August 22, 2007
Politics:
Israeli Parliamentary Delegation Visits Uzbekistan
Economics:
Government programme to boost cement production
Tashkent to host exhibition of export-oriented products of Uzbek manufacturers
Third International Cotton Fair in Tashkent to be held on September 10-12
Chairmen of NBU, Vnesheconombank sign cooperation agreement
Society:
UNDP-backed seminar in Nukus considers migration issues
Disaster relief teams being trained in Yangiobod
Books Issued At Marghilan’s Jubilee Doorstep
POLITICS
ISRAELI PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION VISITS UZBEKISTAN
On August 20 the delegation led by the Deputy Speaker of the Knesset (the national parliament) of the State of Israel Amnon Cohen met with the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Erkin Khalilov, the Uzbekistan National News Agency reported.
During the talks the sides said that ties between Uzbekistan and Israel were consistently developing in all spheres, in particular, in the area of parliamentary relations.
“In Uzbekistan I feel myself at home”, - Amnon Cohen has said. “I spent my childhood in this sacred land. Each time I visit Uzbekistan I witness the profound reforms now being undertaken in the country in all spheres. At the moment the cooperation between our states is consistently developing not only in political, but also trade, economic and humanitarian spheres. We stand for further strengthening of bilateral friendly relations. The development and deepening of our mutual ties enjoy bright prospects”.
At the meeting the sides discussed the issues on current state and prospects of parliamentary relations between Uzbekistan and Israel.
The same day the Israeli delegation held negotiations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
ECONOMICS
GOVERNMENT PROGRAMME TO BOOST CEMENT PRODUCTION
Presidential Resolution "On the Programme on Modernisation, Technical and Technological Re-Equipment of the Enterprises of Construction Materials Industry for 2007-2011" has set off a sweeping programme of reforms in the construction materials production industry of Uzbekistan, Business portal “Uzreport” reported.
A key reason for this decision was the fast growing demand in the neighbouring markets, particularly in the region of Central Asia.
According to the plan, within the next five years 36 major projects envisaging the installation of modern equipment will be carried out at 14 large enterprises. The programme is financed in part by the enterprises themselves, and in part through FDI and borrowed funds.
As cement remains one of the main products of the construction materials industry of Uzbekistan with 72% of the market, and 75% of construction materials exports, this will be one of the main areas to be targeted by the programme. The projects in this sector envision the replacement of quarry equipment, modernization of raw and cement mills, installation of new production lines, and repair of existing capacities. As a result, cement product is expected to soar. It will increase 1.5 times compared to 2006 to 8.3 million tonnes.
To mention, this year Russian TKB-Invest LLC and Uzbek UzQurilishMateriallari (UzBuildMaterials) JSC have signed a Protocol on the establishment of a joint venture. The construction of a new cement plant has already been launched in Zafarabad district of Jizzakh region (Uzbekistan). TKB-Invest plans to complete the construction by 2010. The investment project is estimated at US$486.42 million. The projected annual capacity of the plant exceeds 3 million tonnes. The production floor space, including the pits, engineering communications and utility areas will exceed 100 hectares. The enterprise will employ 600 people.
Within the next five years, UzQurilishMateriallari intends to build three other portland cement factories in Karakalpakstan, Surkhandarya and Jizzakh regions. This will boost the country's export potential, and in the long-term promises high earnings. Provisionally, the markets for Uzbek cement exist in Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Surkhandarya based plant is to target the markets of Afghanistan and Tajikistan; the plant in Jizzakh region – the markets of Kazakhstan and Tajikistan; and the plant in Karakalpakstan – the markets of the Caspian region, including the western parts of Kazakhstan.
The plans on modernization of existing capacities and construction of new cement factories are still subject to moderations. If, however, they remain unchanged and are successful, Uzbekistan's cement output may double compared to 2006 level to 10-12 million tonnes.
Currently, Uzbekistan has six major cement factories – all part of the UzQurilishMateriallari JSC. In 2006, their aggregate output exceeded 5.58 million tonnes of cement, up 10.2% compared to 2005. In general, 12 types of cement are produced in the country, including portland cement, white cement and oil-well cement. Portland cement dominates the market with 99.3% of the aggregate production output. The shares of white and oil-well cement are insignificant. About a fifth of all cement produced in the country (up to 1 million tonnes) is exported to the neighbouring countries: 31.3% to Tajikistan, 20.8% to Kazakhstan, 20.3% to Turkmenistan, 17.3% to Afghanistan, 10.2% to Kyrgyzstan. In 2006, cement export volume grew by 18.5% to US$37.9 million.
TASHKENT TO HOST EXHIBITION OF EXPORT-ORIENTED PRODUCTS OF UZBEK MANUFACTURERS
An exhibition of export-oriented products of Uzbek producers "Made in Uzbekistan 2007" will open on August 28 at UzExpoCentre in Tashkent.
The exhibition is being organised by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Affairs, Investments and Trade of Uzbekistan, and its structural divisions. Participants of the exhibition are the producers of export-oriented products – holding companies and associations, joint ventures, private factories, companies and firms. The total area of the exhibition according to organizers will exceed 6,000 square meters.
The aim of the event is to present the achievements of different sectors of the country's economy, to expand its export potential and to promote national producers, their products and services to external markets. The organizers are inviting the representatives of ministries and agencies, enterprises, international organizations and embassies, as well as foreign businessmen working or visiting Uzbekistan to attend the exhibition. For the first time in the history of the exhibition, telecommunication services, including mobile and Internet connection services will be presented on the stands.
Export has become one of the priority areas of development for the enterprises of Uzbekistan. It is an important criterion in assessment of the results of the overall economic development of the country. Today, nearly all industries and many enterprises of Uzbekistan are engaged in foreign economic activity and actively promote their products in foreign markets. In January-June this year, 154 new joint productions were launched, including 30 objects in the light and textile industry. This was largely due to the increasing flow of investments, which has grown by 40.2% against the same period of 2006. Direct investments make up about 85% of the total investments flow. Large-scale reforms being implemented in all sectors of the economy have made it possible to create 314,800 new jobs in the first half of this year.
UzExpoCentre is now preparing to host the large annual event: it continues to register participants, designers are working on the organization of the exhibition space, show areas are being distributed to the participants, a catalogue of participants is being prepared, promotional brochures and tickets are being designed and the promotion campaign has been launched.
THIRD INTERNATIONAL COTTON FAIR IN TASHKENT TO BE HELD ON SEPTEMBER 10-12
The Third International Cotton Fair and an International Cotton and Textile Conference titled "The world market for cotton and textile products: current situation and prospects to 2010" will be held on September 10-12 in Tashkent.
The fairs and conferences that have become important events in the life of the world cotton and textile businesses are organised by the Government of Uzbekistan with the assistance of the International Cotton Advisory Committee and the Cotton Outlook magazine.
The aim of the fair and conference is to establish long-term partnership relations in the textile industry, to organize direct supplies of raw cotton, and to discus the current status and prospects of the world cotton and textile industries.
The delegates of large companies from Russia, China, Korea, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey and many other countries are expected to participate in the events. The embassies that have helped in organising their attendance note that Uzbekistan is a key player in the world cotton market, and is currently the fifth largest producer and the second largest exporter of cotton in the world. Last year, Tashkent successfully conducted the Second International Cotton Fair, in which the delegates of 250 foreign companies from 35 countries of the world took part.
CHAIRMEN OF NBU, VNESHECONOMBANK SIGN COOPERATION AGREEMENT
The Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Uzbekistan for Foreign Economic Activity Saidahmad Rahimov met with the Chairman of the Board of the Russian Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank) Vladimir Dmitriev within the frame of the SCO Summit on August 16, the Business portal Uzreport reported.
During the meeting the parties noted the efficiency of the development of cooperation between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Uzbekistan, NBU's press service says.
An important result of the meeting is the Agreement on Cooperation between NBU and Vnesheconombank of Russia, envisaging the development of long-term economic cooperation and strategic partnership, support of the joint investment projects between the two countries, and creation of favourable conditions for the joint programmes.
Under the Agreement the two sides intend to optimize currency, financial, credit and payment transactions in hard currency to assist in funding investment projects, among other things, in power engineering and mining industries.
The Agreement aims to further promote cooperation in financing investment projects including project financing to encourage the development of the two countries' export sectors. As to extending credits, top priority will be given to customers participating in Russian-Uzbek goods turnover and producing export goods.
The two sides are determined to explore opportunities for extending and raising syndicated loans to finance project of mutual interest through establishing banking consortiums and other interbank associations.
SOCIETY
UNDP-BACKED SEMINAR IN NUKUS CONSIDERS MIGRATION ISSUES
Women's Committee of Uzbekistan and UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan organized two-day seminar entitled "Social protection of women, participating in migration processes in Uzbekistan" in Nukus, Karakalpakstan, on August 16-17.
About 30 representatives of state bodies, mahalla committees and NGOs from Karakalpakstan Republic and Khorezm region participated at the work of seminar.
The event was organized within UNDP's project "Promotion of the rights of women migrant workers", implemented in cooperation with Women's Committee of Uzbekistan. The project directed to improve the protection of human rights of the women involved in labour migration in Uzbekistan and to increase the quality of services provided by relevant government and nongovernmental bodies to women migrant workers and the victims of human trafficking.
The seminar was directed to raise awareness of staff of state bodies, law enforcement bodies and NGOs on social-legal protection of women-migrants. It addressed such issues as women migration, interaction of various organizations in solving illegal women migration, legislation of Uzbekistan on labour migration, raising awareness of women migrants' rights, protection mechanisms of migrants' rights and others.
Representatives of Women's Committee, departments of justice, internal affairs, labour and social welfare, Mahalla (Neighborhood) foundation and other organizations, located in Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region, participated at the event. This is the third such seminar, organized by Women's Committee and UNDP Country Office in Uzbekistan. The first two events were organized in Tashkent and Ferghana regions. It is planned that five more such seminars will be held in various parts of Uzbekistan.
Orynbay Turdakov, Deputy Interior Minister of Karakalpakstan Republic, said at the opening speech that the seminar is import, in particular in context of combating human trade. Mr Turdakov and Mr Ulugbek Ataniyazov, head of Criminal Investigation Department of Interior Ministry of Karakalpakstan Republic, acquainted participants with work on prevention of human trafficking.
Zulayha Jumaniyazova, representative of Women's Committee of Karakalpakstan, briefed on work of Women's Committee and state bodies in the sphere and underlined importance of cooperation of state bodies and self-government, public organizations and NGOs in improvement of social protection of women, participating in labour migration.
DISASTER RELIEF TEAMS BEING TRAINED IN YANGIOBOD
A training meeting of the disaster relief teams of Karakalpakstan, Tashkent city, Khorezm, Bukhara, Jizzakh, Surkhandarya, Samarkand, Andijan, Tashkent, Ferghana, and Namangan regions of the Red Crescent Society of Uzbekistan is being held in the village of Yangiobod on August 20-25.
The event is financially supported by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid Office (ECHO).
The volunteers of the Society, members of the teams totaling 77 people who have passed the first aid and reaction programme at the Society's study centres are participating in the training.
The main aim pursued by the training is the deepening of knowledge, development and strengthening of practical skills in objective assessment of the emergency situation resulting from natural disasters, organization of a field camp, provision of first aid to the victims, as well as practicing of the elements of interaction, mutual help in difficult situations during the rescue and evacuation operations. All rescue teams will live in camp tents in the field conditions.
The training will be carried out in four stages:
1. the teams assess the situation and evaluate the potential in near-lying villages or towns.
2. organization of a field camp in accordance with the standards of the International Federation of Red Crest and Crescent Societies. The teams must be able to create camp maps, manage the camp and provide humanitarian aid.
3. provision of first aid and evacuation of the victims.
4. complex training. Moving cross-country to the location where the emergency situation has taken place. Finding and getting the victims from under the ruins, provision of first aid and transportation of the victims to the ambulance.
In June-July 2007, regional trainings of the disaster relief teams were conducted in Namangan, Tashkent and Bukhara. The best teams were identified to participate in the republican training.
BOOKS ISSUED AT MARGHILAN’S JUBILEE DOORSTEP
Upon the initiative of the Ferghana Province municipality and local department of the Republican Center of Spirituality a number of books dedicated to the 2000th anniversary of Marghilan has been published, the Uzbekistan National News Agency reported.
The books shed light on the past of the ancient city, works of the representatives of science and arts who lived then, as well as traditions of the reviving national handicrafts and the present day of Marghilan, according to the report.
In the book “Places of worth of the ancient Marghilan” by historians Nadira Abdulakhadova and Uktam Eshanbabaev the authors dwell on monuments of the bygone days.
The collection “Followers of Uvaisiy” includes the works of young poets and writers, who now live in Marghilan.
The collections – “Happiness of love” and “My pearly Marghilan” also have been issued.
The books published on the eve of jubilee of Marghilan will enrich the information and resource centers in the cities and districts of the province.