October 19, 2009

Politics:
Election Commission holds session
Parties approved for participation in elections
Economics:
TITF is the territory of choosing partners for the coming tourist season
International industrial fair to open on 20 October
Fiscal Bodies: Analysis and Recommendations
Society:
President visits Ferghana region
Tashkent Challenger 2009 ends

POLICY

ELECTION COMMISSION HOLDS SESSION

The Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan held a session on 16 October, chaired by the head of the commission Mr.Mirzo-Ulugbek Abdusalomov.

The commission considered the issue of forming the district electoral commissions for the elections of the deputies of the Legislative Chamber, National News Agency UzA reported.

The number of the district electoral commissions is 135, which is equal to the number of the electoral districts in the country.

The commissions consist of the representatives of the public, whose candidacies were recommended by the regional councils of people’s deputies.

The Central Election Commission adopted a resolution on the forming of the district electoral commissions and approved the list of the members of these commissions, which will be published in the local press.

PARTIES APPROVED FOR PARTICIPATION IN ELECTIONS

The Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan considered the applications and other documents of the country’s political parties regarding their participation in the December elections to the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan.

The commission has issued permissions for the participation in the elections of the People’s Democratic Party, “Adolat” (“Justice”) Social Democratic Party, Liberal Democratic Party (Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen) and the “Milliy Tiklanish” (“National Revival”) Democratic Party.

The Central Election Commission also received the decision of the Environmental Movement of Uzbekistan about its participation in the December elections to the lower chamber of the parliament.

ECONOMY

TITF IS THE TERRITORY OF CHOOSING PARTNERS FOR THE COMING TOURIST SEASON

A press conference devoted to the forthcoming 15th anniversary Tashkent International Tourist Fair (TITF-2009) "Tourism on the Silk Road" was held in Tashkent on 19 October. The fair will take place in the Uzbek capital on 21-22 October, Uzreport Information Portal reported.

The successful debut in 1995 has defined periodicity of fair. Now it is conducted annually. By the 15-years anniversary fair has got significant quantitative and qualitative changes. The event is organized by Uzbektourism national company and Great Silk Way advertising agency.

During 15 years the Tashkent International Tourist Fair collects the tourist companies, travel agencies, professionals of tourist industry, airline, national and regional tourist committees, the insurance companies, hotels and resorts of the countries of near and far abroad on the areas.

TITF is the largest forum among the similar events organized in regions of Uzbekistan and the CIS. It became a traditional place of meetings of professionals of tourism industry. From year to year the success of the exhibition shows its importance for experts. The leading tourist companies showing the best offers and services gather at TITF.

On the scales the TTF is one of the most significant and large-scale business events forming and reflecting the situation in the domestic and the world market. Carrying out of the fair traditionally promotes popularization of achievements of tourism and promotes the establishment of new business ties.

TITF is the territory of choosing partners for the coming tourist season, forming new tourism goods, price policy for tour operators and tourist agencies. And also it is a high time for the townspeople to reflect on the future holiday and to receive the information on new tourist directions, to get permits. Where, as not at fair it is possible to solve all these problems at once.

One of the main tasks of the fair "Tourism on the Silk Road" is demonstration of the whole spectrum of tourist services in Central Asia and beyond its limits, full representation of tourist direction, and also other opportunities tourist branches.

Business meetings and negotiations, consultations, press conferences, presentations of areas, cities, regions, cultural and entertainment actions are planned within the program of the fair.

The following directions will be presented at the exhibition: development and organization of travel; promotion and sale of travel (tourist activity); hotel business, services of accommodation; improving tourism; adventure and sports tourism; clubs; excursion business, development of excursion routes; show business, organization of leisure; transport and transportations (air, auto, etc.); bank and insurance services in tourism; information technologies in tourism, booking; services of educational centers on professional training for tourism; guidebooks, brochures; specialized news media.

Currently, there are 150 private hotels, about 700 tourist organizations, 210 firms having the license for hotel facilities in Uzbekistan.

At the TITF, the companies plan to carry on negotiations with potential partners, to conclude the contracts of cooperation, they can not only render own services, but also will get acquainted with offers of other companies, find among them perspective business partners and clients, look after tendencies of the international market and direction of the further development of tourism industry.

In 2009 cooperation under project TITF "Partner Country" with Malaysia is planned. Arrival of new companies of Malaysia led by the Minister of Tourism of Malaysia is expected.

Statistical data show that interest to the exhibition among visitors grows stably. Annually the number of participants TITF increases by 30% .The fair is visited by more than 3,000 people. Presence of leading foreign countries considerably expands.

The stated business program, bright, functional stands, professional visitors and participants – all these will make the exhibition remembered and effective event of this autumn!

Organizers hope that the main result for participants and visitors of the exhibition would be successful expansion of commodity market, circle of partners and new production program, as well as increase of authority of participating firms.

INTERNATIONAL INDUSTRIAL FAIR TO OPEN ON 20 OCTOBER

The International Industrial Fair and the Cooperation Exchange will open at the Uzexpocenter in Tashkent on October 20.

The events are being held on the initiative of the President Islam Karimov with the aim to increase production of the import-substituting products, develop cooperation ties between the country’s enterprises, expand the share of local production on the internal market and increase the employment of the population, according to report of UzA.

The industrial fair and cooperation exchange will be held for the third time this year. However, unlike in the previous years, this time they have an international status. Representatives of more than 600 foreign companies from more than 50 states have arrived for the forum.

According to organizers, the events, which will last until 24 October, will contribute to the development of the cooperation between the sectors and the companies.

The fair participants will be able to get acquainted with various products made in Uzbekistan, while companies can find partners and sign deals with local producers.

FISCAL BODIES: ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The State Tax Committee (STC) of the Republic of Uzbekistan held an enlarged meeting of the board dedicated to the progress for nine months of the year.

Heads of the state taxation departments of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regions and Tashkent city as well as officials from all regional and municipal state taxation offices took part in the event. As it was noted in the course of the meeting, conducted by Chairman Botir Parpiev of STC, the fiscal policy in our country is constantly improving and this brings its outcomes. The activity on reducing tax rates and reinforcing investment activity of business entities is of special importance. Tax discounts granted to entrepreneurs gradually ensure stable growth rates in the face of the global downturn, Uzbekistan Today newspaper reported.

Participants profoundly analyzed the execution of presidential resolution “On assessing major macroeconomic indicators and parameters of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2009” that gives positive results in general.

Execution of decrees and resolutions of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and resolutions of the country’s government adopted on the basis of the anti-crisis measures was discussed on the examples of Farg’ona and Tashkent regions. They proposed necessary recommendations on raising the effectiveness of interaction between local authorities and other organizations.

The results of measures taken to raise the quality and effectiveness of checkups in business entities in conditions of the reduction of their number were considered on the basis of critical analysis of corresponding activity in Bukhoro, Samarqand and Navoi regions. Along with that, in compliance with the Tax Code of the Republic of Uzbekistan, tax officials specified measures on raising the effectiveness of the work on ensuring regularity of tax and compulsory payments on the basis of office auditing of financial and tax reports received without interference with taxpayers’ activity. Besides, they considered the activity in the border zones on nonadmission of smuggled goods to the republic and their illegal sale, specified measures to be taken for the further cooperation with law enforcement and supervisory structures.

In conclusion, participants identified pressing tasks for the future and made appropriate decisions.

SOCIETY

PRESIDENT VISITS FERGHANA REGION

President of Uzbekistan Mr. Islam Karimov visited Ferghana region on October 16 to familiarize with the socioeconomic reforms implemented here.

Ferghana region occupies a special place in the development of the country with its resources, developed industry and infrastructure.

In the nine months of 2009, the region demonstrated a 6.1% growth of GDP, as well as a stable growth of industrial production, consumer goods production, service and other sectors.

This year, 2 academic lyceums and 22 professional colleges were built and 203 schools were reconstructed in Ferghana region. A total of 77,200 new workplaces were created.

The program of reconstruction and development of social infrastructure of the cities of Ferghana and Kokand in 2008-2012 is being implemented in the region.

The President visited the new building of the Ferghana branch of the Tashkent IT University, where he spoke to professors and students.

“Construction of such buildings is a practical result of the huge attention that our state pays to the young people and the educational system,” Islam Karimov said.

“The 21st century is the century of information technologies. The future belongs to the people who possess powerful intellectual potential. I am glad our children are interested in modern information technologies and communications,” he added.

The head of the state also visited the Sherzodbek farm in Akhunbabayev district, where he spoke to farmers.

Islam Karimov said farmers have become a decisive force in ensuring the prosperity of the rural areas and the country on the whole.
The President stressed the importance of the state program “The year of rural development and improvement”.

According to this program, more than 254 km of rural roads were repaired, 20.8 km of gas pipes were renewed and 25 villages were provided with drinking water this year.

After Ferghana, President Islam Karimov visited the city of Kokand.

The head of the state got acquainted with the new agricultural market built here. The architectural solution of the market has embodied modern and national traditions.

The President said special attention should be paid to creation of the modern city center in Kokand.

TASHKENT CHALLENGER 2009 ENDS

Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan and Marcos Bagdatis from Cyprus met in the final of the Tashkent Challenger 2009 international tennis tournament.

Marcos Bagdatis, which is included in the ATP rating’s top ten players, won with the score of 6-3, 1-6, 6-3.

In the doubles, Denis Istomin with other Uzbek player Murad Inoyatov won over Jiri Krkoska (Czech Republic) and Lukas Lacko (Slovakia) with 7-6, 6-4.