September 25, 2009
Economics:
New enterprise to produce headlights and taillights in Uzbekistan
Market economy and quality management
Brick plant opens in Tashkent region
Society:
Seminar dwells on legal guarantees of women's rights protection
Intl round table discusses issues of country's sustainable development
ECONOMY
NEW ENTERPRISE TO PRODUCE HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS IN UZBEKISTAN
Uzavtosanoat (Uzbek Automobile Industry) joint-stock company and Chasys Co. Ltd. (South Korea) have founded a new joint venture UzChasys to provide locally manufactured Daewoo and Chevrolet cars with modern lighting units and expand exports to the CIS.
The project of creation of an enterprise producing car headlights and taillights has been implemented within the Program of Industrial Development and Production Modernization in Namangan region, developed on the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.
The new plant was built in Namangan in cooperation with the South Korean Chasys Co. within 11 months. Uzavtosanoat holds 70% stake at the enterprise's charter capital, while Chasys has the rest 30%, Press Service of the Uzbek motorcar industry giant said.
UzChasys has no analogues in Central Asia and is equipped with the latest technologies of the highest polymeric molding, ultraviolet processing, vacuum aluminizing. Besides, the plant has modern equipment for checking the quality of ready products, allowing to conduct photometric tests, check impermeability and correctness of assemblage of headlights and taillights.
UzChasys will manufacture 18 types of lighting system products for Nexia and Matiz models produced by GM Uzbeksitan, while the headlights and taillights for Matiz will be made with new, changed design.
Production capacity of the plant is 250,000 sets of headlights and taillights annually. This volume should cover the needs of GM Uzbekistan and networks of post-sale servicing of cars inside Uzbekistan, and the markets of CIS countries.
Some 200 new workplaces will created as a result of the project's first stage implementation. When the enterprise works in full production capacity, the import substitution will make up approximately $40 million a year. The plant's technologies give additional opportunities for localization of materials and cooperation with other companies.
The project will promote the development of the whole region's industry. At the second stage of cooperation with Chasys Co. Ltd it is planned to launch production of chassis and lifting jacks. Also organization of production of stamped components, filters and sun visors is planned at other enterprises of Namangan region.
"Despite the crisis, we believe in the success of our business in Uzbekistan. We are impressed by the country's economy growth and the achievements in automobile industry during this hard period," Chang Sok Dong, President of Chasys Co. Ltd., said at the JV official opening ceremony.
"This is our first project on this hospitable land, and we won't stop. Along with lighting systems the Chasys Co. Ltd. Group of Companies has a chassis components production technology, and we have already started with Uzavtosanoat studying the issues of localization of this manufacture," he added.
MARKET ECONOMY AND QUALITY MANAGEMENT
In anti-crisis program measures, special attention is given to further acceleration of the modernization, technical and technological rearmament of enterprises, the wide introduction of modern and adaptive technologies.
An important role is played in accelerating the implementation of sectoral programs on modernization, technical and technological renewal of production, to meet international quality standards. In turn, this will enable companies to strengthen its position in the domestic and foreign markets.
This objective contributes to resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers “On additional measures to improve implementation for enterprise quality management system conforming to international standards” on June 19, 2009.
This was discussed at the workshop, held at the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for State Property Management and on the role of government in implementing quality management systems in enterprises, National News Agency UzA reported.
Deputy Chairman of SPC A. Doliev noted that introduction of appropriate international standards of quality management systems plays an important role that in enhancing the competitiveness and export capacity of domestic producers of goods and services. After all, the competitiveness of an enterprise is determined, first of all, the by quality of its products. The new market-based mechanism used in the quality management system ensures the release of quality products and increase of consumer confidence.
In accordance with a resolution up to 1 January 2011 is scheduled to implement the relevant international standards of quality management system in 277 enterprises, organizations and business entities to explore the possibility of 952 companies to implement this system.
The seminar discussed issues relating to the functions of government regulation of business entities to implement a quality management system, optimization of corporate governance and structures, as well as the selection of consulting firms for implementing a quality management system.
BRICK PLANT OPENS IN TASHKENT REGION
New burnt brick producing enterprise Imkon was launched in Akkurgan district of Tashkent region.
The company was set up on the basis of the non-operating brick plant and uses raw materials from the adjacent territories.
According to head of the company Umid Mirzakulov, more than UZS 20 million was spent for reconstruction of the enterprise and purchase of equipment.
The plant, employing about 30 people, will initially produce over 2 million bricks per year. The number of staff is expected to double after the company reaches full production capacity.
SOCIETY
SEMINAR DWELLS ON LEGAL GUARANTEES OF WOMEN'S RIGHTS PROTECTION
Women's Committee and UNDP project "Legislative and Institutional Capacity Development for Women's Empowerment in Uzbekistan" held a seminar on the "Legal guarantees of women's rights protection from discriminative customs, forced and early marriages" in Nukus, Karakalpakstan, on 23 September.
The event was organized for legal clinic students, members of the Kelajak Ovozi youth organization and employees of institutions of professional development of teachers. The main goal of the seminar was to determine violence including domestic abuse.
The seminar was aimed at explaining the types of violence, peculiarities of crimes, committed in families. Participants received information on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and legislation of Uzbekistan.
In Uzbekistan, various opportunities have been created for women, however, there are certain issues of concern regarding women's rights. The seminar's agenda included theoretical and practical sessions on equality of women and men, definition of domestic violence, negative side of traditional lifestyle, e.g. early and/or forced marriages, implementation of international treaties and national legislation on women's rights protection. During the training, participants obtained skills and knowledge on settling family problems through various interactive techniques.
The UNDP project "Legislative and Institutional Capacity Development for Women's Empowerment in Uzbekistan" has been implemented in collaboration with the Women's Committee of Uzbekistan. The project is aimed at supporting and building the capacity of government, civil society and mass media in reducing the gender gaps via raising awareness on and implementing the recommendations of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW Committee) given to Uzbekistan in August 2006.
INTL ROUND TABLE DISCUSSES ISSUES OF COUNTRY'S SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
An international roundtable meeting was held in Bukhara on 22-23 September to discuss the theme of "Civil society institutions: issues of ensuring sustainable development, democratic renewal and modernization of the country".
The event was devoted to discussion of the process of implementation in Uzbekistan of the concept of transfer from the strong state to the strong civil society, stepwise and gradual measures on all-round increase of the role of civil society institutions in the formation of representative authority bodies.
The meeting was organized by the Institute for Civil Society Studies, Ecologic Movement of Uzbekistan, Kamolot public youth movement, as well as foreign partners – Friedrich Ebert Foundation, National Democratic Institute (USA), Tsukuba University (Japan). The event was attended by 16 international experts from 11 countries.
During discussions national and foreign experts considered some aspects concerned with the peculiarities of functioning and development of political parties, NGOs, mass media, their role in the process of democratization and renewal of society, reformation and modernization of the country, exchanged opinions on the new changes in the legislation on NGOs, experience of work of civil society institutions, in particular, the activity of the Public Fund, Parliamentary Commission, Ecologic Movement, etc. Special attention was paid to the problems of using transborder water flows, preservation and restoration of ecosystem of the Central Asian region.
Participants of the round table noted with satisfaction that all necessary organizational and legal, material and technical conditions have been created in Uzbekistan as a result of system and gradual democratization and liberalization of election norms, as well as legislation on civil society institutions. These conditions promote sustainable development, democratic renewal and modernization of the country.