August 21, 2009
Politics:
Legislative Chamber holds session
Uzbekistan, United Kingdom Sign Memorandum on the British Council Activity in Uzbekistan
Economics:
Yevro-Osiyo-Carpet starts exports
Navoiy Roison company launched
Megasfera JV to expand production
Society:
Tashkent city awarded with Independence order
First ever job fair for disabled people held in Shakhrisabz, Samarkand
100th college opens in Aral Sea area
POLICY
LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER HOLDS SESSION
The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan held a session on 20 August and passed a number of laws, which will be sent to Senate for approval, National News Agency UzA reported.
The deputies passed the law on ratification of the agreement on joint antiterrorist exercises of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization member states, signed in Dushanbe on 28 August 2008.
The inter-state document is aimed at strengthening cooperation of the SCO member countries in fighting terrorism and extremism. Uzbekistan joined the agreement on the condition that it participates in the joint exercises as an observer.
The lower chamber also approved another SCO-related document – on cooperation in fighting illegal arms, ammunition and explosives circulation.
The document, also signed on 28 August last year, envisages partnership of the member countries in identifying and preventing crimes related to illegal circulation of arms, ammunition and explosives.
The deputies then considered and passed the law on introducing changes in the article 329 of the Criminal Proceedings Code, aimed at improvement of the consideration of reports and applications on crimes.
Currently such reports and applications can be considered up to three days and in cases the facts and the grounds for launching criminal case have to be checked – up to ten days.
The practice shows this time is not enough to consider the case objectively and thoroughly. This is why the deputies are proposing to increase the consideration period.
The Legislative Chamber also passed a resolution on establishment of the border of the Zafarshan city, submitted by the Cabinet of Ministers.
UZBEKISTAN, UNITED KINGDOM SIGN MEMORANDUM ON THE BRITISH COUNCIL ACTIVITY IN UZBEKISTAN
On August 19 this year the signing ceremony of Memorandum between the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland on the British Council activity in Uzbekistan was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Memorandum was signed from the Uzbek side by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan HE Vladimir Norov and from the British side – by the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Republic of Uzbekistan Rupert Joy, the news release by the Press-Service of the Uzbek Foreign Ministry has said.
In compliance with provisions of the Memorandum, the British Council Uzbekistan office will develop its activity for the purposes of strengthening the cultural relations between Uzbekistan and the United Kingdom.
The programme of the British Council Uzbekistan office in the Republic of Uzbekistan includes following: promoting bilateral contacts between educational, cultural and scientific institutions of two states; rendering assistance in methodology of the language teaching; implementing projects in the spheres of education, art, science and professional training, as well as assistance in terms of offering the scholarships for the citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan to study in the United Kingdom.
Memorandum came into effect from the August 19, 2009.
ECONOMY
YEVRO-OSIYO-CARPET STARTS EXPORTS
Uzbek-Turkish joint venture Yevro-Osiyo-Carpet located in Jizzakh region started exporting its production.
The enterprise, which employs 90 people, annually produces more than 150,000 meters of carpet products.
Two years ago Ulughbek, Abdurasul and Mumin Mansurovs opened small enterprise JizTex. In a short period of time, they expanded the manufacture and launched a joint venture with Turkish partners.
The production of Yevro-Osiyo-Carpet enjoys high demand on the local market. The company has dealers in all regions of Uzbekistan.
NAVOIY ROISON COMPANY LAUNCHED
The new enterprise Navoi Roison with a capacity of 4 million bricks per year was opened in Navbahor district of Navoi region.
The company is equipped with modern technology and employs 10 persons.
“The first buyers of our production are individual builders,” said the head of the enterprise Shuhrat Azimov.
“We plan to increase output volumes and double the number of employees.”
MEGASFERA JV TO EXPAND PRODUCTION
Uzbek-Russian joint venture Megasfera launched production of soft and bedroom furniture using a credit from the National Bank.
The Urgench-based furniture-maker also produces office, kitchen and children’s furniture from local raw materials.
The company has stores in Urgench, as well as Gurlen, Shavat and Turtkul districts.
The launch of the new line has allowed the company to increase the number of its employees from 30 to 50.
SOCIETY
TASHKENT CITY AWARDED WITH INDEPENDENCE ORDER
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree on 20 August on awarding the city of Tashkent with the Mustaqillik (Independence) order.
The capital of Uzbekistan has been awarded for the contribution to the formation of the national statehood, strengthening peace and stability, development of inter-state cooperation, friendship among peoples, preservation of good traditions, national and human values.
The city of Tashkent is celebrating its 2,200th anniversary this year, which will be marked on 1 September.
FIRST EVER JOB FAIR FOR DISABLED PEOPLE HELD IN SHAKHRISABZ, SAMARKAND
For the first time ever in Uzbekistan specialized job fairs for people with disabilities (PWD) were held in Shakhrisabz on 12 August and Samarkand on 20 August.
Already 32 PWD found their job places in Shakhrisabz. THe job fair in Shakhrisabz hosted more than 162 PWD who were offered various job places in 36 private companies and public organizations from Shakhrisabz city, Uzreport Information Portal reported.
The event was organized in the framework of project "ACCESS", implemented jointly by UNDP Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan and in support of local authorities (hokimiyats) as well as Employment support centers of Shakhrisabz and Samarkand cities.
It is intented to give PWDs a possibility to show their professional skills and look for employment opportunities. In Shakhrisabz city the event was held in one of the ancient historical places called Oq Saroy.
"I was a bit skeptic about coming to this event. I'm looking for a job of an assistant for accounting work, as I'm specializing in finance and accounting at my college. I never thought that there would be job opportunities also for PWD. I decided to first attended computer courses organized by project ACCESS to get additional skills and later apply to companies that I have encountered at this specialized job fair," said 18 year old Firuza Ergasheva.
The project ACCESS (Accessibility Civic Consciousness Employment Social Support) is aimed at expanding the opportunities of social inclusion and employment for PWDs through raising public awareness and forming a positive public opinion on the issues of disability; improving the coordination and the building capacity of state and non-state actors in the promotion of implementation of legislation towards PWD; promoting accessibility to social infrastructure; creating a system of social support and the employment of PWDs.
100TH COLLEGE OPENS IN ARAL SEA AREA
The number of academic lyceums and professional colleges in the Aral Sea area has reached 100.
The College of melioration and water resources opened in Amudarya region of Karakalpakstan.
The educational institution has large classes and laboratories fitted with the modern equipment and study materials.
“Previously, we used to travel 7-8 km to the college. Now we can study in our village,” student Iroda Muradova said.
Academic lyceums and professional colleges are institutions of secondary education, where students go after nine classes at general education school and before going to the university.