April 23, 2008
Politics:
Legislative Chamber considers new law
Oman Education Minister Visits Uzbekistan, Sees Changes
Economics:
President signs resolution on favorable conditions for cattle breeding
Afghan energy and water resources minister visiting Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan International Travel Workshop-2008 held
Problems and perspectives of tourism industry discussed in Tashkent
Society:
ASSC students improve knowledge on social management
Fine Arts Week 2008 starts in Uzbek capital
First national youth cycling marathon starts in Uzbekistan
POLICY
LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER CONSIDERS NEW LAW
Deputies of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan considered a new draft law on April 22. Speaker of the Legislative Chamber Diloram Tashmuhamedova chaired the session.
Chairman of the Labor and social issues committee I.Nasriyev presented the draft law on introducing changes and addenda in the Law on social protection of the disabled in Uzbekistan, UzA reported.
The document says that the state guarantees taking into consideration of the needs of the disabled in the measures of social help and protection.
The state also guarantees implementation of the rehabilitation and social protection programs in the forms envisaged by the law and creation of conditions for the integration of the disabled in the society.
The Legislative Chamber passed the law, which will now be sent to the Senate for approval.
OMAN EDUCATION MINISTER VISITS UZBEKISTAN, SEES CHANGES
The Minister of Education of Sultanate of Oman Yahya Bin Saud Al Sulaimi is visiting Uzbekistan. On April 22 he met with the First Deputy Minister of Public Education of Uzbekistan Rustam Akhllidinov, Jahon Information Agency reported.
The sides exchanged views on consolidating the relations between Uzbekistan and Oman in the sphere of science and education and implementing the joint projects. The members of Oman delegation learnt about the reforms now underway in Uzbekistan in the area of education.
The delegation has also visited the Khazrati Imam Complex (Khastimom) in Tashkent which includes the Khazrati Imam Mosque, Barakhan Madrassah and place of worship of Muyi Muborak. They have observed the unique manuscript of Koran, known as Koran of Usman, now being preserved in the library of Board of Muslims of Uzbekistan.
“In Uzbekistan we have witnessed the enormous attention being paid to development of science and education, as well as profound successes achieved in this direction”, - Yahya Bin Saud Al Sulaimi has said. “We are going to strengthen the cooperation with Uzbekistan in the sphere of education”.
ECONOMY
PRESIDENT SIGNS RESOLUTION ON FAVORABLE CONDITIONS FOR CATTLE BREEDING
President of Uzbekistan signed a resolution on April 21 on measures to increase the cattle stock in personal subsidiary plots and farms and expand cattle produce.
The document aims to stimulate the raise of the cattle stock and thus increase the level of employment and incomes of the rural population, as well as boost meat and milk production, UzA reported.
Complex measures have been developed and approved to achieve this goal, envisaging creation of favorable conditions for increase of the livestock and cattle produce, improvement of the veterinary service and development of fodder production.
The lands for growing fodder crops will be increased from 290,000 hectares in 2007 to 330,000 hectares in 2010. Production of mixed fodder will be raised from 600,000 tons in 2007 to 900,000 tons in 2010 or 1.5 times.
Considering than 94% of all livestock is presently kept by personal subsidiary plots and dehqan farms, their reliable provision with high-quality fodder is of a great importance.
Planned measures to improve the veterinary service system include provision of veterinary laboratories and stations with modern equipment and qualified personnel.
Zoology and veterinary stations of the Main State Veterinary Management are going to be privatized and the process of licensing for this type of activity will be eased. Private veterinary stations will be freed from state registration fees until 1 January 2012.
The President’s resolution also envisages a number of tax preferences, as well as measures to increasing the population’s and farmer’s access to credits for cattle purchase.
More than UZS 120.7 billion of micro credits should be issued during 2008-2010 to help the population and farmers buy cattle.
Implementation of the outlined measures should lead to raise of the cattle stock to 8.6 million by 2010 or by 1.7 million heads, as well as increase the number of people occupied in the sector and improve their well-being.
AFGHAN ENERGY AND WATER RESOURCES MINISTER VISITING UZBEKISTAN
Minister of energy and water resources of Afghanistan Muhammad Ismailkhan is on a visit in Uzbekistan. On April 21, he met chairman of the Uzbekenergo state joint-stock company Botir Teshaboyev.
The sides considered expansion of cooperation between the two countries in energy sector and possibilities of implementation of new projects, UzA reported.
Muhammad Ismailkhan highly evaluated Uzbekistan’s active participation in reconstruction of Afghanistan and said his country was interested in cooperation.
Botir Teshaboyev and Muhammad Ismailkhan also expressed satisfaction with the development of relations between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan in other spheres, like construction of bridges and roads.
UZBEKISTAN INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WORKSHOP-2008 HELD
International tourism forum “Uzbekistan International Travel Workshop-2008” was held in Tashkent on April 21. Representatives of more than 30 companies from Uzbekistan, UAE, Malaysia, Syria, Azerbaijan and Turkey, experts and diplomats participated in the event.
The participants had the opportunity to get closely acquainted with the latest achievements and changes in the tourism sector of Uzbekistan. Presentations of companies Mika Planet and Elite Club Oasis Asaka were held during the forum.
Discussions at the forum focused on increasing the flow of tourists to Uzbekistan and perspectives of implementation of joint projects.
According to Alisher Shamsiyev of Uzbektourism national company, Uzbekistan is taking wide-scale measures to develop the tourist industry, promote the country’s tourist potential abroad and develop new types of tourism.
PROBLEMS AND PERSPECTIVES OF TOURISM INDUSTRY DISCUSSED IN TASHKENT
Expert council for sector development held a session in Tashkent on the topic “Tourism industry of Uzbekistan: problems and perspectives”.
The forum was organized by the Commerce and Industry Chamber of Uzbekistan jointly with Uzbekistan Business Forum and the UNDP. Representatives of the state bodies, private tourist companies and the expert community participated in the event.
The gathered agreed that Uzbekistan had a huge tourist potential, with its rich historical and cultural past, ancient cities of the Great Silk Road, numerous architectural monuments and unique nature. However, the participants said, the existing potential was not being used to its full extent.
A particular attention was devoted to development of ecological tourism. The country has many natural reserves and national parks, botanical, geological and hydro-geological objects. Many travelers enjoy sports tourism, alpinism, skiing, horse and water walks.
SOCIETY
ASSC STUDENTS IMPROVE KNOWLEDGE ON SOCIAL MANAGEMENT
Students and staff of the Academy of State and Social Construction under the President of Uzbekistan (ASSC) learnt issues of social management in public administration during two-day seminar, which was endorsed by UNDP and UNICEF offices in Uzbekistan.
The seminar entitled "Public Administration and Social Management" gathered over 160 people, including students and staff of the ASSC, representatives of the government and local administration, as well as experts from the Russian Federation.
The event was organized by the joint project of UNDP and the ASSC "Improving Public Sector Management Skills through Building Training and Research Capacity of the State Academy for State and Social Construction under the President of Uzbekistan" (ASSC project) in cooperation with UNICEF office in Uzbekistan.
The objective of the seminar is to help gain better understanding of new methods and experience of teaching of some disciplines in governance and improve capacity of the faculty members in the social management.
The two-day seminar covered such issues as social management from the international perspective and incorporating a new discipline into the academic courses, based on the academic experience of the experts from abroad and practical managers from regions. Apart from providing theoretical knowledge on management, the seminar assisted the participants to develop their own plan of action on integrating new methods and experience into the academic courses of their educational institutions, to work out their own analytical reports on state governance in social sphere.
Experts from Volga Region State Academy of State Service of the Russian Federation Oleg Fomin and Vladimir Polyakov shared their knowledge and experience of Russia on social management. Deputy governors from various regions of Uzbekistan presented their experience in social management.
Muattara Rakhimova, project manager of ASSC project, said: "This seminar helped to improve knowledge and skills of our students and staff on new methods of teaching of some disciplines in management, improvement of existing module on social management. It will assist us to introduce new methods of teaching social management into our curriculum."
FINE ARTS WEEK 2008 STARTS IN UZBEK CAPITAL
The Week of Fine Arts 2008 started in the Arts Academy of Uzbekistan on April 21.
The main goal of the forum is to showcase the latest achievements in fine arts and provide the artists with the opportunity to discuss issues of interest.
A number of events are planned in the framework of the week, including exhibitions of works of young artists, master classes, concerts, etc.
FIRST NATIONAL YOUTH CYCLING MARATHON STARTS IN UZBEKISTAN
First national youth cycling marathon “Kamolot-Tur” started in Uzbekistan on April 19.
Its participants – including both professional and amateur bicyclers – will travel from the cities of Nukus, Termez and Ferghana to the capital.
The competition will end on April 25 at the Yoshlik (Youth) sports complex in Tashkent.
The organizers of the action are the youth movement Kamolot, ministries of culture and sports, interior, healthcare, higher and specialized secondary education, public education, Children’s sports development fund, Mahalla fund and the National TV and radio company.
A number of various cultural events and classes will be held during the marathon.