October 12, 2009

Politics:
President of Uzbekistan receives US Assistant State Secretary
US delegation visits Uzbekistan
Election Commission approves list of electoral districts
Economics:
Banks expand investment activities
Tasty Export
Localization vs Imports
Society:
Art Week Style.uz opens
Wrestling champions awarded

POLICY

PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN RECEIVES US ASSISTANT STATE SECRETARY

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received US Assistant State Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake on October 12 in Tashkent, National News Agency UzA reported.

Islam Karimov said Uzbekistan and the US had been developing relations in various spheres, which, among others, cover a wide range of issues of international policy. Among them are combating transnational threats and strengthening regional security and stability.

The two states cooperate in establishing peace and stability in Afghanistan and the economic renewal of this country. Delivery of non-military and humanitarian cargo to Afghanistan is carried out through the territory of Uzbekistan.

Robert Blake said the US administration was interested in further development of mutually beneficial relations with Uzbekistan.

The sides considered issues of expansion of Uzbek-American relations and other topics of mutual interest.

US DELEGATION VISITS UZBEKISTAN

The US Assistant State Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Robert Blake is on a visit in Uzbekistan. On October 12, he met the chairman of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Ilgizar Sabirov.

During the talks, the sides said that relations between Uzbekistan and the United States were developing in many areas, including in the field of parliamentary cooperation, UzA reported.

They considered issues of development of relations between the legislative bodies of the two countries. The members of the US delegation got acquainted with the activity of the parliament of Uzbekistan.

Robert Blake also held talks with the speaker of the Legislative Chamber Dilorom Tashmuhamedova and visited a number of ministries and departments of Uzbekistan.

ELECTION COMMISSION APPROVES LIST OF ELECTORAL DISTRICTS

The Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan approved the list of electoral districts for the December parliamentary elections at its session on October 9.

In accordance with the law on elections to the Oliy Majlis, the elections to the Legislative Chamber (lower house) are held in 135 territorial electoral districts.

The members of the commission also considered the preparation to the elections to the parliament, as well as regional, district and city councils of people’s deputies, which will be held on 27 December.

The commission discussed organization of the working group for checking the correctness of the voters’ lists, which will be presented by the political parties participating in the elections.

ECONOMY

BANKS EXPAND INVESTMENT ACTIVITIES

The Senate Committee for Budget and Economic Reforms and the Central Bank held a conference on stimulating the participation of the banks and other financial institutions in the modernization of the economy.

The participants said the banks had been cardinally reforming their work in line with the requirements to expand their investment activities outlined by President Islam Karimov in his speech at the Cabinet on 13 February.

The banks have set up special departments dealing with the expertise and opening of the financing of the investment projects.

The privileges and tax preferences provided to the banks have allowed them to increase the volumes of investment credits, which exceeded UZS 1.5 trillion in the first nine months of 2009.

The banks have been actively participating in the recovery of the bankrupt enterprises, 35 of which have been recovered and sold to new owners.

To date, the new owners have invested UZS 87.9 billion to these enterprises and created more than 12,000 new workplaces.

The banks have invested over UZS 44 billion to the purchased enterprises and created more than 4,000 workplaces.

The volume of production of these enterprises comprised UZS 20 billion since the beginning of the year. USD 8 million worth of products were exported.

TASTY EXPORT

During the years of its development, Uzbekistan has not only ensured its food independence, but it also exports its extra produce.

Success in the agricultural sector of the country is ensured through a new class of owners in the countryside - farmers who are really interested in the land - to generously reward them for their conscientious work. The government has provided various kinds of privileges and preferences to support the farmers’ movement, their rapid development, increase productivity and thereby raise incomes, Uzbekistan Today Newspaper reported.

Currently, export of fresh fruits and vegetables, melons and grapes in our republic is carried by the Association of Wholesalers of Uzbekistan, O’zulgurjisavdoinvest. In addition, this activity is supported by local business units of Matlubotsavdo with their offices in almost all parts of the country. Dried and frozen fruit and vegetables as well as bean products are also exported. Deliveries abroad of all kinds of fruit and vegetables are carried out on a contract basis for convertible currency.

“Owing to a wide network of wholesale stores across the country, our association succeeds in ensuring equal distribution of products among retail markets in the country, especially in rural areas, remote steppes and mountain areas,” said deputy chairman of O’zulgurjisavdoinvest, Ravshan Hamidbekov. “Along with the association, seven major wholesale depots were created in 2006 for main groups of consumer goods: from fruit, vegetables and clothing to household appliances and computer equipment. At present, there are 54 territorial distribution centers with warehouses operating in the country with the total area of more than 315,000 square meters, and refrigerator chambers providing room for more than 63,000 tons of perishable products.”

For more rational use of fruit, vegetable, melons, potato, grapes, and bean products in the domestic consumer market, as well as organization of export supplies, the government of the republic gathered a working group of representatives of various ministries, agencies and organizations.

The group addresses issues of sustainable and uninterrupted supply of national consumer markets with all kinds of agricultural produce, and monitors the prices for these goods. In addition, the working group monitors the implementation of key forecast parameters of production and use of agricultural products, approved in 2009, determines the volume and range of products offered for export, and studies export proposals of O’zulgurjisavdoinvest and companies of Matlubotsavdo taking into account the reasonableness of the volume, types and price factor. This also will prompt the resolution of issues concerning the organization of transportation, timely provision of cars and refrigerators, customs clearance and reporting on shipment of foods for export.

Commercial banks will provide loans to companies of O’zulgurjisavdoinvest and Matlubotsavdo for procurement of agricultural produce from farms.

On the basis of applications of these organizations and other exporters, O’zbekiston Temir Yo’llari provides cars for transportation of fruit and vegetables. And the State Customs Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan processes shipping documents no longer than one day. In addition, the State Statistics Committee conducts ongoing monitoring of the prices across regions and types of products, and provides weekly reports to the working group.

LOCALIZATION VS IMPORTS

Leading companies of Uzbekistan are going to increase on average by 50% the level of localization of certain types of products toward 2012.

Enterprises are furthering efforts to develop and increase production of new types of localized engineering equipment and tooling, machinery and units for small businesses, mini-technologies for processing agricultural and mineral resources, to expand production of finished goods, components and materials based on industrial cooperation, informed the Ministry of Economy.

Units of the national holding company Uzbekneftegaz are increasing the level of localization of 31 types of produce. In particular, Uzneftegazmash through 2012 will go on with the localization of 11 types of components for oil and gas equipment.

Leaders of the mining industry of the republic, Navoi and Olmaliq metallurgical plants, will work on nine projects which will result in localized production of various engineering equipment.

One of the biggest projects is implemented in the light industry. To ensure the needs of textile and clothing industry, Marg’ilon Mechanical Plant and Toshto’qimachi will establish new companies for localizing the production of metal parts and other components. In addition, it is projected to create a joint assembly and repair shop in partnership with leading foreign companies, Shlafhorst and Trutzschler.

Analysts estimate the annual effect of import substitution in Uzbekistan constitutes about $2 billion. By end of the first half of 2009, the localization program enabled local companies to develop production of 95 new types of goods, increase output 1.8 times, thus ensuring the production and retail of about $710 million worth of import substituting merchandize.

SOCIETY

ART WEEK STYLE.UZ OPENS

The annual Art Week Style.uz opened in Tashkent on Monday. The event is held by the Fund Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan together with other organizations.

The week aims to demonstrate the potential of Uzbekistan in culture, arts, fashion and design, and create conditions for the exchange of experience between the Uzbek and foreign specialists.

The forum includes a number of bright events, including exhibitions, fashion shows, master classes and others.

On the first day of the Art Week, the exhibition of the applied art, design and fashion was presented. It features national garments, jewelry, clothes, footwear and accessories.

Another exhibition demonstrates ancient items and samples of applied art, including rare samples of porcelain, national costumes, sculptures and other works.

WRESTLING CHAMPIONS AWARDED

The Uzbek athletes won three medals at the freestyle and Greek-Roman wrestling world championship in Denmark, in which sportsmen from more than 70 states took part.

Zaurbek Soliyev (freestyle wrestling, 84 kg) won the gold medal and became the world champion.

Dilshod Aripov (Greek-Roman wrestling, 60 kg) won the silver medal, and Dilshod Mansurov (60 kg) won the bronze medal.

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov awarded the members of the Uzbek team and their trainers with the honorary titles and orders.

The high awards were presented to the athletes and trainers at the Olympic Glory Museum in Tashkent.

The gold and silver medal winners also received the President’s gift – Nexia cars, and the bronze medal winner received the Matiz car.

The main trainer of the national team in Greek-Roman wrestling Kamil Fatkullin was awarded with the Mehnat Shuhrati order.

The main trainer in freestyle wrestling Nurlan Jaksilikov received the Dustlik order.