September 3, 2007
Politics:
Uzbekistan celebrates 16th independence anniversary
Foreign leaders congratulate President with Uzbekistan’s 16th independence anniversary
Economics:
Metro Group (Germany) opens representation in Tashkent
Uzbekistan Airways Technics participates in MAKS-2007
Khamkor Bank extends over 1.8bn soums in mortgage loans
IShONCh's insurance operations up 1.5 times in 1H 2007
Society:
President visits Shohidlar Khotirasi monument and Independence Square
Health and happiness for children
A champion medal for the country’s birthday
POLITICS
UZBEKISTAN CELEBRATES 16TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
Celebrations of the 16th anniversary of independence of Uzbekistan were held on August 31 at the National Park in Tashkent.
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated in the celebrations. He congratulated the people of Uzbekistan with the anniversary.
“Sixteen years is a very short period of time in history. However, if we evaluate this period of formation and growth by the results of the reforms, there is no doubt that every past year may be equaled to tens and hundreds of years by their significance,” the head of the state said.
The performance that followed demonstrated the country’s achievements during the years of independence.
The concert program included children’s performance, songs of various nations, as well as military marches.
FOREIGN LEADERS CONGRATULATE PRESIDENT WITH UZBEKISTAN’S 16TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY
Leaders of foreign states and international organizations congratulated the President and the people of Uzbekistan with the country’s 16th independence anniversary.
Presidents of Russia, US, Germany, UAE, Singapore, China and other states, as well as UN Secretary General were among those who sent their greeting to President Islam Karimov.
“We highly value the trustful and constructive character of the bilateral political dialogue,” President of Russia Vladimir Putin wrote in his congratulatory message. “I am convinced that multilateral fruitful relations between Russia and Uzbekistan will see new achievements in economic cooperation, culture, science and education.”
“Stable political situation, stable economic development and constant improvement of the living level have been observed during the years of independence in your country,” wrote Chinese leader Hu Jintao. “We are glad to observe this and wish your country new and bigger successes.”
US President George Bush confirmed his country’s adherence to cooperation on a wide range of issues, as well as firm position in support of Uzbekistan’s full sovereignty and independence.
“For the past 16 years our countries have jointly worked to overcome old and new challenges. We are currently striving to a partnership that would improve our cooperation in a number of fields, including fighting terrorism, democratic and market reforms, as well as regional economic integration,” the American leader said.
Uzbekistan may continue counting on Germany’s support in building modern state and market economy, Horst Koehler, German President, wrote. “I want to express my support in your determined movement on the way of democratic reforms and reforms aimed at strengthening the principles of the legal state for the benefit of your country and its citizens.”
ECONOMICS
METRO GROUP (GERMANY) OPENS REPRESENTATION IN TASHKENT
The opening of the office of the UNIVEG-ASIA Corporation in Tashkent was conducted in an official ceremony on August 30 at the Intercontinental Hotel. The event was organized within the frame of the visit of the Metro Group delegation headed by its CEO Mr. Franz Muller, Uzreport.com Information Business portal reported.
Uzbekistan has great conditions for the cultivation of high quality fruit and vegetables. Good soil and favourable climate provide all the preconditions for this. Realizing this fact, Metro Group intends to procure agricultural products in Uzbekistan and market it in Russia. With the support of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Metro Group intends to expand cooperation with Uzbek agricultural producers.
By sharing the know-how and integrating modern technology within the frame of this cooperation, the Group aims achieve richer harvest and higher quality of products. The company also has the plans of training local producers and familiarizing them with the quality standards set by the Group. The Group's Uzbekistan Office will also organize a series of lectures at the agricultural colleges of Uzbekistan and try new varieties of grains in the local conditions.
Germany is one of the largest investors in the economy of Uzbekistan. To date, about 95 projects for over 1 billion euros have been implemented in the country in partnership with German banks. In 2006, the volume of bilateral trade between Uzbekistan and Germany comprised US$324 million.
The Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan has accredited the offices of 51 companies and firms of the Federative Republic of Germany, including Siemens, DaimlerChrysler, ThyssenKrupp, BASF, Lufthansa, Alkatel, Beyer, Ferrostal, and others. The offices of Deutsche Bank AG, Bankgesellschaft Berlin, Commerzbank AG, and Dresdner Bank AG are successfully functioning in Tashkent.
UZBEKISTAN AIRWAYS TECHNICS PARTICIPATES IN MAKS-2007
A delegation of the Uzbekistan Airways Technics Company, representing the Uzbekistan Airways National Company participated in the 8th International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2007 in the city of Zhukovsky, Russia, Uzreport.com Information Business portal reported.
The event holds a leading position in the ratings of major world aviation forums. The total of 787 companies and firms, including 540 Russian, and 247 foreign companies from Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Great Britain, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Canada, Uzbekistan and other countries participated in this year's forum.
Uzbekistan Airways Technics has participated in one of the largest aviation and space forum for the second time. For the company's delegation it was a unique opportunity to familiarize with the latest achievements of the aviation industry, and negotiate mutually beneficial contracts with potential clients.
Members of the delegation noted high interest of the visitors and participants of the event toward the Uzbek company. The Uzbekistan Airways Technics' stand attracted the attention of the representatives of many companies, including the delegates of Atlantic Jet Support. The parties have discussed and signed contracts on the delivery of component parts for the Uzbek company's aircraft fleet, and aircrafts.
The issues of possible assistance in the C-check maintenance servicing of Boeing-757 aircraft were discussed with Yakutia Company. Talks were held with the Vice President of the Pratt&Whitney on the repair of engines of the Uzbekistan Airways' aircrafts, and the prospects of joint work with the Uzbek company in the servicing of Pratt&Whitney's clients.
Uzbekistan Airways Technics has thus successfully demonstrated its capacity, potential and openness to joint projects with foreign partners.
KHAMKOR BANK EXTENDS OVER 1.8BN SOUMS IN MORTGAGE LOANS
Mortgage is becoming increasingly popular among the population of Uzbekistan. In accordance with the regulation "On the issuance of mortgage loans for the purchasing of housing to individuals", Khamkor Bank provides this service to citizens of Uzbekistan aged 20 to 50.
It is important to note that the bank extends mortgage loans to clients above the age of 50, provided the latter undertakes to repay the loan before he/she reaches pension age. Thus, in January-June this year, the bank issued loans for over 1.8 billion soums.
According to the conditions set by the bank, the sum of the loan should not exceed 2,500 minimal salaries. The main conditions set by the bank: the housing being purchased serves as a loan collateral; the borrower should have life insurance and insurance against the risk of the loss of ability to work for the period of loan repayment; as well as the insurance of housing which serves as a loan collateral.
In certain cases, the bank keeps the right to require additional collateral (no less than 125% of the sum of the loan) in the form of: movable and immovable property, a third party guarantee, other forms of collateral as stated in the Khamkor Bank's lending policy.
The bank lends for the period of up to 10 years. The initial installment is the minimum of 25% of the housing cost. The maximum amount of lending is 75% of the sum of the borrower's monthly income. The annual interest rate required by the bank is 16%. The interest rate is subject to changes, according to the Bank's interest rate policy.
ISHONCH'S INSURANCE OPERATIONS UP 1.5 TIMES IN 1H 2007
Among the companies assisting intensive development of the national insurance market is IShONCh Interbank Insurance Company. For eleven years now, IShoNCh has been offering reliable insurance protection to its clients.
As a result of the systematic measures towards expansion and diversification of the sales channels, improvement of the quality of service, this year the volume of the company's insurance operations has grown significantly (1.5 times).
The company's financial stability makes it possible to implement efficient insurance protection of its clients, make large coverage payouts without damage to its solvency. The sum of payouts made on all types of insurance increased 1.6 times in the reporting period.
The company places focus on the interbank market of Uzbekistan – the bank provides the insurance protection for both internal and external bank risks. In its activity, IShONCh relies on stable contacts with international insurance market, and has a recognized system of reinsurance protection, which gives it an opportunity to have large risks reinsured abroad.
Within the frame of the main directions of the development of the national insurance services market, IShONCh contributes to the implementation of the main goal of insurance – provision of the guarantees of stable functioning and development of economy.
SOCIETY
PRESIDENT VISITS SHOHIDLAR KHOTIRASI MONUMENT AND INDEPENDENCE SQUARE
President of Uzbekistan visited Shohidlar Khotirasi memorial complex in the early morning of Friday to honor the memory of victims of repressions. On August 31 is annually celebrated in Uzbekistan as the Day of memory of repression victims.
The head of the state familiarized with the exhibition of the Museum of memory of repression victims here.
On the same day, President Karimov visited the Mustaqillik (Independence) Square and laid flowers to the Independence and Humanism Monument.
Representatives of the Parliament’s upper and lower chambers, the Cabinet, ministries and departments, as well as the public also laid flowers to the monument.
HEALTH AND HAPPINESS FOR CHILDREN
From the beginning of 2007 the clinic of Tashkent Medical Academy and the central hospitals of Ferghana, Bukhara, Khorezm, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions with the financial support of “Frisensdorf International” charity organization have performed plastic operations on 180 children diagnosed with “congenital maxillofacial defects”, Uzbekistan Today reported.
The “Sog’lom avlod uchun” charity organization informs UT that the cooperation of Uzbekistan with “Frisensdorf International” in this direction will develop further and assistance will grow. Specialists note that Uzbekistan has all conditions for plastic surgey operation . It is necessary to develop communication links among families having children who need this medical care and at the same time, to provide them financial support.
The implementation of a contract, signed by the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, “Sog’lom avlod uchun” Fund and “Frisensdorf International” to provide children medical care in leading clinics of Europe is on-going now. Recently 19 children between the ages of 10 and 13 as well as trainees of “Mehribonlik” children’s homes have been sent to clinics of Germany. Seven children were treated abroad and returned to Uzbekistan last week.
A CHAMPION MEDAL FOR THE COUNTRY’S BIRTHDAY
The wrestlers of Uzbekistan continue pleasing with their progress on the international arena.
After an excellent performance of the Uzbek young sportsmen in the championship of Asia in Tajchzhun, one of the largest cities of the Chinese Taipei, a free-style wrestler of Uzbekistan Abdul Amaev was remarkable in the capital of continental China that hosted more scaled sports competition, youth’s world wrestling championship. He was the winner of weight category under 81 kg. A gold medal worthily decorated his chest. And the anthem of Uzbekistan that sounded under the arches of sports arena popularized the republic more in commemoration of its 16th anniversary.