October 15, 2008
Economics:
International cotton fair starts
Uzbek-German business forum held in Tashkent
2 B Cubic Meters Natural Gas Mined at Hauzak Gas Area
Uzbekneftegaz, Mitsubishi Corporation hold talks
Conference on NGN telecommunication networks opens in Uzbek capital
Textile Expo Uzbekistan opens in Tashkent
Society:
Uzbekistan undertakes measures to support human rights institutions
Prevention of water shortage discussed at conference
Effective application of scientific discoveries in microbiology to practical use discussed
Musical Instruments Exhibited in Tashkent - Agencies
ECONOMY
INTERNATIONAL COTTON FAIR STARTS
The fourth International Uzbek cotton fair opened in Tashkent on October 14. Its organizers are the Ministry of foreign economic relations, investments and trade, international agency Cotton Outlook, Uzpakhtasanoat association and the Uzbek center for cotton fiber certification Sifat, UzA reported.
Opening the forum, Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev said cotton growing occupied one of the most important places in the economy of the country. Large-scale reforms have been implemented in the sector, a transparent mechanism of cotton exports has been created, and the demand for Uzbek cotton is growing on the world markets, he said.
More than 300 companies and 450 representatives of the cotton business from 34 countries are participating in this year’s cotton fair. During the two-day event, its participants will be able to get acquainted with the cotton industry of Uzbekistan and sign direct contracts for delivery of Uzbek cotton fiber.
More than 1,000 samples of cotton fiber of this year’s harvest are demonstrated at the Uzexpocenter, where the fair is being held. The certification of the cotton fiber is done on the basis of the latest international standards. The quality and mass of the fiber is controlled by the network of laboratories of the Sifat center.
Uzbekistan is increasing the volumes of deep processing of cotton fiber internally through development of own textile companies. This will allow to process up to 50% of locally produced fiber at the country’s textile enterprises.
The participants of the cotton fair will visit Yangiyul cotton processing plant, Toshkent tola cotton terminal and textile enterprise Muruvvat-tex in Tashkent region. They will also participate in the trade sessions at the Uzbek commodity exchange.
UZBEK-GERMAN BUSINESS FORUM HELD IN TASHKENT
The Uzbekistan-Germany business forum was held in Tashkent on October 14. The event was organized by the Ministry of foreign economic relations, investments and trade, Commerce and industry chamber, Uzinfoinvest agency, and the German Federal ministry of economy and technologies.
The forum, devoted to expansion of bilateral economic and investment cooperation, was attended by heads of ministries, departments and companies of the two countries related to fields of investments, fuel and energy, banks and financing, construction, machinery building, agriculture, chemical industry and transport.
The German businessmen received detailed information on the priority directions of attraction of investments in the economy of Uzbekistan. They were familiarized with the wide-scale privatization process, reforms in the economy, in particular, in the small business sector.
Germany is one of the largest investors in the Uzbek economy. About 100 projects worth over EUR 1 billion have been implemented in the country with participation of German investors. The commodity turnover made up USD 328.9 million. In January-August 2008, this figure increased by 23.8% against the same period of last year.
Almost 140 joint ventures created with German companies currently operate in Uzbekistan, along with about 60 representative offices of the German companies. They work in the areas of light industry, medicine and pharmaceuticals, trade, agricultural products processing, transportation of cargo and passengers, providing car servicing, etc.
2 B CUBIC METERS NATURAL GAS MINED AT HAUZAK GAS AREA
Since November last year 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas was extracted at the gas field of Hauzak-Shadi in Bukhara Province, Jahon Information Agency reported.
The increasing rate of mining at the field is explained, above all, by putting into operation of new wells. At the moment, 21 wells are operating at the Hauzak. Drilling works at the other two wells are now carried out. One of those wells will be commissioned late this year and provide for a growth in mining of valuable fuel, the agency reported referring to Lukoil-Uzbekistan Operating Company.
As of now, the obligation on putting gas into the trunk pipelines was ahead of schedule making 40 million cubic meters. The guarantee of success is an efficient accident-free regime of work in the area, loss minimization and decrease in gas expenses for the sake of personnel needs.
At the moment, the specialists are making the field ready for the winter, as was proved in practice this period is the most difficult one for exploitation of the deposit.
UZBEKNEFTEGAZ, MITSUBISHI CORPORATION HOLD TALKS
Chairman of the Board of Uzbekneftegaz national holding company Ulugbek Nazarov met a delegation of Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan) led by its executive director Masatoshi Nishizawa, Uzreport Business Information Portal reported.
The guests noted that Mitsubishi Corporation is interested in strengthening business in Central Asia. The Japanese firm participated in several tenders, carried out by Uzbekneftegaz. The Uzbek company’s representatives expressed hope for expansion of partnership and intensification of relations in other directions.
It was noted that the main task of oil and gas industry of Uzbekistan now is modernize all technological processes to achieve maximal efficiency from production. Uzbekneftegaz is interested in attraction high quality equipment and technologies and open for dialogue in these issues.
CONFERENCE ON NGN TELECOMMUNICATION NETWORKS OPENS IN UZBEK CAPITAL
An International scientific-technical conference titled "Evolution of traditional telecommunication network to NGN. Problems and transition modules" opened in Tashkent on October 14, 2008.
The Uzbek Agency for Communication and information (UzACI) and the Center of scientific-technical and marketing research are organizers of two-day conference. Representatives of Regional Communication Commonwealth, International Telecommunication Union, communication and information sector are attending the event.
The conference is aimed at providing opportunity to meet developers of normative base on NGN technologies to operators and providers of telecommunication, as well as production of telecommunication equipment, exchange experience in introduction of NGN networks, etc.
The UzACI said that the NGN technology has economic priority. Introduction of the technology envisages providing such services as telephony, data transfer and others via single multimedia network.
TEXTILE EXPO UZBEKISTAN OPENS IN TASHKENT
Fifth Central Asian International "Textile Expo Uzbekistan" Exhibition will be held at the UzExpoCenter in Tashkent on October 15-17.
ITE Uzbekistan and its partner I.T.E. Exhibitions&Conferences Ltd. (UK) are organizers of the exhibition. Main objectives of the exhibition is creation of optimum conditions for demonstration of production, effective exchange of experiences in the sphere of technologies and professional business organization, establishment of new business contacts and conclusion of foreign trade contracts, analysis of market conditions and production competitiveness, set-up of joint business in the Central Asian market.
ITE Uzbekistan said over 30 companies from various countries will attended the exhibition, including Belarus, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Japan. The share of the Uzbek participants in the exhibition makes up 30%.
SOCIETY
UZBEKISTAN UNDERTAKES MEASURES TO SUPPORT HUMAN RIGHTS INSTITUTIONS
Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyayev signed a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers "On complex measures on state support of national institutions on human rights" on 30 September 2008. The document was signed to create necessary conditions for effective activity of national institutions on human rights of Uzbekistan.
The document approved a complex measures on strengthening of material-technical base of national institutions on human rights of Uzbekistan in 2008.
Finance Ministry of Uzbekistan was ensured to allocate funds in 2008 to Secretariat of Human Rights Commissioner of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan and National Center of Human Rights from reserve fund of the Cabinet of Ministers to purchase furniture, vehicles, computers, software and other means.
Starting from October 2008, the Human Rights Commissioner of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan and its Secretariat will receive subsidies for publication of print materials, subscription to information publications and literature, payment of membership fees in international institutions, participation in international forums and expanses on vehicle maintenance.
The Uzbek Agency for Communication and Information will provide communication and Internet to the Human Rights Commissioner's Secretariat and develop websites for national institutions on human rights till 1 November 2008.
PREVENTION OF WATER SHORTAGE DISCUSSED AT CONFERENCE
Participants of National scientific-practical conference discussed issues of ensuring water supply of settlements in water shortage periods. The participants also considered exploration, development and rational use of water resources.
State Committee on Geology and Mineral Resources of Uzbekistan and Institute of Hydrology and Engineer Geology named after Lange organized the conference.
Today, it is necessary to develop recommendations, directed to forecasting emergency situations, development of proposals on rational use of existing water resources and attraction of additional water resources, including underground waters, the forum said.
It was said that water supply of population is one of the important tasks of economy and modern science. For last several years, significant number of water deposits was revealed.
The participants said Uzbekistan has great experience in formation of water deposits, but it was said there is still some problems with water supply to settlements in remote areas.
EFFECTIVE APPLICATION OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERIES IN MICROBIOLOGY TO PRACTICAL USE DISCUSSED
A conference of microbiologists of Uzbekistan has been held. Along with the Uzbek scientists and young researchers of scientific institutions and universities it was attended by delegates from Russia, UzA reported.
The President of the Sciences Academy of Uzbekistan Sh. Salihov said that the large-scale reforms being implemented in the country on the initiative of President Islam Karimov on improvement of scientific activity, integration of fundamental studies and innovative projects, integration of science and production help raise the economic potential of the country.
This is an important factor in the development of all fields of science, particularly microbiology. Important scientific-practical results are being achieved at the Institute of Microbiology of the Sciences Academy of Uzbekistan.
In the process of research scientists give special attention to the studies of microorganisms typical for the region, their culture, identification of the ones resistant to soil salinity, drought and high temperatures, and application of the technology developed in this field in practical use in the sectors of agriculture, mining and metallurgy, medicine, pharmaceutics, ecology, etc.
At this time the Institute is working on more than twenty state grants and projects. The results of scientific studies are being integrated in the sectors of agriculture, industrial production and medicine.
The scientific discoveries of the scientists working on natural microflora help develop effective technology for the use of wastes of the mining and metallurgy industry.
During the two-day conference reports were delivered on the effective application of scientific discoveries in microbiology into practice in the fields of medicine, agriculture, ecology, environmental protection and biotechnology.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS EXHIBITED IN TASHKENT - AGENCIES
An exhibition of musical instruments, equipments and textbooks used in classes of children’s schools of music and arts opened at the Exhibition Hall of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.
The ministries of culture and sports and public education of Uzbekistan organized the event, according to the news agencies.
At the opening ceremony of the exhibition the Minister of Public Education Gh.Shoumarov and Deputy Minister of Culture and Sports B.Sayfullaev said that a special attention is being paid in Uzbekistan to upbringing harmoniously developed new generation. For such purposes the reforms are now underway in the sphere of education, culture, healthcare and social protection of citizens. The scale of such noble work yet more expands in the Year of Youth.
The Decree of President “On State program of strengthening material and logistical basis and further improving activities of children’s music and arts schools for 2009-2014” of July 8, 2008 is a vivid confirmation to the said. It serves as a powerful stimulus to support young talents, raise their cultural level and create necessary conditions that give the youth an access to the best samples of national and world music, fine arts and further develop children’s schools of music and arts.
Musical instruments, equipments and textbooks used in classes of children’s schools of music and arts were demonstrated at the exhibition - the event aimed at accomplishing the tasks set in the Program, and mainly, improving the music education and acquainting the public with considerable reforms underway in this sphere.
The instruments made at the “Milliy cholg’u” (‘National musical instrument’) scientific and production experimental laboratory of the State Conservatory of Uzbekistan, as well as by the craftsmen from various regions of the country and abroad are exhibited here.