September 23, 2009
Economics:
Food Week Uzbekistan and Agri Òek Uzbekistan exhibitions open
Promoting entrepreneurship in Uchkuduk district
Uzbekneftegaz Uplifts Gas Production
Society:
Environmental situation in the region considered
Seminar of young eco journalists
ICT week starts in Uzbekistan
ECONOMY
FOOD WEEK UZBEKISTAN AND AGRI ÒEK UZBEKISTAN EXHIBITIONS OPEN
The exhibitions of agriculture, food products and new technologies Food Week Uzbekistan and Agri Òek Uzbekistan opened at Uzexpocenter in Tashkent on September 23.
The events have been organized by the Ministry of agriculture, Association of farm economies and TNT Productions company (USA), National News Agency UzA reported.
About 60 companies from more than 20 states (including Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, Germany, Austria, Belarus, Hungary, Spain, China, South Korea, Turkey, Switzerland, etc.) are participating in the exhibition.
The exhibition demonstrates agricultural technologies and equipment, food processing equipment, as well as a wide range of food products.
PROMOTING ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN UCHKUDUK DISTRICT
In Navoi region there are a number of activities going on aimed at mitigating the impact of the global financial crisis, Uzbekistan Today newspaper reported.
In Uchkuduk district financial support is provided to the private sector to develop manufacturing, processing industries in the countryside. In this direction activities of the Uchkuduk branches of National Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs and the joint-stock commercial “Microcreditbank” deserve attention. Since the startof these financial institutions, 472 million sums credits were allocated to small business and private entrepreneurship. Due to this, in the district have created more than forty small businesses and employed about 1500 people.
”We are focused on supporting small businesses among rural property owners in remote areas”, says the manager Uchkuduk district branch of the National Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs Muhiddin Murtazoev.
“Through the provision of our bank credit, the private enterprise “Mohinur Grand Med” opened a modern diagnostic center. Private enterprise “Zulhumor-Muzaffar” brought the technology of dry cleaning with the credit of the bank. A private firm “Davlatbek Shokir” launched the workshop for production of soft drinks. We still have much to do. We will contribute to increasing employment by providing a loan to further improve the operation of such enterprises as “Uchkuduk korakul service”, “Lyudmila-Eugene”, “Aigerim Almagul”, “Uchkuduk Qurilish-tamirlash”, specialized in production of construction materials, organization of greenhouses, processing of meat and dairy products, and development of poultry farming.
UZBEKNEFTEGAZ UPLIFTS GAS PRODUCTION
National Holding Company (NHC) Uzbekneftegaz continues building and modernizing its facilities within the Oil and Gas Industry Development Program for 2007-2012.
In the nearest future the company is commissioning facilities within a project on reconstruction of a preliminary gas processing station (PGPS), Dengizko’l, with the construction of a booster compressor station (BCS) totaling more than $77 million.
It should be noted that the design capacity of the BCS is 3 billion cu. m of gas per year. According to the feasibility study, the project provides for exploitation of the deposit through 2025 and will ensure an increase in natural gas production by more than 20 billion cu. m and condensate production by 67,000. The project will be financed through Uzbekneftegaz’s own funds (about $23 million), loans of the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan ($22.8 million) and the Korea Development Bank ($17.1 million).
In addition, this September Uzbekneftegaz introduces a system of trunk gas pipeline Ohangaron-Pungan worth $492.9 million. As of today, the company has completed construction and installation of a linear part of the pipeline and carries out a pressure test. Commissioning of the complex and its launching is planned for late September.
According to the NHC, the construction of Ohangaron-Pungan pipeline will improve gas supply in the Farg’ona Valley. The pipeline length is 165 km, design capacity is 10 billion cu. m of gas per year. Pressure in the gas pipeline will be maintained by a compressor station to be built in Ohangaron. This is one of the most complex gas pipeline projects implemented in the republic. The line runs through Qamchiq pass located at 2,268 meters above the sea level.
The project will be financed by Uzbekneftegaz ($417.9 million) and credit facilities of the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan ($75 million). Equipment for Ohangaron GCS will be provided by NPO Sumskoe, Ukraine.
SOCIETY
ENVIRONMENTAL SITUATION IN THE REGION CONSIDERED
The international conference on the environmental situation and sustainable development in Central Asia was held in Tashkent. The event was organized by the Environmental Movement of Uzbekistan and the Institute for Civil Society Studies.
It attracted experts from Uzbekistan, US, Great Britain, China, Japan, Germany, India, Indonesia, Russia, Norway, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.
The chairman of the Environmental Movement’s executive committee Boriy Alikhanov said mutual cooperation played an important role in solving environmental problems in the region, Uzreport Information Portal reported.
The participants considered implementation of programs and projects of preservation of flora and fauna, protection of biodiversity, reduction of dangerous waste, wider introduction of latest scientific achievements in the process.
The Environmental Movement is currently conducting wide-scale work to ensure ecological stability and coordination of activities in this area.
At the December parliamentary elections the movement will receive 15 seats in the lower chamber of the parliament, which should contribute to the solution of the environmental problems.
SEMINAR OF YOUNG ECO JOURNALISTS
Dozens of large enterprises in Navoi region, such as mining and smelting plant, plants “Navoiazot,” Kizilkumcement, as well as joint stock company “Navoi Electrochemical Plant, Navoi thermal power plant” doing significant work to reduce the damage caused by industrial waste to the environment.
As part of such activities, the biological method of wastewater treatment of central mine Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine, and its secondary use at the company GMZ-2, decreased within a year the release of harmful gases to the atmosphere nearly 2 million 200 thousand tons. In addition, due to modernization and technological renewal of other industrial enterprises, special attention is paid to reducing the harmful effects on environmental sustainability.
This was discussed at the seminar-training of young environmentalists, held at the Palace of Culture “Farhad” the city of Navoi. The event, organized by the regional branch of the International Charitable Fund “Soglom Avlod Uchun” with the regional committee for nature protection, the students attended school number 1, secondary schools, vocational college of computer and information technologies, as well as the professional college of the city of Navoi.
The aim of this initiative is to improve the ecological culture of young boys, training them writing articles, reports, interviews, that discuss about the love for nature, environment, healthy lifestyle. During the seminar the young eco journalists visited the remote villages of the region and exchanged views on the study of local flora and fauna, historical monuments, as well as the organization of interesting publications in newspapers and magazines.
ICT WEEK STARTS IN UZBEKISTAN
The traditional Week of information and communication technologies InfoCom 2009 started in Uzbekistan on Tuesday.
The program includes a number of events aimed at showcasing the latest achievements in the ICT sector.
The week was organized by the parliamentary Committee for information and communication technologies, the Cabinet’s coordination council for ICT development, Uzbek agency for communication and information, the IT companies association and the UNDP.
The ICT week opened with the National ICT summit, which attracted 500 participants from various states, including Russia, Germany, Belgium, Czech Republic, South Korea, India, Kazakhstan and the US.
The traditional annual summit provides conditions to analyze the state of the ICT sector, familiarize with the latest developments, exchange experience and strengthen relations.
The participants considered issues of increasing the ICT potential, attraction of investments, expansion of international and regional cooperation, as well as information security.
Other events within the ICT week include the annual exhibition ICTExpo 2009, international conference “IT Promotion in Asia 2009”, as well as various seminars and contests.