July 13, 2009
Politics:
President of Uzbekistan received William Burns
Economics:
Uzbekistan interested in attracting Slovak investment
Consumers Love Quality Goods Produced by Andijan-Based JV
Rural electrification with solar power begins in Uzbekistan
Output Quality to Rise
Seminar Attendees Learn about Info Systems in Businesses
Society:
Gateway to Medical Information Space
New Performance for Children
POLICY
PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN RECEIVED WILLIAM BURNS
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received US Under Secretary for Political Affairs William Burns in Tashkent on July 13.
The head of the state said the meeting was a good opportunity to exchange opinions on the issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, National News Agency UzA reported.
“We consider your visit as the confirmation of the United States’ readiness to further develop relations with Uzbekistan on a constructive and pragmatic basis, with consideration of the long-term interests of the both countries,” Islam Karimov said.
William Burns noted the US administration was interested in developing relations with Uzbekistan in all spheres.
The sides considered issues related to Uzbek-US relations and other topics representing mutual interest.
The Uzbek-American relations cover a wide range of issues of international and regional policy, including fighting transnational threats, as well as strengthening security and stability.
Uzbekistan and the US cooperate in establishment of peace and stability in Afghanistan and socioeconomic recovery of this country.
The non-military and humanitarian cargo is delivered to Afghanistan via the territory of Uzbekistan.
ECONOMY
UZBEKISTAN INTERESTED IN ATTRACTING SLOVAK INVESTMENT
Slovak Economy Ministry State Secretary Pavol Kristof and Elyor Ganiev, Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan and Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade, signed a memorandum on cooperation on July 13.
The two officials are leading their countries' delegations at a Slovak-Uzbek business forum in Bratislava aimed at intensifying the opportunities for co-operation in several economic sectors including investments by Slovak entrepreneurs in Central Asia, TASR reported.
Representatives of the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO) and the Uzbek foreign investment agency Uzinfoinvest have signed a memorandum of understanding and co-operation.
Ganiev noted that Uzbekistan will create all the necessary conditions that will allow Slovak investors to carry out their activities successfully. He sees prospects in setting up joint enterprises, with one of the main assets being Uzbekistan's membership of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), which allows access to a market of over 300 million people. According to Ganiev, a global economic crisis is exactly the right time to launch joint ventures in various economic sectors.
CONSUMERS LOVE QUALITY GOODS PRODUCED BY ANDIJAN-BASED JV
The economic reforms being accomplished in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President, attraction of foreign investments and equipping industries with modern technologies are bearing the expected effect and results, the Pravda Vostoka newspaper reported.
Establishment of the Malaysian affiliate company of Fikentex Andijon at the Jalabek Village of Altynkyol District in Andijan Province thanks to drawing in the foreign investments worth 365 thousand dollars serves as a good example of the aforementioned, wrote the newspaper.
The products manufactured at the company enjoy good demand among customers who prefer to buy them for their fine quality. The company produces 350 thousand pairs of legwear garments per year, while using the local raw.
RURAL ELECTRIFICATION WITH SOLAR POWER BEGINS IN UZBEKISTAN
The Uzbek technology transfer agency is implementing a programme for decentralized electrification of rural areas of Uzbekistan, thanks to which solar batteries are being provided for rural medical establishments, schools and farms, according to Uzreport Information Portal.
The director of the technology transfer agency, Yolbars Mansurov said that several such projects had already been implemented in the republic.
"Among them is the provision of "solar" electricity for a rural medical facility in the Sarogoch settlement, a farm and a school in Payaryq District of Samarqand Region [central Uzbekistan]," Mansurov noted.
Many Uzbek farmers are reportedly interested in solar batteries.
OUTPUT QUALITY TO RISE
270 enterprises in Uzbekistan will implement quality management systems meeting international standards through January 1, 2011.
The list of companies is approved by a Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic “On additional measures to enhance implementation of quality management systems in the country’s enterprises that meet international standards”. This list includes companies specializing in engineering, construction, textile and food processing, electrical and aircraft industries, agriculture, utilities and transport sectors.
The list also includes companies of fuel and energy complex, chemical, petrochemical and metallurgical industries, information systems and telecommunications, education, healthcare and social protection. In addition, the document contains an index of 950 regional companies prospective for introduction of quality management systems of international standards. Based on this list, there will be a final catalogue of companies to welcome these requirements.
Consultants for development and implementation of these systems will be chosen on an open competitive basis. The equipment used in laboratory research and product testing, as well as components and spare parts are exempted from import duties and VAT on importation to Uzbekistan.
As experts observe, these measures are aimed at improving competitiveness of goods and services of domestic enterprises, as well as increasing their export potential.
SEMINAR ATTENDEES LEARN ABOUT INFO SYSTEMS IN BUSINESSES
The seminar “Information systems – key to developing business” took place at the Zargaron-Plaza Hotel in Bukhara that saw the participation of entrepreneurs and businesses engaged in the sphere of tourism, as well as mass media outlets, the report by “Khalk sozi” Uzbek-language newspaper said.
The Bukhara Territorial Regional Department of Uzbekistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry and BAS Program – the business consultations assistance program in Uzbekistan are reported to have organized the seminar workshop.
The delegates to the seminar considered such aspects as program products for hotels, accounting, finance and human resources departments at companies based on the “SNS Accounting. Wages. Human Resources Department” program, as well as the program products for restaurants, cafes and bars based on the Tractir program.
Also, the participants of the seminar workshop held in Bukhara have been told about the Uzbek-Japanese Center for human resources development in the city of Bukhara and the BAS Program in the sphere of developing the consultancy services.
SOCIETY
GATEWAY TO MEDICAL INFORMATION SPACE
Uzbekistan has launched two websites for testing – business card of the Ministry of Healthcare and the medical portal. Specialists link these websites to the development of the electronic healthcare system in the country.
Director of the Republican Center for Electronic Healthcare Development “Uzmedinfo”:
Both websites have been created on the base of experience we have. They are the newer versions of well-known internet resources created with a glance to increased demands of the development of electronic healthcare in the country. Soon they will surpass their predecessors in the quality of design, interface, functionality, as well as diversity of data stored and volume of interactive services displayed.
The website of the Ministry of Healthcare is to be a powerful source of information about the structure and activity of this agency. The new online resource will also be used as a platform for running online document circulation between departments and agencies of the Ministry of Healthcare. It is planned that soon its base will have the system of electronic medical forms of citizens of the country.
The medical portal will inform the public about the activity of medical centers of the country. Owing to the special system, each medical establishment of the country will have an opportunity to publish information about purchased equipment, developed or mastered methods, upcoming conferences and seminars on the website. Also in the portal one can find any document that regulates the activity of the healthcare system, including state standards and records of treatment. There will also be huge masses of reference information: electronic books, textbooks, and periodicals.
NEW PERFORMANCE FOR CHILDREN
The opening night of the new children’s performance Magic Bell goes off at the Karakalpak State Theater of Puppet-Show.
The number of performances directed to the upbringing of children in the spirit of national independence idea and sense of patriotism has increased there over the last years. Such performances as The Legend Told by My Grandfather, Power of Friendship enrich their spiritual world, favor elevating children’s sense of love for the Motherland and nature.
The Magic Bell staged by director M. Begimov according to the folk tales motifs warns the younger generation against harmful influence and threats, it forms an ideological immunity. Actors Mr.P. Kulimov, Mr.T. Mirzekov, Mr.Sh. Allamberganov, Mr.K. Kalilaev, Mrs.A. Berdibaeva, Mrs.N. Genjebekova have taken a crucial part in the success of the new performance.