14 January, 2012

Politics:
Meeting at the Oqsaroy
Economics:
Uzbekistan to produce $916.9 million worth of localized products in 2012
Society:
Additional tax benefits and preferences to further develop the media
Tashkent hosts Uzbek-Chinese concert

POLITICS

Meeting at the Oqsaroy

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the Oqsaroy January 6 met with Chen Zhili, Vice Chair of Standing Committee at National People’s Congress of China, who arrived in Uzbekistan as a special envoy of President of the People’s Republic of China Hu Jintao.

Greeting the guest, the head of our state suggested that from the moment it attained independence, Uzbekistan in its aspiration for development and prosperity has always counted on the firm support from China – a close and reliable partner.

Vice Chair of Standing Committee of National People’s Congress conveyed the Chinese leadership’s sincere congratulations on the twentieth anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between our two nations marked these days. Chen Zhili expressed China’s willingness to make every effort toward dynamic advancement of multifaceted, mutually advantageous interaction with Uzbekistan in the spirit of the Agreement on Partnership Relations of Friendship and Cooperation signed May 2005, as well as fundamental accords reached during President Islam Karimov’s April 2011 state visit to the PRC.

Uzbekistan and China have been enhancing long-term cooperation built on principles of equality, shared respect and confidence.

An open and prolific political dialogue has been established between our two countries within a historically brief period of time across the whole specter of bilateral and multilateral agenda, including the crucial inter-parliamentary bonds. In addition, steady growth in volumes and diversification has been secured in bilateral trade and investments, the latter being primarily directed to hi-tech industrial sectors. The two sides have been bolstering also cultural and humanitarian, academic and technical exchange.

Uzbekistan and China have fostered diplomatic cooperation to a higher stage. Noteworthy is proximity and concurrence of positions on current issues in regional and international politics. The two nations closely cooperate within the framework of the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other eminent international organizations and financial institutions.

The parties to today’s talks at the Oqsaroy have noted the steadfast trends in the expansion of bilateral trade that has grown fourfold in the last five years to reach – according to data from the Uzbek side – approximately 2.2 billion US dollars in January-November 2011.
More than 380 enterprises with Chinese capital currently operate in our country, including 58 with 100 percent investments from the PRC. Representative offices of China’s 65 major companies in Uzbekistan have been making their input into consolidation of economic ties.
Further enlargement of Uzbek-Chinese cooperation has been discussed during the thorough conversation at the Oqsaroy.

(Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

ECONOMY

Uzbekistan to produce $916.9 million worth of localized products in 2012

In 2012, under the program to enhance the localization of production of finished goods, components and materials approved by the head of state the industry of Uzbekistan is forecasted to master production of more than 340 new types of finished goods, components and materials worth $916.9 million in 2011-2013.

Leaders of industrial cooperation have been determined: machine building, electronics and aviation industries producing goods with high added value. They account for about 40% of the forecast production.

The national automotive industry is an example of successful development of localization. In a short period of time the country has created a whole system of the enterprises specializing in producing automotive parts for GM Uzbekistan. Over the past five or six years, according to Uzavtosanoat, the number of domestic suppliers increased from 20 to 200, while the level of localization of production of passenger cars exceeded 60%. The 22 projects to be implemented in 2012 and 2013 will bring this figure up to 80%.

A special mention goes to enterprises of Uzeltehsanoat association, which account for more than 13% of the import substitution finished products, components and materials. The industry orients on production of goods with high consumer properties - air conditioners, microwave ovens, household gas stoves, electric vacuum cleaners, energy-saving fluorescent lamps, etc.

The proportion of the regional companies within the submission of cooperative ties increases. According to the forecast in 2012 it will exceed 26% of the total volume of localized production. The leaders are companies of the capital, Namangan and Tashkent regions.

The list of localized products include castings and spare parts for manufacturing equipment of Navoi Machinery Plant, components and parts for agricultural machinery CLAAS in the shops of TTZ, commercial and industrial refrigeration equipment, refrigerators, freezers, washing machines, electronic gas meters, etc.

Enterprises included in the program received incentives and preferences. Until 2014, they are exempt from customs duties for imported production equipment and its spare parts and components not produced in the country. A good incentive is the exemption from income tax, single tax, property tax of fixed assets used for the production of localized goods.

The exempted funds are directed on creation of new, expansion, renovation, modernization, technical and technological modernization of existing facilities, introduction of quality management systems, funding research and development activities.

Experts say that the increase of localization of the finished product helps reduce the dependence of national economies from external factors, which accelerates introduction of new, efficient technologies in production processes.

The widespread use of domestic raw materials and production resources to produce modern and competitive products provides an economical and efficient use of the currency, create new jobs. (Source: UzReport.com)

SOCIETY

Additional tax benefits and preferences to further develop the media

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in his congratulation to the media workers on 27 June 2011 emphasized the need for provision of new privileges and preferences to further develop the sphere.

Resolution of the head of the state “on assignment of additional tax benefits and preferences to further develop the media” from 30 December 2011 was another practical manifestation of the high attention and care. A number of preferences for publishers also were identified in it.

In particular, printing companies are exempt from some taxes, mandatory and customs payments. The size of other tax and mandatory payments also were significantly reduced for five years.

Publishing houses and printeries of the country are developing in accordance with the requirements of time.

Previously, preparation of the matrixes and cliches for the production of books and other printed materials required too much time. And these productions were very harmful to human health and the environment. Today, all these processes are executed on the basis of new technologies meeting international standards.

Since independence, the number of publishers in the country increased from 9 to 104. Ten years ago only 5 corporate publishers existed in Uzbekistan, now their number reached 57.

At the publishing-polygraphic creative house Uzbekistan, modern printing technologies are used instead of outdated equipments. As a result, volume of printing products increased by 12 times.

Only in 2011, more than 30 million units of qualitative copybooks corresponding modern standards and national values of our people were issued.

For example, over 1.6 thousand tons of newsprint had been spent for the production of 35 million copies of more than 50 newspapers and magazines in 2011. Its delivery was accompanied by certain customs payments.

According to the resolution, publishers will not pay customs fees for imported printing materials for five years. It means that millions soums will be available for publishers.

The size of the mandatory payments of publishing and printing organizations in the Foundation Ijod at the Writers Union of Uzbekistan also reduced from 2% to 1%.

Savings will be directed to continue modernization of publishing and printing industries.

It will be an important factor in further enhancing the competitiveness of domestic products on the world market. (Source: UzA News Agency)

Tashkent hosts Uzbek-Chinese concert

State Conservatory of Uzbekistan hosted a concert on occasion of the 20th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between China and Uzbekistan on 24 December 2011.

The concert was organized by Embassy of China in Uzbekistan and National Uygur Cultural Center. The concert was participated by artists of Uzbekistan and China.

Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of China to Uzbekistan Zhang Xiao said that in last 20 years the relations between two states are developing in cultural-humanitarian spheres. The cooperation in this area serve to strengthen mutual understanding and traditional friendship between two nations.

He added: “We are sure that in 2012 we will achieve more successes in our relations. Using this opportunity, I congratulate all people of Uzbekistan with the New Year!” (Source: UzDaily.com)