April 10, 2009
Politics:
Singapore Lawmakers Visit Uzbekistan, Hold Talks, See Places
Foreign Envoys Speak of Tashkent as City to Mark its Jubilee
Economics:
Uzbekistan, Petronas and Sasol Ink Heads of Agreement
Number of checks of entrepreneurs to decrease
Two exhibitions open in Uzbek capital
Local Producers Offer Quality Goods for Reasonable Prices
Job Fairs Serve for Increasing Employment in the Nation
Tashkent aggregate plant: results of localization
Society:
Humanitarian aid sent to Navoi
Amir Temur’s birthday celebrated
Tashkent Public Education Dept. Holds Picture Contest
POLICY
SINGAPORE LAWMAKERS VISIT UZBEKISTAN, HOLD TALKS, SEE PLACES
Earlier this week the delegation of Singapore led by the Speaker of the parliament Abdullah Tarmugi started its visit to Uzbekistan, Jahon Information Agency reported.
During its stay in Tashkent, the capital city of Uzbekistan, the delegation members have been to several ministries and agencies, where they have had talks with the Uzbek officials.
On April 6 the Speaker Abdullah Tarmugi led his high-ranking delegation to the national parliament of Uzbekistan to speak to the Speaker Dilorom Tashmuhamedova of Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan – the Lower House of supreme lawmaking institution on the Uzbek soil.
At their talks at the Legislative Chamber offices in downtown Tashkent, the magnificent building erected given combination of both contemporary and national design and architecture, the sides spoke of the bilateral relations, and particularly, in the sphere of lawmaking and exchange of related experience.
They have also spoken about that the arrangements secured between the heads of two states had served as an important legal basis to further extending the interaction.
In January 2007 President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid a State visit to Singapore, which has served to take the bilateral relations up to a new level. That visit resulted in signing of a package of bilateral documents meant to extend ties in various areas, including the trade and economic relations, cooperation in cultural and humanitarian sphere, as well as develop tourism.
“We are much pleased of gradual and consistent development of relations between our countries,” Abdullah Tarmugi said in Tashkent. “During this visit we have become convinced of the high efficiency of considerable reforms being undertaken in Uzbekistan to take it up to higher development frontiers.”
Further speaking on the lawmaking practices in the country, the high-level Singaporean lawmaker said: “It is worth noting the opportunities created in Uzbekistan to well engage in making laws. Singapore is keenly interested in further extending the mutually beneficial cooperation in all spheres.”
Also in Tashkent the delegation of Singapore visited the Upper House of national parliament to talk to its Chairman Ilgizar Sabirov. The establishment of bicameral parliament in Uzbekistan has indeed served as a bold move ahead in terms of furthering the processes of building a law-governed state and free society based on the firm foundations of lawmaking practices and introducing the universally recognized norms of parliamentary work.
Yet another venue for talks in Tashkent has become the foreign ministry of Uzbekistan. On April 7 the Speaker Tarmugh-led delegation met with the Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov of Uzbekistan.
Foreign Minister has warmly welcomed the incoming delegation and spoke of priority areas of the Uzbek foreign policy towards Singapore and the Southeast Asian region, as a whole.
“Uzbekistan considers it important to develop both bilateral and multilateral relations with Singapore,” Foreign Minister Norov said. “Taking this opportunity, here in Uzbekistan we thank Singapore for its support extended at various international forums, and particularly, at the United Nations.”
“We are very impressed of seeing the developments in Uzbekistan in terms of its eighteen years of independent development,” Speaker Tarmugi said, “it has been quite an honor for us to receive President Islam Karimov on his State visit to our country in 2007.”
The sides highly assessed the level of interaction and mutual understanding of the need to develop the relations in many areas, including the trade, economic and political spheres, as well as in the fields of cultural and humanitarian cooperation vis-a-vis extending the mutual travels and people-to-people contacts.
As a part of its stay the Singapore delegation traveled to ever-beautiful ancient cities of Samarkand and Bukhara to eyewitness the combination of antique architecture and modern renovation of the latest time.
FOREIGN ENVOYS SPEAK OF TASHKENT AS CITY TO MARK ITS JUBILEE
For over the years of independence on the initiative of President Islam Karimov the look of the ancient cities – Tashkent (pictured at left), Samarkand, Bukhara, Khiva, Termez, Shakhrisabz, Karshi and Marghilan have changed a lot. The substantial work has been accomplished at these cities with the ancient monuments to have been restored and new modern constructions erected.
The Uzbekistan National News Agency spoke to the foreign ambassadors to Uzbekistan and asked them what they thought of Uzbekistan’s capital city of Tashkent.
Joseph Macishak, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Slovak Republic to Uzbekistan:
“For the first time I visited Uzbekistan in 1995. Having arrived in here on my official business trip some years later, I was surprised. Tashkent had changed so much. A huge creative and improvement works were accomplished at this beautiful city. The capital city is getting better day by day. The number of buildings that combine national and modern architectural styles increases. I am delighted to see such scale of transformations.”
Soltan Pirmuhamedov, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan:
“For fourteen years of work in Uzbekistan I have witnessed the considerable growth of well-being of the Uzbek people. Tashkent changes from year to year. The considerable creative work has been carried out here for over the short period of time. This beautiful city is one of the largest centers of culture and enlightenment in the world. It surprises all with its architectural monuments, generous and hospitable people. Under the leadership of President Islam Karimov the people of Uzbekistan carry out consistent reforms in all spheres of life and especially in the economy, while securing the profound results. I am sure that such a well thought-out and long-sighted policy will bear even more positive results in the future.
The 2200th anniversary of Tashkent is a holiday not only for Uzbekistan, but also for all friendly states. Marking the city’s anniversary will open up the new pages in the history of humankind.
Igors Apokins, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Latvia to Uzbekistan:
“As I see the active preparations to the 2200th anniversary of Tashkent I would like to underscore the work now underway in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Islam Karimov to revive and propagate the national and spiritual values, preserve the cultural and historical monuments and sacred places of worship for forthcoming generations.”
“Uzbekistan as one of the cradles of civilization attracts attention of the entire world community. Uzbekistan’s ancient and eternally young cities play an important role in this. One of them is wonderful Tashkent. I am sure that profound work, which is now being accomplished on the occasion of the upcoming jubilee, will even more alter the city.”
Constantine Aleksa, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Romania to Uzbekistan:
“The celebration of Tashkent’s jubilee is worth special attention. The look of the capital city, which is getting more beautiful, has changed beyond recognition. The ancient and eternally young Tashkent at all times linked the East with West, always delighted the people, aroused amazement with its rich history, universally well-known places of sightseeing and sacred venues of worship.”
Richard Norland, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States to Uzbekistan:
“I know Tashkent very well. I like very much its historical monuments, museums and art galleries. I am interested in sports and therefore I have already visited several sports complexes based in Tashkent. I would like to note that in Uzbekistan a special attention is being paid to developing the physical culture and sports. A vivid example to it is the reconstruction of many sporting facilities, construction of the new complexes and their equipment with modern sports inventories.”
ECONOMY
UZBEKISTAN, PETRONAS AND SASOL INK HEADS OF AGREEMENT
As has been reported by the Information Agency “Jahon”, on April 7 this year president of the Malaysian Petronas Corporation Muhammad Hassan Marican and the president and chief executive officer of the South African Sasol Company Pat Davies visited Uzbekistan for talks.
The same day the top-level businessmen have been received by President Islam Karimov. Prior to the talks with the Uzbek Leadership in Tashkent they have held negotiations at several ministries and agencies of Uzbekistan.
The Agreement on the main principles on implementation of project, otherwise known Heads of agreement (HOA), on producing synthetic liquid fuel in the Republic of Uzbekistan and Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation have been signed between the Uzbekneftegaz National Holding Company, Petronas Corporation and Sasol Company, the Narodnoye slovo newspaper wrote.
“Our corporation highly assesses cooperation with Uzbekistan,” Muhammad Hasan Marikan has said. “The favorable investment climate created in Uzbekistan gives a broad opportunity for elaboration and implementation a number of new prospective projects. We are interested in further extending cooperation with Uzbekneftegaz Company in this direction.”
Petronas is a transnational corporation with its presence at more than 30 countries around the world. Its operations encompass such areas as exploration and logging of the oil and gas deposits, processing and trading with oil products and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) – the practices combined in a petrochemical dictionary as upstream and downstream works.
Uzbekistan and Petronas Corporation cooperate not only in the sphere of upstream and downstream works in implementing the oil and gas projects but also closely interact in cadres training for the oil and gas sector.
Headquartered in the city of Johannesburg, the capital city of the South African Republic, the Sasol Company was established in 1950. It operates both subsidiary and affiliate offices at more than 30 countries of the world and employs over 34,000 people. The company is listed on both the Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
Sasol Company is notable for its technologies on producing a synthetic fuel, also known as a synfuel from natural gas and coal in line with the so-called Fischer-Tropsch synthesis – the chemical reaction process conducted first by German scientists Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch in early 20s of the last century. The production of the synfuel from coal is mostly known among professionals as a CTL technology – “coal-to-liquids”.
NUMBER OF CHECKS OF ENTREPRENEURS TO DECREASE
The private sector of Uzbekistan will receive various tax preferences, while the number of checks will be reduced, the chairman of the State tax committee Botir Parpiyev told a press conference in Tashkent, UzA reported.
The aim is to boost the development of the small business and service sector and to increase the employment rate and the people’s living levels.
The Council for coordination of the activity of controlling bodies introduced changes in the issuance of permission for unannounced checks. In 2009, such checks may only be held on the approval of this council.
This year, the number of checks will be cut by 30%, and the number of enterprises to be checked by tax bodies has been reduced by 62%, the head of the Tax committee said.
At the same time, the control of the efficiency of unannounced checks will be strengthened, he added.
TWO EXHIBITIONS OPEN IN UZBEK CAPITAL
Fifth international industrial exhibition "Power. Chemistry. Machinery" and the Third International specialized exhibition "Laboratory Expo Uzbekistan" opened on April8, 2009.
Three-day event is supported by the Tashkent city administration, Uzkimyosanoat and Commerce Office of Russia in Uzbekistan.
The exhibition is attended by Intertech Òrading Ñorporation (USA), Soctrade (UK), Tau engineering (Belgium), Wenk labtec (Germany), Gorex analyt (Germany), Boldrini (Italy), SELMA (Ukraine), Leco (Uzbekistan) and others.
IndustrialExpo Uzbekistan 2009 is only exhibition in Uzbekistan, which unites leading industrial sectors. The exhibition will have such sections as Power, Chemistry, Machinery and others.
LaboratoryExpo Uzbekistan 2009 is leading exhibition in Central Asia, which presents various equipments and tools for laboratory.
LOCAL PRODUCERS OFFER QUALITY GOODS FOR REASONABLE PRICES
In line with the Year of Development and Improvement of Countryside State Program a special attention is now being paid in the Samarkand Province to increasing the volumes of production and creating new jobs in rural area, according to the Jahon Information Agency.
For example, the commissioning of the Afrosiyob-gips subsidiary enterprise in Narpay District allowed to produce 150 tons of alabaster per day. Now the number of workers made up nearly 100 people.
“The introduction of modern technologies and importing the raw materials from nearby regions made possible to produce quality and moderately priced goods,” the executive officer of the enterprise A.Saidov said.
“The company-manufactured products are used mainly by citizens and construction organizations. In the days to come it is going to export them. By the end of this year the company plans to set production of gypsum plaster and construction whitewash, according to the report.
JOB FAIRS SERVE FOR INCREASING EMPLOYMENT IN THE NATION
The certain work on increasing the employment level among the population is being accomplished in Ferghana Province in line with the “Year of Development and Improvement of Countryside” State Program, according to the report by Narodnoye slovo newspaper.
According to the Regional head department of labor and social protection, from the beginning of the year 18817 people were provided with jobs.
The job fair organized by Employment Assistance Center and Kamolot Public Youth Movement along with Marghilan municipality saw the participation of over 50 companies, organizations and establishments.
Nearly 405 vacancies have been offered at the fair, according to the newspaper. The companies are also reported to have demonstrated their products.
About 80 people received jobs at the fair with 24 jobseekers to have obtained consultations on the national labor legislation. Over 50 women have been referred to training courses on sewing and gold-embroidery sewing.
Yet 30 young men and women received letters of reference from the municipal office of the Kamolot youth movement to attend the Center of social services to acquire professions.
TASHKENT AGGREGATE PLANT: RESULTS OF LOCALIZATION
Uzbekistan is paying a special attention to increasing the volumes of production of export-oriented and import-substituting competitive production.
The local producers receive a number of preferences, which contributes to the further development of the economy.
Tashkent aggregate plant has so far localized around 70% of the manufactured production and is going to increase this number in the near future.
The plant, employing some 500 people, produces seeders and sprayers for the agricultural sector in accordance with the localization program.
The modernization of the production has allowed to increase the range of production and its volumes, as well as create new workplaces.
Last year, Tashkent aggregate plant exported 1,500 sprayers to Turkmenistan. This year, part of the production was exported to Azerbaijan.
The company is conducting negotiations on starting exports to other countries.
SOCIETY
HUMANITARIAN AID SENT TO NAVOI
The Soglom Avlod Uchun charity foundation and the Uzbekistan Railways company sent a health train with humanitarian aid to Navoi region.
A group of doctors, including dentists, surgeons and pediatricians will examine the residents of the remote villages in Kanimeh, Tamdi and Uchkuduk districts.
The humanitarian cargo included medicaments, clothes and sanitary and hygienic means.
The purpose of the regular health trains sent throughout the year to various regions of the country is to protect the health of the population and provide moral and material support to the low-income and disabled people.
AMIR TEMUR’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATED
The celebration of the great military leader and statesman Amir Temur’s birthday was held in Tashkent’s Officers’ house on 8 April.
The event, organized by the Center for spirituality of the Defense ministry jointly with the National academic drama theater and the Amir Temur International foundation, was attended by scholars, students, cadets of military schools and the public.
The chairman of the Amir Temur foundation Muhammad Ali, doctor of historical sciences Hamidulla Dadaboyev and others said that in Uzbekistan special attention was paid to objective and deep studying of the history, life and work of great ancestors, their spiritual heritage.
The enormous creative work accomplished in the era of Amir Temur and Temurids, architectural monuments they erected signify the enormous power and potential. The martial art of Amir Temur, who created his own military concept, is now being explored by many military colleges.
TASHKENT PUBLIC EDUCATION DEPT. HOLDS PICTURE CONTEST
A contest on the topic “Dear Tashkent is 2200 years old” was held by the Head department of public education of the city of Tashkent, the Uzbekistan National News Agency reported.
The Resolution of President Islam Karimov of April 2, 2008 “On preparation to and holding of the 2200th jubilee of the city of Tashkent” stipulates that one of the important factors of upbringing the youth in the spirit of love and devotion to Homeland is to actively propagate the national values and traditions, as well as familiarize the forthcoming generation with history and today’s life of the capital city.
The contest was organized with a goal to accomplish these issues, the news agency report has said. The children at all kindergartens around Tashkent took part at it.
On the outcomes of the contest the 7-year-old Usmanbek Abrorov of the kindergarten No.304 in Yunusabad Distrcit secured the first place in the nomination “The best thematic drawings”. The 6-year-old Khulkar Raupova of the kindergarten No.141 in Khamza District and 4-year-old Diyora Izbosheva of the kindergarten No.304 in Yunusabad District won in the nomination “Originality and creative point of view”.
As a part of the competition an exhibition of the best children’s pictures dedicated to the life of Tashkent was held at the International Caravansary of Culture at the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan, according to the report.