March 13, 2008

Politics:
President of Turkmenistan Ends His Visit to Uzbekistan
Economics:
NBU, IDB sign memorandum on mutual understanding
In ’08 New Gardens, Vineyards Shall Be Established in Country
UzPromStroyBank to provide support to construction subcontractors
SDCU to sell ten enterprises in Surkhandarya region
Society:
Problems of Aral Sea go global – President of Uzbekistan
Improvement of legislation on legal protection of inventions discussed
Environmental Awareness Contest Ends in Tashkent

POLICY

PRESIDENT OF TURKMENISTAN ENDS HIS VISIT TO UZBEKISTAN

As has been reported, on March 10-11 this year the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov paid a State visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The visit has served yet as another important stage in the relations between the two brotherly and friendly nations, rendered a new impetus to take such ties up to a newer heights and frontiers for the sake of well being and prosperity of the people of two countries, according to the report of Jahon Information Agency.

“It is a fine opportunity for me to thank the President of Uzbekistan and the people of this nation for the heartfelt welcome,” – the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has said.

In Tashkent on the day of his arrival in the country – March 10 – Mr. Berdymuhamedov had both tete-a-tete talks with the Uzbek Leader as well as he led his high-profile delegation of top-ranking ministers and heads of agencies, including the two governors of provinces, to a roundtable negotiations with the Uzbek colleagues.

“During our talks we have touched upon the issues of bilateral cooperation in the sphere of trade, agriculture, as much as those of both regional and international nature,” – President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan has said speaking to both local and international journalists who have gathered in crowds at the Tashkent countryside residence of Durmen, the very site of talks of two leaders.

Thus, following the delegation-level negotiations of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan on March 10 the two sides have signed a number of documents.

President Islam Karimov and President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov signed the Joint Uzbek-Turkmen Communique and Protocol on the exchange of instruments of ratifications of the treaty on further strengthening the friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan signed in Ashkhabad on October 18, 2007.

Also, the sides have signed the intergovernmental agreements on cooperation in the sphere of governmental communication, in the area of using and accomplishing the repair and restoration works at the economic sites of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan located in the borderline territories of states and in the field of agro-industrial complex, as well as the protocol of cooperation between the foreign ministries of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.

After the official part of his stay in Uzbekistan Mr. Berdymuhamedov accompanied by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev visited the Mustakillik (Independence) Square in Tashkent.

The visit to the nation’s main square came as one the important events as a part of the Turkmen Leader’s State visit to Uzbekistan.

At the Square Mr. Berdymuhamedov has laid wreath to the Independence and Humanism Monument, the symbol of freedom, bright future and noble aspirations.

President of Turkmenistan has said that the monument unveiled on the initiative of President Islam Karimov is a unique complex that expresses the peace-loving policy of Uzbekistan as much as the kind aspirations of the Uzbek people on the way to well being and prosperity.

Later the same day Mr. Berdymuhamedov paid a visit to the Khazrati Imam Complex, also known as the Khastimom Complex, in Tashkent, the grand renovated complex of buildings of both worldly and religious significance.

The restoration and reconstruction works at the Complex have been initiated by President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov as a part of nationwide efforts to preserve the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Uzbek people, as well as in terms of Tashkent to have been announced as the capital of Islamic culture by the Islamic Scientific, Educational and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) in 2007.

“The accomplished work at this site is worth much praise and appreciation,” – President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has said.

Also, the Turkmen Leader saw the unique Usman Koran, the rare holy manuscript now preserved at the library of the Board of Muslims of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

On the second day of his stay in Uzbekistan on March 11 at the Oksaroy Residence in Tashkent in a quite festive gathering and atmosphere the President of Turkmenistan was conferred on the rank of Honorary doctor of the Tashkent Medical Academy.

“This visit has become an important event in social and political life of the two countries,” – Islam Karimov has said, “it is of a special significance in consolidating the bilateral relations, developing the friendship and cooperation”.

The Uzbek Leader has paid a special attention to the ties of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan in humanitarian sphere, particularly, the cooperation in the sphere of healthcare. Mr. Karimov spoke about the Turkmen President’s fruitful work in developing the healthcare system of Turkmenistan.

President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has thanked the President Islam Karimov for the enormous attention he has received from him. He has underscored that the profound reforms consistently being carried out in Uzbekistan under the leadership of Mr. Karimov, including in the sphere of health, are bearing their positive results.

“We are interested in gradually cooperating both in all spheres and in consolidating the mutual scientific and practical ties in the sphere of medicine,” – the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov has said.

The same day the two presidents participated in the ceremony of laying the first stone to the foundation of a new building of Embassy of Turkmenistan in Uzbekistan.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov has highly assessed the scheme of the new building designed on the initiative of President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov. The building of the embassy will be one of the beautiful buildings in Tashkent, the experts predict.

Mr. Berdymuhamedov has said that the laying of foundation of the embassy’s new building witnesses about the gradual development of the Uzbek-Turkmen relations.

The two leaders have placed the capsule into the foundation of the site. The capsule contained the message to forthcoming generations from both presidents.

The same day in the company of Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov visited Samarkand.

In Samarkand Mr. Berdymuhamedov paid a visit to the SamAuto plant, the local automobile plant that makes the Isuzu buses and trucks. The buses made in the plant are now widely seen in the streets nationwide in Uzbekistan. They are also being exported to other countries.

On seeing around the plant and on-site facilities the President of Turkmenistan has highly assessed the fact that it was equipped with the latest technologies. He has said that the plant would make one of the important points in the list of items to be addressed vis-a-vis the cooperation in economic sphere.

Also, in the city of Samarkand Mr. Berdymuhamedov visited the Gur Emir Mausoleum, the burial site of great commander and statesman of medieval ages Amir Temur. The places of visit by a Turkmen high-profile guest also included the Registan Square, Shakhi-Zinda Complex, as well as the Ulughbek Observatory.

“The historical monuments and unique contemporary look of Samarkand astonish each and every one and leave with the person the unforgettable impressions,” – President Berdymuhamedov has said by revealing his innermost feelings of what has been seen in the town.

Thus, on March 11 the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov concluded his State visit to the Republic of Uzbekistan by leaving for Ashkhabad, his nation’s capital, directly from Samarkand.

The visit became a logical continuation of the Uzbek-Turkmen Summit of October 2007 in Ashkhabad. The arrangements secured during the visit as much as the signed documents are the confirmation of a qualitatively new stage of relations between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, as well as the development of mutually beneficial cooperation based on friendship and mutual trust.

ECONOMY

NBU, IDB SIGN MEMORANDUM ON MUTUAL UNDERSTANDING

National Bank of Uzbekistan for Foreign Economic Activity (NBU) and the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) signed a memorandum of mutual understanding on March 5, Uzreport Business Information Portal reported.

In the light of the successful progress of the small business and entrepreneurship projects funded from the first US$15 million credit line of the Islamic Development Bank, an agreement was reached on the provision of the second credit line to support SMEs in the key sectors of the economy, such as agriculture, fruit and vegetable processing, textile manufacturing, etc.

The project envisages direct effect on the agricultural and industrial levels of production, creation of new jobs and increase in the inflow of foreign currency into the country. The loan agreement should be signed shortly, NBU press service said.

IN ’08 NEW GARDENS, VINEYARDS SHALL BE ESTABLISHED IN COUNTRY

New gardens and vineyards will be laid on almost 12.000 hectares of land in Uzbekistan this year, Jahon Information Agency quoting report of the Uzbekistan National News Agency website.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Economy of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 10.000 hectares of land has now been improved and reclaimed for the fruit gardens and vineyards.

Almost 10.000 fruit and decorative plants have been planted alongside the roads and fields, according to the report.

Meva-sharbat, the scientific-production corporation of gardening, winegrowing and winemaking has made 3.15 million plants of decorative and fruit trees of 20 types, grape cuttings and flower seedlings ready to be planted throughout the year.

UZPROMSTROYBANK TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO CONSTRUCTION SUBCONTRACTORS

UzPromStroyBank intends to provide financial support from its own resources to the subcontractors who will build multiple dwellings intended for individuals purchasing flats through mortgage loans.

The support is provided pursuant to the Act of the Central Bank of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On the order of financing and crediting of construction and reconstruction of housing for wide groups of population, including young people".

The press service of the bank has informed that at the time the bank was negotiating with several subcontractors on the construction of eight multiple dwellings (262 flats) in the cities of Navoi, Namangan, Samarkand, Kattarkurgan, and Angren.

In particular, an agreement has been achieved with the subcontractor on the appropriation of the loan in the amount of 350 million soums for the completion of construction of a 30-flat apartment building in the city of Kattarkurgan (Samarkand region). The total of 242 million soums has already been appropriated for this purpose.

The Navoi branch of the bank has made a positive decision on the financing of a subcontractor for the project on the construction of 24-flat apartment buildings. The total cost of the project is 1,807 million soums. The subcontractor is applying to borrow 1 billion soums. The commissioning of the project is scheduled for September 2008.

In 2007 the UzPromStroyBank issued soft loans to 39 subcontracting organizations, who won the tenders for the construction and reconstruction of 41 objects with the total cost of 72.3 billion soums in ten regions of the country.

For this purpose the bank appropriated some 18 billion soums. Moreover, from its own resources the bank extended loans for the enrichment of the turnover capital of 28 subcontracting companies for the total amount of 5.6 billion soums.

SDCU TO SELL TEN ENTERPRISES IN SURKHANDARYA REGION

The State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Demonopolisation, Support of Competition and Entrepreneurship has set for sale ten enterprises located in Surkhandary region, Uzreport Business Information Portal reported.

The enterprises will be sold through the auction trades as a property complex to investors for technical modernization, increase of the production and export volumes.

Also, auction trades will be announced for the enterprises of Kumkurgon Kurilish LLC, Termizirkurilish LLC, Jarkurgon Tozalik LLC, Bunyodkor AgroStroy Remont LLC, Bunyodkor LLC, Yuldosh LLC, Denov Mehanika Tamirlash Zavodi LLC, PMK-277 LLC, Umid LLC, and Dunyo LLC. Of them six are enterprises whose primary activity is construction and assembly works.

The building and assembly company Kumkurgon Kurilish LLC is located in Kumkurgon district. The total territory occupied by the enterprises comprises 0.52 hectares, and the production territory – 0.4 hectares. The enterprise has water supply and electricity. The starting bid for the enterprises – 167.319 million soums.

Termizirkurilish LLC is located in Termez district. Its primary activity is also construction and assembly jobs. At this time the papers for the sale of the enterprises through auction trades are being prepared.

The main field of Jarkurgon Tozalik LLC's activity, operating in Jarkurgon district, is provision of municipal services. It occupies a territory of 0.8 hectares, and the production territory totals 0.2 hectares. In terms of service lines, it only has the water supply. The papers for the sale of the enterprise through auction trades are being prepared.

Bunyodkor AgroStroy Remont LLC is located in Angor district. Its main field of activity is construction and assembly works. The total territory occupied by the enterprise comprises 1.3 hectares, and the production territory – 0.3 hectares. In terms of service lines, it only has electricity. The starting bid for the enterprise is 15.2 million soums.

Bunyodkor LLC building and assembly company registered in Termez district occupies the total territory of 0.76 hecatres, its production territory is – 0.28 hectares. The enterprise has electricity service lines. The starting bid for the company is 21.849 million soums.

The main field of the Termez based Yuldosh LLC's activity is building and assembly jobs. The enterprise is being fully sold. The enterprise has electricity. The total occupied territory comprises 1.5 hectares, and production territory – 0.5 hectares. The enterprise is being offered at a starting price of 39.5 million soums.

Denov Mehanika Tamirlash Zavodi (RMZ) LLC is based in the city of Denov. Its main field of activity is repair and engineering works. The total territory occupied by the enterprise comprises 3 hectares, and production – 2 hectares. The plant has water and electricity supply. Its starting price is 306.799 million soums.

Dunyo LLC is also located in the city of Denov. The main area of its activity is the processing of grains. The total area occupied by the enterprise is 5 hectares, including the production territory of 3.5 hectares. The enterprise has all types of service lines – water supply, gas supply, electricity and heating. The starting bid is 1,581.533 million soums.

PMK-277 LLC operates in Jarkurgan district. The enterprise carries out building and assembly works. Its total territory is 1.6 hectares, including the production area of 0.25 hectares. The enterprise has electricity. The starting bid is 138.34 million soums.

Located in Termez district Umid LLC is a building and assembly enterprise. Its total territory is 1.4 hectares, including the production area of 0.7 hectares. The enterprise has electricity lines. The starting bid is 46.32 million soums.

Detailed information on the enterprises offered to potential investors may be obtained from the corresponding exchanges and the State Demonopolisation Committee of Uzbekistan. The information provided above may change with the sale of the stated property complexes.

SOCIETY

PROBLEMS OF ARAL SEA GO GLOBAL – PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov said on March 12, 2008 environmental problems of the Aral Sea affect the region's water security and go global.

"It is evident that the Aral region faced complex environmental, socio-economic and demographic problems that may have global consequences," he told an international conference devoted to the problems of the Aral Sea that opened in Tashkent on March 12, Uzreport Business Information Portal reported.

He pointed out that intensive exploration of new lands that began back in the 1960s "resulted in the Aral Sea's evaporation by reducing its water reserves by more than ten-fold and its size four-fold, and increasing its salinity ten-fold."

The President of Uzbekistan expressed confidence that "it is necessary to resolve global social problems in compliance with the formula - to globalism via regionalism - by creating effective regional mechanisms."

The results of the Tashkent conference "will help the international society to form a new vision and new understanding of the Aral crisis and work out concrete measures to improve the situation," Islam Karimov said.

IMPROVEMENT OF LEGISLATION ON LEGAL PROTECTION OF INVENTIONS DISCUSSED

A seminar has been held at the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistna on the improvement of the legislation regulating the legal protection of inventions, utility models and production sample pieces.

The event organized by the Committee for Science, Education, Culture and Sport of the Lower Chamber together with the State Patent Department and the UNDP Project on "Improvement of the legislative and institutional potential of parliament" was attended by the representatives of the concerned agencies, and organizations, scientists, experts, and media, UzA repoted.

During the session presided by the Chairman of the Committee Azamat Ziyo, it was noted that the country was observing some major reforms aimed at increasing the protection of intellectual property rights. In particular, on the initiative of the head of state, special attention is being given to the protection of the rights of intellectual property owners, strengthening and improvement of the legal bases for these spheres, and their compliance with the world standards.

Uzbekistan has ratified the main international documents on the protection of intellectual property and is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organisation. The relations involving intellectual property are governed by the Constitution, the Civil and the Criminal Codes, as well as special laws and acts of government. The country has created the legal framework for the protection of intellectual property, and the necessary socio-economic environment.

During the seminar it was mentioned that the draft law "On introduction of amendments and addenda to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On inventions, utility models, and production sample pieces" was reviewed and approved in the first reading during the recent session of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, and that preparations were being made for the second reading.

In the course of the discussion of the draft law, recommendations on its improvement were made.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS CONTEST ENDS IN TASHKENT

The winners of the nationwide contest “Aral through the eyes of children” have been awarded at the Alisher Navoi Republican Fine Arts Lyceum, the report by the Uzbekistan National News Agency Russian-language website has said.

The Ministry of Public Education and Republican Education Center organized the event, according to the report.

The main goal of the contest was to analyze and expand the knowledge of students on environment. The participants of the contest from all regions around Uzbekistan presented essays and pictures on the topic “Aral – as I see it”.

The report has also listed the names of prizewinners and those who did their best in terms of securing the top and other places.