uzbek capital Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki thanked the President for a sincere welcome and has said that the Sultanate of Oman is interested in extending cooperation with Uzbekistan in all areas.
DEPUTY FM-LED ITALIAN DELEGATION VISITS UZBEKISTAN – REPORT
On April 1 this year the visiting delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister of Italy, the Senator Alfredo Mantika held talks at the Senate of Oliy Majlis and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan, according to the Information Agency Jahon.
At the Tashkent talks the sides have noted that Uzbekistan and Italy continued to gradually develop the relations in many spheres, and particularly, in the area of parliamentary relations the legal basis of which have become the arrangements secured at the meetings of heads of the two states.
The parliamentary cooperation is important in consolidating the bilateral relations. At the talks the sides have discussed the particular issues of further extending such interaction in the days to come.
In Tashkent the Italian delegation has been told about the work of the newly established bicameral parliament of Uzbekistan, according to the news agency report.
The members of the Italian delegation also visited the State museum of history of Temur and his Dynasty at the Uzbek capital.
UZBEK DELEGATION TRAVELS TO AUSTRALIA TO HOLD CONSULTATIONS
On March 30-31 this year the First foreign ministerial consultations were held in the city of Canberra with participation of deputy foreign ministers of Uzbekistan and Australia, according to the press-release by the Press-Service of the Uzbekistan Foreign Ministry.
The sides had an exchange of views on the state and prospects of the Uzbek-Australian relations in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. The sides paid a special attention to the urgent international issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Afghanistan, the prospects of cooperation on combating terrorism in the framework of Shanghai Cooperation Organization, as well as the cooperation in the framework of the UN and international organizations.
During the stay of Uzbek delegation in Australia the presentation on trade, economic and investment potential of Uzbekistan was made. The Australian business circles were told about the perspective projects on establishing the joint ventures in mining and chemical industry, agriculture, and other spheres.
The leading tour operators of Australia were acquainted with Uzbekistan’s tourism potential. The sides came to an agreement to extend the banking cooperation, exchange of cultural and educational missions of Uzbekistan and Australia.
ECONOMY
UZBEK, OMANI BUSINESS CIRCLES HOLD FORUM IN TASHKENT
The International Business Center (IBC) in Tashkent hosted the business forum of business circles of Uzbekistan and Sultanate of Oman, the national news agencies reported.
Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Ministry of National Economy of Sultanate of Oman are reported to have organized the business forum.
The event has been dedicated to further developing the trade, economic and investment cooperation of both countries, as well as elaborating and implementing the mutually beneficial projects.
The heads of ministries, agencies, companies and concerns in the sphere of foreign economic relations, trade and industry, oil and gas, banking and finance, taxes, construction, machine building, agriculture and water economy, production of foodstuff, chemical industry, information technologies and telecommunications participated at the forum.
Uzbekistan and Oman possess substantial potential in many spheres and enjoy perspectives to extend the trade and economic cooperation, the observers believe.
“Oman is interested in developing cooperation with Uzbekistan, including in the economic area,” Ahmed bin Abdulnabi Macki has said speaking at the forum. “We have established strong mutually beneficial relations. This forum will serve to put into action such opportunities, extend and strengthen the bilateral economic ties.”
At the Tashkent business forum the sides are reported to have discussed the issues of further developing the trade, economic and investment cooperation in the oil and gas sector, banking sphere, information and communication technologies, construction, chemical industry, tourism, as well as attracting Omani firms and companies to privatization in Uzbekistan.
“Uzbekistan and Oman enjoy fine opportunities to develop the economic cooperation,” the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Sultanate of Oman Halil Abdullah Al-Khonji said. “The Uzbek market seems to be perspective for us. The favorable investment environment in your country prompts much interest of Omani businesses to cooperate in various directions, and particularly, in the sphere of trade, investments, oil and gas, food industry and agriculture. During our stay in Uzbekistan we have been to Samarkand and Bukhara. These ancient historical cities, as much as Tashkent, had made an unforgettable impression on us.”
As the business forum came to an end, the sides are also reported to have had a cooperation exchange of companies and enterprises.
On the outcomes of the Tashkent events the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Government of the Sultanate of Oman signed the Agreement on promoting and mutually protecting investments, on avoiding double taxation and preventing income and capital tax evasion, Memorandum of Understanding on establishing the Uzbek-Omani Joint Investment Fund, Protocol of intentions on constructing the building of the library of the Institute of Oriental Studies named after Abu Raikhon Beruniy of the Academy of Sciences in Tashkent.
NAVOI INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES MAKE COMPETITIVE GOODS - REPORT
In line with the localization program on 203 projects the production of finished goods, utilities and spare parts was set up at six enterprises in Navoi Province, Jahon Information Agency reported.
For example, the Kyzylkum fosforit enterprise at the Navoi Mining and Processing Enterprise makes concentrate powder from local raw and the Kyzylkumcement Open Joint-Stock Company produces fire-bricks and diabase piroxinite goods.
“With a goal to increase the export potential of the province and satisfy the needs the local mineral recourses and raw are being effectively used,” the deputy khokim (governor) of Navoi Province S.Samadov said. “For example, the Navoielektrokimyozavodi, Bentonit and Tizol-N enterprises deliver to consumers the import-replacing products.”
Also, the marble aggregate made in the Nurota-Poleogen Limited Liability Company is now actively used at the enterprises of the Uzbekneftegaz National Holding Company while drilling oil wells and gassers. The import devices were used before to do this. The specialists admit that the local marble aggregate is two time more effective and cheaper than the foreign analogue.
ENTREPRENEURS LAUNCH NEW JOINT VENTURE IN SAMARKAND PROVINCE
The new joint venture “Urgut-Latex-Pasargat” has been commissioned in Jambay District of Samarkand Province, National News Agency UzA reported.
The owners of the company are reported to have launched it alongside with Iranian entrepreneurs. The project capacity of the joint venture is estimated at 150 thousand US dollars. The company will produce for about 60 tons of structural glue annually on the basis of modern technologies.
“We are delivering our products to the domestic market now but in the course of time we plan to organize its exports, as well,” said the head of the joint venture Murodilla Ibodullaev. “Besides, we plan to raise production capacity and create additional jobs.”
At the moment, over twenty young residents of Jambay work at the enterprise.
INDUSTRY DEVELOPS IN COUNTRYSIDE, NEWSPAPER WRITES
The number of enterprises, which produce import-replacing and export-oriented goods, is on rise in Ferghana Province. The demand for such goods is increasing at domestic and foreign markets, according to the Narodnoye slovo newspaper.
In particular, the Sardortekstil Private Company that operates at the village of Soyshildir in Dangara District manufactures general mechanical rubber goods of 30 kinds for oil and gas industry. In the Year of Development and Improvement of Countryside a special attention is being paid to expanding the assortment of goods. Especially the demand for consumer goods, household appliances, tile, as well as polyethylene products remains to be high.
“The bulk of our products are made from local raw,” the owner of the enterprise Sunnatillo Olmosov said. “In the days to come we are going to export our goods.”
At the moment, 80 local people have been employed with the company. By late this year the company owners are planning to establish the workshop for making knitwear goods, which will allow to create the new more jobs.
SOCIETY
UZBEK, ITALIAN SURGEONS PERFORM MIRACULOUS OPERATION
These days the young citizen of Tashkent – Gulnoza Mirkhalilova – as if has gained a second life. The heart of the girl began to beat with a new strength thanks to a “miracle” created by doctors, the national newspaper wrote April 3.
A unique surgical operation has been performed on her by world standards at the Republican specialized center of surgery named after V.Vakhidov. Heretofore such operations on heart have never been performed in Central Asia.
Alongside with the Uzbek doctors the cardio-surgeons from Italy held the open surgical treatment of the acquired aortic valvular disease with simultaneous substitution of ascending part of aorta with participation of the Uzbek doctors.
These days as a part of the exchange of experience they are performing the complex surgical operations together. Such truly fruitful work is a result of implementation of the bilateral Uzbek-Italian intergovernmental agreement on cooperation and agreement on cooperation between the V.Vakhidov Center and “Riuniti” clinic of the city of Bergamo signed in November last year. The latter document envisages the exchange experience and specialists.
This visit of the Italian surgeons to Uzbekistan is already the fifth. This time the two groups of high-level professionals – specialists of adult and children’s cardio-surgery – came to Tashkent. Along with the Uzbek colleagues they as if breathe life to young patients, while correcting various congenital anomalies of heart. Apart from hours-long and mainly unique surgical operations, the consultations, discussions and scientific seminars on the urgent problems of modern cardiology and cardio-surgery have been organized.
The sides plan another exchange of delegations. A group of doctors, who are specialized in plastic operations on heart diseases, is to visit Tashkent. The Uzbek surgeons, who will participate in performing the operations by their European colleagues, are also going to visit Italy.
Such exchange of practical and theoretical knowledge and skills in curing the most difficult diseases of heart will promote to further increasing the quality of work of cardio-surgeons of Uzbekistan and simultaneously spread their experience abroad.
SEMINAR ON TEMUR’S ROLE IN UZBEK STATEHOOD HELD AT MUSEUM
The scientific and practical seminar on the topic “The role of Amir Temur in the history of our state system” timed for the 673rd anniversary of Sakhibkiran (great commander and state figure – trans.) was held at the State Museum of History of Temur and his Dynasty in Tashkent, the Uzbekistan National News Agency reported.
The lawmakers of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, scholars, researchers, activists of the women’s committees, as well as the consultants for religious enlightenment, spiritual and moral upbringing took part at the event, the report said.
On the initiative of President a special attention is now being paid to objectively studying and informing the public about the role of Amir Temur in the world history.
By now a number of sources dating that period, which are kept at manuscript funds and libraries nationwide and abroad, have been researched and presented to audiences. Such works as “Zafarnoma” by Nizomiddin Shomiy and Sharafiddin Ali Yazdiy, as well as “The history of Amir Temur” by Ibn Arabshokhi are among them.
The research works undertaken by archaeologist-scientists serve for shedding light on the role of Amir Temr in the history of the Uzbek statehood. For instance, the archaeological excavations held at the ruins of Shokhrukhiya Fortress in Akkurgan District in Tashkent Province may serve as an example to the aforesaid. The objects found there help to more thoroughly learn the traditions and culture of the epoch of Temur and his dynasty.
Those, who have participated at the event, spoke on the role of Amir Temur in the history of the Uzbek statehood, the cultural monuments erected during the time of Temur and his dynasty, as well as the legal foundations of the cultural heritage.