August 26, 2009
Economics:
Uzbek-Czech intergovernmental commission holds session
Japan-Uzbekistan Investment Agreement enters into force
Seminars on new approaches of tax administration in Jizzakh region
Society:
President visits Surkhandarya region
Sharq Taronalari festival starts
Ijtimoiy Fikr announces public opinion poll results
ECONOMY
UZBEK-CZECH INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMMISSION HOLDS SESSION
The session of the Uzbek-Czech intergovernmental commission for trade, economic, industrial, scientific and technical cooperation was held in Tashkent on August 25.
The participants considered prospective directions of cooperation in trade, fuel and energy sector, banking and finance, agriculture, transport, machinery building, science, tourism and other spheres, National News Agency UzA reported.
They discussed the possibilities of attraction of more Czech investments, increasing the number of joint ventures, raising the trade turnover and joint development and implementation of new projects.
The vice minister of industry and trade of the Czech Republic, commission co-chairman Milan Govorka said his country was interested in expansion of cooperation with Uzbekistan in all areas.
The Uzbek-Czech economic relations are based on a number of documents, including the agreement on mutual protection and stimulation of investments.
In Uzbekistan, more than 20 joint ventures with Czech capital are operating in areas like production of food, dairy and meat products, clothes, construction materials, medicines, processing agricultural products and others.
The members of the Czech delegation visited a number of ministries and departments of Uzbekistan, where they held talks on expansion of cooperation.
JAPAN-UZBEKISTAN INVESTMENT AGREEMENT ENTERS INTO FORCE
Exchange Diplomatic Notes necessary for entering into force of the Japan-Uzbekistan agreement on liberalization, encouragement and protection of investments were signed in the Foreign Affairs Ministry of Uzbekistan in Tashkent on 25 August, Uzreport Information Portal reported.
The document was signed by the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister of Uzbekistan Anvar Salikhbaev and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to Uzbekistan Tsutomu Hiraoka.
The Japan-Uzbekistan Investment Agreement was signed on 15 August 2008 in Tashkent by the Foreign Affairs Minister of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov and the Japanese envoy Tsutomu Hiraoka.
The signing of the exchange notes means the completion of corresponding internal procedures necessary for the entering of the Agreement into force. The document will be valid 30 days after the exchange noted are signed, i.e. on 24 September 2009.
This agreement is the highest point in the friendship relations between the two countries and shows the new stage in the Japanese-Uzbek economic cooperation. It is also timely because investments and the interest of Japanese private companies in opening new business in Uzbekistan have grown in the past several years.
For example, Sumimoto Corporation (Japan) jointly with the KT Company (South Korea) launched the project of wireless high-speed Internet with the use of the latest technologies in September 2008. Samarkand Automobile Plant has produced 3,400 buses and 1,000 trucks since the launch of manufacture in 2007 with the assistance of Itochu Corporation (Japan) and Isuzu Company. Mitsubishi Corporation and Uzkimyosanoat (Uzbek chemical industry) enterprise are operating a project within the Clean Development Mechanism.
It is expected that the entrance into force of the abovementioned investment agreement will allow to contribute to the further expansion and deepening of business ties between Uzbekistan and Japan, as well as lift bilateral relations, having solid ties at the intergovernmental level, to the new level fastened by the ties in the private sector.
SEMINARS ON NEW APPROACHES OF TAX ADMINISTRATION IN JIZZAKH REGION
Two seminars, "Off-site control, conducting financial and tax reports analysis" and "Tax legislation, tax administration and tax prosecution" are being held these days in the State Tax Department of Jizzakh region and Afruz restaurant in Jizzakh city.
The seminars are held for the State Tax Administration and Tax Inspections of Jizzakh region, and are hosted by the International Finance Corporation, UNDP Public Finance Reform in Uzbekistan Project, and the State Tax Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The current seminar is conducted as a continuation of a series of seminars aimed at capacity building of the State Tax Committee and regional State Tax Administration units.
To this date, the seminars were conducted in Andijan, Namangan, Ferghana, Tashkent, Samarkand, and Syrdarya regions. More seminars are planned to be held in Bukhara, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, Khorezm, and Navoi regions, as well as the Republic of Karakalpakstan.
SOCIETY
PRESIDENT VISITS SURKHANDARYA REGION
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov visited Surkhandarya region on 25 August to familiarize himself with the socioeconomic reforms here.
Like throughout the country, large-scale reforms are being carried out in Surkhandarya region. The infrastructure of the cities and villages is being improved, modern enterprises, educational and medical institutions are built, parks and gardens are created, and wide roads are laid.
In the first half of this year, the growth of gross regional product amounted to 9.1%. The stable growth of industrial production, consumer goods and provision of services was ensured.
Surkhandarya has become one of the industrially developed regions of the country. The volume of exports of products and services is growing. Technical and technological re-equipment and modernization of industrial enterprises is continuing.
In accordance with anti-crisis program of Uzbekistan, exporting companies are provided with support, which ensures their stable operation and growth of export potential in the conditions of the global financial crisis.
In the region, great attention is paid to the development of transport infrastructure. The program of development of roads for 2007-2010 has helped ensure reliable transport communications.
One example of the tremendous work carried out here is the railway line Tashguzar-Baysun-Kumkurgan, which was completed in 2007. On the eve of 18th anniversary of independence of Uzbekistan, the movement of passenger trains was launched on this line.
During his visit, President Islam Karimov visited the new building of the Termez State University, which was raised in a relatively short period of time.
The head of the state got acquainted with the work carried out here, conditions created for students and professors, and talked with students and teachers of the university.
“We must create all conditions so that the region’s young people could fully realize their potential,” Islam Karimov said.
30 specialties are taught at 10 faculties of the Termez State University to over 7,800 students. They are taught by 500 professors and teachers. This year, the number of the graduates of the educational institution made up 1,860.
The university has three hostels, a sanatorium, an information resource center, and computer and language training centers.
The institution, among others, teaches in such areas as archeology and ethnography. As the President noted, the university is unique in this respect.
Islam Karimov noted that the Surkhan oasis had rich archaeological and ethnographic values, which should be widely promoted internationally.
The new building is fully equipped with modern training equipment and facilities used in the educational process.
Then Islam Karimov visited Hakim Termizi memorial complex. The memorial, where the ashes of the great thinker are kept, was erected at the end of the 9th to the beginning of the 10th centuries.
Hakim Termizi made an enormous contribution to the development of the Islamic culture. His scientific and spiritual heritage is thoroughly examined. In the years of independence the complex was completely renovated. The Meros museum created here promotes national values and traditions.
The head of the state also visited the fields of the farm Asadbek Davlatov in Termez district.
This year, the farm grew grain on the area of 31.8 hectares, and each hectare brought 72.6 centners of harvest. On 47.7 hectares, cotton of Namangan-77 sort is cultivated.
“August is a crucial month in the accumulation of cotton crop,” Islam Karimov said. “Despite the fact that rainy spring caused problems for cotton growers, our farmers have overcome the difficulties with their hard work and are to receive the planned harvest.”
In accordance with the state program Year of Rural Development and Improvement, significant work is carried out to develop modern infrastructure and improving the living standards of the villagers. Since the beginning of this year, 19.1 km of gas pipelines and 139.6 km of water pipes were laid in the villages of Surkhandarya. Besides, 328,400 square meters of housing were built in the region.
SHARQ TARONALARI FESTIVAL STARTS
The seventh international music festival Sharq Taronalari (Oriental Melodies) opened in the city of Samarkand on 26 August.
The forum, held on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov since 1997, serves to promotion of the musical heritage of various nations and brings people with different language and culture closer.
President Islam Karimov greeted the participants and guests of the international festival – artists from 47 countries, which is being held on the Registan square of the 2,750-year-old city.
Head of the UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan Jorge Espinal noted that the traditional music festival had become one of the most prestigious musical forums of the world, and attracts artists and music fans not only from the Orient, but also from other continents.
The fact that festival is held in Samarkand has a deep meaning. This city is an embodiment of unique samples of ancient civilization, unique nature and centuries-old spirit of the Orient. Science, culture, art and music had developed here from ancient times.
For instance, a 3,300-year-old musical instrument nai was found in the Muminobod village of Urgut district. The rock carvings of the ancient Afrasiab depict musicians and singers. Great thinkers Abu Nasir Farabi, Ibn Sino, Alisher Navoi, Babur and others have left numerous works on the music.
In the period of ruling of Amir Temur, Samarkand became one of the largest centers of science and culture. The musical forums held here attracted singers and musicians from many other countries.
This festival has opened many new names and continues contributing to promotion of the music on the world scale.
According to the tradition, a scientific conference on the role of musical culture of the Orient in development of the world civilization will be held during the festival.
In addition to the main stage at Registan square, the festival participants will perform in the amphitheater Mujiza, Yoshlik and Sogdiana parks, as well as in Samarkand, Taylak, Urgut, Jambay, Akdarya and Payariq districts.
IJTIMOIY FIKR ANNOUNCES PUBLIC OPINION POLL RESULTS
The center for public opinion studies Ijtimoiy Fikr conducted a survey among the population, whose objective was to identify how the citizens evaluate the reforms in the country in the years of independence. People from all regions of Uzbekistan participated in the survey “Uzbekistan: 18 years of independence”.
The received data, compared with the results of similar studies in the previous years, show positive changes in the population’s evaluation of achievements in economic, political and cultural development of the country. The public opinion in Uzbekistan is characterized by consistently high level of social optimism and belief in the future.
One of the main achievements of independence, according to poll respondents, is peace and stability in the country. At the same time, they pointed out such important achievements as international recognition of Uzbekistan, realization of strong social policies and targeted measures of social protection, and sustained economic growth.
The trust to President Islam Karimov, to his domestic and foreign policy, remains high.
The study found that 94.8% of the people believe that over the past 18 years the country has significantly strengthened economically, financially, politically and spiritually.
The absolute majority of respondents are satisfied with the character and pace of development of the economy (90.8%), conditions created for the development of small and private businesses (89%), level of social protection, especially the most vulnerable layers of population (87.7%), and ensuring human rights and freedoms (86.4%).
The findings of the survey indicate that each year an increasing number of people believe that the level of the country’s defense allows reliably ensuring its security and territorial integrity (94.3%). This sense of security, in turn, creates an overall favorable psychological climate in the country.
An opinion poll has revealed a high level of patriotism of the citizens of Uzbekistan, and the sense of their belonging to the affairs of the state. Asked if they think they are morally responsible for their country and solving its problems, the majority answered yes, and the number of such responses increases from year to year.
The citizens of Uzbekistan, regardless of nationality, place of residence, age and sex, show a high degree of social optimism. The representatives of all segments of the population are convinced that the country will become a highly developed and prosperous state. The main contributing factors to this, the respondents said, are peace, stability and harmony in the country, strong belief in the future, continuous improvement of living standards and the richness of resources.