June 30, 2008

Economics:
Uzbektelecom Sums Up ’07 Outcomes, Discusses Priorities
Stabilized cement market
Uzbekistan improves its water supply
Tashkent Thermal Power Station to increase its capacity
Society:
Legislation related to HIV prevention, treatment considered
Uzbekistan marks Press and Mass Media Day on 27 June
Uzbek, South Korean Doctors Held Surgeries on 60 Children
UNFPA supports training on legal and social issues of family
Contest Set to Reveal Young Talents, Skills


ECONOMY

UZBEKTELECOM SUMS UP ’07 OUTCOMES, DISCUSSES PRIORITIES

The Joint-Stock Ñompany Uzbektelecom held its annual meeting in Tashkent. The company shareholders have summed up the results of its financial and economic activity in 2007, Jahon Information Agency reported.

Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Chairman of Uzbektelecom Observer Council Abdulla Aripov presided over the meeting.

Uzbektelecom is the largest telecommunication operator with its coverage of an entire territory of Uzbekistan. Using its telecommunication network based on the cutting-edge technologies the company renders services of renting the channels to operators and providers of stationary and mobile communication, international and interurban communication, data transfers, all types of voice messaging services, Internet access, video conferencing, and CDMA mobile communication, as well as sets up the channels for television and radio programs broadcasts. Uzbektelecom is the largest provider of telecommunication services for state structures and agencies.

In 2007 the company implemented several big projects. At the same time, last year it assimilated investments worth UZS 40 billion at the expense of all financing resources.

Jointly with the Chinese Development Bank and Huawei Technologies Company on leasing basis Uzbektelecom implements the investment project “Reconstruction and development of telecommunication network of the Joint-Stock Company Uzbektelecom”.

In particular, to extend the mobile communication network coverage based on the CDMA-450 standards of the UzMobile affiliate the company has additionally supplied and set up 70 base stations nationwide, as well as the two independent switchboards that render mobile communication services at all parts of Uzbekistan.

Uzbektelecom also modernized and expanded Tashkent’s telecommunication networks based on the NGN technologies (the next-generation network), and introduced the video-telephoning, access to the data transfer networks and the Internet.

STABILIZED CEMENT MARKET

The Uzbek Commodity Exchange’s (UZEX) cement quotations fell down in last three months nearly three times and exceeded psychological minimum of 100,000 soums per ton, Uzbekistan Today reported.

The UZEX analytical department’s head Pulat Tillabaev says that if in March this year the cement quotations reached 300 thousand soums, today they fluctuate between 100 and 105 thousand soums per ton. A number of factors have an impact on cement price decrease. One of them is efficient implementation of the Program on modernization and re-equipment of industries of construction materials for 2007-2011. The program provides for increase of Uzbekistan’s cement output by 2011 nearly 1.5 times in comparison with 8.3 million tons in 2006.

In addition, during natural high demand for construction materials in spring the contractors purchased cement in amount exceeding the current demand, realizing the increasing price for cement in the world markets. “It means that they purchased cement for future use,” P. Tillabaev said. Today owing to complex activity of public structures, cement consumers are much surer about their future success.

UZBEKISTAN IMPROVES ITS WATER SUPPLY

The Uzbek government signed a contract worth nearly US$ 45 million with China National Chemical Engineering Group Corporation, as a result of tender competition, to construct a new “turnkey” interregional water pipeline in Ferghana and Andijan regions.

The analytical department of the Cabinet of Ministers for housing, transport, major construction and construction industry says that the new water supply system is constructed under the Project on fundamental improvement of water supply in Ferghana, Marghilan cities and neighbouring settlements approved by a relevant resolution of President Islam Karimov. According to the feasibility study, the project costs US$ 48.3 million. The “Suvoqova” industrial agency, Uzbekistan’s biggest operator of water resources is to invest the rest of capital in the project implementation. The new interregional water pipeline has annual capacity of around 38 million cubic meters.

Uzbekistan aims to fund the water contract, using credit of the National Bank of Uzbekistan for Foreign Economic Activity by refinancing the Chinese Exim Bank’s loans of US$ 44.97 million extended for 20 years including five-year grace period and funds of Ferghana regional “Suvoqova”.

The “O’zkommunxizmat” and Andijan and Ferghana regional Hokimiats (Hall) are executers and responsible for efficient implementation of the project. Ferghana regional “Suvoqova” is a borrower of the National Bank’s credits.

The State Budget of Uzbekistan is to cover interest rate and fees on the credit during investment period. The terms of the feasibility study of the project state that the Office for Interregional Water Pipeline and State Budget of Uzbekistan will pay back the credit and its interest rate during investment period.

Works, services and equipment provided and purchased under the Project on fundamental improvement of water supply in Ferghana, Marghilan cities and neighbouring settlements at the expense of China Exim Bank are released from custom charges, value added tax and obligatory fees and payments for the state fund-in-trust and off-budget School Education Foundation.

TASHKENT THERMAL POWER STATION TO INCREASE ITS CAPACITY

The “Uzbekenergo” State Stock Company announced a tender to choose a general contractor for modernizing the Tashkent Thermal Power Station worth nearly US$ 200 million.

According to the tender terms, a winner is to construct “turnkey” combined-cycle power units of 370 Megawatts for the power station. The project is funded by credits of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, Uzbekistan Today reported.

The Tashkent Thermal Power Station has fixed capacity of 1,860 Megawatts. Its first power generating unit was launched in 1963 and the last one (12) in 1971. Uzbekistan’s government approved the national Power Engineering Development Program for the period of 2010, ensuring to invest nearly US$ 1 billion in modernization of power generators.

Besides the Tashkent Thermal Power Station, the country plans to reequip the Navoi Thermal Power Station (Navoi region) and Mubarek Thermal Power Station (Kashkadarya region), installing new steam-to-gas power units. The reconstruction of these establishments needs total investment of US$ 450 million.

In December 2004 Russia’s EMK Engineering launched the first power unit of Talimarjan State District Power Station having capacity of 800 mwt in Kashkadarya region.

The State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan says that in 2007 the country generated total electricity of 48.95 billion kwt/h including subsidiaries of “Uzbekenergo” 46.273 billion kwt/h. The rest of electricity was generated by autonomous thermal power stations of industrial companies and small water power stations of the Uzbek Ministry of Agricultural and Water Resources.

The thermal power stations produced aggregate electricity of 42.554 billion kwt/h and water power stations and power generating units 6.396 billion kwt/h. Last year 20.356 million hectocalorie of heat and power was produced for consumption.

Today the Uzbek power system has 42 power stations having total capacity of 12,358 mwt including aggregate capacity of 16 power stations of “Uzbekenergo” 12.04 thousand mwt. The potential power engineering output is 56-57 billion kwt/h.

SOCIETY

LEGISLATION RELATED TO HIV PREVENTION, TREATMENT CONSIDERED

The Committee for Labor and Social Affairs of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan held a seminar on the legal framework for prevention and treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It was organized jointly with the AIDS Control Project in Central Asia, UzA reported.

The event, attended by deputies of the Legislative Chamber, heads of relevant ministries, departments, organizations and institutions, as well as medical personnel, was led by the committee chairman I.Nasriyev.

Vice Speaker of the Legislative Chamber A.Rustamov, Deputy Health Minister A.Komilov and others noted that the legal framework to regulate relations associated with HIV infection were established in the country.

In particular, a large-scale work is being condicted on the implementation of the 1999 Law “On prevention of the disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)”. A number of regulatory and institutional instruments have been adopted and measures are carried out to prevent the epidemic.

There country currently has a State nationwide network consisting of 15 AIDS centres.

The meeting participants expressed views and suggestions to improve the legislation related to this sphere and its unification with international standards and requirements.

UZBEKISTAN MARKS PRESS AND MASS MEDIA DAY ON JUNE 27

Uzbekistan marked the Day of Press and Mass Media on June 27, which has been celebrated annually for the past 15 years. On this day in 1906, the first Uzbek-language newspaper Taraqqiy was published.

In his congratulatory message to journalists, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov said the country's mass media were facing important tasks on the way of building democratic state and strong civil society, UzA reported.

These tasks include "ensuring freedom of our press, strengthening its role and efficiency in the processes of renewal and reforms", the head of the state said.

At the solemn ceremony in Tashkent, winners of the Year's most active journalist contest and the Sports journalism contest were awarded.

On June 26, President Islam Karimov made a decree to provide material support to the veteran journalists. A group of them was also awarded at the ceremony.

UZBEK, SOUTH KOREAN DOCTORS HELD SURGERIES ON 60 CHILDREN

In the framework of charity event held from June 17 to June 25 this year the Uzbek doctors in cooperation with the South Korean specialists have operated nearly 60 children, Jahon Information Agency reported.

The specialists at the Seoul National University Bundang Hospital for the past several years have been visiting the Republican scientific center of emergency medical aid, according to the report.

Here they render aid to children from the less well-off families and attendees of charity houses with inborn diseases of mouths, legs, arms, thoraxes and other deflections.

The seminar on pediatrics and children’s surgery, the roundtable talks and demonstrative surgeries were held as a part of the charity campaign, the report has said further.

UNFPA SUPPORTS TRAINING ON LEGAL AND SOCIAL ISSUES OF FAMILY

Women's Committee of Uzbekistan with support from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) on June 23–27 conducted a five-day Training of Trainers on legal and social issues of family and support to women in crisis situations for representatives of Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Samarkand, Surkhandarya regionss and the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzreport Business Information portal reported.

The agenda of the event included discussions on gender, analysis of crisis situations, information on telephone consultancy and establishing the centre for social and legal support of women. In the course of the seminar delivered by an international consultant, such interactive methods of training as mini-lectures and role plays were utilized.

This educational event is a step towards further developing centers for social and legal support of women in Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Samarkand, Surkhandarya provinces and the Republic of Karakalpakstan. These centers will not only provide social and legal support to women who had undergone through various crisis situations in life, but will also actively function in the area of reinforcing women's role in the family as well as public and political spheres.

CONTEST SET TO REVEAL YOUNG TALENTS, SKILLS

In the framework of the State Program Year of Youth the Republican show-contest “Yosh ustalar” (‘Young masters’) took off in Tashkent. The Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan alongside with the Republican Palace of Schoolchildren organized the event, according to the Jahon Information Agency.

The on-time discovery of talents and skills of forthcoming generation, its comprehensive support and promotion is one of the main directions of the Program, the experts have noted earlier this year since the Document went public.

The main goal of holding the said show-contest is to nurture love and respect among the schoolchildren to the national heritage, teach the methods of skilled masters, speak about the profound work now underway in Uzbekistan to extend the national handcraftsmanship as well as people’s and applied art, the newspaper reported referring to the Uzbekistan National News Agency.

About one hundred representatives of Creative Centers of general education schoolchildren of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, provinces and the city of Tashkent showcased their works in the contest.

According to the outcomes of the contest, the top-place-earners were awarded the gifts by organizers.