July 13, 2007
Politics:
President Islam Karimov received Ambassador of Japan Yuichi Kusumoto
Justice Ministry holds session to sum up results of six months in 2007
Economics:
New Uzbek Nexia expected early next year
Presentation of Sarbast trademark held in Tashkent
Sumitomo Corp shows interest in ICT market of Uzbekistan
Society:
Salaries in Uzbekistan set to increase 25 percent on average from August 1
Seminar on implementation of new laws held
OSCE supports Uzbekistan in strengthening human rights ombudsman
The Doctors of Jizzakh Have Discussed New Methods Of Treatment
POLITICS
PRESIDENT ISLAM KARIMOV RECEIVED AMBASSADOR OF JAPAN YUICHI KUSUMOTO
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received Ambassador of Japan Yuichi Kusumoto at Oqsaroy residence on July 11.
Speaking to the ambassador, Islam Karimov said the development of cooperation was an important factor to expansion of bilateral ties.
Yuichi Kusumoto started his activity in Uzbekistan in September 2004.
Uzbekistan considers Japan one of its main partners. Japan invested USD 2 billion in Uzbekistan since the establishing the diplomatic relations.
Nine Uzbek-Japanese joint ventures operate in Uzbekistan.
Contacts in scientific, educational, cultural, healthcare and other spheres are also developing. Among the largest contributors to development of humanitarian ties is the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
More than 10 large projects are currently being implemented in Uzbekistan with Japanese investments.
Representations of 21 large corporations, such as Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICŔ) and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), and Mitsui, Mitsubishi, Itochu, Sumimoto, Marubeni, NEC, Toyoto registered in Uzbekistan.
Humanitarian cooperation is also actively developing, especially in the science and education fields. More than 800 Uzbek specialists have been trained in Japan on JICA program.
JUSTICE MINISTRY HOLDS SESSION TO SUM UP RESULTS OF SIX MONTHS IN 2007
Justice Ministry of Uzbekistan held an extended session to sum up the results of activities of justice bodies of first six months in 2007. Justice Minister F.Otakhonov conducted the meeting.
The organs of justice prepared almost 82 draft laws and 360 other legislative acts last year, it was said.
The ministry continued wide-scale activities to promote legal rights and increase the population’s legal knowledge.
Protection of rights and interests of entrepreneurs and private property owners was strengthened. Justice bodies filed suits to courts to protect rights and interests of entrepreneurs, as well as foreign investors and companies with foreign capital.
Judicial organs of Uzbekistan received over 930,4 documents during the first half of 2007.
The volume of funds subject to collection based on these documents amounted to 1 trillion 538,3 billion soums.
ECONOMICS
NEW UZBEK NEXIA EXPECTED EARLY NEXT YEAR
UzDaewooAuto plans to launch the production of a modernized Nexia model in January 2008. The design of the new car was developed in cooperation with the Concept Group, a European engineering company, and based on the recommendations of the car's dealers in Russia. Moreover, UzDaewooAuto will from now on be an exclusive producer of the M200 and M300 models for the CIS market.
"A plan of actions to extend the product life cycle of the Nexia model has been developed. According to the plan, the popularity of Nexia is to be supported through additional renovations. The design of the new Nexia is based on the recommendations of the Russian dealers and the Concept Group," UzInfoInvest Agency said.
UzDaewooAuto had earlier informed that the external design of the new automobile will be different: there will be a new bumper, headlights, and a radiator enclosure. Russia has been importing Nexia for over seven years. Nexia model is designed basedon the aggregates of Opel Kadett. The warranty period for Daewoo automobiles is five years or 100,000km.
Besides, an agreement has been reach with the General Motors Daewoo and Technology Company on identification of UzDaewooAuto as the base producers of small class automobiles for the CIS markets. In line with this agreement, the Uzbek producer will be an exclusive supplier of M200 and M300 models to the CIS, vesti.ru informed.
PRESENTATION OF SARBAST TRADEMARK HELD IN TASHKENT
A presentation of the Sarbast trademark owned by the high quality beer producer Sarbast Plus Uzbek-Swedish Joint Venture was held on July 12 at InterContinental Hotel.
Baltic Beverages Holding AB Concern (BBH), an investor in the Sarbast Plus joint venture, launched another large project in Uzbekistan in 2006. It was not accidental that Baltic Beverages Holding AB chose Uzbekistan for investments. A favourable investment climate has formed in Uzbekistan during the past few years; plus the beer market has shown stable growth and high potential. The total size of investments exceeded 54.2 million euros. Within the frame of this investment project, the construction of the largest and unique beer brewing factory was launched in Tashkent. Some of the funds were directed for marketing, distribution system, and training of the personnel.
Sarbast Plus will use the latest equipment and the full technological cycle will be computerized. Constant control is exercised over the production process, starting with the reception of the raw material and ending with the shipment of the end product. The quality assurance system was developed and integrated by the specialists of the BBH. It is based on the knowledge and extensive experience of the main shareholders – Carlsberg and Scottish & Newcastle, companies famous for the quality of their products.
The new beer factory is a production based on the territory of over 10 hectares and consisting of production workshops, administrative department, and storage area of over 15,000 square meters, of which 7,000 are occupied by the beer brewing and bottling lines. The suppliers of the equipment are famous producers, such as KHS (Germany), Alfa Laval (Belgium), GEA Grasso (Holland), Loos (Germany) and others. The production process is automated and controlled by modern Siemens software.
The planned annual production capacity makes up about 1 million hectoliters (200 million 0.5L glass bottles).
SUMITOMO CORP SHOWS INTEREST IN ICT MARKET OF UZBEKISTAN
Uzbek Agency of Communication and Informatization hosted the meeting of the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan, Director General of the UzACI Abdulla Aripov and a delegation of the Sumitomo Corporation headed by its Executive Office, General Manager of the Telecommunication, Environment and Industrial Infrastructure Division Mr. Takafumi Sone.
The office of the Sumitomo Corporation in Uzbekistan was accredited in June 1994. In Uzbekistan, Sumitomo Corp. is particularly active in the areas, such as oil and gas, chemical industry, energy, transportation, agriculture, education, culture and tourism. The corporation is currently showing interest in the industry of communication and information technology.
The Uzbek party spoke about the measures being implemented in the country to integrate and develop ICT and telecommunication. Information on the development of the mobile and fixed communication, on the projects on the preparation and training of qualified specialists for the ICT industry was presented.
SOCIETY
SALARIES IN UZBEKISTAN SET TO INCREASE 25 PERCENT ON AVERAGE FROM AUGUST 1
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree on July 10 on increasing the salaries, pensions, stipends and social allowances starting from August 1.
The decree says the increase is aimed at “further increasing the population’s living level and strengthening social support of the republic’s citizens”.
According to the document, the above-mentioned payments will increase 1.25 times on the average:
– minimum salaries to 15525 soums per month;
– pensions to 30750 soums per month;
– allowances to disabled from birth to 30750 soums per month;
– allowances to aged and disabled citizens without record of work to 18625 soums per month.
SEMINAR ON IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW LAWS HELD
A seminar meeting of the representatives of the Prospector's Office and law enforcement agencies was held at the General Prosecutor's Office, according to local press. The General Prosecutor of Uzbekistan R.Kadirov presided at the meeting.
Meeting participants noted on the significance of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On introduction of amendments and addenda to some legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan due to the abolition of the death penalty" and "On introduction of amendments and addenda to certain legislative acts of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the transfer of the right to issue arrest sanctions to courts", approved by the Senate of Oliy Majlis on June 29 2007.
Special attention was given to the problems that may arise in the process of implementation of the law into practice, according to the press service of the General Prosecutor's Office.
At the same time the plan of actions to inform the concerned agencies in the regions about the abovementioned amendments to the legislation has been prepared. Instructions for the organization of seminar trainings for the staff of prosecutor offices and public awareness raising measures were given by the General Prosecutor to the responsible officials during the seminar.
OSCE SUPPORTS UZBEKISTAN IN STRENGTHENING HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN
A roundtable on harmonizing national legislation with the law on Uzbekistan's human right ombudsman was held in Tashkent on July 11.
The one-day event was part of an OSCE Ombudsman Capacity Building project and was being jointly organized by the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan, the Authorized Person of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Human Rights (Ombudsman) and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
"Undoubtedly, the focus of the roundtable is very important and topical. Working out how to harmonize national legislation with the Law on the Ombudsman of Uzbekistan will help to strengthen the Ombudsman's legal status and allow that person to carry out the envisaged role of promoting and protecting human rights," said Ambassador Miroslav Jenia, the OSCE Project Co-ordinator in Uzbekistan.
The agenda of the roundtable included discussions on how to improve the legislation on the Ombudsman and how to strengthen the legal instruments covering the Ombudsman's activity. The participants developed recommendations on amendments to national legislation, with the aim of consolidating the role of the Ombudsman in the system of national human rights institutions.
The Ombudswoman of Uzbekistan, Sayyora Rashidova, said if the roundtable's recommendations were adopted they would help to strengthen further the legal guarantees for the activity of the Authorised Person for Human Rights and improve co-operation with the government, courts and police.
The roundtable gathered representatives of both Chambers of the Uzbek Parliament, different ministries and state structures, law enforcement agencies, judicial bodies and law academics. Foreign experts from the Ombudsman Offices of Spain, Russia and Azerbaijan were also attending the roundtable with the support of the OSCE.
THE DOCTORS OF JIZZAKH HAVE DISCUSSED NEW METHODS OF TREATMENT
The scientific and practical conference, dedicated to issues of ambulances activity on reforming process of healthcare system, held at the Jizzakh regional branch of Uzbek Scientific Center of Emergency Medical Aid, National news agency Russian-language website reported on July 12, this year.
The staff of different regional medical institutions and hospitals took part in this meeting. The reports on new methods of treatment and using medicines have been attended during the seminar.
Jizzakh regional branch of Uzbek Scientific Center of Emergency Medical Aid have the hospital for 220 patients, ambulance and sanitation sections. Availability of more than 90 ambulance cars enables to drive out in due time on urgent calls.
The medical equipment worth 16 million sums had bought by very institution on last year. Besides that, center’s specialists have been introducing new methods of treatment and diagnostics.
The products of “Nobelfarmsanoat” pharmaceutical company were presented within the framework of seminar.