June 18, 2007

Economics:
Conference of MTP Project participants held in Tashkent
Press release of Government, Central Bank of Uzbekistan and IMF
Spektr LLC works towards diversifying production
Society:
Islam Karimov visited Navoi region
Role and tasks of executive secretary in modern press
For Spiritual Upbringing Of The Youth
The World Of Charming Colors” Expo Held In Karshi


ECONOMICS

CONFERENCE OF MTP PROJECT PARTICIPANTS HELD IN TASHKENT

A conference of the participants of the EU funded TACIS Project titled "Managers' Training Programme" (MTP) was held on 15 June at the conference hall of the Shodlik Palace Hotel in Tashkent.

The conference was conducted under the patronage of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan, whose one of the areas of activity is training, improvement of professional skills, and organization of trainings for small and private business entities.

The conference was attended by the participants of the MTP in Uzbekistan, Nicolas Gebara, MTP Project Manager for Denmark, Andrey Sadakov, MTP Project Manager for Russia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan (Moscow, Russia), Fedir Nesterenko, an expert of the MTP Project, member of the Coordinating Committee of the President Management Training Programme (Russia), B. Donaev, Official Representative of the MTP Project in Uzbekistan, and other officials participated in the conference.

Managers' Training Programme in the countries of CIS is financed by the European Union. Managers from Uzbekistan, Russia, Azerbaijan, and Ukraine participate in the project.

The programme is intended to support the economic development of newly independent states through provision of assistance in preparation of highly qualified managers, raising the efficiency of business management processes in local enterprises, learning about different aspects of Western management practices, gaining substantial knowledge in the field of European business culture, supporting and strengthening existing links, and finding new business partners in Europe.

Since its launch in Uzbekistan in 2000, the programme has been attended by 240 representatives from Uzbekistan.

The establishment of the Association of Programme Graduates is now being discussed. The Association should be helpful not only to the graduates, but also to different companies in Uzbekistan and Europe in terms of keeping contact and sharing information, and therefore supporting partnership relations with the business circles in Uzbekistan.

The establishment of the Association was one of the topics discussed at the conference. In particular, among the issues addressed were the experience and achievements of similar associations in Russia and Ukraine; the prospects of cooperation and interaction between the associations of different countries.

PRESS RELEASE OF GOVERNMENT, CENTRAL BANK OF UZBEKISTAN AND IMF

A mission of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited the Republic of Uzbekistan from 4 June through 13 June 2007. The mission was headed by Ms. Sena Eken, assistant director in the Middle East and Central Asia Department of the IMF.

The purpose of the mission was to review recent economic developments and policies, update the projections for 2007, and continue the constructive policy dialogue with the Uzbek authorities. The mission expressed special gratitude to the authorities for their excellent cooperation and the frank exchange of views.

Following a strong performance in 2006, the Uzbek economy has continued to perform well, with a GDP growth rate exceeding 9 percent in the first quarter, a large external current account surplus, and a further accumulation of foreign exchange reserves. Large increases in net foreign assets have been mirrored in the growth of monetary aggregates. Nevertheless, there are indications that inflation has eased and confidence in the banking system has improved. Fiscal policies have remained cautious, while the tax burden declined and important progress was made in Treasury reforms.

With prospects of continued high growth and a strong balance of payments position, the authorities and the mission agree that the key priorities for Uzbekistan are to ensure continued decline in inflation and develop the financial sector.

To further reduce inflation, the mission emphasized the need to have supportive monetary, fiscal, exchange rate, and trade policies. The mission is encouraged by the intention of the authorities to conduct an appropriately tight monetary policy during the remainder of the year; continue to pursue cautious fiscal policies; adjust their exchange rate policies as economic developments warrant; and further ease impediments to trade, including by adopting the new customs code and ensuring full foreign exchange convertibility for imports.

The authorities and the mission agreed on the importance of developing an efficient financial sector to support growth in the medium term. The mission encourages the authorities to consolidate the improved confidence in the banking system by discontinuing the role of banks in financial oversight and government treasury operations and ensuring that the anti-money laundering regime is in line with international standards.

The mission welcomes the authorities' commitment to address issues related to national income, price, and balance of payments statistics.

The Fund staff stands ready to assist Uzbek authorities in their reform efforts, including through technical assistance in financial sector and statistical data issues.

SPEKTR LLC WORKS TOWARDS DIVERSIFYING PRODUCTION

Andijan based Spektr LLC produces more than 20 component parts for UzDAEWOOauto automobiles, according to UzA.

Founded about five years ago, the company has established itself and strengthened its position in the market. The company's management notes that to earn the reputation of a reliable supplier of component parts to a large producer like UzDAEWOOauto is not a simple task. Hard labour and constant search for new technological solutions of a team of specialists headed by the company's president Islam Shirov have helped made it possible to build a strong foundation for current stable development.

The sound of stamping press never ceases in the main shop. The workers skillfully manage semiautomatic machines. Boxes marked by the company's branded label "Spektr" are piled up on a special platform of finished goods.

"The company currently employs about 40 people. The work is organised in three shifts," said Manager Azizbek Turdiev. "We produce goods worth some 50 million soums monthly. Every once in a quarter the customer conducts a quality assurance inspection of the component parts supplied. We all, from a regular worker to the company's director, try to support the "Spektr" brande."

Workers at Spektr care about the quality of goods produced, and the management cares about its workers in return. The average salary at the company exceeds 100,000 soums, plus two free meals and transportation that takes workers to and from work. Special care is taken in the issues of labour protection and social security.

Most of the company's earnings are reinvested into the expansion of production base. The company has purchased 10 new units of technology on leasing conditions. It now works toward diversifying the production. For this purpose it has imported a highly-efficient spot welding machine.


SOCIETY

ISLAM KARIMOV VISITED NAVOI REGION

On June 15 following his visit to Bukhara Province President of Uzbekistan visited another province in the country – much known as the industrial giant of the Uzbek economy – Navoi Province.

On arriving in the area Mr. Karimov has first observed the reconstruction and betterment works accomplished in the local airport.

According to the report of Jahon Information Agency, President visited with farms in the area, where he had been told about the latest endeavors in terms of forthcoming grain harvesting season as well as grand preparation works now carried out in this field.

The Uzbek Leader has been reported to have also talked to the local people and questioned them about their well being, daily lives, as well as expectations and aspirations for the days to come.

ROLE AND TASKS OF EXECUTIVE SECRETARY IN MODERN PRESS

A training workshop on "The role and tasks of executive secretary in modern press publications" was held by the Public Foundation on 15 June at the National Press Centre.

Participants of the workshop – editors, executive secretaries of press, teachers, professors of journalism faculties discussed topical issues, such as the role of executive secretary in contemporary journalism, special features of printed publication making-up, and design in press: best practices, according to Public Foundation press centre.

Reports were delivered by S. Ostonov, Editor-in-Chief of the Joint Editorial of Uzbekiston Ovozi and Golos Uzbekistana newspapers, S. Raupov, Editor-in-Chief of Jamiyat newspaper, and N. Kosimova executive secretary of Uchitel Uzbekistana newspaper.

"Modern print media today has an opportunity to learn from world best practices of publishing business," said one of the workshop participants. She provided an analysis of foreign press, providing particular importance to such aspects as marketing, fonts, division of pages, the special features of placement of photographs.

It was also noted that an executive secretary's tasks were determined by contemporary conditions. The integration of modern technology in the design of publication, newspaper layout, placement of materials and pictures, making-up are important supportive aspects in the creative activity of the editorial as a whole.

Particular attention was drawn to the fact that the executive secretary of a mass media publication was to be politically literate and capable of getting the right messages through a particular material, picture, headline or the overall design.

The members of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis (parliament) of Uzbekistan, the Union of Journalists of Uzbekistan, heads and executive secretaries of printed publications and news agencies, as well as students of journalism faculties of Uzbek universities attended the meeting.

FOR SPIRITUAL UPBRINGING OF THE YOUTH

A conference on the role of schools in spiritual upbringing and educating the youth was held in Tashkent upon the initiative of the Republican center of spirituality and the Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan, the local newspapers reported.

The deputy directors of the public educational schools and teachers took part in the event.

The participants of the conference noted that the consistent reforms under way upon the initiative of President Islam Karimov in all spheres of society serve to such noble idea as upbringing the harmonically developed person.

The participants also scheduled future events aimed at further enhancing the work on propagating the ancient sources and unique samples of the Uzbek national spirituality and discussed the tendencies of the further development.

THE WORLD OF CHARMING COLORS” EXPO HELD IN KARSHI

The traditional contest namely “The world of charming colors” was held in Kashkadarya Province to support the gifted disabled children, the local agencies reported. More than 20 children from various towns and districts participated in the event held in the Karshi College of Arts. The jury of the contest evaluated the pictures of children, which reflected a special world of childhood, landscapes of the native land.

Winners of the contest received awards from the organizers of the event - the Kashkadarya province administration, regional office of the public youth’s movement “Kamolot” and Association of the Disabled.