September 17, 2009

Economics:
Textile and fashion exhibitions open
First InterMedPharm exhibition starts
SamAuto LE 60 bus presented
UNDP publishes regional and sectoral investment guides
Tax Committee holds meeting in Navoi on development of entrepreneurship
Society:
Role of civil society in democratic elections discussed
Conference considers epidemiological stability

ECONOMY

TEXTILE AND FASHION EXHIBITIONS OPEN

International exhibitions “Textile equipment and technologies – CAITME-2009” and “Textile and Fashion – Textile Expo Uzbekistan-2009” opened on Tuesday in Tashkent, National News Agency UzA reported.

The traditional events attracted more than 175 companies from countries like Uzbekistan, Russia, Germany, Italy, France, Austria, Belarus, Poland, India, China, South Korea and Turkey.

The exhibitions feature modern directions of development of textile industry, including fabric production, painting and processing technologies, embroidery and knitting machines, paintings and chemicals, software for textile industry, clothes and various services.

The forums, which will be held during three days, are aimed at providing conditions for exchange of information and experience and expansion of ties between textile producers.

FIRST INTERMEDPHARM EXHIBITION STARTS

The first international specialized medical exhibition InterMedPharm 2009 opened in Tashkent on Tuesday.

More than 40 pharmaceutical companies from 14 states are participating in the event, organized by the Health ministry, Uzfarmsanoat and TNT Productions.

The forum aims at showcasing the projects and achievements in medicine, dentistry and pharmaceutics. It also serves to expansion of cooperation and exchange of experience in the sector, according to UzA.

The exhibition participants are demonstrating modern medical and dental equipment, medicaments, biologically active admixtures, healthcare products and other items.

SAMAUTO LE 60 BUS PRESENTED

Samarkand automobile plant produced the first sample of the new low-floor bus model SamAuto LE 60.

The bus has a comfortable salon and soft seats. It is equipped with a special kneeling system, creating conveniences for the passengers exchange. A special ramp helps disabled to enter and leave the bus.

While designing the bus, the plant paid a special attention to passengers’ safety. It has a modern brake system, which ensures safe and free movement even on slippery road.

SamAuto LE 60 has a length of 7.9 meters, maximal weight of 9.8 tons and is equipped with 60 passenger seats.

It is also characterized by low fuel consumption, while the engine can run for 1 million kms without capital repairs.

UNDP PUBLISHES REGIONAL AND SECTORAL INVESTMENT GUIDES

UNDP publishes new investment promoting publications "Investment Guide to the Food Processing Sector" and "Investment Guide to the Fergana Valley".

The Guides were prepared in the framework of "Support to External Economic Policy" project in close cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, Chamber of Commerce and Trade of Uzbekistan, foreign investors, local business representatives and others, Uzreport Information Portal reported.

They are intended to complement the broader Investment Guide to and Catalogue of Investment Opportunities, by highlighting conditions and opportunities for investors specifically interested in the food processing sector or Ferghana Valley.

The Guide to the Food Processing Sector provides an overview of the sector, the conditions under which companies in the sector operate, and the investment opportunities the sector offers.

It gives the insight on the sub-sectors which present high competitive advantages such as fruit and vegetable processing, meat and poultry processing, dairy goods production, frozen and canned food production, etc.

It also introduces to the reader the opportunities in supporting sectors including logistics, packaging, storage, wholesale of processed food, outlining the characteristics and present situation.

The Guide to the Ferghana Valley was prepared to provide essential information on Ferghana Valley to investors and other interested parties.

It presents overall investment climate of the region, opportunities in selected sector including automobile, construction materials, chemical, textile and other industries, and the overview of existing investment projects offered for investors.

TAX COMMITTEE HOLDS MEETING IN NAVOI ON DEVELOPMENT OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP

State Tax Committee organized a meeting in Navoi with local entrepreneurs to consider the development of the sector in the region.

The anti-crisis program currently being implemented in Uzbekistan pays a special attention to stimulating the development of the small business.

These measures, together with tax and credit preferences, include institutional reforms to create a more favorable environment for the SMEs.

The chairman of the State Tax Committee Botir Parpiyev presented detailed information on the main directions of the tax policy, including tax preferences for the small business sector, UzA reported.

The representatives of the banking and financial services, as well as justice bodies answered the questions of the businessmen at the meeting.

SOCIETY

ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS DISCUSSED

Samarkand hosted an international round table on “Civil society institutions and elections to representative bodies” on 9-10 September. It was organized by the Central Election Commission, the Institute for the Study of Civil Society, the Environmental Movement and the Mahalla fund in conjunction with the National Democratic Institute (USA) and the Office of the OSCE Projects Coordinator in Uzbekistan.

The forum was attended by experts from Britain, India, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, Japan and other countries, several international organizations, as well as representatives of public associations in Uzbekistan.

They exchanged views on the implementation in Uzbekistan of the concept of transition from the strong state to the strong civil society. The round table discussed the experience of Uzbekistan in enhancing the role of civil society in the democratic renewal and modernization of the country, including in the formation and organization of the representative bodies. The peculiarities of the electoral legislation of Uzbekistan, the participation of civil society institutions in preparing and conducting democratic elections were also considered.

The international forum participants noted that the analysis of the ongoing process of preparations for the elections to the Oliy Majlis and local deputies’ councils, as well as the national election legislation reflected the deep, dynamic and democratic transformations in the country.

The upcoming elections will be held in the conditions of the increasingly active civil society institutions, it was emphasized. This will be ensured by the changes in the legislations, introduced in December 2008, aimed at liberalization and democratization of the entire electoral system, strengthening the role of the legislative and representative government bodies and civil society institutions in implementing democratic reforms in governance.

The experts were unanimous that the increase in the number of seats in the Legislative Chamber from 120 to 150 and selection of 15 seats to the deputies elected from the Ecological Movement, introduction of authorized representatives of the political parties and other innovations in the legislation raised the democratic reforms in Uzbekistan to a qualitatively new level.

The forum participants made a unanimous conclusion that in Uzbekistan all measures were taken to ensure transparency and openness of the elections both in the Legislative Chamber of the parliament and the local authorities.

CONFERENCE CONSIDERS EPIDEMIOLOGICAL STABILITY

The international conference on modern methods of prevention, diagnostics and treatment of infectious and parasitic diseases opened in Tashkent on Tuesday.

The event, organized by the Health ministry jointly with the institutes of epidemiology, microbiology and infectious diseases, as well as virology, attracted participants from Uzbekistan, Russia and Kazakhstan.

The purpose of the conference is to strengthen cooperation in stabilizing the sanitary and epidemiological situation in the region, as well as familiarization with the latest achievements and the best experience.

During the two-day event, the experts will analyze the efficient methods of prevention and treatment of acute enteric infection, virus hepatitis, and other diseases.

The participants will listen to reports on the state of infectious and parasitic diseases in the region, modern methods of providing medical aid and other issues.