17 April, 2006
Politics:
Uzbek head sends condolences to his Pakistani counterpart
Economics:
Uzbek GDP increases by 3.6% in 1Q 2006
Experts meet to discuss Trade
Chinese Citic to commission Uzbek soda plant in July
Society:
Electronic media discuss development programme
World Music Performed on Uzbek Folk Instruments
Turkish capital hosts conference devoted to Alisher Navoi
POLITICS
UZBEK HEAD SENDS CONDOLENCES TO HIS PAKISTANI COUNTERPART
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov expressed condolences to President of Pakistan Parvez Musharaff in connection with terrorism act in Karachi, in result of which large number of people fell victim.
People and government of Uzbekistan condemns cruel acts of violence and in these hard times assures support to people of Pakistan, the message said.
Uzbek leader expressed his condolence to friends and relative of victims.
ECONOMICS
UZBEK GDP INCREASES BY 3.6% IN 1 QUARTER 2006
Gross domestic product (GDP) of Uzbekistan increased by 3.6% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2006, Cabinet of Ministers said on Saturday, 15 April, at the meeting dedicated to the socioeconomic development of the country in January-March.
The meeting analysed the country's economic and social development in the first three months of this year and discussed the implementation of tasks in the priority areas of reforming the economy. Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired the meeting.
The meeting noted positive changes in the implementation of reforms in the priority areas. As compared with the same period of last year, GDP of Uzbekistan rose by 3.6%. Industrial output increased by 6.8% and agriculture production rose by 4.5%.
The construction works grew by 3.6%. The transport and communications sector recorded growth of 7.3% and trade and public catering by 6.3%.
The meeting said this positive process was achieved thanks to an increase in investments and export. The country's current account surplus made up US$387.1 million. The state budget implemented with surplus.
EXPERTS MEET TO DISCUSS TRADE
A recent sitting held at the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan discussed a range of issues associated with the organization of direct deliveries of indigenously cultivated fruit and vegetables to the Republic of Kazakhstan. Representatives of ministries and departments concerned, local authorities, business circles and experts from both states attended the sitting.
In particular, the delegates have noted that cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan was developing in a variety of directions. Underlying this fruitful reciprocal cooperation is a solid legal foundation, made up of agreements signed during the meeting of their leaders.
The attendees dwelled o¬n a further expansion of agricultural produce turnover between the two countries. Special attention was devoted to the improvement of supply to the Kazakh market of fruit, vegetables, melons and gourds, as well as other agricultural output grown in Uzbekistan.
Uzbek farmers cultivate each year up to 5 million tons of this produce. Domestic demand accounts for half of this amount. It means that another half, or some 2,5 million tons of fruit, vegetables, melons and gourds can well be exported to the external markets. According to statistics, in 2005, Uzbekistan exported o¬nly 660,000 tons of agricultural produce, 50 per cent of which went to the Russian Federation. Kazakhstan's share of Uzbek fruit-and-vegetables exports doesn't exceed a mere 4 per cent.
Meanwhile, the neighboring state displays a great deal of interest in fruit and vegetables, melons and gourds, as their domestic cultivation fails to meet the home market's demand. However, owing to a lack of coordination in administrative, technical and customs norms and regulations, the two-way trade between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan remains at a regrettably low level.
The meeting participants exchanged opinions o¬n a series of issues, including a joint implementation of customs measures, improvement of cooperation in the fields of cargo transportation, storage and establishment of direct linkages between the regions of both countries.
CHINESE CITIC TO COMMISSION UZBEK SODA PLANT IN JULY
Citic Pacific Ltd. (Citic) of China is planning to commission Uzbek Kungrad Soda Plant, located in Karakalpakstan, on 21 July 2006.
According to Uzhimprom (Uzbek Chemistry Industry), currently the Chinese side is eliminating bugs in technical part of the plant, which was found in August 2005.
At the same time, Uzhimprom is holding negotiations with Citic to speed up launch of plant with total cost of US$100 million. The Uzbek side hopes that the plant will be launched in the end of June.
As earlier reported, the plant with capacity of 100,000 tonnes of soda ash per year should be commissioned in August 2005, but commissioning works revealed problems in equipment, which should be eliminated by Citic, general constractor.
Citic and Uzhimprom signed agreement on designing and construction of technologic part of Kungrad soda plant for US$32.3 million. Financing of technologic part of the project carried out under credit of Industrial-commercial bank of China with insurance policy of China Export-Credit Insurance Corporation (90% of total contract cost) and Uzpromstorybank (Uzbek Industry and Construction Bank) under guarantee of the Uzbek government (10%).
Uzhimprom is financing general construction works from own resources. It is planned that the plant will be opened in August 2004, but technical and financial problems hindered commissioning works and launch of the plant was re-scheduled to August 2005.
Launch of Kungrad soda plant will allow Uzbekistan to meet domestic demand for soda ash and allow to export soda ash and hydrate of sodium, as well as salt.
According to estimates, Uzbekistan consumes 60,000-70,000 tonnes of soda ash annually. It is expected that various enterprises, producing chemical and construction materials, will use product of new plant.
Kungrad soda plant will use raw materials located in Karakalpakstan – salt from Barsekelmes (approved reserves of salt makes up 131 million tonnes with 97% of sodium chloride in structure) and limestone from Djamansay (approved reserves over 70 million tonnes).
SOCIETY
ELECTRONIC MEDIA DISCUSS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME
Dedeman Silk Road Hotel hosted a conference "Programme on development of non-governmental electronic mass media in Uzbekistan for 2006-2007" on 14 April.
Representatives of non-governmental television and radio companies and cable studious participated in the work of conference.
The conference aimed at discussion of move to new level of development of non-governmental electronic mass media through consideration and adoption of new projects, directed to improve broadcasting and strengthening material-technical base of companies, within the programme.
The priorities of the programme are stimulation of consolidation of non-governmental broadcasting society and development of journalism; improve contest o programmes and others.
National Association of Electronic Mass Media and Public Fund on support and development of non-governmental electronic mass media will announce several grant projects, which will allow to develop electronic media in the country.
WORLD MUSIC PERFORMED ON UZBEK FOLK INSTRUMENTS
The Uzbek State Chamber Orchestra of Folk Instruments, Sogdiana conducted by the Honored Artist of Uzbekistan Feruza Abdurakhimova has recently held its creative gathering at the Commonwealth Club of the Tashkent Province Khokimiyat.
The Uzbek Orchestra of Folk Instruments was established in September 1991, o¬n the initiative of Anvar Liviev, head of a laboratory involved in perfecting Uzbek folk musical instruments, a connoisseur of orchestra art and an excellent musician. He is also a tutor of Feruza Abdurakhimova, who heads the department of orchestra conducting at the Tashkent State Conservatory named after Mukhtar Ashrafi.
The collective of musicians immediately attracted the musical public's attention, since all its members are high-caliber specialists, including prizewinners of the international, regional and republican contests, as well as graduates, lecturers and students of the Tashkent State Conservatory.
Each member of the 18-sirong orchestra is a bright creative individual and a high-class soloist. There are about 20 varieties of Uzbek folk instruments used in the orchestra, such as rubab, dutar, ud, nai, surnai, koshnai, chang, doira and others.
Sogdiana is a multi-profile collective, whose repertoire consists of more than 500 works of different national styles and epochs: Uzbek folklore, works by present-day composers, Oriental and Western music etc.
The orchestra's fame has already overstepped the borders of Uzbekistan. Its international reputation is a fait accompli. A participant in many international musical forums, Sogdiana won a prize at the international festival in Spain in 1996. Later o¬n, it was awarded other prizes at different international contests.
In 2001, thanks to the organizational talent and persistence of Feruza Abdurakhimova, the 1st International Festival of ensembles and orchestras of folk instruments, Tashkent Bakhori - 2001 was staged in Uzbekistan. Musicians from France, Indonesia, Tatarstan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan took part in the event.
The creative evening's program included Uzbek, Arab, Russian, Azerbaijani, Kazakh, Austrian, Indian and Ukrainian melodies and compositions. "The main aim of our club's activity is to acquaint the public with musical culture of other nations, as well as to popularize Uzbek culture, - says Albina Belevich, the Commonwealth Club's director. - We hope the spectators liked the concert".
TURKISH CAPITAL HOSTS CONFERENCE DEVOTED TO ALISHER NAVOI
Scientific conference devoted to the 565th anniversary of Alisher Navoi was held at Ankara State University. Orientalists of higher educational institutions and scientific centres of Turkey, representatives of public organisations and diplomatic corps accredited in Ankara, as well as journalists participated in the event.
Participants of the conference heard reports on the life and creativity of Alisher Navoi, his role in formation of the Uzbek classical literature and influence on the development of the culture of oriental nations. Speakers noted the role of the government's work in preservation of cultural and spiritual heritage of the Uzbek people.
"Your country is gradually advancing on the path of building democratic society," said Orhan Kavunju, Professor of Ankara University. "Uzbekistan is an ocean of science, culture and spirituality and therefore it is important for the Turkic world. Huge work on studying and reviving historical and cultural values of the Uzbek nation is being carried out under the patronage of the President Islam Karimov, for example, Samarkand, Bukhara and other cities where historical and architectural monuments have been restored and reconstructed".