September 28, 2009
Economics:
Uzbekistan, Oman to boost economic and investment partnership
Hyundai Heavy Industries presents its construction machinery in Tashkent
German Technologies in Local Production Sector
Growth in the Production of Building Materials
Implementing Effective Water Management Mechanism
Society:
Environmental projects implemented in Aral Sea area
Librarians’ contest held in Syrdarya
Internet Festival winners awarded
ECONOMY
UZBEKISTAN, OMAN TO BOOST ECONOMIC AND INVESTMENT PARTNERSHIP
The Omani side at the Omani-Uzbek Joint Business Council held its first meeting under the chairmanship of Eng. Salim bin Mohammed Al Shanfari, member of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) board and chairman of the council, according to Uzreport Information Portal.
Khalil bin Abdullah Al Khonji, chairman of OCCI, who attended the meeting, stressed the importance of developing business relations between the Sultanate and Uzbekistan and the current support being accorded to these relations.
He underlined the expected role of the Business Council to improve economic and investment partnership between the private sectors and the investors of both sides.
The meeting also touched on the importance of activating aspects of economic cooperation between the Sultanate and Uzbekistan, enhancing the scope of benefits by the Omani private sector establishments and companies from investment potentials and opportunities available in Uzbekistan and the council's role in achieving economic gains for both sides.
The meeting also discussed a number of topics, most importantly the council's work plan during the coming period, work mechanism, meeting schedules, targeted economic sectors and linking the council with the official electronic website of OCCI.
The meeting also discussed scenarios relating to preparations and organisation of the economic seminar, which OCCI intends to organise here in Muscat in association with all authorities concerned in the Sultanate and Uzbekistan. The future seminar will focus on available investment opportunities in the Sultanate and Uzbekistan.
HYUNDAI HEAVY INDUSTRIES PRESENTS ITS CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY IN TASHKENT
Hyundai Heavy Industries (South Korea) hosted a presentation of its construction machinery in Tashkent on September 25. The event was attended by the representatives of state bodies, UzbekLeasing International A.O., diplomatic corps, business and mass media.
"South Korea is a strategic partner of our country. The trade volume between Uzbekistan and South Korea made up $1 billion in 2008, while the total sum of Korean direct investments to the Uzbek economy reached $2 billion," said Alisher Shaikhov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Uzreport Information Portal reported.
"The regular meetings at a high level open wide opportunities for the development of cooperation. Uzbek and South Korean leaders have similar views on the issues of enhancement of mutual relations, many aspects of regional and international character," he added.
Managers of Hyundai showed a large-scale demonstration of the company's activity, its history, place in the world market, importance for the South Korean economy. It was noted that Hyundai Heavy Industries strives for supporting the competitiveness of its production, developing high quality products and improving the system of post-sale servicing. As a whole, the commodity line of Hyundai handling machinery includes more than 40 types of units.
GERMAN TECHNOLOGIES IN LOCAL PRODUCTION SECTOR
A new enterprise will produce 60,000 tons of gypsum per year.
Germany’s Knauf International GmbH has started production of dry construction mixtures at Bukharagips JV.
The company provided complete installation of a production line with capacity of 60,000 tons per year. The business plan provides for up to 40% of produce to be exported to neighboring countries.
In September 2005, Knauf acquired a 30.77% stake of Bukharagips for $1.55 million with three-year investment commitments amounting to $6.3 million. Currently, the German company owns the bulk of the shares, Uzbekistan Today newspaper reported.
In mid-2010 Knauf plans to commission a plasterboard factory in Kogon, Bukhoro region, worth $63 million, with the output capacity of 20 million square meters of plasterboard per annum.
Today there are two gypsum mines in Bukhoro and Samarqand regions. Total production capacity is about 200,000 tons of gypsum per year. Enterprises of Uzbekistan’s building industry produce about 100,000 tons of gypsum per year, and 30,000-40,000 tons of high-strength gypsum.
According to Uzstroymaterialy, the current production capacity of gypsum board in the republic, developed at a number of local enterprises, are estimated at 15 million square meters while the annual demand is about 40 million square meters.
GROWTH IN THE PRODUCTION OF BUILDING MATERIALS
A new enterprise for the production of construction materials has been commissioned in Ohangaron, Tashkent region.
It was created in cooperation with Germany’s Steinert Industries GmbH & Co KG, Uzbekistan Today newspaper reported.
Investment amounts to $6 million. The enterprise is producing burnt bricks based on cost-effective and modern technologies.
”Our company is equipped with modern technologies,” said Ivan Nogay, head of Termo Dom LLC. “This allows us to produce 10,000-12,000 bricks a day. The enterprise employs about 100 people. As soon as we start a two-shift operation, the number of employees will double.
Specialists say the installed technologies have high efficiency, the output is supplied to local markets and exported abroad.
IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE WATER MANAGEMENT MECHANISM
Uzbekistan perfects water management in the Zarafshan.
A plan of integrated water resources management and water conservation in the Zarafshan River basin has been launched in the republic.
The project is carried out by the government of the republic jointly with UNDP Uzbekistan for a phased implementation of the principles of integrated water resources management (IWRM). They are aimed at rational use and reduction of unproductive water loss, advocacy for water conservation, creation of sustainable and equitable water supply to sectors of the economy.
The IWRM principle is to introduce gradual institutional changes associated with technological innovations. Major institutional changes envisage reforms in the distribution and management of surface and groundwater, related legal and regulatory framework, as well as a fair and flexible system of water rights for all consumers.
It is planned for this year to draw approximately $600,000, about $550,000 in 2010 and around $200,000 in 2011.
In addition, a special Coordinating Council has been created for ensuring favorable environment for the project activities. It will provide control over effective use of the allocated funds, work out recommendations and measures on the implementation of project solutions, regularly review the progress of the project and, if necessary, present proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers to ensure its effective and timely implementation. A working group on the development of separate parts of the project will be approved in two months. The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan will be responsible for ensuring timely and targeted use of the grant funds, as well as for effective implementation of the project.
SOCIETY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED IN ARAL SEA AREA
A number of environmental projects is being implemented in the Aral Sea area, aimed at preserving biodiversity and introduction of new methods of use of natural resources on protected territories.
In accordance with a special project, realized together with the UNDP and the Global Environmental Facility, so-called environmental paths have been laid in the Amudarya river delta.
The aim of the paths is to protect the forests in the river delta and strengthen the system of protected natural areas, National News Agency UzA reported.
Students of local schools visit the river bank and walk along the environmental paths to familiarize themselves with the flora and fauna.
According to teachers, the visits help raise the environmental knowledge of the students and help them understand the relations between the people and the environment better.
The paths have also been organized in the forest along the Erkindaryo channel, around Yesbergen Chiganok lake and in Badaytukay and Nazarkhontukay areas.
LIBRARIANS’ CONTEST HELD IN SYRDARYA
The Most Diligent Librarian contest was held among the staff of the special libraries at the Regional Society of the Visually Impaired in the city of Syrdarya.
More than ten employees, who serve the readers with disabilities, competed at the event, organized by the regional branch of the youth movement Kamolot.
Sarvinoz Mamarasulova, from the Syrdarya city library for the visually impaired, the winner of the contest, will participate in the national phase of the competition.
A significant work is being implemented in Uzbekistan on improvement the activities of the libraries. The decree of the President dated 20 June 2006 “On organization of information and library supply for the population of the republic,” serves as important stimulus in this direction.
Also, various contests and other activities are held to improve the skills of the specialists in the sphere.
INTERNET FESTIVAL WINNERS AWARDED
On 25 September, the last day of the Week of Information and Communication Technologies, the awarding ceremony of the winners of the Internet Festival of UZ national domain was held in Tashkent.
The festival was organized by InfoCOM.UZ magazine, UZINFOCOM, Center for Development and Introduction of Computer and Information Technologies, and Mirada Software company. The official support for the festival was provided by the Communication and Information Agency of Uzbekistan (UzACI).
The national second-level domain UZ was established on 29 April 1995. As of the end of September 2009, the number of active domains in the UZ zone is about 9000.
The main objectives of the festival were the development of resources and services in the national Internet segment and encouraging the introduction of modern technologies in various areas of the country’s life.
According to the UzACI press service, over 750 sites participated in the festival. Following the selection of the jury and public voting, the winners were determined in 13 thematic and 3 special categories.
The site of the National Information Agency of Uzbekistan – UzA (www.uza.uz) took the third place in the category of “Best Media Website”.
The first place in this nomination took the site Gazeta.uz (www.gazeta.uz), second – the site about advertising PR.uz (www.pr.uz).
The site of the Uzbek Agency for Communications and Information (www.aci.uz) and the website of Beeline (www.beeline.uz) won the first places in the nomination of “Best Website of State Authorities” and “Best Corporate Website”, respectively.