24 June, 2011
Politics: Economy: Society: CULTURE: POLICY President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev will pay a working visit to During the visit, issues of expansion of Uzbek-Russian cooperation, as well as important problems of regional and international character will be considered. (Source: mfa.uz)
President of Russia arrives in Uzbekistan
On the invitation of President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev arrived in Tashkent with a working visit on 13 June. At Tashkent airport, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of Russia Dmitriy Medvedev had a brief talk. This visit is part of the traditional political dialogue of the leaders of Uzbekistan and Russia, which meet regularly to exchange views on a wide range of issues of Uzbek-Russian cooperation. At the upcoming negotiations on 14 June, the sides will discuss trade and economic relations, which are mutually beneficial and are steadily expanding even during the global financial crisis. In 2010, bilateral trade between the two states increased almost 1.5 times reaching USD 6.4 billion. The same dynamics is observed in the current year. (Source: UzA News Agency) On 14 June, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrived in the Kazakh capital of Astana to attend the session of the Council of Heads of States of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). This summit is an anniversary in the history of SCO, one of whose founders, along with Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Russia and Tajikistan, in 15 June 2001 was Uzbekistan. The past decade has been an important step in establishing a new international structure, which has become in a relatively short time, an influential factor in modern geopolitics. However, as noted in one of the past summits, the head of Uzbekistan noted, “SCO, as an equal union of states with common borders, close historical, cultural, traditional political, economic and humanitarian ties, demonstrates that its activities are not directed against the interests of other countries and has no block-confrontational character.” Within 10 years, SCO has created a serious legal basis for the Uzbekistan approaches its participation in SCO with responsibility. This is evidenced by the presidency of our country in 2004 and 2010, when at the initiative of Uzbekistan key documents for the organization, including the decision on approving the Regulations on the admission of new members of SCO, Decision on approval of the Rules of Procedure of the SCO, have been developed and adopted. Also, during the presidency of Uzbekistan the Joint Declaration on Cooperation between the UN Secretariat and the SCO was signed. Within the program of the summit’s first day, the leaders of member states, the heads of the observers, and other members attended the anniversary concert at the Kazakhstan Central Concert Hall. Also, several other events devoted to the 10th anniversary of the SCO were held. The summit of SCO will continue its work on 15 June. (Source: UzA News Agency) Shanghai Cooperation Organization: solidarity in meeting global challenges and securing sustainable development Kazakhstan’s capital of Astana has hosted Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State session on 14-15 June. The heads of member states extensively exchanged views on the current state and prospective directions of interaction within SCO along with pressing issues of regional and international politics. Keeping with the established tradition in SCO summits, the session continued in extended format that included also the heads of observer nations, namely, President of Iran Mahmud Ahmadinejad, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari, Minister of External Affairs of India S.M. Krishna, head of Mongolian President’s administration Battulga Dashzhamts, President of Afghanistan Hamid Karzai (invited as a guest by the chair country), as well as representatives of international institutions like the UN, CIS, CSTO. Participants of the session voiced their visions with regard to ways of advancing the cooperation in SCO realm, with a special consideration attached to regional agenda, events in the world, and the situation in Afghanistan in particular. Assessing SCO’s activity for the past ten years, President Islam Karimov noted the Organization has come to be considered an influential international structure for a relatively short period of time span, if historically measured. A robust normative and institutional base has been created within the establishment, its structural bodies have been steadily functioning, consistent expansion and intensification of cooperation in political, economic and humanitarian spheres has been secured, transport and communications ties have been consolidating. All of this suggests an open character of the Organization willing for dialogue with all the interested countries and international institutions. “In this respect, I would especially like to point out the following factors facilitating the growth in SCO’s international standing,” Islam Karimov said. “First and foremost, building on its underlying founding principles, the SCO makes itself known as a reliable guarantor of preserving stability and security in the region, a critically important task at this point of the rapidly changing and volatile world. “Third, as an association of nations with equal rights, SCO has manifested clearly that its activities are not directed against interests of other countries, nor is it a confrontation-oriented bloc.” President Islam Karimov expressed confidence in that the further thriving of SCO will be contingent on the will of member nations to attain tangible results and, above all, secure sustainable development and growth in the wellbeing of population residing in the region’s countries. Only when the peoples of SCO states do feel the fruits of joint work on concrete examples, will the SCO become even more attractive as an organization. Uzbekistan advocates materialization of investment projects in SCO region to construct and modernize automotive, railway and air communications both of intrastate and interstate significance, along with establishing modern logistics centers and hubs. Uzbekistan believes their implementation will help advance trade and economic relations of SCO member countries with those of the European Union, South and South-East Asia. In this vein, Uzbekistan considers important to put into action the proposal of China to institute SCO Development Bank, one that will aim to shape a multilateral mechanism of funding priority socio-economic and infrastructure schemes within the framework of the Organization, to allow for a more effective addressing of common challenges faced by participating nations. Realization of interstate agreement on establishing Central Asia-Persian Gulf international transport corridor can prove paramount in this regard. The project would in the future help link the SCO expanse with ports of the Persian and Oman Gulfs via land routes. Evaluating the state of affairs in Central Asia, Uzbekistan’s leader underscored that the region, given its geostrategic significance and abundant natural resources, continues to remain in the spotlight of global community in the context of growing threats and challenges to security and stability in the world. Ongoing for more than thirty years, the war in Afghanistan is still the most formidable destabilizing factor in the region as much as the wider world. The situation in that country remains distressingly tense despite all the measures being undertaken by the international community. “Today, no one entertains any doubt that there is no military solution to the Afghan crisis. Basically all leaders of nations across the globe, including those involved in resolving the crisis per se as well as the very military command of Coalition forces in Afghanistan, have adhered to this notion,” head of Uzbek state reiterated. “We are positively convinced that the problems in that country should be addressed by the Afghan people themselves. Only through a compromise between the confronting parties, by engaging Afghans themselves in this process, and socio-economic reconstruction of Afghanistan backed by the global community, can we find a way out of this deadlock. Uzbekistan spoke about this as early as April 2008 in Bucharest. “We see Afghanistan’s future as a peaceful and steadily developing country with posing no threat to the surrounding nations, in order for the peoples living in this part of the world to be able, as it used to be in the past, to cash in the opportunities of friendly, mutually advantageous and equal relations. Uzbekistan is going to stick to its policy of good neighborliness and cooperation with regard to Afghanistan in its bilateral interaction, building on shared national interests.” During the session, the sides noted their approaches to addressing global and regional issues are similar and confirmed willingness to intensify cooperation. Following the session, a package of documents has been signed aiming at further enhancing the cooperation within SCO. The sides inked Declaration of Decade that includes basic accomplishments made by the SCO in the past period, views of member nations to contemporary affairs in the region and world at large, along with approaches to addressing pressing issues of regional security and bolstering cooperation within SCO in priority dimensions. Anti-Narcotics Strategy 2011-2016 has also been approved along with the Action Plan to execute it, to facilitate lifting up the efficiency of joint efforts to counter drugs threat in SCO area. Standard Memorandum on commitments by the applicant state to be granted a status of SCO member nation has been signed in order to regulate the procedure of accession of countries into the Organization based on the Regulations on the Rules of Admitting New Members to the SCO approved during the 2010 Tashkent summit. Authorized representatives of SCO member states penned an inter-governmental agreement on cooperation in healthcare that provides for interaction in such aspects as prevention and oversight of infectious diseases, safety and quality of medicines, protection of mother and child health, provision of medical assistance in emergency situations and a range of other stipulations. Revisiting the work of the summit, President Islam Karimov expressed confidence in that “the outcomes of the current candid and constructive exchange of views on issues urgent for us, along with the decisions adopted today concerning cooperation in combating drugs business and SCO expansion, will prove another important stride toward ensuring the security and stability of the Organization’s member countries and to raising the structure’s effectiveness.” It has been noted during the press conference that followed the negotiations that the remarkable transformation in regional and international politics notwithstanding, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization has for the last ten years withstood with dignity all the tests and proved itself as an essential mechanism for intensification of neighborly, friendly and partnership relations among participating nations. Chairmanship in the SCO has been passed on to the Chinese side at the summit. Heads of state supported the proposal by the People’s Republic of China to announce the period of its presidency as the Year of Neighborliness and Friendship in SCO area. That put an end to the eleventh session of SCO Council of Heads of State. (Source: UzA News Agency) Local communities elect aksakals and their advisers Towards robust civil society According to experts, the current election campaign is clearly demonstrating the democratization of the state and the society, and actual implementation of the principle ‘From a strong state to a strong civil society’. As noted by President Islam Karimov, a civil society is primarily a self-government. This is his first and fundamental principle. It is characterized by the developed system of self-government that effectively addresses the pressing issues of population. A local community (mahalla) – a citizens’ assembly has been one of the oldest civil institutions in Uzbekistan. There are currently about 10,000 local communities throughout the country, and their activities involve almost the whole population. Mahalla means something more than just a concept of a management team for its residents. It has been this institute that defined, approved and regulated the rules and principles of human communal conduct, created a system of ideological and philosophical views, formed the moral foundations and traditions, and the public opinion. Mahalla ingeniously interlinked a state with a family, different religions, it established contacts with organizations of culture and education. This national civil institute received the status of the constitutional institute with the adoption of the Basic Law. The increasing role and place of citizens’ self-government in the public life have become the starting point for the development and adoption of relevant laws, including the Law ‘On self-government bodies’, ‘On elections of chairpersons (aksakals) of citizens’ assemblies and their advisers’. The latter document is unique in its way as it was drafted and adopted exclusively in accordance with national traditions and practices of the Uzbek mahalla. Nowadays citizens’ self-government bodies shift to a new level of development defined by the concept put forward by the head of the state last November. It laid down the priorities for the further improvement of the institutional framework of functioning of the citizens’ self-government institute, expansion of its functions and ensuring its close interaction with public authorities and administration. In the years to come mahalla will be legislatively assigned as a center of targeted social assistance to population, development of private entrepreneurship and family business. Its functions will be expanded significantly in a system of public control over the activities of state authorities. High organizational level of election campaigning One of distinguishing features of the present campaign is the ‘Concept of preparing and conduction of elections of chairpersons (aksakals) of citizens' assemblies and their advisers’ adopted by the Council of the Senate of Oliy Majlis this March. According to experts, this program enabled to organized the campaign on a high level taking into account all the nuances of the electoral process. The concept specifically and gradually itemized all the activities within the preparation and conduction of the election of aksakals and their advisers. This process generally includes four phases: a preparatory period (from April to May), the principal stage, the final stage and the formation of self-government bodies. Open and public According to the legislation, a chairperson (aksakal) of a citizens' assembly and his advisers are elected for 2,5 years by the citizens' assembly. The institute of representation is used in the current elections. According to the legislation, representatives of residential areas, streets, mahallas, neighborhoods, districts elected by the decision of the general residents’ assembly are delegated to the citizens’ representatives’ assembly. The electoral quota is apportioned in accordance with the law. This is done solely for the convenience of the citizens themselves: as experts explain, it is impossible to gather a people’s assembly of many thousands in one place and at the appointed time. The suffrage is granted to the citizens of Uzbekistan who permanently reside in its territory and who have reached the age of 18 by the election day, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, language, religion, social background, personal and social status, education, type of employment. The participation in elections is voluntary and free. The date of the election is appointed by the working group basing on the local conditions. In each certain case members of assemblies, or representatives of streets and neighborhoods are notified about the meeting no later than five days before the election. Regarding the nomination, the article 14 of the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan ‘On elections of a chairperson (aksakal) of a citizens’ assembly and his advisers’ reads as follows: "The candidates for the post of chairperson (aksakal) of the citizens' assembly are nominated by the working group taking into account the views of people living in the relevant territory". Election of a chairperson of a citizens' assembly and his advisers is carried out by open or secret ballot. The decision on the form of the election is made by open voting of the citizens' assembly. The candidate to the position of aksakal of a citizens' assembly or his adviser is considered as elected if he or she received more than a half of votes of people, who attended the citizens’ assembly. To date, the elections have been already held in many citizens’ assemblies, but the campaign will last till the end of the month. The current legislation hasn’t specified the age limit for candidates to aksakals. Meanwhile, the notion of the ‘aksakal’ in people’s minds stands for a gray-haired man sophisticated in life experience. The experience has shown that there are previously acting aksakals among the candidates, who had proved their competence in the past period and they can be re-elected by the citizens' assembly. According to the statistics of last and present elections, even those over 30 years old claim this post as they are ready to take on responsibility towards the society. There are women among the candidates too. Their active participation in the activities of the local self-government body is an indicator of their increased role and status in the society. In the ongoing elections, women not only claim to be the chairpersons and their advisers, but also actively participate in the voting. The major part of voters, the youths, are actively involved in this process. The Youths’ Public Movement Kamolot did a good job in terms of enhancing the participation of young people. Life after elections Mahalla today is an important factor in the timely and successful tackling the pressing issues of citizens and protecting their interests. This institute plays an important role in ensuring the backward and forward interrelations of population with public authorities, broad informing of the public about the local ongoing activities on implementation of socioeconomic development in the regions. Year by year mahalla increasingly introduces a function of social control. The citizens’ self-government bodies have formed the conciliatory commissions, community groups Mahalla Posboni, they have introduced the post of consultant on religious enlightenment, spiritual and moral education, as well as determined the procedure of allocation of funds to mahalla for ensuring the completeness of the payments for housing and communal services by the population. Mahalla is also the initiator of the local development of social infrastructure, it promotes the employment of citizens residing on the territory, including the organization of home-based work. It is increasingly turning into a center of family and private businesses. MPs consider State Budget execution, new draft laws Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan held a session to discuss execution of the State Budget and new draft laws. The lower house of the parliament considered a report of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan on execution of the State Budget in 2010 and the first quarter of 2011. First Deputy Prime Minister – Finance Minister Rustam Azimov presented the report. The report said that the state budget of Uzbekistan was implemented in line with the parameters, earlier approved by Oliy Majlis, despite negative consequences of the global economic crisis. During the budget process, the main attention was paid to implementation of important priorities of social-economic programme of Uzbekistan. Adopted measures helped to ensure growth of gross domestic product, industrial output, agriculture production, retail trade turnover and volume of paid services. In the result of adopted measures on further strengthening liquidity and stability of financial system of the country, the aggregate capital of commercial banks and the volume of deposits increased significantly. The volume of loans directed to real sector of economy also increased. The investments to construction of production capacities, purchase of equipment grew. In 2010, over 950,000 new jobs were created in Uzbekistan of which 604,000 or 65% in small business and 210,000 were outworks. After Rustam Azimov’s report, MPs discussed the report and members of all political parties and MPs of Ecologic Movement shared their opinion. After the discussions, the MPs adopted a corresponding resolution. After that MPs discussed draft law “On introduction of changes and amendments to the law “On bankruptcy”, which is directed at speeding up separate procedures of enterprise liquidation. The amendments allow significantly optimize liquidation process of bankrupt enterprises and realization of their property. The draft law also envisages norm, which allows to liquidate production of debtor without ending its activity to protect population. MPs considered a draft law “On introduction of changes and amendments to some legislative acts of Uzbekistan”. The law was developed in line with the presidential decree “On additional measures on further decreasing and improving system on organization of control over activity of entrepreneurship” and directed at decreasing interference of controlling bodies to activities of the businesses. The draft law “On introduction of changes and amendments to Criminal Code of Uzbekistan and Code of Administrative Responsibility in connection with strengthening responsibility for illegal interference to activity of businesses” was developed within the State Programme “The Year of small businesses and private entrepreneurship”. The document envisages responsibilities, including criminal, for initiating and holding inspections, stopping activity of businesses and their banking accounts, illegal demand for providing information on balance of the businesses’ accounts. MPs discussed “On introduction of changes and amendments to law “On state statistics”, which is directed at clarification of some norms of existing legislation to determine authority of the state statistics bodies, limiting their rights, etc. After the discussions, MPs approved all draft laws in the first reading and directed to discussion at corresponding committees. Legislative Chamber also considered other issues of its jurisdiction. (Source: UzDaily.com) President visits Kashkadarya region President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrived in Kashkadarya region on 22 June to get acquainted with the undertaken socio-economic reforms and creative and beautification work in the area. As in all regions of the country, large-scale reforms are being implemented in Kashkadarya region, too. Cities and villages are being improved, changing their image. New businesses, educational and medical institutions, large and modern roads, parks and plazas are built. As a result of the formation of stable households on the basis of gradual reform of agriculture, optimization of acreage of farms, the efficiency is steadily increasing, improving financial and economic situation. Opportunities are expanding to increase income and living standards, appearance of villages are improving, modern infrastructure is developing. Today, each of 7,139 farmers has an average of 102 hectares of land. As a result of consistent reforms, providing full support to farmers and protecting their rights and interests, profitability and productivity have increased in the region. President Islam Karimov visited Kashkadarya Research Institute of selection and seed-grain cereals, and talked with scientists and young researchers. Founded on the initiative of the head of state, this institute performs tasks such as improving grain yield in irrigated areas and improving their quality in accordance with international standards, creating varieties of wheat resistant to water shortage and salinization of land struggle with agricultural pests and plant diseases. “Kashkadarya region has great economic potential and opportunities,” President said. “This institution was created in Kashkadarya in order to effectively use this potential and in-depth study of soil characteristics and climatic conditions of the region on a scientific basis, opening opportunities to search for young scientists.” At this institute, where more than 100 scientists and researchers are currently studying early-maturing, resistant to diseases and pests of wheat which fits into climatic conditions of the region. The test fields are located in Karshi, Kasbiy and Shakhrisabz and Kamashi districts of the region. Such sort of wheat created by the scientists as “Turkistan,”, “Jayhun” and “Yaksart” are totally zoned. “In addition to increasing productivity, we must create more high-quality varieties of wheat,” Islam Karimov said. “Last year our country raised 7.3 million tons of grain. Year after year, productivity is increasing. In the first years of independence the country cultivated only 800 million tons of grain, five million tons of wheat was imported from abroad. In a short time, Uzbekistan has taken a worthy place among the states that export grain. In 2010, we exported more than 400 thousand tons.” Speaking about the current problems of the institute, the head of state noted the need for extensive use of capacity and knowledge of young people, creating all necessary conditions for scientific research, effective use of biological methods of pest control. Great attention paid under the leadership of President Islam Karimov to development of sports, particularly football, is yielding good results. Presidential decree “On additional measures to further strengthen the material base and the development of football in the Republic for 2011-2013” dated 19 January of 2011 serves as an important guide to action in the future development of football in our country. Three teams presenting Kashkadarya region, Nasaf (Karshi), Shurtan (Guzar) and Mashal (Muborak), are located in the country’s top league on football. President viewed the modern football club base Nasaf in the city of Karshi and talked to the players and coaches. Islam Karimov congratulated Nasaf team with success in the competition for the cup of the Asian Football Confederation. “There are sports in which the individual skills of the athlete play an important role. Football is a team game. It’s a well-organized game of team members and their high self-giving is crucial,” said Islam Karimov. Particular attention paid to development of football in the country, including Kashkadarya, can be seen in the conditions created by the football club base “Nasaf.” “I witnessed the rapid development of football in Uzbekistan,” said the head coach of Nasaf, a renowned expert of Ukraine Anatoliy Demyanenko. “This is the result of your great attention to the promotion of sports, particularly football, to attract youth to the sport and development of children’s sports.” President Islam Karimov presented a modern bus to Nasaf football club. (Source: UzA News Agency) INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION From the Perspective of Photographer A photo-exhibition “A Universe in the Universe: Uzbekistan - Smile of the People” organized in Milan by the Famous Italian Open Mind Gallery. Opening the exhibition, Director of the Open Mind Gallery Riuki Watanabe said that the peoples of Central Asia have a rich historical and cultural heritage, similar traditions and values. But Uzbekistan, due to its geographical and historical features, had always played and would play an important role in establishing dialogue and understanding between the peoples of the East and the West. Journalist of the Italian Il Sole 24 News Agency Vincenzo Kierkiya added that in ancient times Samarqand, Bukhoro, Khiva and Tashkent had been an integral part of the caravan trade along the Silk Road and development centers of various types of arts, crafts, science and culture - that’s why there is a strong interest of foreign tourists to the history, traditions and culture of the Uzbek people. (Source: UT News Agency) ECONOMY Small business and entrepreneurship is essential in evolving a class of owners, being a sound foundation for modernization and renewal of the country. Therefore, the government takes numerous efforts to create supportive environment for them, and provide legal protection. The national program Year of Small Business and Private Entrepreneurship the country generates more favorable business environment. This program attaches great importance to improvement of the regulatory documents aimed at strengthening private property rights. A presidential decree on additional measures to further reduce check-ups and improve control of business activities has introduced a new procedure for conducting check-ups. In particular, financial and economic activities of newly established small businesses are no longer subject to routine tax audits during the first three years after their state registration. Previously this benefit was given for two years. Its extension for one more year creates a great opportunity for those who have started their own business. In addition, small businesses paying taxes and other mandatory payments on time and ensuring sustained growth and profitability are exempt from tax audits for the period from 1 April 2011 to April 1, 2014. In accordance with the decree, 171 small businesses registered three years at most excluded from scheduled inspections approved for 2011, as well as 576 small businesses will not pass scheduled comprehensive inspections. Resolution of the president on measures for further improvement of organization and state registration of businesses has opened up new, even more opportunities for the development of private business. The document introduces a number of innovations for more favorable conditions for business development, reducing costs of state registration of business entities. In particular, since June 1 the average number of employees in small enterprises engaged in certain activities is increased. This will enable enterprises to increase the number of workers using a simplified system of taxation with benefits in the delivery of reports, which in turn will raise production volumes. State Tax Committee of Uzbekistan has created necessary conditions for effective use of such opportunities. In particular, tax offices have introduced high-quality mutual electronic information exchange service. Taxpayers provided more than ten kinds of interactive services. Uzbekistan re-announces tender to reconstruct part of national highway Uzbekistan re-announced a tender on reconstruction of Guzar-Bukhara-Nukus-Beyneu (A380) in Bukhara region. Tender was announced on reconstruction of A380 Guzar-Bukhara-Nukus-Beyneu road section from km 355 to km 440 (85 km) with replacement of 2 asphalt lanes to 4 lanes of cement concrete pavement. In line with the tender terms, all interested companies should submit their tender proposals till 12 July 2011. The reconstruction works of road will be financed due to loan of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In April 2010, the ADB issued loan for US$600 million within the ADB’s Multitranche Financing Facility, which was allocated to the reconstruction of 222 km of national highway in 2010-2012. The funds will be directed to reconstruct over 220 kilometers of the A380 highway, and to provide training support for improved planning, project management, road asset management, and community facilities. The A380 highway forms part of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program (CAREC) and one of its corridors – Corridor 2. This connects Uzbekistan to Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. Upgrading the highway into a four-lane international design-standard road, rehabilitating other sections, and improving road planning and management will shorten travel time, reduce transport costs, improve safety, and support growth and poverty reduction. (Source: UzDaily.com) Legal Protection of Foreign Capital Open days for investors Uzbekistan pays great attention to the attraction of foreign capital, legal protection of investors who play an important role in the further development of industry and economy. One of the key documents that have shaped a new stage in the development of this sector was the resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers on additional measures to strengthen the legal protection of foreign direct investment. The country clarified the created favorable conditions and incentives, organized the monitoring at the enterprises with foreign investment and provided the investors with legal aid. Thus, at one of these events B. Turdiev, manager of Art Furniture foreign company appealed to the staff of the Department of Justice asking for assistance in obtaining a license for wholesale trade. The foreign enterprise has received the license after some research and taking of the measures. The monitoring of existing enterprises with foreign investment in Tashkent allowed 5 enterprises to get the legal assistance in various matters. For example, it was revealed that the joint venture Trading House Diyor was exempt from payment of customs duties for imported products, but despite this, it did not enjoy such privilege. As a result, the company got the overpaid tax back. According to the experts of the Ministry of Justice, Uzbekistan comprehensive studies the problems hindering the activities of enterprises with foreign investment, as well as advises the investors on new and existing regulatory and legal acts that gives them privileges and preferences. FACTS AND FIGURES: FOREIGN INVESTMENTS In the first quarter of 2011 Uzbekistan attracted $1.97 billion of investment in fixed assets. The manufacturing industries got over 2.2 trillion soums (June 14, 2011. 1 USD = 1708.92 UZS) of investment, and non-production industries - 976 billion soums. (Source: UT News Agency Industrial production of Uzbekistan makes up 8.946trln soums in 1Q 2011
President of Russia to visit Uzbekistan
President of Russia arrives in Uzbekistan
President arrives in Astana"
Shanghai Cooperation Organization: solidarity in meeting global challenges and securing sustainable development
Elections to Citizens’ Assemblies Crucial in Keeping with Democratization
MPs consider State Budget execution, new draft laws
President visits Kashkadarya region
New Preferences for Private Sector
Uzbekistan re-announces tender to reconstruct part of national highway
Legal Protection of Foreign Capital
Industrial production of Uzbekistan makes up 8.946trln soums in 1Q 2011
Uzbekistan's experience in boosting employment through small business
LUKOIL produces 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas in Uzbekistan
Major charity ball to benefit children in orphanages
Address of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan to the President of the European Parliament
Tashkent to host international festival of contemporary cinema
President of Russia to visit Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan on 13-14 June on the invitation of the President of
Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.
practical implementation of joint projects in the confrontation with modern challenges and threats, sustainable economic development of member states as well as the whole region and expanded cooperation in the socio-cultural sphere.
Program of SCO summit on 15 June started with meeting at the Independence Palace in Astana. President Nursultan Nazarbaev of the Republic of Kazakhstan, President Hu Jintao of the People’s Republic of China, President Roza Otunbaeva of Kyrgyz Republic, President Dmitriy Medvedev of the Russian Federation, President Emomali Rahmon of the Republic of Tajikistan and President Islam Karimov of the Republic of Uzbekistan took part in the session.
“Second, urgently relevant have been the objectives set out and addressed by the Organization to arrange multilateral productive cooperation in socio-political, socio-economic and humanitarian spheres, shaping a necessary normative and agreement foundation for this and implementing major projects significant for each participating state.
Speaking of prospects of interaction within the Organization, the head of our state singled out such priorities of its work as keeping with the approved and tested policy course that has strictly adhered to goals, objectives and principles of the Organization’s Charter, realizing principal dimensions of cooperation equally meeting the interests of all the participants of ‘Shanghai Process’.
The campaign on electing chairpersons (aksakals) of citizens' assemblies and their advisers is underway this May – June in Uzbekistan. A total of about 10,000 chairs and more than 98,000 of their advisers are expected to be elected.
Credibility
People understand this is an important sociopolitical event. Perhaps, there is no resident in the country, who would not want the local community to be chaired by a person able to take decisions on various social issues. The citizens first of all address the aksakal for support, advice and dispute resolution. His competence covers a wide range of issues, ranging from socio-economic like employment, creation of small businesses, home-based work, to purely family events and upbringing of youth. All people of the assembly consider the authoritative opinion of the aksakal.
All these and other measures have ensured the further enhancement of the role and importance of mahalla in society, building of a democratic state ruled by the law and an open civil society. (Source: UT News Agency)
The positive development was also observed in the first quarter of 2011. Economy, industrial production, agriculture output, construction works, retail trade turnover and services all grew in the reporting period. The State Budget was executed with surplus in January-March 2011.
Legislative Chamber also discussed a law “On introduction of changes and amendments to law “On licensing separate types of activities”. The law clarifies some norms of the law, directed at improving efficiency and simplification of licensing procedures.
Industry and agriculture are dynamically developing in Kashkadarya. In the 1Q of the year, the growth of regional product amounted 105.9%. The stable growth is ensured in industrial production, consumer goods, services and other fields.
A Milanese photographer Emanuel Cosmo has reflected in his work a modern look of Uzbekistan and the rich historical and architectural heritage of the country.
During seminar entrepreneurs received detailed answers to their queries. In addition, participants found lots of literature on the rights and interests of entrepreneurs prepared by State Tax Committee, Ministry of Justice, State Committee on Demonopolization and Competition Development, UzStandard. (Source: UT News Agency)
As a part of the national program Year of Small Business and Private Entrepreneurship, the Justice Department of Tashkent holds the open days with the participation of entrepreneurs and enterprises with foreign investment. It helps address challenges that arise in business activities.
In the reporting period, consumer goods output reached 2.9192 billion soums (+10.3% compared to January-March 2010), of which the volume of food products made up 1.339 trillion soums (+11.5%), non-food products – 1.58 trillion soums (+9.3%).
Fuel industry (18% from total industrial output), light industry (11.1%), machinery and metal processing (13.3%) and food industry (13.3%) had the largest share in the structure of industrial output of Uzbekistan in the first quarter of 2011.
At the same time share of fuel industry in the industrial output decreased by 3.9 percentage points in January-March 2011 compared to the same period of 2010, machinery and metal processing – by 0.2 percentage points. Share of light industry rose by 1 percentage point and food industry by 0.8 percentage point.
In particular, the fuel industry produced goods for 1613 trillion soums (+0.3%), machinery and metal processing – 1.19 trillion soums (+8.8%), light industry – 1.53 trillion soums (+7.1%) and food industry – 1.19 trillion soums (+9.3%) (Source: UzDaily.com)
Uzbekistan's experience in boosting employment through small business
Over the last years, a lot has been done in Uzbekistan to create a favorable business environment and to promote small business and private entrepreneurship. By the present moment, over 75% of the population of the country is employed in the private sector.Thus, small business and private entrepreneurship have become important factors in increasing the employment and providing a stable source of income for the population.
In 2010, 480,000 new workplaces were created due to development of small business and private entrepreneurship with over 60% of them is in rural area.
Upon the initiative of the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, 2011 was announced the "Year of small business and private entrepreneurship". Corresponding state program was approved in the beginning of the year.
This was reported in a letter of the Republic of Uzbekistan published as an official document of the UN General Assembly. (Source: UzReport Agency)
LUKOIL produces 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas in Uzbekistan
LUKOIL Overseas produced 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas in Uzbekistan, press service of the company said.
Accumulated production of Khauzak-Shady field (Bukhara Region of the Republic of Uzbekistan) has reached 10 billion cubic meters of gas, the company said.
Development of Khauzak-Shady is a part of Kandym-Khauzak-Shady-Kungrad project which is being implemented by LUKOIL together with the National Holding Company Uzbekneftegaz under the PSA which was signed in June 2004 for 35 years and took effect in November 2004.
Three years after commercial production of gas began on the field and in another year Khauzak-Shady reached the design production rate of 3 billion cubic meters per year.
At the same time active exploration activities continued, including acquisition of 3D seismic covering 500 square kilometers and drilling of 2 exploration wells which resulted in the increase of C1 and C2 category reserves by more than 21 billion cubic meters of gas.
Resource base increase allowed adoption of a new field development plan in December 2010 which provides for the growth of the annual production of Khauzak-Shady field to 4 billion cubic meters of gas starting from 2012.
LUKOIL Uzbekistan, a subsidiary of LUKOIL Overseas, is the operating company of the project. (Source: UzDaily.com)
SOCIETY
Major charity ball to benefit children in orphanages
On July 6 the Japanese Garden in Tashkent will host the fourth In the Name of Childhood Charity Ball, an annual major fundraiser to benefit children in orphanages. Set to start at 5 pm, the Charity Ball, as in previous years, will include game stations such as Hipsters, I can sing, Disco dancer and Im a conjurer. In addition to the contests, the Ball will include a traditional charity auction and a concert.
A brainchild of Gulnara Karimova, the project was designed to help discover and support children’s artistic talents and to raise funds for social and charitable projects to support mothers and children. The event organizers include the Women’s Council, Jannat makon magazine, Baby terra magazine, TV-Markaz Channel, Sakura Project art studio, Sunday recreation and entertainment agency, ALS Family holiday planner and several private schools and kindergartens. Over 3,000 people have participated in the Charity Ball since it was launched in 2008.
The colorful and exciting ball is given the slogan “Make your child’s dream come true and share the joy with other children”, with proceeds going toward the Program to support orphanages and development of free children’s art centers across Uzbekistan.
Thanks to the Charity Ball, over 3,000 children in orphanages across the country have been provided with clothing, shoewear and school belongings. In 2010, monetary donations by people who attended the Ball were channeled into social and charitable projects. More specifically, the beneficiaries included Tashkent Specialized Orphanage for Children with Polio, a charitable foundation for hearing- and vision-impaired children, and “World Peace Day” project. (Source: fundforum.uz)
Address of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan to the President of the European Parliament
Your Excellency,
We have been induced to address you with this letter because of the ambiguous statements of the Member of the European Parliament Mr. Stevenson regarding the construction of the Rogun HPS (HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION) in Tajikistan. On behalf of European Parliament he repeatedly acted through Tajik’s Mass Media in favor of implementation of this rather disputable hydropower project in the riverhead of Amu- Darya.
Owing to the rash policy of the former Soviet mode on regulation of natural drain of the most ancient rivers of Central Asia – Amu-Darya and Syr-Darya by building the range of hydroelectric complexes in 70-th -80-th of the last century, we started to witness the disappearance of one of the largest closed reservoirs in the world - Aral Sea.
Civilization has not faced such case during its history yet: perishing of the whole sea in front of eyes of one generation!
Inhabitants of the Aral Sea area are seriously concerned by possibility of the further aggravation of environmental condition in our region owing to building of new enormous dams with HPS (HYDROELECTRIC POWER STATION) on the upper-streams of two great rivers. The construction of Rogun HPS with its enormous dam of height 335 m. site pertains to the number of such disputable projects. Building of the given object and its exploitation in a power mode will lead to sharp deterioration of maintenance of potable water in the river basin of Amu-Darya. As a result about 18 million people will suffer from deficiency of water in the lower reaches of the river, the environmental and socioeconomic situation in the Aral Sea area will sharply impact.
Moreover, the area where Rogun HPS is to be constructed pertains to a category of earthquake-prone territories and a magnitude of earthquakes can reach 9 points or more by Richter scale. In case of a dam’s debacle 12 billion cubic meter of water in few seconds will direct to downstream area of Amu-Darya, bringing an irreparable loss, first of all to Tajikistan, then to Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Life of millions people, settlements and households, infrastructural and industrial sites will be under the threat. The largest failures have occurred recently in such dams as: Vajont (Italy), Yorstad, Furset (Norway) and other countries, that caused losses of thousand lifes and considerable damage to infrastructure and economy. On these failures the tsunami, caused by hills collapse, reached heights of 40-50 m. Tragic events in Japan in March of this year testify, that nature does not excuse our mistakes. Scientists believe that in future we should expect increase of similar failures on dams and sites due to climate change.
Scientists and experts, including internationally recognized, share our anxiety concerning consequences of building of Rogun HPS to nature and social environment. In the number of the European countries, for example, in Italy, Germany, France, knowing that large dams can result natural disasters, their construction has already been refused.
Is Mr. Stevenson, the member of the Committee of European Parliament on Environment, Public Health and Food Safety, not aware about possible negative consequences of construction of enormous dams? Probably, during his two or three visits to the countries of Central Asia he has not managed to learn environmental problems of all five countries of the region properly. Did he take into consideration the opinion of millions inhabitants, whose conditions of life have worsened, first of all, because of building of the large hydro-power constructions that have created an intense environmental situation in downstream areas of the rivers?
It is also word to recall the address of Mr. Stevenson at the hearings in the European Parliament on “Ecocatastrophe of Aral Sea. Can we rescue the drying Sea?” held in October 12, 2010 in Brussels, where he has been a moderator Stevenson has called EU and the world community for assistance in solving of the Aral Sea catastrophe, naming it a “global problem”. Does Mr. Stevenson not really understand that building of Rogun HPS will become the serious factor that will aggravate the present situation in the Aral Sea area? So, where are logic, intelligence and integrity?
We hope, that you and other members of the European Parliament will listen to voices of millions inhabitants of the Aral Sea area that are seriously anxious about possibility of further deterioration of situation owing construction of huge dams for hydropower generation on the upstream of the rivers that torture the Sea.
On behalf of environmentalists of Uzbekistan (Source: eco.uz)
CULTURE
Tashkent to host international festival of contemporary cinema
In October, Tashkent will host the First International Festival of Contemporary Cinema, organized by the Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan and Uzbekkino National Agency.
At a press conference, held at the Fund Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan, the media representatives were provided with detailed information about preparations for the event.
In the years of independence under the leadership of President Islam Karimov, special attention has been paid to the development of national cinema and the enrichment of distinctive traditions and schools and the creation of artistic works to improve the spirituality of youth. The First Tashkent International Festival of Contemporary Cinema is organized to further develop the national cinematography, familiarize viewers with the latest national and world cinema, promoting international cooperation in the field.
The Director-General of the festival art critic Akbar Khakimov said that films of various genres will be selected within the frame of the forum, to analyze creativity of young filmmakers in our country, examine trends in world cinema and increase the artistic taste of the audience.
During the preparation process, the Fund Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan held a show contest “Inception.” Over 30 short films made in 2009-1011 by young specialists competed at the contest. The works of the winners of the contest will be recommended to attend the festival in October.
The winners of the show contest were awarded with diplomas at the conference. (Source: UzA News Agency)
SPORT
Sportsmen justify President’s trust
Sportsmen of Uzbekistan won four gold, one silver and six bronze medals at the Asian cup in boat racing held in Singapore. Among them is Abubakir Uzakbayev, student of Nukus Olympic reserve college.
President Islam Karimov during his visit to Karakalpakstan in October 2010 met a group of young people. The head of the state also met the silver medal winner of the 2010 Asian cup in Singapore Abubakir Uzakbayev.
Congratulating the athlete with victory, the President presented him a racing boat, which was a great stimulus for Abubakir in his sports career. He promised to the head of the state to wrothiy defend the honor of the Motherland at the upcoming tournaments.
At the World cup in Singapore, held on 2-5 June, Abubakir kept his word, winning gold medal in singles among men.
Other athletes that also won gold in Singapore are Zafar Usmanov, Yakub Khamzayev, Dilshod Kudratov from Samarkand, Ernazar Hamidullayev from Karakalpakstan and Natalya Bagytova from Tashkent. (Source: UzA News Agency)