May 13, 2009
Politics:
South Korean President ends visit to Uzbekistan
Economics:
Main macroeconomic indicators of Uzbekistan for 1Q 2009
Oil and gas exhibition opens in Tashkent
Egyptian firm becomes representatives of Uzbek Chamber
Spentex Tashkent-Toytepa launches enterprise in Margilan
National Programmers' Forum takes place in Uzbek capital
Society:
Ombudsman hosts event on protection of human rights
Justice Ministry holds events to promote legal knowledge
80th anniversary of Ibrohim Yusupov marked
POLICY
SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT ENDS VISIT TO UZBEKISTAN
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of South Korea Lee Myung-Bak visited the city of Samarkand on May 12.
The high guest familiarized himself with the historical monuments of the ancient city, including the Ulugbek observatory, Afsosiab museum, Registan complex and Gur-Emir mausoleum, National news Agency UzA reported.
Lee Myung-Bak said the ancient monuments of Samarkand were a bright example of Oriental town building. The visit to the city left unforgettable impressions, he said.
During the state visit of the President of South Korea to Uzbekistan the sides signed a large number of bilateral documents, which will serve to further expansion of relations between the two countries.
The signed memorandums envisage development of infrastructure, modernization of large industrial enterprises, development of mineral resources, cooperation in transport and other fields.
ECONOMY
MAIN MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS OF UZBEKISTAN FOR 1Q 2009
Gross domestic product (GDP) of Uzbekistan made up 7.795 trillion soums in the first quarter of 2009 or up 7.9% year-on-year, State Statistic Committee of Uzbekistan said.
The industrial output of the country rose by 9.9% to 6.419 trillion soums in the reporting period. Production of consumer goods increased by 12.5% to 1.853 trillion soums, the committee noted.
Agriculture output in Uzbekistan made up 957.9 billion soums in the reporting period or up 5.7% year-on-year, the committee added.
The report said the investments to fixed capital grew by 31.4% to 2.652 trillion soums in January-March 2009.
Construction works for 1.225 trillion soums (up 12.1% year-on-year) were carried out in Uzbekistan in the reporting period.
The report said the retail trade turnover increased by 18.3% to 3.369 trillion soums in the first three months of 2009. The volume of services, rendered to population, comprised 1.183 trillion soums or up 17.6% year-on-year.
Foreign trade turnover of Uzbekistan increased by 8.1% year-on-year to US$4.78 billion, of which US$2.493 billion (up 6.1%) fell to share of Uzbek exports and US$2.287 billion (up 10.3%) to share of Uzbek imports.
The committee said current account balance surplus made up US$206.9 million in the reporting period, including US$93.8 million with the CIS countries and US$113.1 million with other foreign countries.
OIL AND GAS EXHIBITION OPENS IN TASHKENT
The traditional Uzbekistan Oil and Gas – OGU 2009 exhibition opened at Tashkent’s Uzexpocenter on May 12.
The event has been organized by the national holding company Uzbekneftegaz, the Commerce and industry chamber and the Tashkent city administration.
More than 150 companies from almost 30 states, including Russia, China, Ukraine, UAE, Germany, New Zealand, France, Switzerland, UK, USA and others are participating in the exhibition.
Uzbekistan is one of the world’s leading producers of natural gas. The favorable investment climate and preferences attract foreign investors to the country’s oil and gas sector.
EGYPTIAN FIRM BECOMES REPRESENTATIVES OF UZBEK CHAMBER
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and Egypt's Elreef Eloroby signed an agreement of cooperation in Tashkent on May 13.
The agreement is aimed at developing trade and investment relations between Uzbekistan and Egypt, Uzreport Information Portal reported.
In line with the agreement, Elreef Eloroby will represent interests of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan in Egypt and Dubai. Elreef Eloroby will organize Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan in Egypt.
The heads of two organizations, Alisher Shaykhov and Abd-allah Saad, discussed perspectives of cooperation in various spheres of economy. It was noted that there is need to inform Arab states on Uzbekistan and its potential various sectors of economy, including industry, agriculture, tourism, etc.
Within the agreement, Elreef Eloroby will participate and assist in organization of the exhibitions in Egypt and the UAE and represent interest of Uzbek businesses and assist in signing foreign contracts.
The company will also help in establishment of contacts between Egyptian and Uzbek businesses, trade houses and other interested side.
SPENTEX TASHKENT-TOYTEPA LAUNCHES ENTERPRISE IN MARGILAN
Spentex Tashkent-Toytepa LLC launched new enterprise in Margilan, UzA reported. The plant will produce dyed fabrics from cotton-fiber.
The enterprise was constructed with participation of Indian investors and it is equipped with equipments from Germany, Japan and Turkey, the report said.
It is expected that the enterprise will export over 80% of its products.
NATIONAL PROGRAMMERS' FORUM TAKES PLACE IN UZBEK CAPITAL
National Programmers' Forum, which was organized within the third national software exhibition BestSoft – Uzbekistan 2009, was held in Tashkent on 12 May 2009.
The forum was aimed at information exchange among participants of programming market of Uzbekistan on recent developments and software. Representatives of leading software developers participated at the event.
Participants discussed issues of developing e-signature in Uzbekistan, improving computer literacy, protection of copyright in development and use of software and others.
SOCIETY
OMBUDSMAN HOSTS EVENT ON PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Human Rights Commissioner of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan (Ombudsman) hosted a roundtable "Right for protection: practice and problems" on May 12, Uzreport Inforamtion Portal reported. The event was organized at the assistance of the OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan.
The event discussed issues of international experience in ensuring human rights, including rights of convicts, existing problems in protection of human rights, implementation of habeas corpus, role of the Ombudsman.
Within the event, Ombudsman, National Human Rights Center and Research Center under Supreme Court of Uzbekistan signed a cooperation agreement.
In line with the document, three organizations unite their force in protection of human rights.
JUSTICE MINISTRY HOLDS EVENTS TO PROMOTE LEGAL KNOWLEDGE
A propaganda group to promote legal knowledge among youth of the Justice Ministry of Uzbekistan held events on promotion legal knowledge in Namangan, Andijan, Ferghana region, Navoi region and Bukhara region.
The events were aimed at improving knowledge of youth on Constitution of Uzbekistan and legislation of the country. Participants discussed issues as constitution, global crisis, tax knowledge, human trafficking, human rights, etc.
The group plans to hold similar events in Karakalpakstan Republic and Khorezm region.
80TH ANNIVERSARY OF IBROHIM YUSUPOV MARKED
The celebration of the 80th anniversary of the national poet of Uzbekistan and Karakalpakstan Ibrohim Yusupov took place in Tashkent, UzA reported.
Writers and poets, literary critics and representatives of youth took part in the event called “Winds of Jayhun.”
Yusupov was a talented poet who wrote about the dreams and expectations of the people, eternal traditions and values. He is famous with works like “Lyrics of happiness”, “Traveler of the East”, “Seven passes”, “Thoughts”, “Lightning in the steppe”, “Soulmates”, “Inspiration” and others.
The poet translated works of Alisher Navoi, Saadi, Shakespeare, Goethe, Byron, Pushkin, Mahtumkuli, Shevchenko, Samed Vurgun and Gafur Gulom into Karakalpak language.
Ibrohim Yusupov was awarded with the rank of the “Hero of Uzbekistan” and orders “El-yurt khurmati” and “Dostlik.”