18 April, 2006

Politics
Counteracting legalisation of criminal incomes to be discussed in Tashkent

Economics
Tashkent Tractor Plant to launch serial production of new tractors
Alttrak to supply 600 tractors to Uzbekistan in 2006
CIS Civil Aviation Association meets in Tashkent
Uzbekistan hosts seminar on integration of CIS stock markets
First ceramics school Usta-Shogird opens in Tashkent

Society
Specialists of state bodies undergo human resources development training
Electronic media discuss development programme
Teen crime falling, youth care better – Uzbek officials

POLITICS

COUNTERACTING LEGALISATION OF CRIMINAL INCOMES TO BE DISCUSSED IN TASHKENT

Chairman of the Eurasian Group for Counteracting Legalisation of Criminal Incomes and Terrorism Financing, Head of the Federal Service for Financial Monitoring of the Russian Federation Victor Zubkov will pay visit to Uzbekistan on 18-19 April.

The programme of the visit envisages meetings of Zubkov with the Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Head of Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, General Prosecutor's Office, internal affairs and justice ministries, as well as the Central Bank of Uzbekistan.

In the course of the visit it is expected that the sides will discuss issues of the Eurasian Group's activity development, bilateral relations of Russia and Uzbekistan in the field of counteracting legalisatioin of criminal incomes and terrorism financing, information interaction, creation of a division of financial reconnaissance, exchange of work experience and staff training.

ECONOMICS

TASHKENT TRACTOR PLANT TO LAUNCH SERIAL PRODUCTION OF NEW TRACTORS

Tashkentskiy Traktorniy Zavod (Tashkent Tractor Plant) open joint-stock company is planning to launch next year the serial production of a new model of tractor TTZ-883 with capacity of 80-120 horsepower.

TTZ is one of leading enterprises in the agricultural machinery construction of Uzbekistan. The major shareholder of the plant is Uzselhozmashholding having 69.9% of its shares, 6.07% belong to AUS-Trade GmbH (Germnay), 3.51% - labour collective, the rest of shares have been distributed among small legal entities and individuals.

Project capacity of the enterprise makes up 12,000 tractors and more than 13,000 trailers. Products of TTZ are sold domestically and abroad – CIS, Afghanistan and Turkey.

The plant has already prepared the prototype model of the new tractor. It is expected that 15 more new tractors will be assembled by this autumn and pass all technical tests by the end of year.

Production of the new machine will be in two modifications – cotton-growing and transport. Both of the modifications will have experimental construction with 24-gear transmission. TTZ is planning to manufacture 500 tractors of the new model in 2007 and export some of them.

The plant is going to realise a project of technical re-equipment of production with the total cost of US$121 million. Feasibility study of the project has been approved by the Uzbek government. The project envisages elaboration and introduction of a new transmission for production of tractors with 120 horsepower and higher capacity.

Currently, TTZ produces three models of tractors of 10 modifications with capacity of 30 up to 60 horsepower and four types of trailers with carrying capacity of 0.5 up to 5 tonnes. The plant manufactured 3,500 tractors in 2005, which is 0.3% more compared with 2004. 12.84% of state share in TTZ has been put for sale at Uzbekistan Stock Exchange.

ALTTRAK TO SUPPLY 600 TRACTORS TO UZBEKISTAN IN 2006

Alttrak open joint stock company (Russia) signed agreement wiyh Uzprommashimpex on supply of 600 tractors to Uzbekistan during its mission to the country in the beginning of April.

Press service of Altay region's administration said the region plans to deliver over 1,200 tractors to Uzbekistan in 2006.

Alttrak held negotiations and meetings with Uzbek entrepreneurs within mission, which included representatives of over 12 enterprises.

The representative of the region held over 90 meetings with Uzbek organisations and companies. In particular, Tashkent Opytno-Remontniy Plant and the representative of mission considered supply of tractor sets. The sides are preparing agreement.

Rubtsov Spare Parts agreed to cooperate with National Base of Agriculture Equipment and Spare Parts.

CIS CIVIL AVIATION ASSOCIATION MEETS IN TASHKENT

Tashkent hosted a session of the Association of Civil Aviation of CIS states "Airport", Uzbekistan Airways said.

The session considered complex programmes on development of airports of Uzbekistan and National programme on ensuring aviation security at airports and legal base for civil aviation in Uzbekistan.

The sides discussed preparation to international conference "Concession at airports", which will be held in the end of May in Moscow and contest "The Best Airport of the Year in CIS states".

The guests familiarized with activity of Tashkent International Airport and Samarkand International Airport, which are member of the association. The guests praised skills of staff and material-technical base of the airports.

UZBEKISTAN HOSTS SEMINAR ON INTEGRATION OF CIS STOCK MARKETS

Uzbek Exchange Centre hosted a seminar to discuss issues on integration of stock markets of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

Representatives of National Depository Centre of Uzbekistan, Russian Depository-Clearing Company, Depository Centres of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Ukrainian interregional exchange association participated in the event.

Participants considered issues on integration of stock markets of the CIS, problems connected with this process, accounting and storage of securities, exchange of information and increase interest of investors to markets.

Askar Kasymov, head of department of the State Central Depository of Securities of Uzbekistan, said today stock exchanges are developing both in Uzbekistan and Eurasia. He said in 2004 the Eurasian Association of Central Depositories was created.

The sides considered issues on coordination of legislation of member-states of Eurasian Association of Central Depositories to develop the market.

FIRST CERAMICS SCHOOL USTA-SHOGIRD OPENS IN TASHKENT

First ceramics school Usta-Shogird will open in Tashkent on 20 April at support of Fund Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan to realize dreams of Rakhimov's dynasty. On the same day, the exhibition of Akbar and Alisher Rakhmov will be presented.

Rahimov's dynasty is one of the most famous ceramic masters in Tashkent and has over six generation of masters. Currently, Akbar and Alisher Rakhmov are continuing traditions of dynasty.

Farther of Akbar Rakhimov, Muhiddin Rakhimov (1903-1985) made significant contribution in history of national ceramics in Uzbekistan. He created masterpiece of applied arts, which are stored in leading museums of the world (including Hermitage, Museum of East and others). He was also researcher and restorer of traditional design of the region.

Muhiddin Rakhimov studied and classified peculiarities and technologies of creation of ceramic products of various historic periods, which were reflected in his books "Art ceramics of Uzbekistan" and "Architecture ceramics of Uzbekistan". Studing ceramics of various historic periods in cooperation with archeologists, the master restored ancient designs and afterwards created his own works based on them. Perhaps, that's why the works of Muhiddin Rakhimov were named "wonders of ceramic".

Counting work of his farther Akbar Rakhimov also received world acknowledgement as gifted master and researcher. His works presented in leading museums of Uzbekistan, Russia and Germany and exposed at international exhibitions. His son Alisher Rakhimov learnt ceramic art from his farther and leading educational establishments of the country. But, Akbar Rakhimov said: "Ceramic is the art, which is difficult to study at university. Nuts and bolts of this art should be perceived from childhood."

New school Usto-Shogird (Master- Apprentice) will take its deserved place in restoration, development and propaganda of traditional ceramics in Uzbekistan.

SOCIETY

SPECIALISTS OF STATE BODIES UNDERGO HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT TRAINING

A course on "The development of human resources" for specialists of managerial staff of administrations, ministries and departments was opened at the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade (MFERIT) on 17 April.

The course has been organised by the Islamic Development Bank, Islamic Research and Study Institute (IRSI), MFERIT and Centre for staff training in the sphere of foreign economic activity (CST) under MFERIT.

"The lessons should not only cover issues of human resources development, but also inform the audience on the existing ways of raising the professionalism of workers, motivation and stimulation in the course of their training," said Dr Tahar Memmi, Executive Director of IRSI.

The course includes lectures on such directions, as labour resources planning, analysis of labour market demands in Uzbekistan, management and strategy of human resources development, Director of CST Muhtabar Nasritdinova noted.

The course will last until 21 April. Among the lecturers are teachers from the Science Academy of Uzbekistan, State Tax Committee, Centre for Economic Studies, as well as economic higher educational institutions of Tashkent.

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.

TEEN CRIME FALLING, YOUTH CARE BETTER – UZBEK OFFICIALS

The commission on juvenile affairs has held a meeting at the Prosecutor-General's Office of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The meeting was chaired by the Uzbek prosecutor-general and the commission's chairman, Rashid Qodirov.

The meeting discussed the situation of abandoned children in Khorezm, Navoi and Namangan regions, and the consequences of children being left unsupervised, including measures being taken to prevent crime and violations of the law in such circumstances. It also considered measures to improve the quality of medical service, the social and cultural lives of the population, especially young people living in rural areas, Uzbek newspaper Khalq Sozi reported.

The social security of young people in our country is improving. As a result of this and also of strenuous preventive measures, the crime rate among teenagers is decreasing. Also, various events being held by the law-enforcement agencies to raise young people's legal awareness are yielding fruitful results.