April 25, 2008
Economics:
Uzbekenergo, Afghan Energy & W. Resources Ministry Ink MoU
Uzbek Railway Co. Showcases Goods in Exhibition in Tashkent
Lukoil board of directors holds meeting in Tashkent
Gross regional product of Surkhandarya region up 5.1% in 1Q
Results of Navoi region’s development in Jan-Mar 2008 considered
Society:
President Signs Decree on Awarding WW II Participants, Veterans
Seminar Delegates Discuss Consumer Rights Protection
Tashkent to host Mendeleyev chemistry Olympiad
ECONOMY
UZBEKENERGO, AFGHAN ENERGY & W. RESOURCES MINISTRY INK MOU
As has been reported earlier, the members of delegation of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan led by the Minister of Energy and Water Resources Muhammad Ismoilhon visited several ministries and agencies in Uzbekistan and held talks to expand cooperation.
The sides have underlined that the ties between the two countries were developing in many spheres, including in the sphere of energy, according to the report by Jahon Information Agency.
The cooperation in the field of electricity and energy secures an importance niche in the relations of two countries. Uzbekistan is able to increase the supplies of electricity and energy to Afghanistan.
“The cooperation with Uzbekistan is important in meeting the needs of Afghanistan in electricity and energy,” – Muhammad Ismoilhon has said, “we highly assess our ties with your country in this sphere and are interested in furthering as much as consolidating such relations”.
During the talks at the State Joint-Stock Company Uzbekenergo the sides are reported to have dwelled on extending cooperation in the sphere of energy, elaborating and implementing the mutually beneficial projects.
The talks have resulted in signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the State Joint-Stock Company Uzbekenergo and Ministry of Energy and Water Resources of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, according to the report.
UZBEK RAILWAY CO. SHOWCASES GOODS IN EXHIBITION IN TASHKENT
The Tashkent plant on repairing the passenger coaches opened the exhibition of goods being manufactured at the affiliate ventures of the State Joint-Stock Railway Company Uzbekiston Temir Yollari, Jahon Information Agency quoting the Uzbekistan news agencies.
The exhibition showcases over 150 types of products being used in the railway branch, agriculture and water economy and the goods of over 30 affiliate plants of the company, in particular, the Andijan mechanical plant, foundry mechanical plant and unitary enterprise Uztemiryolmashtamir.
Close and open freight cars, road-building machinery, spare parts for tractors and trailers, as well as other import-bound products are exhibited there.
“We brought over 40 types of our products to the exhibition,”- Farkhod Azimov of the Andijan mechanical plant has said. “These traditional exhibitions serve to exchanging the experience on selling, further increasing the quality, expanding the types of manufactured goods and looking for new partners. In this, this exhibition offers companies in the area the new opportunities”.
LUKOIL BOARD OF DIRECTORS HOLDS MEETING IN TASHKENT
Board of directors of Russian company Lukoil held its meeting in Tashkent on April 24 to consider realization of its projects in Uzbekistan.
Company president Vagit Alekperov said projects Lukoil was implementing jointly with Uzbekistan were of a particular importance, UzA reported.
Lukoil has been actively working on the Uzbek market in the recent years. The company has a representative office in Tashkent and set up a daughter enterprise Lukoil Overseas Uzbekistan Ltd.
The latter is engaged in realization of the 35-year project Kandym-Hauzak-Shady-Kungrad. The volume of investments in this project will exceed USD 3 billion.
Last year, Hauzak gas field, located at the Dengizkol lake, was put in industrial use. Lukoil Overseas and Uzbekneftegaz started non-stop gas supply from Hauzak to Dengizkol-Mubarek pipeline.
Currently, 15 wells are in operation at Hauzak, and their number will be increased to 23 by the year-end. In all, 37 wells will be created here.
Overall, 180 new wells will be created and more than 1,500 km of pipeline will be laid on the Kandym-Hauzak-Shady-Kungrad project. The project capacity is more than 10 billion cubic meters of gas per year.
A modern gas chemical complex with a capacity of 8 billion cubic meters of gas per year will be built at the Kandym group fields. Its first line will be launched in 2011.
Apart from the named project, Lukoil is also participating in the largest project named Aral. It includes exploration and development of hydrocarbons on the production-sharing agreement basis in the Uzbek part of the Aral Sea.
To date, Lukoil has invested USD 500 million in the projects in Uzbekistan. By 2015, the figure is expected to rise to USD 5.5 billion.
GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT OF SURKHANDARYA REGION UP 5.1% IN 1Q
Gross regional product of Surkhandarya region of Uzbekistan increased by 5.1% in the first quarter of 2008. Industrial production rose by 7.6%, agricultural production by 3.1% and consumer goods production by 19.7%.
The figures were presented at the session of the Surkhandarya administration, which was chaired by the regional governor T.Jorayev. Vice Prime Minister of Uzbekistan N.Khanov also participated in the session, UzA reported.
The participants considered issues of timely provision of food products to the population, development of out-work, preparation to grain harvest and land-improvement activities.
It was said that chemical, oil, construction materials and printing sectors were showing slow growth in the reporting period.
Of 59 joint ventures registered in the region, only 41 were working to the full capacity. A number of districts did not fulfill the task of creating joint ventures.
Attraction of direct foreign investments, manufacturing competitive products and processing fruit and vegetables was also slow.
Shortcomings were also observed in construction of new schools, academic lyceums and professional colleges. In Denau, Oltinsoy, Qumqorgon and Angor districts, professional colleges were commissioned with delays, it was said.
RESULTS OF NAVOI REGION’S DEVELOPMENT IN JAN-MAR 2008 CONSIDERED
Navoi regional administration held a session to consider the results of the region’s development in the first quarter of the year.
Navoi regional governor B.Roziyev told meeting participants positive results had been achieved in most sectors of economy, UzA reported.
In particular, gross regional product increased by 5.3%, industrial production by 2.6%, consumer goods production by 8.5%, agricultural production by 7%, retail trade by 19.2%, services by 25.1%, construction materials by 15% and exports by 4.5%.
Capital investments at Navoi mining and smelting combine (NGMK) comprised UZS 22.5 billion, at Navoiazot UZS 857.3 million and at Kyzylkumcement USD 45,000.
11 investment projects are underway, and the region is expected to attract USD 2 million of investments in general.
Due to economic development, namely, in the small business and services sectors, more than 8,500 new workplaces were created. Over 1,200 workplaces were created on the out-work basis.
Funds worth UZS 2.3 billion were allocated for implementation of the tasks set in the Year of Youth state program.
SOCIETY
PRESIDENT SIGNS DECREE ON AWARDING WW II PARTICIPANTS, VETERANS
On April 24, 2008 the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed the Decree “On rewarding the participants of the World War II”, Jahon Information Agency reported.
On the occasion of May 9 holiday, the Day of Remembrance and Honors, annually marked in Uzbekistan as a festive day, and the 63rd anniversary of Victory over fascism in the World War II of 1941-1945 the Decree stipulates that the participants and disabled war veterans shall be stimulated with one-time financial reward.
The corresponding agencies and organizations shall be tasked with providing for the payments of rewards in a festive atmosphere, as well as holding special meetings, enlightenment and artistic soirees dedicated to the defenders of freedom and honor of Homeland.
The expenses related to implementation of the said Decree shall be incurred at the expense of state budget, according to the report.
SEMINAR DELEGATES DISCUSS CONSUMER RIGHTS PROTECTION
New norms set by the Law “On introducing amendments and addenda to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan on protecting the consumer rights” signed by President Islam Karimov on April 9 this year established the firm basis in preventing the overdue products to be sold for consumers, Jahon Information agency reported.
The Law aims to cut down the production and realization of goods without indication of manufacture and expiration dates, as well as storing conditions, and to raise the responsibility of manufacturers (executers, sellers) for the quality of products (works, services). The document also envisages banning the baseless levying the payments from consumers for the non-rendered services.
The seminar held at the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Demonopolization, Supporting Competition and Entrepreneurship has dwelled on that very issue.
The staff members of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Uzbekistan, State Tax Committee, and Federation of Associations for Protecting the Consumer Rights, as well as the members of interagency council on protecting the consumer rights, specialists of ‘Uzbekenergo’, ‘Uztransgas’, ‘Suvsoz’, and mobile communication companies are reported to have participated at the seminar. They have said that the new Law would open broad opportunities to effectively protect the consumer rights, provide for conformity of goods and services with the set norms and qualities.
TASHKENT TO HOST MENDELEYEV CHEMISTRY OLYMPIAD
Tashkent will host the 42nd Mendeleyev international chemistry Olympiad among schoolchildren during 28 April–4 May.
Representatives of Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Romania and Bulgaria will participate in the event, UzA reported.
The participants will demonstrate both their theoretical knowledge and practical skills in the field of chemistry.
Uzbekistan has participated in the Mendeleyev Olympiad on an annual basis since 1997. This is the first time the country is hosting the international event.
The venue of the Olympiad is the Tashkent branch of the Moscow State University named after Lomonosov.