21 December, 2006
Politics:
Uzbekistan moving in the right direction, foreign scientist says
Uzbek capital hosts forum on fighting drug smuggling at airports
Economics:
The President of Uzbekistan decrees to boost activity of commercial banks
CBU approved rules for microcredit organizations
Madad plans to increase charter capital by 87.5%
Society:
Exhibition "Home Decor and Furniture" opened in Tashkent
Uzbekistan installs equipment to air TV programmes via satellite
POLITICS
UZBEKISTAN MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, FOREIGN SCIENTIST SAYS
The draft of the Constitutional Law "On strengthening the role of political parties in the renewal and further democratization of state governance and modernization of the country" and the draft of the Law "On introduction of amendments to certain articles of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan" submitted to Oliy Majlis by President Islam Karimov continue to evoke the interest of foreign experts.
In particular, a reflection on the draft of the Constitutional Law has been received from the Centre of Russia and Eurasia (CRE) under the Institute of International Relations of the Panteon University of Political and Social Sciences (Greece), the brain centre of the Greek government specialized in the studies of CIS countries. The Centre has been recognized by the experts around the world for the scientific validity and objectivity.
The Director of the Centre, Doctor Konstantinos Filis said the draft of the new Constitutional Law was quite clear and detailed in terms of the separation of executive and legislative powers. According to Doctor Filis, the law would contribute largely to the strengthening of the role of political parties in state administration and expand the rights of the parliamentary opposition in influencing the government's actions.
The Greek expert says the new Constitutional Law, which reflects contemporary trends and realities, is likely to stimulate public and political activeness of citizens, particularly at the regional scale.
Being a relatively young state, Uzbekistan has accomplished a lot on the way to build just, strong and prosperous society. "I am particularly glad to note that the Karimov administration, when making decisions, takes into account the traditions, customs, principles and values of its nation, thereby protecting it against the loss of national identity in the century challenged by globalization," Filis said.
I believe, that Uzbekistan, with only 15 years of independence behind, by adopting the laws like this new Constitutional law is moving in the right direction, gradually becoming a prosperous, democratic state with a strong civil society and a powerful legislature, which will have a strong voice and will participate actively in the public and political life of the country, and will thereby be able to "check" the decisions adopted by the executive branch.
In conclusion Professor Filis noted that the West, in turn, should agree with the fact that Uzbekistan is building a democratic society while taking into account its history, culture, people's mentality and traditions. The Western world should understand that the powerful and prosperous Uzbekistan may become its important ally in Central Asian region.
UZBEK CAPITAL HOSTS FORUM ON FIGHTING DRUG SMUGGLING AT AIRPORTS
A seminar for the personnel of agencies in charge of fighting drug smuggling at international airports in the Central Asian states held in Tashkent.
As part of the event, the seminar participants discussed such issues like a procedure for collecting, sorting out and analysing data to detect drug smuggling; information and analytical systems; main aspects of setting up database; implementation of agreements on information exchange between law-enforcement bodies of Central Asia.
The seminar participants drafted a joint action plan. The seminar was arranged by EU's Central Asia Drug Action Programme (CADAP) and by a joint project of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC).
ECONOMICS
THE PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN DECREES TO BOOST ACTIVITY OF COMMERCIAL BANKS
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree on measures on stimulation of increase of capitalization of commercial banks on Tuesday, 19 December.
The document said it is adopted to ensure sustainable development of banking system, increase capitalization level of commercial banks, active participation of the banks in investment processes and structural modernization of economy.
The decree set that incomes of legal entities, received as dividends from shares of commercial banks, exempted from taxation from 1 January 2007 to 1 January 2010.
Taxation base on income tax and single payment tax will be decreased to the sum, directed to purchase of shares of commercial banks.
The document added that preferences will be used only to shares of commercial banks, purchased after 1 January 2007 and dividends on shares, paid till 31 December 2009.
Finance Ministry and Central Bank of Uzbekistan were entrusted to develop and approve Regulation on order of use of tax preferences on purchase of shares of commercial banks and receive of dividends on them.
The decree recommended commercial banks to stir up their activity on attraction of free funds of population, businesses, institutional investors, including foreigners, to charter capital of commercial banks.
CBU APPROVED RULES FOR MICROCREDIT ORGANIZATIONS
Central Bank of Uzbekistan approved with its resolution rules on conducting of financial operations by microcredit organizations on 7 October.
The document said that microcredit organizations are establishments, rendering services on issue of microcredits, microloans and other microfinance services, including consumer credits in accordance with Uzbek legislation.
The capital of microcredit organizations include charter capital, received income, grants and other own resources.
The microcredit organizations can create reserve fund to cover damages and the size of the reserve fund determined by constitution documents of the organization.
Total volume of formed capital should be at the level of not less than 10% of total assets of microcredit organization to ensure sustainable operation of the establishment.
Microcredits issued on condition of term, repayment and payment. The size of issued microcredit cannot exceed 100 size of minimal salary (minimal salary equal to 12,420 soums). One debtor can receive microcredit up to 1,000 size of minimal salary.
The rules also clarified conditions of microleasing services. Microleasing services rendered to businesses in accordance with leasing legislation. The size of microleasing cannot exceed 2,000 size of minimal salary.
MADAD PLANS TO INCREASE CHARTER CAPITAL BY 87.5%
Madad insurance agency is planning to increase its charter capital by 980 million soums through emission of new shares.
The company plans to issue 1.4 million ordinary shares with par value of 700 soums. The emission will allow the company to rise charter capital by 87.5% to 2.1 billion soums, Mumin Ashurov, director-general of Madad, said.
Mr Ashurov said the shareholders will consider increase of charter capital in their meeting on 27 December. It is expected that the existing shareholders will have advantage in purchase of new shares. It is planned to direct raised funds to further development of the company.
As earlier reported, British Direct Associates purchased 54.38% shares of Madad. The company floated last emission of shares in the end of 2004. The charter capital of the company was increased by 3.2 times from 350 million soums to 1.12 billion soums. Direct Associates acquired 79.1% shares (for 609 million soums) of this emission. Other 20.9% shares for 161 million soums were subscribed among other existing shareholders.
Madad founded in 1995 as an agency, specializing on insurance of liability of debtors (small and medium businesses) from unpayment of credits. The company has 13 branches in Uzbekistan. The main shareholders of the company are Direct Associates (54.38%), State Property Committee (11.4%), National Bank of Uzbekistan (8.2%), Microcredit Bank (8.1%) and IShONCh interbank insurance company (7.1%) and Uzpromstroybank (6.25%).
SOCIETY
EXHIBITION "HOME DECOR AND FURNITURE" OPENED IN TASHKENT
International exhibition "Home Decor and Furniture", organized by the Embassy of Indonesia in the Republic of Uzbekistan, exhibition company PT APEX Indonusa Prima (Indonesia) under the support of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan started its work in the central hall of the Academy of Fine Arts of Uzbekistan in Tashkent on 20 December.
The exhibition presented interiors technologies, various sets of furniture from natural rattan, plant reed, oceanic plants and banana wood fibre, accessories and equipment for domestic offices, lighting fixtures, domestic textile, mirrors of different designs and sizes, decorative ceramics. With the aid of the rattan furniture it is possible to comprehensively resolve practically any interior. The romantic atmosphere of interior, longevity, pleasant colour gamma and original design introduce unique cosiness and comfort in the house. Rattan makes it possible to use elements of combined plaiting, and also such materials as metal, bamboo, cloth, tree, synthetic fibre on the base of polyethylene. Rattan is ecologically pure, nontoxic, withstand large temperature differentials, and it does not burn down.
After visiting this exhibition, anyone, who desires to change the design of his dwelling will be able to become acquainted with the contemporary trends to create and equip house, and also to make selection in the acquisition of interior items. Any fantasies of a customer are attainable with rattan furniture!
The exhibition plans not only to introduce inhabitants of Uzbekistan with the models of Indonesian furniture, but also to create prerequisites to develop mutually beneficial trade throughout Central-Asian region, and as well as to enrich domestic interior with Indonesian masters' handiwork.
UZBEKISTAN INSTALLS EQUIPMENT TO AIR TV PROGRAMMES VIA SATELLITE
Equipment, which makes it possible to receive television and radio signals via a satellite, is being installed in Uzbekistan.
The only means to air the state television and radio programmes has so far been a terrestrial broadcast. At the same time, the signal has not been reaching residents of over 300 remote areas.
Now a powerful send-receive station will transmit one state television and one state radio broadcasts to the satellite with the help of 396 television and 374 radio transmitters of various capacity.
It is planned to receive the television and radio broadcasts via a Russian satellite, Express-AM1.