15 November, 2006

Politics:
Afghan delegation visits Tashkent, holds talks of cooperation
Historical victory of Central Asian countries
Economics:
Lower Chamber approves state budget for 2007
Uzbekistan Development Fund, China Development Bank sign agreement
UNDP conducts two-day training on financial analysis
Wholesale fair being held in Tashkent
Society:
Seminar discusses safety blood transfusion service

POLITICS

AFGHAN DELEGATION VISITS TASHKENT, HOLDS TALKS OF COOPERATION

Delegation led by Minister of Energy and Water resources of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Muhammad Ismail-Khan visited Uzbekistan last week. Members of the delegation met with the chairman of “Uzbekenergo” State Joint-Stock Company B.Teshabaev, the local newspapers reported.
During the meeting they have discussed further broadening of cooperation between the two countries, particularly, the ties in the area of energy.
Now the definite works on reestablishing the economy, creating the jobs for the people, and developing the healthcare and education are underway in Afghanistan following the long civil war. In that Afghanistan depends on the support of the world community, including Uzbekistan.
Cooperation in the area of electrical power supply is important in mutual relations of the two countries. Uzbekistan is able to increase such deliveries to Afghanistan in the future.
At the moment the construction project with a 400-km line of electrical power transmission along the direction of Kabul-Hairaton is under elaboration in Afghanistan, which is envisaged by 2008. The head of the Afghan delegation has confirmed that his country was interested in cooperation with Uzbekistan in this area.

HISTORICAL VICTORY OF CENTRAL ASIAN COUNTRIES

The words "Historical victory of Central Asian countries" became a leitmotif of the international symposium which took place in Tokyo.
It was initiated by the embassy of Uzbekistan in Japan together with Japanese Congress against A and H bombs (Gensuikin) and devoted to establishing a nuclear free zone in Central Asia.
The congress has its regional representative office in all prefectures of Japan, and includes 26 trade-unions and youth organizations all over the country, Jahon reports.
Mirsobid Ochilov, the ambassador of Uzbekistan to Japan, told the symposium participants about the background of establishing a nuclear free zone in Central Asia. He mentioned that the initiative to create a nuclear free zone in Central Asia was proposed by Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on 28 September, 1993 at 48th session of the General Assembly of the United Nations. The ambassador also emphasized a special importance of the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan in the current conditions which are caused by the growing geopolitical importance of Central Asia, which becomes a place of strategic interest for major countries of the world.
The symposium participants were also informed that the First committee of the General Assembly of the United Nations on issues of the international safety and disarmament had approved a draft resolution "Establishing a nuclear free zone in Central Asia".
According to T.Takahara, the professor of Meiji Gakuin University, signing the contract is a result of the responsibility and leadership demonstrated by Islam Karimov, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the first years of independence of Uzbekistan.
K.Nakamura, the executive director of Peace Depot public organization expressed confidence that establishing a nuclear free zone in Central Asia will strengthen regime of nuclear non-proliferation and amplification of the measures directed on maintaining a nuclear safety in the world.

ECONOMICS

LOWER CHAMBER APPROVES STATE BUDGET FOR 2007

The Deputies of the Lower Chamber of Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan has approved the draft of the state budget for 2007. The budget is planned with a deficit of 233 billion soums, i.e. 1% of the GDP, the press service of the Chamber said.
In the upcoming year, a major portion of the expenditure (54.3% of all expenses against 51% in 2006) will target social sphere, including healthcare, education, culture and sport, and particularly social protection of the population.
The parameters of the state budget have been developed taking into account the GDP growth planned for 2007 of 7.7%, growth of industrial output – 7.8%, investment – 8.1%, population's real income – 17%, and inflation rate not exceeding 5-7%.
The income part of the state budget for the next year is envisioned in the amount of 5.071 trillion soums (21.8% of the GDP), and the expenditure – 5.304 trillion soums (22.8% of the GDP). The consolidated budget income of Uzbekistan has been approved in the amount of 7.543 trillion soums (32.4% of the GDP), and expenditure – 7.776 trillion soums (33.4% of the GDP).
The state budget for 2006 was approved by the parliament with the deficit of 271 billion soums, or 1.5% of the GDP; income part – 3,999.2 billion soums (22% of the GDP) and expenditure – 4,263.3 billion soums (23.5% of the GDP). It is expected that this year the budget will be executed with the surplus of 27.9 billion soums, or 0.15% of the GDP.
The final approval of the state budget for 2007 will take place in December during the session of the Senate of Uzbekistan.

UZBEKISTAN DEVELOPMENT FUND, CHINA DEVELOPMENT BANK SIGN AGREEMENT

Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan and the China Development Bank signed a cooperation agreement on 14 November 2006.
Cooperation envisages the bank's co-financing of the investment projects in the basic industries of the Uzbek economy, exchange of information on the markets, companies and banks of both countries in the framework of the jointly implemented projects, as well as improvement of staff skills through exchange programmes and trainings.
The Fund's new partner is the largest state bank of China. Among its objectives is to support key industries, develop the country's infrastructure, and support progress in the regions. The value of the bank's assets currently exceeds US$250 billion, and bad debts make up only 0.73%. Over the years of its activity, State Development Bank of China implemented over 4,000 major projects in different areas of the economy.
The Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan was established in line with the Decree of the President in 2006 for the purpose of implementing the projects on modernisation and technical re-equipment of the leading, and basic industries of the economy, achievement of dynamic, stable and balanced socio-economic development of the country, and implementation of the effective structural and investment policy.
One of the Fund's objectives is to establish and develop cooperation with foreign financial institutions for the purpose of attraction of additional investments into the economy of Uzbekistan, and the cooperation agreement signed will serve as an additional instrument for the development of investment relations between Uzbekistan and China.
As reported earlier, in September of this year the Foundation signed cooperation agreements with another three foreign financial institutions – Korean Development Bank, Export and Import Bank of Korea, and Export and Import Bank of Malaysia.

UNDP CONDUCTS TWO-DAY TRAINING ON FINANCIAL ANALYSIS

Two-day training on financial analysis was organised for the members of the Coordination Council and Executive Board of the Micro-finance Programme, and representatives of micro-finance programmes of the Shahrisabz and Angor business-incubators on 11-12 November in Shahrisabz. The aim of the training is to teach the participants conduct complex analysis of financial-economic condition of the micro-finance programme and integrate into practice the instruments of monitoring and support of its financial stability.
The training was conducted as a part of the UNDP Project "Development of micro-crediting schemes for the creation of stable sources of income and jobs in Kashkadarya region".
In the course of the training, participants studied the issues, such as "Balance sheets and income statements of micro-finance organizations", "Principles of analysis of the financial condition and interpretation of analysis results", "Loan loss reserves, why and how to have them", "Analytical corrections to the financial statements", "Financial statement analysis using profitability, solvency and liquidity ratios", "Evaluation of management/ administration, rating system, monitoring and preventing fraud."
The training is based on the latest training methods involving active learning through independent and group work, and analysis of real life examples and practice of micro-finance organizations.
UNDP Office in partnership with the Kashkadarya regional department of the Tadbirkor Ayol Association of Businesswomen of Uzbekistan has been implementing micro-finance programme since 1998.

WHOLESALE FAIR BEING HELD IN TASHKENT

Wholesale Fair on delivery of foodstuffs in 2007 was opened in Tashkent.
The main purpose of the fair, which is being held in accordance with resolution of Cabinet of Minister of Uzbekistan from 13 November 2002 “ On measures on perfection of organization trade fairs”, is further strengthening relations between commodity produces and trade organizations, expansion of production.
The fair is located in Republican specialized wholesale base of foodstuffs. Manufactures of foodstuffs, as well as representatives of trade enterprises and smalls business and private entrepreneurs are participating in the event. Particularly, Uzgo`shtsutsanoat Association, Oziqovqatsanoat, Uzvinosanoat-holding Company.
The fair also provides an opportunity to familiarize with production planned for 2007 by production enterprises and private entrepreneurs worth 146 billion soums.

SOCIETY

SEMINAR DISCUSSES SAFETY BLOOD TRANSFUSION SERVICE

The Scientific and Research Institute for hematology and blood transfusion of the Ministry of Public Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan has held a seminar, dedicated to the ensuring of safety of blood transfusion services. It was attended by scientists, representatives of blood transfusion stations and AIDS-centres of Uzbekistan, and as well as specialists from Russia.
The director of the Scientific and Research Institute for hematology and blood transfusion, Kh. Karimov, notes that in the process of reforms, being carried out in the healthcare system on President Islam Karimov's initiative, and alongside with other areas of medicine, the hematology sphere also is developing gradually. We created all conditions to bring donor centres and blood transfusion services up to the world standards. With a view to further improve the work in this area the government of Uzbekistan together with the Asian Development Bank is implementing the project to consolidate women and children's health.
"The practical application of scientific achievements is of great importance in the development of the hematology sphere", the deputy director of the Scientific and Research Institute for hematology and blood transfusion for science, A. Mahmudova, told an UzA correspondent. "During the years of independence our scientists are achieving striking results in the sphere of elaborating advanced methods to treat hemoblastoza and hemophylin, the application of the transplantation of marrow. In this area new treatment methods are currently being actively implemented".
The seminar heard the reports, dedicated to the achievements of science in this field, international experiment, peculiarities of medical remedies and new technologies, to be created in the hematology sphere.