September 7, 2007
Politics
Parliamentary delegation of China visiting Uzbekistan
Economics:
Tashkent to host third International Uzbek Cotton Fair
Official opening of Sarbast Plus brewery held in Tashkent
Management Development Institute of Singapore to open in Tashkent
Agricultural output in Uzbekistan grows by 5.5% in 1H 2007 2007
Volume of passenger transportation in Uzbekistan up by 10.5 in 1H 2007
Society:
Sharq taronalari” results summarized
Motherland is one, Motherland is single!
POLITICS
PARLIAMENTARY DELEGATION OF CHINA VISITING UZBEKISTAN
Vice Chairwoman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress of China He Luli held talks with the Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Erkin Khalilov on September 6 in Tashkent, UzA reported.
The negotiations focused on issues related to the present state and perspective of inter-parliamentary relations between Uzbekistan and China.
On the same day, the Chinese official held talks with Vice Chairman of the Senate Farruha Muhiddinova.
ECONOMICS
TASHKENT TO HOST THIRD INTERNATIONAL UZBEK COTTON FAIR
Third International Uzbek Cotton Fair and Fourth International Cotton and Textile Conference will be held on September 17-19 in Tashkent.
The events are being organized by the government of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the International Cotton Advisory Committee and the Cotton Outlook magazine.
The participants will have the opportunity to sign contracts with Uzbek companies for cotton supply of 2007-2008 crops or participate in the auctions and purchase cotton on Uzbek Commodity Exchange.
Round table discussions and negotiations between exporters and consumers of Uzbek cotton will also be held during the fair.
The Uzbek International Cotton Fair was held for the first time in 2005 on the initiative of President Islam Karimov.
OFFICIAL OPENING OF SARBAST PLUS BREWERY HELD IN TASHKENT
Opening ceremony of Sarbast Plus brewery was held in Tashkent on September 6. The launch of this modern plant is the result of favourable conditions created in Uzbekistan for active work of foreign capital, privileges and preferences for companies staking on progressive technologies and equipment, fair competition.
The total volume of Baltic Beverages Holding AB (BBH) in the Uzbek economy has exceeded 50 million euros. The Swedish concern is leader in the beer markets of Russia, Ukraine, Baltic states and Kazakhstan. The holding was founded in 1991 as a joint venture in equal shares with Finnish brewing group Oy Hartwall AB.
19 breweries are working today under the BBH trademark, 10 of them located in Russia, 4 – in Baltic states, 3 – in Ukraine, and one plant in Kazakhstan and another in Uzbekistan. BBH is leading in the Russian market holding 36.7% market share. The company owns such known brands in CIS, as Baltika, Arsenalnoe, Nevskoe, Slavutich, Irbis, Derbes. The holding employs some 14,500 workers. Currently, BBH is a joint venture of Carlsberg A/S (Denmark) and Scottish & Newcastle Plc. (Scotland).
11 hectares of land in Khamza district of Tashkent city have been developed and equipped with modern services and utilities in record time. The plant's production capacities allow to manufacture up to 1 million hectoliters or 200 million bottles of beer annually. The European quality beer is produced from classical ingredients. All processes are automated, quality control system is based on the long-term experience of Carlsberg and Scottish & Newcastle breweries.
Moreover, it is planned to expand production in the near future, according to organizers of the opening ceremony. Thus, the plant's output should increase twice in 2008. The commissioning of Sarbast Plus allowed to created over 300 additional workplaces. The number of workers employed at adjacent enterprises producing bottles, labels, print and other products will grow approximately 10 times.
MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE OF SINGAPORE TO OPEN IN TASHKENT
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a resolution on September 5, 2007 on setting up the Management Development Institute of Singapore in Tashkent.
The educational establishment will be founded by the named institute and the Uzbekistan Banks Association.
The institute will prepare bachelors and masters in banking, business administration, tourism and IT in business. It will also be able to open new courses based on the demand.
The new institute should accept its first students in the academic year 2008-2009.
AGRICULTURAL OUTPUT IN UZBEKISTAN GROWS BY 5.5% IN 1H 2007
In January-June 2007 the output of agricultural products in Uzbekistan made up 3,479.9 billion soums at current prices which is 105.5% as compared to January-June 2006, according to the Uzbek State Statistics Committee.
In total volume of agricultural production plant-growing products made up 1,766.3 billion soums (105.1% to the level of 2006) and livestock products – 1,713.6 billion soums (106%). In total volume of agricultural output the share of plant-growing products was 50.8% and that of livestock products – 49.2%. In the structure of output of agricultural products the share of private and dekhkan farms increased while that of agricultural enterprises decreased.
Plant-growing
According to the preliminary data the total area under crops for the yield of the current year in farms of all types was 3.53 million hectares which is 107,400 hectares lower than the total area under crops for the yield of the previous year.
The area under grains made up 1.53 million hectares. The area under cotton was 1.44 million hectares. The area under potatoes was 55,500 hectares and that of vegetables – 158,700.
Harvesting
As of 1 July 2007, farms of all types (agricultural enterprises, private, dekhkan farms) threshed over 5.38 million tonnes of grains including 5.31 million tonnes of wheat which is 5.5% and 5.4% more respectively than on this date of 2006.
The production of potatoes was 577,800 tonnes, vegetables – 992,500 tonnes, melons and gourds – 52,400 tonnes, fruit and berries – 341,500 tonnes, grapes – 12,600 tonnes. As compared to 2006 the production of potatoes increased by 8.2%, vegetables – by 10.2%, melons and gourds – by 14.4%, fruit and berries – by 4.8% and grapes – by 15.7%.
In the first half of 2007 the purchase amount of grains was 2.27 million tonnes including 2.24 million tonnes of wheat (as of the same date of 2006 – 2.31 million and 2.29 million tonnes respectively), besides seed stock made up 252,900 tonnes, or 111.6% to the level of 2006.
Animal husbandry
As of 1 July 2007, in comparison with the same period of the previous year, the population of cattle increased by 430,700 (by 6.4%) of which cows by 131,700 (4.5%), sheep and goats - by 580,900 (4.7%), poultry - by 2.21 million (10.4%).
In January-June 2007 farms of all types produced 561,600 tonnes of meat in living weight (6.2% more than in the corresponding period of the previous year), 2.31 million tonnes of milk (5.8%), nearly 1 billion eggs (9.2%), 11,452 tonnes of wool (8.7%), 693,000 pieces of karakul (12%) 21,400 tonnes of cocoons (5.9%).
The production of animal products (meat, milk, eggs) in all regions has mainly increased at the expense of dekhkan and private farms. Their share in total production of meat was 97.3%, milk – 99.5%, eggs – 61.5%.
Private farms
As of 1 July 2007, the number of operating private farms was 212,500. As compared to the corresponding period of the previous year, their number increased by 30,800.
The total area of lands allotted to private farms was 5.67 million hectares, on average 26.7 hectares per farm. The number of workers was 1.31 million persons, 214,500 of them were hired workers.
As of the beginning of July, private farms had 397,400 heads of cattle, including 128,200 cows, 897,900 sheep and goats, 13,400 pigs, 989,600 poultry.
As compared to the first half of 2006 the population of cattle increased by 11.2%, cows – by 9%, sheep and goats - by 46.7%, poultry - by 19.2%.
VOLUME OF PASSENGER TRANSPORTATION IN UZBEKISTAN UP BY 10.5 IN 1H 2007
In January-June 2007 the number of passengers carried by all types of transport in the Republic of Uzbekistan was 2.26 billion persons and increased by 10.5% as against January-June 2006, according to the State Statistics Committee.
The passenger turnover increased by 12.8% and was 26.7 billion pass-km. The greatest share in passenger transportation and passenger turnover fell upon motor transport – 96.7% (2.19 billion persons) and 85.1% (22.7 billion pass-km) respectively.
In January-June 2007 the number of passengers carried by railway transport increased by 4.8% as compared to January-June 2006 and was 6.8 million persons, the passenger turnover increased by 9.6% and made up 1.17 billion pass-km.
608,900 persons were carried by air transport, which is 28.4% higher than in January-June 2006, the passenger turnover made up 2.41 billion pass-km and was 16.4% higher than in January-June 2006.
66.8 million persons were carried by urban electrical transport, which is 1.2% or 800,000 persons lower than in January-June 2006. This decline was caused by decrease of carriages of trolleybus transport and subway by 2.1% or 900,000 persons.
SOCIETY
SHARQ TARONALARI” RESULTS SUMMARIZED
The unique examples of eastern musical art that sounded at the sixth international music festival on the Registan Square, in city parks and palaces, Samarkand, Akdarya, Taylak and Urgut districts, won the hearts of thousands music admirers. Diverse melodies and songs in many languages, sung by representatives of more than fifty countries from five continents were united under a common theme: all of them hymned generosity, peace, friendship and love, Uzbekistan Today reported.
The “Sharq taronalari” International Music Festival which has taken place in Samarkand since 1997 helps to develop world musical art, conserve and advocate universal values and popularize Uzbek national musical art.
UT has earlier informed in detail about the preparation for this festival, its enchanting opening ceremony and several days, filled with singing, joy and pure voices. And now the most exciting moment: announcing its winners.
The highest prize, Grand Prix, was given to performers from Kuwait. Artists from South Korea took the first place. The Italian and Egyptian art masters won the second place, and representatives of China, Malaysia and Kenya third place.
Special prizes from UNESCO were awarded as well. Our compatriot Gulzoda Khudoynazarova won in the nomination “Owner of a Unique Voice”. An Azerbaijani singer Arzu Alieva was called the youngest performer. Sakr Ruba Muhammad Ahmad from Jordan was awarded the prize for “Best Author’s Performance”. Representatives of Kyrgyzstan won in the nomination “Arrangement of the Traditional and Modern Melody”.
MOTHERLAND IS ONE, MOTHERLAND IS SINGLE!
The Republican competition “Motherland is one, Motherland is single!” dedicated to the 16th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s Independence in Tashkent reached its end. The audience was shown numerous new music works of authors from regions and Tashkent city and the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan Today reported.
It is not always possible to explain feelings which grip a person. In this case, music, poetic metaphors and songs come to the rescue. The competition included songs about independence and the beauty of our native land. Each artist did their best to express their ideas of Motherland, changes in Uzbekistan and people living there, simple but full of sincerity, which filled the audience’s hearts with pride of their Motherland.
A song written by Ikbal Mirzo, composed by Anora Nazarova and sung by Dilnura Kadirjanova, “Look Around” won the first place. The second and third places were won by the song “Vatan” (“Motherland”) written by Abdulla Aripov, composed by Bahrullo Lutfullaev and sung by Sharofiddin Murodov and the song “Mangu hayot” (“Eternal Life”) written by Ikbal Mirzo, composed by Rustam Abdullaev and performed by Dilnoza Ismiyaminova.
The competition was held at the initiative of the Uzbek Ministry of Culture and Sports cooperatively with “O’zbeknavo” Variety Association, Union of Writers and Union of Composers of Uzbekistan and Republican Spirituality Center.