August 15, 2008
Politics:
Legislative Chamber meets to discuss laws, elect new deputy speaker
Senate to hold plenary session on 28-29 August
Economics:
Uzbek & Italian Entrepreneurs Hold Talks in Andijan
Number of small businesses increases by 5% y-o-y in 1H
Exhibition of hotels, restaurants to be organized in October
Gas dehumidification installation to be built at Kungrad compressor station
Uzbekistan Airways created new unit on external, alliance relations
New method on food colors production developed in Uzbekistan
Society:
Tashkent Seminar Discusses Child Rights, Report Says
Surkhandarya region outlines plans to fight human trafficking
POLICY
LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER MEETS TO DISCUSS LAWS, ELECT NEW DEPUTY SPEAKER
Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan (lower house of the parliament) held a session on August 14, UzA reported. Speaker of the chamber Dilorom Tashmuhamedova chaired the session.
MPs considered issue on registration of fraction of MPs at the Legislative Chamber from Democratic Party of Uzbekistan Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival). The chamber registered newly created fraction and the head of fraction Hurshid Dostmuhamedov was elected as the deputy speaker of the Legislative Chamber.
The parliamentarians also discussed introduction changes and amendments to the Criminal Code of Uzbekistan in connection with adoption of the Law of Uzbekistan "On fighting human trafficking".
It was noted that it is important to crate necessary legal base to prevent human trafficking and MPs shared their views on improvement of the proposed legislation. The law was passed taking into account with recommendations.
The MPs considered a law on introduction of changes to article 211 of Criminal-Procedural Code of Uzbekistan. The MPs said it is vital to improve legislation on effective combating crime. The law was passed with recommendations, proposed at the discussion.
SENATE TO HOLD PLENARY SESSION ON 28-29 AUGUST
The Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan will hold its 15th plenary session on August 28-29 in Tashkent. The corresponding resolution was passed by the Senate Kengash (Council) at its meeting on August 13, Uzbekistan National news Agency (UzA) reported.
The senators are expected to consider more than 10 laws, as well as other issues within the Senate’s competence, the press service of the parliament’s upper chamber said.
Among the laws are those:
On state social insurance against industrial accidents and professional diseases;
On introducing changes in the Law on joint-stock companies and protection of shareholders’ rights;
On introducing changes in the Code of administrative responsibility;
On introducing changes in the Criminal proceedings code related to adoption of the Law on combating human traffic;
On museums, and others.
The senators should also ratify the Agreement between Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates on cooperation in fighting organized crime, terrorism and other crimes. The agreement was signed in Abu-Dhabi on March 17, 2008.
ECONOMY
UZBEK & ITALIAN ENTREPRENEURS HOLD TALKS IN ANDIJAN
The delegation of Italian businessmen led by the President of Italian-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce Luigi Iperti visited Andijan Province of Uzbekistan, Jahon Information Agency reported.
The heads of the industrial enterprises, business people and farmers participated at the meeting held at the Andijan regional administration building. The goal of the visit was to discuss further development of trade and economic cooperation between the two countries, establishment of direct business contacts among Uzbek and Italian entrepreneurs.
The Italian delegation was made of directors of 24 companies engaged in construction, textile, furniture and food spheres, as well as in producing equipment and metal processing.
NUMBER OF SMALL BUSINESSES INCREASES BY 5% Y-O-Y IN 1H
Total number of registered small enterprises in Uzbekistan made up 434,500 as of 1 July 2008 or up 5% year-on-year, State Committee on Demonolization of Uzbekistan said based on preliminary data.
The committee said that about 406,200 small enterprises of 93.5% of total registered small businesses have been operating.
The share of non-operating small businesses decreased from 8.7% to 6.5% due to adopted measures in the country. The committee said the share of operating enterprises in the first half of 2008 increased from 91.3% to 93.5% compared to the same period of last year.
The committee underlined that these figure fell in Syrdarya region from 14.7% to 3.6%, Tashkent city from 13.8% to 7.1%, Surkhandarya region from 12.5% to 9.5% and Namangan region from 12.5% to 8.1%.
About 22,036 small enterprises were created in Uzbekistan, of which 2,543 fell to share of industry, 9,715 to agriculture and forestry, 1,528 to construction, 744 to transport and communication, 5,073 to trade and catering and 2,433 were founded in other sectors of economy.
EXHIBITION OF HOTELS, RESTAURANTS TO BE ORGANIZED IN OCTOBER
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan is organizing an International Specialized Exhibition in hotel and restaurant business - HoReCa 2008 – in cooperation with Bar Trest Servis LLC and at the support of Uzbekistan Barmen Association.
The exhibition will be held at the exhibition hall of Dedeman Silk Road Tashkent on October 8-10, 2008.
It is expected that over 100 companies and firms, engaged in hotel and restaurant business, will participate in the work of the event. The exhibition will present such themes as development of HoReCa in Uzbekistan, Use of modern equipment and IT technologies in hotel and restaurant business, training and organization of quality services, etc.
GAS DEHUMIDIFICATION INSTALLATION TO BE BUILT AT KUNGRAD COMPRESSOR STATION
Feasibility study of the project "Constriction of installation on gas dehumidification at Kungrad compressor station" was approved with the special resolution of the president of Uzbekistan, Uzbekneftegaz said.
Uztransgas joint-stock company developed the feasibility study. ÑW Singapore PTE LTD will design and supply equipment. One of the producers of equipment will be Uzbekhimmash.
The project will be financed due to own funds of Uzbekneftegaz and Uzbekistan Reconstruction and Development Fund. The capacity of the object will be 13 billion cubic meters of gas, according to the developed the feasibility study.
UZBEKISTAN AIRWAYS CREATED NEW UNIT ON EXTERNAL, ALLIANCE RELATIONS
Uzbekistan Havo Yollari (Uzbekistan Airways) created new unit of the Commercial Department, which will manage external relations, Uzreport Business Information Portal reported.
Main tasks of the external relations and alliance unit will be develop and enforce main direction of international aviation policy of Uzbekistan Airways.
The priority of the new unit will be coordination of the activity of all services of the company, engaged in realization of the project on creation of the Regional Logistic Center at Navoi airport.
The new unit will also ensure effective development of relations of Uzbekistan Airways with aviation administration of foreign countries, IATA, SkyTeam alliance and its members, other airlines and their representatives in Uzbekistan.
Uzbekistan Airways is a national airline of Uzbekistan. The company flies to over 40 countries of Europe, Asia, America and has offices in 24 countries of the world.
The airline was founded on 28 January 1992 with the presidential decree and ensures development, coordination and realization of air transport policy in Uzbekistan.
NEW METHOD ON FOOD COLORS PRODUCTION DEVELOPED IN UZBEKISTAN
Institue of Bio-organic chemistry named after Academician A. Sadykov and Botanika Scientific-Production Corporation of the Science Academy of Uzbekistan developed a new method of production of natural food colors from decorative hollyhock. The inventors patented the method.
The specialists proved that hollyhock is perspective resource for production of natural pigments for coloring confectionery and food products. The developed technology envisages extraction of coloring substances from hollyhock with help of solvents.
The process is carried out under the +70 degree on Celsius. Received extracts of dark red and red petals of hollyhock mixed and produced liquid steamed, after that the product goes through sublimation drying process. The powder received from these processes is harmful for health of people, the specialists of the institutions noted.
SOCIETY
TASHKENT SEMINAR DISCUSSES CHILD RIGHTS, REPORT SAYS
The seminar “Mass media and rights of children” organized alongside with the Electronic Mass Media Association of Uzbekistan and Office of UNICEF in Uzbekistan started this week in Tashkent, according to the Jahon Information Agency.
The journalists from the local news agencies, print mass media, non-state TV and radio stations and electronic publications participated at the seminar organized in the framework of implementing the Decree of President Islam Karimov of May 1, 2008 “On the Action Program dedicated to the 60th Anniversary of Adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights”.
According to the Resident Coordinator of UNESCO in Uzbekistan Mahbub Shareef, ensuring rights and interests of people in Uzbekistan, in particular, the care about forthcoming generation is one of the priority directions of the state policy of Uzbekistan.
The provisions of Universal Declaration of Human Rights were reflected in the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan, norms of national legislation that provide for protection of political, economic, social and cultural rights and freedoms of people.
The Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On guarantees of rights of children” of January 7, 2008 is one of the best examples in terms of the aforesaid. It is important that such aspects as ensuring rights, freedoms and lawful interests of children, protection of their lives and health, honor and dignity, helping their physical, intellectual and moral growth have been enshrined in this document.
The role of mass media grows in terms of reliable and objective coverage of massive work now accomplished in this direction. Thus, it is important to constantly raise the skills and mastery of journalists, their knowledge and abilities.
During the four-day seminar the attendees alongside the scholars and lawyers will learn about the international and national legal documents adopted in this sphere, as well as exchange experiences.
SURKHANDARYA REGION OUTLINES PLANS TO FIGHT HUMAN TRAFFICKING
An Inter-agency commission on fighting against human trafficking of Syrdarya region held a session in Termez.
The session discussed issues on coordination of efforts of state bodies, public organization and self-governing bodies of citizens in enforcement of the resolution of President of Uzbekistan "On measures to increase efficiency of fight against human trafficking" on July 8.
Human trafficking threatens to freedom and dignity of people and it is one of the actual problems of international community. Over 2.7 million people annually become victims of human trafficking, according to the United Nations.
Several human trafficking cases were registered in Surkhandara regions, UzA reported. The cooperation and vigilance of law enforcement bodies, NGOs and self-governing bodies would prevent such cases, the session noted.
The meeting approved a regulation of the regional inter-agency commission and its plan of works.