3 October, 2006

Politics
Visit of Kyrgyz leader to Uzbekistan is important event – President Karimov
Presidents Karimov and Bakiev ink joint statement on results of negotiations
Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan meet with journalists
Ministerial Conference on CAREC set for October
Accusations against Uzbekistan contained in US Department of State report ungrounded

Economics
New Uzbekneftegaz head appointed
Over 750,000 Visa Classic and Visa Electron cards in circulation in Uzbekistan
Uzbek-South Korean JV starts exploration ops at Uzbek gold fields
Tashkent to host "Financial services" exhibition on 5-7 October
Premium Auto - official importer of BMW cars in Uzbekistan
Tashkent city administration to buy new trams, buses
Uzbekistan's UzDaewooAvto car output up 25.6% on year in January-August

Society
"The people of our country" in focus
Uzbek institute receives equipment for US$87,343


POLITICS

VISIT OF KYRGYZ LEADER TO UZBEKISTAN IS IMPORTANT EVENT – PRESIDENT KARIMOV

First visit of Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev to Uzbekistan is important and remarkable event in bilateral relations, Uzbek President Islam Karimov said on 3 October in Tashkent during press conference.

Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev started his official visit to Uzbekistan on Tuesday and the met his Uzbek counterpart to discuss bilateral and international issues.

Uzbek President Islam Karimov said: "The first visit of President of Kyrgyz Republic Kurmanbek Bakiev to Uzbekistan, we consider as important, significant event in bilateral relations."

He said the sides evaluated current state of bilateral relations and determine key directions of further cooperation, Uzbek head said at the press conference devoted to the results of negotiations.

President I.Karimov said that the significant part of negotiations was dedicated to trade-economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic, which is basic component of interaction between countries.

Uzbek president concluded that the Kyrgyz president's visit to Uzbekistan is another evidence for century-old friendly relations of two nations, their historic closeness and expressed assurance that the cooperation between states will develop on mutual beneficial basis.

In his turn, Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiev expressed gratitude to the Uzbek side for warm receipt and highly evaluated the results of negotiations.

Kyrgyz President expressed his satisfaction with course and results of negotiations, which allowed the sides to exchange opinion on wide-range of issues of bilateral cooperation. He said the talks were held in complete mutual understanding and trust.

Kyrgyz President said the destiny predetermined that two nations live in neighbourhood and support each other in any time. He said that the sides should keep and strengthen warm relations between two states.

President of Kyrgyz Republic noted the role of Uzbek-Kyrgyz interstate commission on bilateral cooperation in strengthening of trade-economic relations between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic. He said the bilateral trade turnover has stabilized and been growing in last several years.

He underlined that the sides should use full potential of two states to boost trade-economic collaboration between states.

Kyrgyz President said the sides agreed that law enforcement bodies should carry out joint and coordinated actions to ensure control over Kyrgyz-Uzbek borders. He added that the negotiations also touched issues on cooperation within international and regional organizations.

Kyrgyz leader said the results of the talks demonstrated mutual intention of two states to develop close mutual beneficial cooperation in all spheres, strengthen friendship, good neighborhood relations in interest of people of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyz Republic.

He concluded that the sides hope to lift bilateral relations to new level and deepen them in all directions.

PRESIDENTS KARIMOV AND BAKIEV INK JOINT STATEMENT ON RESULTS OF NEGOTIATIONS

On results of negotiations President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of Kyrgyzstan Kurmanbek Bakiev signed joint statement, agreement and programme between the two countries on economic, scientific and technical, humanitarian cooperation for 2007-2011.

Delegations of two countries also have signed intergovernmental cooperation agreement in the field of governmental communication, intergovernmental agreement on mutual trips of citizens, interdepartmental cooperation agreement in the field of tourism, interdepartmental agreement on legal aid and cooperation, UzA reports.

PRESIDENTS OF UZBEKISTAN AND KYRGYZSTAN MEET WITH JOURNALISTS

During the meeting with representatives of mass media presidents of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan expressed satisfaction that the negotiations were held in spirit of efficiency and mutual understanding.

President Islam Karimov pointed out that the meeting will provide new opportunities for development of bilateral ties, to interests of our countries, will rise communications of cooperation to a new level. Uzbek leader emphasized, that during the negotiations the sides considered large-scale issues, concerning bilateral ties of the countries, and expressed unanimity on the issues of joint action within the frameworks of such international structures, as United Nations, Euroasian Economic Community, SCO, CIS, and ensuring security.

It was noted that the results of the visit of Kurmanbek Bakiev will have great a value in the development of Uzbek-Kirghiz relations.

MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE ON CAREC SET FOR OCTOBER

The Inaugural Session of the 5th Ministerial Conference on Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) will be held in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China (PRC), on 20 October, the press release of the Asian Development Bank says.

The Conference will bring together Ministers from Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, PRC, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan to discuss future regional cooperation efforts in Central Asia.

Representatives of multilateral institutions, bilateral and other regional organizations, and the private sector are expected to attend a series of meetings including a Business Development Forum starting on 16 October. ADB President Haruhiko Kuroda will make a keynote speech at the Ministerial Conference.

CAREC is a broad partnership of the participating countries and six multilateral institutions to promote economic cooperation in Central Asia. The program is focused on regional initiatives in transport, trade facilitation, trade policy, and energy that are critical to improving the economic performance of the region.

"At the Conference, Ministers will consider a Comprehensive Action Plan to guide the strategic management of the CAREC program and will also discuss ways to accelerate the momentum of regional cooperation by broadening and deepening the program," said Xianbin Yao, Deputy Director General of ADB's Central and West Asia Department, at a press briefing.

ACCUSATIONS AGAINST UZBEKISTAN CONTAINED IN US DEPARTMENT OF STATE REPORT UNGROUNDED

Accusations against Uzbekistan contained in the International Religious Freedom report by the US Department of State are ungrounded, spokesman for the Uzbek government's committee for religious affairs Aziz Abidov told journalists in Tashkent.

"According to the Constitution and other legal acts, the freedom of religion and the equality of all religions are guaranteed in Uzbekistan," the spokesman said.

The US Department of State is trying to create a negative image of Uzbekistan by distorting the real situation in the country, he said.

"There are a lot of biased arguments in the document," and the conclusions that Shiite education is being limited and that Shiite imams cannot teach are ungrounded, he said. The activity of radical Islamic organizations "that attempt to encroach on Uzbek government" is banned in Uzbekistan, Abidov said.

"The Uzbek government will keep fighting against all manifestations of extremism, radicalism and zealotry," he said.

ECONOMICS

NEW UZBEKNEFTEGAZ HEAD APPOINTED

Uzbek President Islam Karimov has appointed Nurmuhammed Ahmedov, a former top natural resources official, as the new head of the state oil and gas company Uzbekneftegaz. The former Uzbekneftegaz chairman, Abdusalom Azizov, was appointed head of an Uzbekneftegaz oil products subsidiary.

OVER 750,000 VISA CLASSIC AND VISA ELECTRON CARDS IN CIRCULATION IN UZBEKISTAN

Today over 750,000 Visa Classic and Visa Electron cards are in circulation in Uzbekistan, VISA Regional Manager for CIS Alexander Kalita said.

During the period from 1 July 2005 to 1 July 2006, the aggregate credit card spend made up US$35 million, including cash withdrawals from ATMs in the amount of US$12 million, which is correspondingly 2.4 times and 1.5 times higher compared to the same period of 2003 and 2004.

These dynamics illustrate the increasing demand of the population for non-cash payments in retail operations, and indicates that the share of cash withdrawals from the ATMs in the total VISA credit card spend fell from 53% to 34.3%. This, in turn, shows that the number of place where credit card holders can make purchases and make payments using credit cards, including mobile operators and communal service payment points is growing steadily.

In Uzbekistan, 95% of the VISA cards issued are circulated by the largest financial institution Uzpromstroybank.

Uzpromstroybank was the first in Uzbekistan to issue EMV standard Visa Electron and Visa Classic Cards. For their servicing, in 2003 the bank signed a contract on the procurement of 21 ATM machines and 1,000 payment terminals from the French Bull S.A. Company.

At this time the number of its terminals has reached 2,000 units. By the end of the year the bank plans to procure additional 1,000 terminals and increase the number of VISA cards in circulation to 1 million.

UZBEK-SOUTH KOREAN JV STARTS EXPLORATION OPS AT UZBEK GOLD FIELDS

Uzbek-South Korean joint-venture (JV) Uz-Kores Mining has started exploration operations in the Central Kyzyl Kum Region of Uzbekistan, the country's State Geology and Mineral Resources Committee said Tuesday.

A representative of the committee said that the JV would invest U.S. $4.5 million in exploration during the first stage of the project in 2006-2009. The JV plans to invest $200 million if gold is found at the field, the representative added.

Korea Resources Corp. is the South Korean partner and investor.

In March, the Uzbek government and Korea Resources Corp. signed a deal to set up the Uz-Kores Mining joint venture on a parity basis with a charter capital of $8.4 million to explore gold fields in the Kyzyl Kum desert.

Currently, four companies develop gold fields in the country and produce around 85 tonnes annually, including Uzbek-British joint venture Amantaytau Goldfields, Uzbekistan’s Navoi Ore Mining and Metallurgical Plant, or NGMK, Almalyk Mining-Metallurgical Complex, or AGMK, and U.S.-Uzbek joint gold mining venture Zarafshan-Newmont.

Last week, Uzbekistan's court for the Navoi Region declared Zarafshan-Newmont bankrupt and set a three-month period for the company's liquidation.

TASHKENT TO HOST "FINANCIAL SERVICES" EXHIBITION ON 5-7 OCTOBER

Two international exhibitions "Financial services" and "Info-Business", aimed at assisting the stepping up of the bank and financial services market in Uzbekistan, will be held in Tashkent at the Central Exhibition Hall of Uzbek Arts Academy on 5-7 October.

The event is being conducted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan under close cooperation and support of domestic associations of banks, leasing holders, credit unions, the company Avesta Investment Group, and the Zakovat public fund for supporting entrepreneurship with information.

Exhibition organizers noted that the measure is being taken with a view to assist activation of the bank and financial services market, expand cooperation between small business entities and financial institutes, and also to demonstrate the achievements of business information.

Participants in the exhibition are over 40 organizations, including banks, credit unions, leasing, auditing, investment, insurance and consulting companies, and also state, international, private organizations, whose activity comprises to assist and hold consultations on financial issues.

PREMIUM AUTO - OFFICIAL IMPORTER OF BMW CARS IN UZBEKISTAN

A news conference, dedicated to an outstanding event in the sphere of the automobile market of Uzbekistan, was held on 2 October. Premium Auto company became an official exclusive importer of BMW motor vehicles into the Republic of Uzbekistan.

This company was set up in 2006 and in our country it has all authorities of the representative of known brand. The activity of Premium Auto is conducted in three directions: sale of motor vehicles (saloon), spare parts and accessories and maintenance.

"Uzbekistan is a promising market for developing BMW AG. Including September of this year the sale BMW AG exceeded the volume of sales for the whole period of 2005. The concern BMW is a leader, and demand for the vehicles of this model grows year after year. We do not only improve the design of vehicles, but we also try to introduce innovation into the maintenance. Likewise, we plan to sell 100 cars per year, but only this is an issue of time", the managing director of the regional department of the concern BMW AG (Germany), Rudolf Walisch, said.

The delivery of BMW AG motor cars to the Premium Auto showroom is achieved directly from the plant of BMW AG concern. In comparison with the European prices, the cost of BMW cars in the showroom is reduced minimum by 6%. The purchased automobile receives the plant's two years guarantee. Moreover, a car owner can have his car repaired and serviced in any country of the world in the official importer of BMW AG.

Today, one can observe virtually the whole range of the lineup of BMW in the showroom, including the novelty of September of 2006 – BMW of the third range of coupe, unloaded from the conveyor in early September.

Likewise, the showroom is concluding the installation of the last "know-how" of the company BMW - the so-called consultative lodge, owing to which a purchaser, sitting in a convenient armchair and looking at the enormous monitor, he himself will pattern his future automobile. By pushing once a button on the panel it is possible to change the colour of automobile, the finishing of saloon, and to add auxiliary equipment of the vehicle machine. And at the end of the conversation with the consultant of sales, the future owner of new motor car will be able to see the motor car of his dream on the screen, which during a week will be assembled personally for him.

The maintenance section carries out all forms of works to repair mechanical and electrical parts and electronics of automobiles. The service centre is equipped with the most contemporary equipment, which corresponds to the rigid requirements of car producers. Technologies being used make it possible to carry out the repair of any complexity from the replacement of oil to the replacement of engine qualitatively and within the reasonable periods.

TASHKENT CITY ADMINISTRATION TO BUY NEW TRAMS, BUSES

Tashkent city administration plans to purchase 30 trams and 300 buses in near future, Deputy Governor of Tashkent city and chairman of Tashshahartranshizmat (Tashkent city transport service) Shomurod Muhammadjanov said on Friday.

He said this at a press conference dedicated to the Third Uzbek International Exhibition AutoMotorShow 2006 which will be held in Tashkent on 3-6 October. The event is organized by ITE Uzbekistan.

Mr Muhammadjanov said currently Tashkent city transporter has 600 buses of Mercedes-Benz production.
He said that the number of Mercedes-Benz makes up 38.7% of overall buses in Tashkent city bus fleets.

UZBEKISTAN'S UZDAEWOOAVTO CAR OUTPUT UP 25.6% ON YEAR IN JANUARY-AUGUST

Uzbek automobile factory UzDaewooAvto’s output rose 25.6% on the year to 88,006 units in January-August, the country’s State Statistics Committee said Monday.

Of the total, the output of Nexia cars increased 13.2% on the year to 47,881 cars, the output of Matiz cars rose 86% on the year to 30,356 cars, the output of Damas cars rose 0.3% on the year to 9,684 cars, and the output of Lacetti cars amounted to 85 cars in the period, down from about 1,800 cars in the same period last year, the statistics office said. The plant suspended the production of Lacetti cars in April.

In 2005, the plant’s car output rose 44.2% on the year to 101,010 cars, exports rose 48.9% on the year to 53,092 cars and domestic car supplies increased 32.4% on the year to 46,127 cars.

This year the company plans to produce 142,000 cars, including 68,500 cars for export, while in 2008 UzDaewooAvto plans to produce 200,000 cars.

UzDaewooAvto, formerly an Uzbek-South Korean car manufacturing joint venture, is fully owned by the Uzbek association of car producers Uzavtoprom, or Uzavtosanoat.

In mid-October 2005, UzDaewooAvto extended its agreement with the U.S.’ General Motors on component part supplies from companies in South Korea.

SOCIETY

"THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY" IN FOCUS

An exhibition of works submitted for the "People of our country" contest organised on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the independence of Uzbekistan has opened at the Tashkent House of Photography.

Kind, happy, thoughtful and inspired – absolutely different faces are reflected in the pictures displayed at the "national" photo-exhibition. Pictures of young and old people in casual and in formal dresses with different seasons and places at the background are included in the exposition. "She looks so much like Granny!" said a girl to her friend taking a close look at the picture. A member of the jury Sergey Spiridonov says the work can become the lucky prize winner.

The authors of many photographs are amateurs. In total, 20 authors from across Uzbekistan have sent over 200 works for the contest.

"According to the conditions of the contest, both professionals and amateur photographers could participate. I should note that the latter make up the majority of the contestants. For the exhibition, we selected 67 works that we thought most fully reflected modern life of Uzbekistan, its different sides though the faces of the people pictured. Here one can see different age categories: children, school-children, university students, adults. There are some funny pictures; there are also some awe-inspiring ones. I think that the most remarkable part of the exhibition are the images of seniors," said Deputy Director of the Tashkent House of Photography, member of the jury Yuriy Podporenko. "In the photographs Uzbekistan looks bright, multi-faceted, happy, and it is remarkable that these pictures are "the eyes of the nation".

The results of the Republican contest will be announced in October. As reported earlier, the contest was organised by Tashkent city khokimiat (city hall), Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Sport, National Television and Radio Company, Arts Academy of Uzbekistan and Tashkent House of Photography.

UZBEK INSTITUTE RECEIVES EQUIPMENT FOR US$87,343

Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies received equipment for US$87,343 within Japan-funded project on 29 September.

The release of the Japan Embassy in Tashkent said the equipment was transferred to Uzbek institute within project "Improvement of equipment to study Japanese and Japan at Tashkent State Institute of Oriental Studies". The project is carried out within no-string aid programme to grass-root projects within cultural line of Japan governments. The project aimed at improvement opportunities and equipment Tashkent institute to study Japanese and Japan.