June 13, 2007

Economics:
Delegation of Morocco visits Uzbekistan
Session Addresses Use of Law- Guaranteed Preferences By Businesses
Novokramatorsk Machine Plant delivers steel-making equipment to Uzbekistan
Meeting to discuss regimes in new edition of Uzbek Customs Code
Society:
Uzbek delegation visited Latvia
UNDP helps improve activity of legal clinic at UWED
2,000 Children From Karakalpakstan To Recover Health In Summer Camps
Uzbekistan had tough draw in AFC Final Round Qualifying for Beijing Olympic Games


ECONOMICS

DELEGATION OF MOROCCO VISITS UZBEKISTAN

On June 12 the delegation led by the Minister of Energy and Mining Industry of Morocco Muhammad Butalib met with the Chairman of the “Uzbekenergo” State Joint-Stock Company Botir Teshaboev, Information Agency Jahon reported.

The ore mining industry occupies the important place in the economy of Morocco. The country is the third producer of phosphorus in the world and its main exporter. Morocco has accumulated an enormous experience on extracting and mastering the deposits of coal, oil and gas, the reports have indicated.

During the meeting the sides had learned about the changes now underway in the spheres of energy and mining in Uzbekistan and Morocco. They have also discussed the prospects of cooperation of the two countries in these areas.

“The energy is one of the important links of economy”, the head of the Moroccan delegation has said. “We are interested in partnership with Uzbekistan in this field”.
Also, during the meeting the participants have exchanged views on the issues of establishment and broad development the mutual beneficial relations of the two countries.

SESSION ADDRESSES USE OF LAW- GUARANTEED PREFERENCES BY BUSINESSES


At the moment, nearly 26,000 small and private businesses operate in Bukhara Province. Last year the share of this sector in the gross regional product accounted for more than 54 percent, Narodnoye Slovo newspaper wrote.

The establishment of the firm legal foundations to liberalize economy in the country serves as an important factor in this direction, according to the paper.

Thanks to the tangible curbing of the tax rates starting the year 2007 the taxpayers in are expected to have in their disposal UZS 36 billion, which stand for a UZS 12 billion more compare to the previous year.

And how the businesses are taking advantage of such privileges guaranteed by law?

The meeting of the Republican council to coordinate the activity of controlling bodies with local business people in Bukhara Province has addressed these very issues, the newspaper wrote.

NOVOKRAMATORSK MACHINE PLANT DELIVERS STEEL-MAKING EQUIPMENT TO UZBEKISTAN

Novokramatorsk Machine Plant (Kramatorks, Ukraine) has delivered equipment to Uzmetcominate for major reconstruction of the 100-tonnes arc steel smelting furnace, according by Business Information Portal Uzreport.com.

The execution of this contract allows the Ukrainian plant to enter the market of electric furnace steelmaking equipment. What is more, the improved technical characteristics of arc steelmaking furnace should allow Uzbek metallurgy to cut the costs of unplanned downtimes twice, and thereby increase the production of metal.

At the same time with the setting of the furnace into operation, Novokramatorsk Machine Plant will close the steel-smelting cycle and will have the reference lists for all units of modern steel-smelting complex.

MEETING TO DISCUSS REGIMES IN NEW EDITION OF UZBEK CUSTOMS CODE

Customs regime is one of the main institutions of contemporary customs law of Uzbekistan. Anyone who has dealt with foreign economic activity knows that the starting point of any relations with a customs agency is the selection of an appropriate customs regime.

When filling in the customs declaration, one indicates to what regime envisaged by the customs legislation the goods and means of transportation belong to. This is a determining factor in the selection of the appropriate legal procedure of administrative, tax- or currency-related nature that should be applied to the goods transported across the customs border of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The absence of a structured systemized legislation regulating the customs regimes hampers the strengthening of legality in customs affairs, has a negative affect on the development of foreign economic relations of Uzbekistan, and in the end slows down the dynamics of foreign trade.

In this regard, the objective set for the New Edition Customs Code Project being implemented at this time is to provide clear regulations as regards the application of customs regimes and provision for their compliance with the international standards and norms.

As a part of the measures to improve the new draft of the Customs Code, a joint UNDP and State Customs Committee Project on "Improving the system of customs administration in the Republic of Uzbekistan", a meeting of the Expert Council will be held on 22 June at the conference hall of Grand Orzu Hotel. The Expert Council will discuss the provisions of the new edition of the Customs Code regulating customs regimes, the project's press-release says.

The aim of the event is to provide an opportunity to discuss the purposes of each of the customs regimes envisaged in the draft of the new Customs Code, the existing conditions and measures of foreign trade regulation of Uzbekistan, commonly accepted international norms regulating customs regimes (Kyoto Convention, etc), the identification of the aspects that can become potential obstacles on the way to efficient activity of foreign economic activity entities.


SOCIETY

UZBEK DELEGATION VISITED LATVIA

A delegation from Uzbekistan visited Latvia on 3-7 June to familiarize with the country's risk-analysis system of the state revenue service.

The trip was organised by the UNDP "Improving tax administration in Uzbekistan" Project and International Finance Corporation. One of the important aspects of the UNDP's "Improving tax administration in Uzbekistan" Project is the improvement of tax control system, which is currently done primarily through the practice of inspections, which does not always prove efficient.

The current system should be radically modernized and enhanced using modern techniques. This requires the development of the risk-analysis model and a software product, which would support its integration. The visit was organised with the aim of studying Latvia's experience in the development of the risk-analysis model, its integration into practice of tax inspections.

During the trip, the work group studied in detail the main principles used in the development of the risk-analysis model and the efficiency of its functioning. Among the members of the delegation were the representatives of the State Tax Committee of Uzbekistan, IFC and the UNDP's "Improving tax administration in Uzbekistan" Project.

The delegation visited the Central Apparatus of the State Revenue Service of Latvia, its regional and district divisions, examined its structure and functions. In particular, the delegation studied the information base used in the administration of risk-analysis, legislation regulating the exchange of information with external sources, and the use of the results of risk-analysis by tax and other controlling agencies.

The elements and types of criteria used for the assessment of taxpayer risks, the forms of tax declarations and accounts, as well as financial and statistical reports were carefully studied by the members of the delegation. They spoke to the officers of the State Revenue Service of Latvia about the approaches to developing a model of risk-analysis system that can be used in Uzbekistan, the issues concerning the classification of taxpayers and the compilation of their list in accordance with the points of risk, and examined the structural changes in the work of tax agencies following the integration of the risk-analysis system.

The experience and knowledge gained during the visit will be used in the development and integration of the risk-analysis model, its pilot-testing and integration into practice of tax control in Uzbekistan.

UNDP HELPS IMPROVE ACTIVITY OF LEGAL CLINIC AT UWED

Renovated Legal Clinic under the University of World Economy and Diplomacy (UWED), supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and study manual "Protection rights of individuals in civil courts" written by legal experts of the clinic, were presented in Tashkent on 11 June.

Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Uzbekistan Kyoko Postill, OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan Miroslav Jenca, Pro-rector of the UWED Murad Bakhodirov together with clinicians, faculty of International Law participated in the opening ceremony of new premises of Legal Clinic and in presentation of the main activities of the clinic.

The Legal Clinic is a public legal, non-commercial, consulting organ under the UWED and its objective is to train young lawyers through providing legal aid to population. Comfortable premises for lawyers are essential and now the clinic provides all necessary conditions for work with clients. The clinic can also train more students.

The presentation demonstrated the interest of students in Legal Clinic, implementation of knowledge in to practice by providing pro bono consultations under direct supervision of experienced legal experts, demonstrated process of work with clients within Legal Clinic, shared achievements (during a year 2006-2007) and further plans.

Within the framework of the opening ceremony, new manual "Protection rights of individuals in civil courts", written by legal clinic legal experts Galina Mayorova and Irina Cherkashina, was also presented.

Manual includes samples of court procedural documents on family, labor, housing law issues and reveals methods of how they can be proven.

The project "Legal aid and legal literacy for better access to justice" aims to improve access to justice for people, who cannot afford or have limited access to legal services, such as women, children, the poor, the elderly and people with disabilities and to increase quality of legal services through training of law students.

Kyoko Postill said: "Legal clinic is aimed at promoting access to justice for the people, who cannot afford or have limited access to legal services, and preparing highly-qualified lawyers. We see that with efforts of administration of UWED and legal clinic staff was created good conditions that are close to professional standards practices in other developed countries."

The new premises of the Clinic, renovated with the support of UNDP will provide better opportunity to enhance the activity of the clinic and to assist more needy people with legal aid, she said.

Ms Postill added: "Nowadays the legal clinics education in Uzbekistan has become an effective mechanism for training qualified and specialized lawyers with both strong academic background and professional experience. UNDP in Uzbekistan has further plans to support Legal Clinic education in the country that will contribute to better access to justice and rule of law."

2,000 CHILDREN FROM KARAKALPAKSTAN TO RECOVER HEALTH IN SUMMER CAMPS

Two thousand schoolchildren from the Republic of Karakalpakstan are going to spend the summer vacations and recover their health in the recreational camps of the city of Tashkent and Tashkent Province, according to the report by Uzbekistan National News Agency Russian-language website. This summer season, which has started as hot as is the case for the local climatic conditions, the State program of the “Year of social protection” envisages to provide for the summer vacations for the children from the less fortunate families, attendees of the charity houses and students at the special boarding schools, the report has said.

The Association of labor unions of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the local units of the nationwide charity fund “Makhalla”, as well as the Youth Movement of Uzbekistan “Kamolot” take an active part in accomplishing the said goal, according to the report.

“I wanted very much so that my children would spend their summer break in the recreational camps,”-Miyrigul Atakhanova has said, “and I have very glad when I learned that my dream will come true. I am sure they will not only recover their health but also make many new friends”.

UZBEKISTAN HAD TOUGH DRAW IN AFC FINAL ROUND QUALIFYING FOR BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES

The draw for the AFC Final Round Qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games has been made with Uzbekistan, handed a tough outing in Group B against the likes of Korea Republic, Bahrain, Syria.

Group A saw 2004 Olympics fourth-place finishers Iraq grouped with DPR Korea, Lebanon and Australia, while in Group B, Korea Republic will have Bahrain, Syria and Uzbekistan for company.

Twelve teams came out of the pots today at the AFC House here and were split into three groups of four each for the final round which will run through August 22 till November 21, with only the group toppers representing Asia at the Beijing Olympic Games next year. Hosts China qualify automatically.

Group B is also perhaps the most well balanced of the three groups with Group E toppers Iraq and runners-up DPR Korea, and Asian newcomers Australia all in with a chance. The Australians were pushed hard in Group D but eventually managed to book their berth.

Iraq have the most impeccable pedigree of this lot, having finished fourth in the 2004 Olympics after losing to Italy 1-0 in the bronze medal playoff. Iraq had defeated Australia 1-0 in the semifinals then.

Groups

Group A - Iraq, DPR Korea, Lebanon, Australia

Group B - Korea Republic, Bahrain, Syria, Uzbekistan

Group C- Japan, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Qatar

Match dates for AFC Final Round Qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympic are 22nd August, 8th September, 12th September, 17th October, 17th November, 21st November.