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                                              LATEST NEWS : February 2010                             ARCHIVES

 

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with Richard Holbrooke, US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan, at Oqsaroy on February 19, 2010. Welcoming the prominent US diplomat, the head of Uzbekistan expressed the attitude of the country toward further development of Uzbek-American relations on a constructive basis to ensure peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Today, Uzbekistan supplies this country with energy, soft commodities, builds transportation system and provides aid in different spheres of socioeconomic reconstruction.

For example, the volume of Uzbek energy supplied to Afghanistan has increased several times this year. Uzbek specialists construct the Hairaton – Mazari-Sharif railway. Large volumes of humanitarian goods and cargo are delivered to Afghanistan through the territory of Uzbekistan.   At the talk, Mr Holbrooke thanked the Uzbek leader for the warm welcome and underscored the interest of American administration in strengthening the mutual cooperation with Uzbekistan to maintain regional security.

The US Special Representative stressed the particular importance of the position of Uzbekistan to address the Afghan conflict.

Prospects of bilateral cooperation development as well as other topics of mutual interest were discussed at the meeting.

www.uza.uz
 

The Microsoft director for work with governments of the Central and Eastern Europe Roland Hofmann held a meeting with representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan. The meeting focused on the perspectives of cooperation in introduction of information and communication technologies in Uzbekistan.

It was noted that in Uzbekistan a large work was being carried out to develop information and communication technologies in various spheres in accordance with programs approved by the President.

The sides discussed expansion of cooperation in education and agreed that signing of a special memorandum would allow providing all educational institutions with Microsoft products on a preferential basis. They particularly noted the importance of translating the interfaces of the Microsoft products into Uzbek language.

The participants of the meeting also considered development of cooperation in preparing specialists in IT sphere. It was noted that in Uzbekistan annually more than 3,500 IT specialists are prepared, which creates conditions for development of local software industry, and the Microsoft could successfully use this potential.

The issues of cooperation in protection of intellectual property and copyright in Uzbekistan were also discussed at the meeting. In this direction, Microsoft offered holding various seminars and trainings with participation of its specialists.

Perspectives of cooperation in introduction of IT in state management were another area of discussion. The sides said a memorandum with Microsoft to introduce the Innovative Government program could be signed.

The Microsoft representatives were also proposed to expand cooperation with the Center for young programmers training and the Computer Emergency Response Team (UZ-CERT) under the UZINFOCOM center.

www.uza.uz
 

 

The project of the Activity Program of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis is under development Last week the lower house of parliament discussed some priority tasks of its activity and adopted the report on the Ombudsman’s activity in 2009. Previously the Council of the parliament’s lower house discussed the priority directions of the activity of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis outlined in the report by the President Islam Karimov Upgrade of the Country and Formation of Strong Civil Society is our Key Priority.

The Council adopted a relevant resolution and considered the report of the Ombudsman. Those issues were thoroughly studied during a week by political parties’ factions and deputies of the Ecology Movement.

Deputies emphasized the importance of the permanent participation of the deputies of the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan, uniting over 100 specialized NGOs, in the parliament’s activity. The movement’s representatives are designated to promote the further development of the legislation in environment, organization of the systemic activity to enhance the authorities’ responsibility locally and in the center as well as responsibility of different public and other structures on the absolute implementation of adopted documents in this sphere. Henceforward, the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan entered a new stage and it has huge opportunities for raising and monitoring the environmental protection issues and safeguarding the country’s population from dangerous and changes in the ecology.

In the lower house’s plenary session the representatives of the political parties’ factions and the deputy group of the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan shared prospects of their future activity.

Upon the discussion they adopted a resolution on the formation of the special commission to develop the Activity Program of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis. Factions of political parties, deputy group of the Ecology Movement and committees of the Legislative Chamber were recommended to take some measures for the radical improvement of the quality of adopted laws, elimination of divergence, replication with previously adopted regulations, and reduction of reference rules. While planning and implementation of review services they were suggested to pay a special attention to the implementation of the Anti-crisis Program for 2009-2012 and its measures on ensuring the secure development of the socioeconomic sphere, absolute implementation of the Job Creation and Population Employment Program for 2010 approved by Oliy Majlis.

While developing a lawmaking strategy and tasks it is planned to empower the civil society institutes, including civil self-government bodies, social and state formation system, transformation of mahalla into a social targeted support center and development of the entrepreneurial and family business.

Deputies also map out to hear and discuss the information by the government officials, heads of ministries and bodies about the execution of laws, important state programs in respective sectors to develop the comprehensively studied recommendations on the improvement of their further activity, enhancement of the parliamentary supervision over the execution of adopted laws by the state authority bodies and local administrations.

The Legislative Chamber is going to direct its efforts to the provision of clear and advanced interaction between economy and social sphere reformation processes leading to the further improvement of sociopolitical and judicial sphere, strengthening of mass media’s role and position in the system of civil society institutes, advanced liberalization, activation of the non-governmental mass media activity, development and adoption of legislative acts envisaged by the State Program the Year of Harmoniously Developed Generation, permanent interaction with the electorate on the absolute implementation of the regulations and tasks outlined in the report by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and explanation of the main points of adopted laws.

The participants of the plenary session of the parliament’s lower house also considered the report on the activity of the Ombudsman of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2009, presented by Sayyora Rashidova. It was noted that the last year’s activity of Ombudsman focused on the enhancement of interaction between the legislative and executive authorities, all levels of state bodies, civil society institutes, international organizations dealing with the protection of human rights and freedoms. Ombudsman carried out a big monitoring work over the enforcement practice of the effective legislation in human rights’ protection, assessment of draftlaws adopted by the parliament committees, government, ministries and agencies, brining the national legislation in compliance with the generally accepted international law principles and regulations, raise of the legal competence of population.

As deputies noted in their speeches, the cooperation between the Ombudsman and the lower house of the parliament was directed not only to the conduction of the legal assessment of the draftlaws but also to the participation in the supervisory and analytical activity, information exchange upon the monitoring the legislation execution, arrangement and conduction of conferences, seminars round tables on human rights’ protection.

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The visit of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to Seoul was in the focus of the media of the Republic of Korea. The Korean printed media published a series of extensive materials on the current economic life of Uzbekistan, its initiatives on the international scene, relations with South Korea.

The Korea Times

The Korea Times published an article titled “Korea and Uzbekistan to strengthen cooperation in energy” which states that during the summit in Cheongwadae President Lee Myung-bak and President Islam Karimov expressed satisfaction with the progress in implementing joint projects to develop Surgil gas field, as well as modernization of the Navoi airport and other infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan.

The article emphasizes that during the visit a package of documents on the joint development of new oil fields in Uzbekistan was signed between the two governments. According to the agreement signed in 2008, South Korea is now carrying out work on the Namangan-Tegachi and Chust-Pap blocks.

Also, an agreement on the construction Seoul Park in Uzbekistan which will become a symbol of deepening relations with Korea was reached.

The park will serve as the preservation of traditional Korean culture and promote friendship between the two countries, the newspaper notes.

President Lee Myung-bak expressed his appreciation for Uzbekistan's support of Korea in its quest to become the host country of Winter Olympic Games in 2018 and the UN Conference on Climate Change in 2012. He also thanked President Islam Karimov for Uzbekistan's participation in the EXPO-2012 exhibition in Yeosu.

According to the Korean newspaper, heads of the two nations shared the view on the need for early resolution of the DPRK nuclear issue, which is the guarantor of stability in Northeast Asia. As sources in the administration of South Korean President informed, President Islam Karimov expressed his support for the efforts of Korea to resume the six-party format of negotiations, the author writes.

Another article of The Korea Times titled “Korea to aid Uzbekistan with $12 million” describes the signing of 4 agreements on economic cooperation.

It is stated that under the agreements, Seoul will provide $12 million to improve the heating system in the northern part of Uzbekistan, for construction of 4 pumping stations by a project aimed at improving the fresh water, as well as projects for desalination of irrigation water and to combat infectious diseases.

The Korea Times also published the statement of ex-Speaker of the Parliament of Korea Lee Mann Sop: “Since 2006, the sides raised the level of cooperation to a higher level by signing the ‘Agreement on establishment of strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea’.

Korea and Uzbekistan are closely cooperating in political, economic and cultural spheres,” pointed out the South Korean politician. “I take this opportunity to once again welcome President Islam Karimov with his visit to South Korea and express confidence that the strategic partnership and friendship between the two nations would continue to develop for the benefit of both countries,” he added.

JoongAng Daily

In its article “Kogas expands cooperation with Uzbekistan”, Korea’s leading English-language newspaper JoongAng Daily noted the importance of the two countries' cooperation in the energy sphere: “While working on Surgil project, the Korean National Gas Corporation (Kogas) plans to make a significant contribution to the economy of Uzbekistan.

The corporation intends to contribute to the construction of a chemical plant at Surgil gas field near the Aral Sea, developed Uzbekneftegaz since 2002.

In 2006 Kogas and Uzbekneftegaz signed a memorandum of understanding, and two years later they established Uz-Kor Gas Chemical joint venture for implementing the Surgil project.

A feasibility study of the chemical plant is expected to be carried out by the end of 2010 in order to start financing the project in the first half of 2011. The plant should be put into operation in early 2015. The project will draw about $4 billion of investments, including $600 million for the gas field development and $2.4 billion for the construction of chemical plant. The facility will annually produce 4.5 billion cubic meters of gas, 380 thousand tons of polyethylene and 80 thousand tons of polypropylene.”

In its article “Deepening Economic and Political Cooperation”, Yonha highly estimated the meeting of heads of two states and wrote: “On February 11 this year, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov and President of Korea Lee Myung-bak had a meeting in Seoul, during which the sides discussed measures on further development of bilateral economic and political cooperation.

The negotiations culminated in signing of agreements on the construction of the chemical plant by Republic of Korea and development of Surgil oil and gas field in Uzbekistan. An investment agreement providing for the allocation of $4 billion to implement these projects was also signed.

The head of Uzbekistan and President of the Republic of Korea confirmed that the investment agreement on Surgil project is a symbol of close bilateral cooperation.

“The leaders expressed satisfaction with the consistent development of relations between the two countries in various fields, including politics, economy and culture, and confirmed their readiness to make joint efforts to deepen the strategic partnership.

The two leaders also agreed to intensify cooperation in environmental issues, including increasing the production of compressed natural gas,” is said in a joint statement.

President Islam Karimov and President Lee Myung-bak welcomed the signing of the investment agreement on Surgil project and the agreement on joint development of oil fields in Farg’ona and Chinobod. The parties have already carried out geological exploration works in Namangan and Chust. Energy-rich Uzbekistan became a major economic partner of Korea, needs of which in hydrocarbons and minerals is covered by imports on 97%.

As far as regional and global issues are concerned, the parties mentioned the denuclearization of the DPRK. President Islam Karimov expressed his support for South Korea's position to resolve the nuclear issue through the early resumption of negotiations. Tashkent and Seoul also agreed to join efforts to help to rebuild Afghanistan.

www.ut.uz  
 

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Office of United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in Uzbekistan signed a Country Program’s Action Plan (CPAP) between the Government and UNFPA for 2010-2015.

CPAP is an action plan, results-oriented and containing detailed information on UNFPA’s Country Program for 2010-2015, on planned outcomes and strategies that will be used to achieve them.

“The Action Plan we are signing today with the UNFPA aims to address a wide range of important issues and will support implementation of national programs to improve reproductive health and education of the harmonically developed generation,” Minister of Health of the Republic of Uzbekistan Atkham Ikramov noted.

During the ceremony it was once again stressed that the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan will make every effort to effectively implement the new country program and ensure participation of relevant ministries and agencies in its success.

Under the new program cycle UNFPA will support the Government of Uzbekistan in improving maternal and child health, increasing young people's access to information on reproductive health and HIV prevention, strengthening national capacity in demography and statistics, etc.

www.ut.uz
 

A briefing has recently been held in the British Parliament’s House of Lords where priorities of political and socio-economic development of Uzbekistan as well as prospects of bilateral relations were discussed.

The briefing was organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan jointly with the British-Uzbek Society and United Kingdom-Uzbekistan All-Party Parliamentary Group, attended by members of the House of Lords, representatives of UK governmental, public, academic and business circles.

In his welcoming address Chairman of the Britain-Uzbekistan All-Party Parliamentary Group Lord Waverley emphasized Uzbekistan’s key role in Central Asia, which is of strategically importance for Britain’s political and economic interests. Calling for more active contacts both at governmental and parliamentary levels, he noted that his group intended to contribute to this process.

According to President of the British-Uzbek Society Lord Fred Ponsonby, in a relatively short historical period the country has achieved significant progress in forming a stable political and economic base for its development. Lord Fred Ponsonby drew attention to favorable conditions for investment and doing business in Uzbekistan.

Dr. Shirin Akiner, a lecturer at the Cambridge Forum on Central Asia, shared impressions of her visit to Uzbekistan as an observer in the parliamentary elections. Stressing the high level of electoral process’ organization, necessary conditions for all involved parties and voters, she noted an electoral system was established and is functioning in Uzbekistan, which corresponds to democratic principles and active participation of young people in the elections showed their interest in the future of the country.

According to Chairman of the Cambridge Forum for Central Asia, Dr. Siddharth Saxena, parliamentary elections in Uzbekistan met the international standards. Representing one of the leading UK universities, he praised the level of population’s education and our country’s vast scientific potential. He referred to his long experience of cooperation with universities and research institutions of the country. The Cambridge University intends to become one of the partners in a project on creation of a hi-tech park in Tashkent.

Director of Rio Tinto Timothy Moody described the company’s dynamically developing contacts with its Uzbek partners in recent months as positive. He also praised the outcome of the November 2009 meeting of the Uzbek-British Council on Trade and Industry (UBTIC) and called for prompt implementation of the agreements reached.

www.ut.uz  
 

The Airport of Termiz that became international one in 2002 carries out large-scale efforts to strengthen the material-technical base, improve the quality of passenger service, air transportation safety.

Today, the most southern aviation hub of the country has a modern control tower, comfortable terminal building, spacious runway, weather station, facilities for aircraft maintenance.

Also, aircraft parking area here has been reconstructed and technical and administrative buildings are equipped with the latest computer and navigation technologies that significantly enhance the capacity of the airport in terms of organization of international flights.

It should be noted that the aircraft fleet there is updated annually here. For example, flights in local destinations are performed on modern cruise liner IL-114, while international destinations are serviced by Boeing and A-310 as well as IL-76 cargo aircraft. In addition, the airport which employs more than 300 people has passenger helicopters.

The airport has upgraded ground infrastructure, reconstructed runway and terminals for its efficient operation. The airport has an excellent staff of high-level specialists who ensure safety and reliability of flights and, consequently, promote the volume of cargo and passengers traffic.

“Last year our airport made more than 2,500 flights in different destinations, which is much more than those made in previous period,” said Ravshan Gulamov, director of Termiz International Airport.

According to the National Civil Aviation Development Program, the work on modernization and development of the material and technical base and ground infrastructure, reconstruction of air traffic control systems in Termiz International Airport will continue. This means that the passenger service and air safety will increase many times.

www.ut.uz 
 

 

527 years ago, a new bright star lightened the skies marking the birth of an exceptionally talented person of the epoch, Zahiriddin Muhammad Bobur. As a day that produced this ingenious person, his birth date is a momentous event which has been celebrated by generations of various countries and peoples throughout many years. His life was short yet the memory of people about him is great, each line of his literary and scientific creations is costly, as well his wise word is infinitely valuable. “Respect people, local laws and customs, do not encourage interethnic conflicts, and listen to advices of adults,” wrote great Bobur in the will to his son Humoyun.   Every year on February 14th, the birthday of the poet, admirers of poetry gather on the avenue of poets where Bobur’s bust is erected. They read his verses, while academics share with each other new openings in study of creativity of Bobur.   It is rather hard to characterize the world of Zahiriddin Muhammad Bobur in one word; it is like a brilliant many-sided and charming.

Power and authoritative features of a leading statesman, prudence and vigor of a commander, softness and sensuality of a poet harmoniously intertwined in his world.

In verses of Bobur: “Sometimes we sad, sometimes we glad as well as ups and downs, well!” "Ups" and ease is felt in the love lyrics of the poet where love is glorified as the highest human advantage.

Bobur’s literary creativity is not limited with gazelles and rubois, they, perhaps, become a preamble in his creativity, the central place in which is occupied by his considerable work “Boburnoma”. This work is not only the sample of memoirs prose in the Uzbek language, the historical document on a life of people of Central Asia at the turn of the 15-16th centuries, but also the reflection of inner world of the author. It reveals the character of the author, his strength, talent, the wide outlook and various interests.

The popular wisdom goes: “Talented person is talented in all” and Bobur’s life is the true evidence of it. His creative heritage, besides “Boburnoma”, gaining world recognition includes also scientific works, treatises on Muslim jurisprudence “Mubayin”, poetics “Aruz Risolasi”, music, military science, as well as his special alphabet “Hatti Boburiy”. Keeping on Alisher Navoiy's best traditions, he managed to make a huge contribution to the development of Uzbek literature.

His wise sayings left for future generations, can serve as the motto for each person and will not lose their urgency any time.

So diverse and interesting is the personality of Bobur. According to the developed tradition, on the eve of his birthday various events were organized throughout the republic devoted to the poet’s life. The scientific-practical conference aimed at profound learning of creativity of Bobur took place in Andijon, the poet’s home town. People will never forget his name, museums, parks, educational institutions, country theaters are named in honor of him, his legacy is in the constant studying, people admire of him, learn and love him as ever before.

www.ut.uz  
 

The construction and overhaul of 300 educational settings all over the republic starts this year.

Many of them will be put into operation by the beginning of the 2010-2011 academic year.

In spite of the successful implementation of the State National School Education Development Program in 2004-2009, the works on reconstruction and building of new schools are still continued. Namangan experiences the largest-scale construction and development of the city’s infrastructure. A total of 14 general schools are projected to be put into operation by the new academic year.

The scaled activity to be expanded all over the republic to strengthen the material and technical base in out-of-school education establishments this year. 35 music and art schools will be reconstructed and 16 new ones will be built. Reorganization of clubs and cultural recreation establishments is expected this year as well. They will become a basis for establishment of Barkamol Avlod centers providing the wonderful conditions for the development of talents in various creative areas meeting the highest demands.

Some more 45 building and reconstructing structures will dispose 4 academic lyceums and 41 professional colleges. Besides, 99 new hostels will be built and 124 hostels will be reconstructed under the secondary special and professional institutions.

The list of newly built and reconstructed structures includes also new buildings for the higher education institutions. In particular, new buildings are being constructed on the territory of Tashkent State Economic University, Termiz State University. The new building for the branch of Tashkent University for Information Technologies is being built in Samarqand.

The reconstruction of buildings at Tashkent Financial Institute and Qarshi State University has started. Meanwhile, specialists of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education note that the number of universities experiencing the strengthening of the material and technical base may increase considerably in the soonest months.

www.ut.uz  
 

Tashkent hosted the 5th international exhibition “Education and Career” organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, Kamolot Civic Youth Movement, Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education and Expocontact and Global Study companies. Thousands of dedicated young people aiming at pursuing some professional education and employment got acquainted with the exposition.

Graduates of colleges and academic lyceums took a great interest in universities of the country. The stands of the National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulughbek, Uzbek State World Languages University and other national universities demonstrated not only the specialties they offer but also their achievements over the last years. They included awards won by tutors and students in prestigious contests, textbooks, published by them over the last years, and many other interesting things telling about the life of a certain university.

“Our institute takes part in this exhibition for some years,” told Umida Akhmedkhojaeva, representative of the National Institute for Art and Design. “In our stand we traditionally present booklets and brochures about our institute, and creative works by our students: sketches, paintings, statuettes, and other things. We try to give extended answers to the numerous questions by young people willing to become our students. Incidentally, we see our potential entrants and students in many of those whom we consulted.”

The exhibition also presented detailed information on opportunities of getting the international standard education. It was available in the stands of International Westminster University in Tashkent and the branch of the Moscow State University named after Lomonosov. Representatives of 15 countries of the near and far abroad specially came to the exhibition to invite talented Uzbek young people to study in their country.

The exhibition was also interesting for those who wish to acquire some additional skills or advance their proficiency. This information was offered both by national and international organizations.

It was populous near the stands of recruitment agencies. Such reputable organizations as Youth Employment Assistance Centre and Career Training and Consulting Center offered their services there. Today they not only give information on vacancies in the enterprises but also advise about the vocational guidance issues and choice of the suitable job place.

The Norma Hamkor Ltd. has been the popular participant of the exhibition for the second year round with its new product – the electronic cartographic reference book “My City. Education” which contains information about all educational institutions in Tashkent. It also includes information of financial organizations providing loans for education, scientific and engineering libraries, driving schools, advanced training courses, opportunities for getting education abroad, children’s creativity centers as well as recruitment agencies.

“I came to the exhibition with my sister,” told Nargiza Abdullaeva, student of the National University of Uzbekistan. “The exposition was very informative and interesting both for me, defending my diploma this year, and my sister, who was going to enter the Uzbek State World Languages University.”

www.ut.uz  
 

Wide-scale work to ensure the rights and interests of youths, to encourage them to discover their talents in education, science, entrepreneurship and other spheres, has been the top priority for government under the leadership of President Islam Karimov. The resolution by the head of state “On National Program of the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation” stresses the task of further encouragement of small and medium entrepreneurship, extensive involvement of the younger generation in this sphere, including graduates of professional colleges and higher education institutions.

Fulfillment of the abovementioned tasks is the goal of some projects by the Kelajak Ovozi Center for Youths’ Initiatives. One of them – School of Young Entrepreneurs was included into the State Program the Year of Harmoniously Developed Generation. The project envisages the conduction of training every three months to support boys and girls starting their business activities. This training for young people from 17 to 25 is conducted with the assistance of the Fund Forum of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan, Chamber of Commerce and Trade of Uzbekistan, Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, Social Initiatives Support Fund and other organizations.

The winter school has recently started its work in the health-improving complex Yoshlik in the Bostonlik district of the Tashkent region. 30 most talented boys and girls were selected out of 200 young people to participate in the winter school on the contractual basis. The most interesting and promising projects were selected by a special commission.

The winter school curriculum includes intensive trainings on theory and practice of business activity, psychology, proficiency development. The best trainers and practitioners of the republic arrange the business environment by means of role games and this way they check knowledge and skills acquired by participants.
Alisher Islamov, one of the trainers and organizers, noted that trainings aim at not only at teaching some practical skills but also at assisting young people with introduction of their ideas and putting the enterprising youth into business environment.

“I take part in the winter school with my project on information and communication technologies,” says Tursunho’ja Yunusho’jaev, student of the Tashkent Chemistry and Technology Institute. “This project focuses on generation of business activity web-sites, their further development and improvement of this activity. Participation of young entrepreneurs will enable enrichment of our knowledge and establish a dialogue with known scientists, specialists and peers.”

Bakhtiyor Rahmanov from Kashkadaryo region presented his project on publication of the advertising magazine.

“I have been maturing this idea long ago, but I didn’t know what to start with and how to implement it,” said Bakhtiyor Rahmanov. “Here, in the winter school I will get answers to my questions about the way of making a business plan, budget, preparation of registration documents, etc.”
“I have been interested in design art for many years,” says Umida Yusupova from Namangan region. “I wish to establish a design school for girls. However, I for that I need some special knowledge. So I’m very glad to study at this school since here we have a wonderful opportunity for enriching our knowledge and broadening our outlook.”

Every participant of the winter school came here to realize his cherished dream. Ruslan Bekbuliev from the Republic of Karakalpakstan presents a project on the arrangement of the children’s ground in his house’s yard. “The present-day generation is very bright and children do not take interest in usual games. Taking this fact into consideration I would like to arrange not only a beautiful playing ground but the one with some developing game functions,” says Ruslan. “The winter school will help me to learn and understand much to implement my project.”

“Our task is maximally support young businessmen in establishing their own small businessmen so that they could establish manufacture in their regions and thus satisfy the local market demand,” says Nodir Sultan-Mukhamedov, head of the business department of the Chamber of Commerce and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

www.ut.uz  
 

 

Uzbekistan became the member of the Asian Development Bank in August 1995. The ADB is one of the reliable and active partners of Uzbekistan in the process of implementation of economic reforms. The bank is continuously implementing its strategy and program of cooperation with Uzbekistan. Since 1995, the ADB has provided loans worth over USD 1.2 billion to Uzbekistan. These funds were used for implementation of 29 strategic projects in the fields of transport infrastructure, energy, agriculture and communal services, small business, as well as education.

Besides, the ADB provided grants worth over USD 32 million to the country as technical assistance. The bank occupies the first place among the international financial institutions in financing projects in Uzbekistan.

At present, Uzbekistan and the ADB are planning implementation of 19 priority projects in the framework of the new three-year financial cooperation program. These projects aim at improvement of the population with drinking water, improvement of lands, equipment of schools, introduction of IT in education, modernization of transport infrastructure, and supporting small business. The bank is expected to allocate a USD 693 million credit for this purpose.

The cooperation between Uzbekistan and the ADB is also developing in the framework of multilateral relations. The bank coordinates the activities of other international financial organizations in the field of development of regional cooperation in Central Asia in priority directions like energy, trade and transport infrastructure.

On 1-4 May, the ADB will hold its 43rd Annual meeting in Tashkent, which will be the first such forum in Central Asia.

www.uza.uz
 

 

Uzbekistan won its first gold medal in team competition at the Asian rhythmic gymnastics championship continuing in Tashkent. According to championship rules, winners of team competition are identified according to points scored by three athletes from each team for their performances with rope, hoop, ball and club.   The highest results during the two says of competition were shown by members of Uzbek team Aziza Mamajanova, Sarvina Khalikova and Khusniyabonu Gulyamova.

The gold medal of the championship was presented by the president of the Asian gymnastics association Rahmon Al-Shahri.

The silver medal went to the team of Kazakhstan and bronze to the Chinese team.

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As it is well-known, the leadership of Tajikistan adopted a decision to resume the construction of the Rogun Hydropower Station yet started in the 80s, i.e. after more than a 25-year-long recess.

Such decision could not but aroused the gravest concern if to take into account that the design documentation on this facility, which was drafted about 40 years ago based on the standards, design and engineering decisions of those years, has already become obsolete and requires revision and improvement.

One could understand such decision if the resumption of construction of such most powerful and the most complex hydropower facility as the Rogun Hydropower Station would be started only after having a comprehensive examination of the design documentations of this facility on the part of an international independent expert commission, which would include the highly qualified specialists competent in this sphere.

Moreover, such appraisal is necessary if to take into account that the undertaking of an independent audit and independent assessment has not been practiced during the Soviet time, when the project had been drafted.

The leadership of the World Bank has numerously stated at its highest level that it had agreed to institute the international commission of independent experts to conduct the necessary research on construction of the Rogun Hydropower Station.

Here is what the President of the World Bank Robert Zoellick wrote in his response letter dated April 15, 2009 to the request by the President of Uzbekistan: “The research (on the project) will be conducted by internationally recognized consulting companies, which will be hired in line with the World Bank procedures.

According to our internal procedures the Bank shall institute the international commission of independent experts, which shall draw an independent conclusion on the outcomes of research.
With a purpose of ensuring transparency and taking into account the issues, which arouse concern of all interested parties, the World Bank will continue to hold consultations with all interested countries during 2009-2010, as the results of research will be prepared and considered by an independent commission of experts, as well as by interested countries”.

Objectively assessing the unfolding situation around construction of the Rogun Hydropower Station, in its letter addressed to the Prime Minister of Tajikistan A.Akylov dated February 3 this year the Uzbek side asked to once again consider the issue of undertaking a mandatory international independent competent appraisal of the project of constructing this hydropower facility.

However, the response letter by the prime minister testifies to the fact that the Government of Tajikistan is not set towards and does not see reasonability of conducting such appraisal.

Further, the prime minister believes the consultations which the World Bank has preliminarily held with interested governments of the region to be rather sufficient with regard to designing the technical feasibility in terms of conducting the full-scale research and examination of the Rogun Hydropower Station project. In connection with which the premier does not see the need of further cooperating with the World Bank on this issue.

Yet another assertion of the prime minister that in 2006 the German company “Lahmeyer” made an examination of the Rogun Hydropower Station commissioned by the Russian company Rusal is contrary to fact.

The agreement signed between the “Rusal” Company and “Lahmeyer” envisaged the development of a technical feasibility study for construction of the hydroelectric power station, but not conducting a full examination of the project.

In fact, the company “Lahmeyer” did not and could not engage in the issues of environmental and anthropogenic safety since this company is not intended to undertake such things.

One has to emphasize time and again that the Uzbek side sees the purpose and rationale for conducting the objective international expertise of the project of the Rogun Hydropower Station, firstly, to avoid such anthropogenic catastrophes as it took place in 2009 at the Sajano-Shushenskaya Hydropower Station.

The project of this world’s largest hydropower station was elaborated by the same institutions in the same years as the project of the Rogun Hydropower Station. Although the height of the dam at the Sajano-Shushenskaya Hydropower Station is significantly lower than the expected dam at the Rogun, and adding to that, there never occur such devastating earthquakes in the Siberian area, as in Tajikistan.

If we take into account the 10-point seismicity and tectonic fault of the selected zone for construction of the Rogun Hydropower Station, it is not difficult to foresee the consequences of a possible catastrophe caused by a break of the dam with its height of about 350 meters.

Along with this challenge, the examination must determine the scope and limits of environmental changes and disturbances of water balance in the vast Central Asian region as a result of construction of the Rogun Hydropower Station. The extreme importance of this problem becomes clear if we imagine the unstable and fragile state of environmental and water balances, as well as the problems experienced by the region in terms of drying up of the Aral Sea.

Absolutely reasonable question emerges: what does prevent the Government of Tajikistan to agree to hold the independent international expertise of the Rogun Hydropower Station – the grandiose hydropower facility on its scale – in full accordance with international norms?

Moreover, the Tajik side will bear no costs for this, since the World Bank is going to allocate a grant for these purposes.

This begs only one answer. If a full international independent expertise indeed confirms the large-scale risks that might contain in the project, then it will be needed to review and improve the project, or perhaps, the legality and appropriateness of enormous costs meant for constructing the facility may be called in question.

Assessing the unfolding situation, the Uzbek side still hopes that yet it will be able to convince the Tajik side in terms of the need to hold the international independent expertise of the Rogun Hydropower Station and only after that to continue constructing it.
A simple logic and common sense requires this.
 

Pravda Vostoka
 

 

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received President of the Asian Development Bank Haruhiko Kuroda at Oqsaroy residence in Tashkent on 16 February. Welcoming the head of ADB, President Karimov said that Uzbekistan was actively cooperating with many international financial institutions, and that ties with ADB were especially important for the country. Being a long-time reliable partner of Uzbekistan, the ADB, jointly with Uzbek specialists, continuously develops and implements the strategy of cooperation in many sectors of the country’s economy.   The 43rd Annual meeting of the ADB, scheduled for 1-4 May in Tashkent, will be the first such forum in Central Asia, which

 demonstrates the acknowledgement of the effectiveness of the Uzbek model of reforms by the

 international community.

Since 1995, when Uzbekistan became a full-fledged member of the ADB, the country has received credit resources worth over USD 1.2 billion, which were used for implementation of strategically important projects in transport infrastructure, energy, agriculture, education, small business and other areas.

Today, the ADB tops the list of international financial organizations cooperating with Uzbekistan in terms of the volume of the provided credits.

At the negotiations at Oqsaroy residence, Haruhiko Kuroda affirmed the ADB’s intent to expand the scale of cooperation with Uzbekistan in various sectors of economy.

Islam Karimov and Haruhiko Kuroda discussed issues of further strengthening of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the ADB, as well as other topic representing mutual interest.
 

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Despite long distance, Uzbekistan and South Korea have strong friendships based on close historical and spiritual values. The people of the Republic of Korea are thankful for the kindness and mercy expressed to the Koreans that moved to Uzbekistan during the Second World War.    Magnanimity, generosity, kindness, generosity are the qualities that equally inherent to the Uzbek and Korean people. Spiritual intimacy engenders mutual trust and respect.

When it comes to political relations, first of all we should note the sincere friendship between the heads of the two states. It originated in the days when the current South Korean President Lee Myung-bak was mayor of Seoul. In 2008, Lee Myung-bak, won the presidential election, became head of state and as a special guest invited leader of Uzbekistan to the ceremony of his inauguration. In May 2009, heads of Uzbekistan and South Korea met in Tashkent.

Regular meetings at the highest level provide evidence of the intensive development of relations between the two countries. This expands opportunities for mobilizing unused pool of cooperation, development of new joint projects and existing mutually beneficial relations.

Seoul held a thorough preparation for the next Uzbek-South Korean summit. The airport, central streets of the city were decorated with national flags of the two countries, greetings in the Uzbek and Korean languages.
Cheong Wa Dae residence hosted the official welcoming ceremony of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

During the one on one talks, Islam Karimov and Lee Myung-bak exchanged views on issues of the current state and prospects of relations between our countries, topics of regional and international interest.

The head of our country said that the summit brought another clear confirmation of South Korea’s interest in cooperation with Uzbekistan, while at the same time, Tashkent appreciates the relationship with Seoul.

Lee Myung-Bak stressed that the meeting is a good opportunity to exchange views on the state of mutual relations and further development of cooperation.

The presidents also discussed security issues. The counterparts exchanged views on cooperation in combating international terrorism and extremism, smuggling arms and drugs, on issues of preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
The heads of state discussed issues of cooperation within international organizations. Uzbekistan and South Korea support the initiatives of each other on the international political arena. In particular, Lee Myung-bak expressed his appreciation to Uzbekistan for the support to the candidacy of the city of Pyeongchang for the Winter Olympic Games in 2018.

Uzbekistan supports the position of Seoul in addressing the problems on the Korean Peninsula through peaceful means, initiative of leaders of the Republic of Korea of “The New Asian diplomacy”, as well as the energy strategy. Korea highly appreciated the initiatives of the Uzbek president of transformation of Central Asia to a zone free of nuclear weapons. It should be noted that Islam Karimov and Lee Myung-bak have unanimously agreed that the denuclearization of North Korea is an important condition for preserving peace and stability in Northeast Asia.

Economic cooperation between the two countries is consistently developing. Uzbekistan and South Korea carry out large-scale joint projects in oil and gas, mining, engineering, automobile, logistics, textile and chemical industry, construction, information and communication technologies and other industries. Uzbek-Korean joint committee on trade and economic cooperation holds regular meetings. They discuss issues of new directions of relationships, enrichment of their content, increasing the volume of trade and investment. An Inter-Ministerial Committee on Energy and Natural Resources was established.

Islam Karimov and Lee Myung-bak said that bilateral relations are developing in the spirit of the Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership signed in 2006. Confidence was expressed that this visit will raise the relations between Uzbekistan and South Korea to a qualitatively new level.

Talks between the presidents continued with the participation of official delegations of the two countries in expanded format. The focus was made on issues of trade and economic, investment, social and cultural cooperation.

South Korea is one of the largest investment partners of Uzbekistan. Its investment brought to the economy of our country exceeds $2 billion. Major projects are implemented in the oil and gas, mining, petrochemicals, logistics and construction industries. A vivid example is the establishment of free industrial and economic zone (FIEZ) at Navoi International Airport. Its intercontinental intermodal logistics center is the only one in the CIS. The logistics center provides rapid unloading and loading of goods, their distribution and placement in special warehouses. The goods shipped from Asia to Europe and from Europe to Asia, are moving via this center.

It should be noted that foreign countries express growing interest in the free industrial economic zone. In March 2009, Seoul hosted a conference on the new opportunities of investment cooperation in Uzbekistan. South Korean businessmen were comprehensively informed of the conveniences and benefits created in the FIEZ. As a result, agreements were reached on 35 investment projects totaling more than $500 million. This indicates that the development of free industrial and economic zone in Navoi is one of the promising areas of bilateral cooperation.

It must be emphasized that Uzbekistan in cooperation with South Korea has launched the production of the most advanced science-intensive technologies with high added value, and entered the number of automaker countries.

Cooperation with the Korea Gas Corporation (KOGAS) touches upon not only the exploration of gas fields, but also the production of 445,000 tons of polyethylene and polypropylene a year. In other words, processing of raw gas enables production of goods with high added value. The project is planned to attract South Korean investments in the amount of $3.12 billion.

In the trade relations, Uzbekistan and South Korea set the Most Favored Nation regime in 1992. Since 2008 the volume of trade exceeds one billion dollars. In 2009 this figure amounted to $1.2 billion. 351 Uzbek-Korean joint ventures operate in our country. Ninety one firms and companies have opened their representative offices in Uzbekistan.

During the talks, President Islam Karimov and Lee Myung-bak praised the current state of trade-economic and investment cooperation. However, it was noted that the results do not fully reflect the potential and opportunities of Uzbekistan and South Korea, and ways of their more full engagement were comprehensively discussed.
Cultural and educational cooperation is also consistently developing. Since 1992, Korean Education Center is open in Tashkent. Uzbek State World Languages University and the Samarqand State Institute of Foreign Languages have Korean language and culture centers, Tashkent University of Information Technologies has opened Information Technology Center. A project of a training center “Uzbekistan-Korea” in Tashkent became yet another achievement in the educational cooperation.

Each year, 360 boys and girls pass training courses in such areas as computer assembly, graphics, electrical engineering, repair of agricultural machinery, vehicle servicing.

Uzbekistan-Korea Friendship society founded in 1999 in Tashkent brings a great contribution to the development of bilateral cultural ties. Festivals, exhibitions, concerts and other cultural events are regularly organized. A photo exhibition “The Poetry of Central Asia” organized in the Republic of Korea, a presentation of the Sug’diyona ensemble with a concert program “The Spirit of the Great Silk Road”, Ipak Yuli festival, traditional annual Week of Korean Culture in Tashkent are just few of them. South Korean musicians and performers regularly take active part in the International Music Festival “Sharq Taronalari” in Samarqand.

“This visit is a logical continuation of trustful regular talks,” said Islam Karimov. “We support the further development of long-term relationship with the reliable strategic partner. In recent years, our countries are pursuing active cooperation especially in the creation of major refineries and production facilities.

“Our countries develop dynamic cooperation,” said Lee Myung-bak. “The year 2009 was quite difficult for many states. But Uzbekistan has achieved economic growth and continued implementation of large international projects. South Korea fully cooperates with Uzbekistan. We advocate the development of cooperation with Uzbekistan in economy, education, culture and other fields, as well as strengthening cooperation within international organizations.

After negotiations, the delegations signed the Agreement on Addendum to the Framework Agreement between the governments of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Korea on provision of soft loans of the Economic Development and Cooperation Fund (EDCF) for the period 2008-2011 of 12 May 2008, the Agreement on Cooperation in the development of alternative energy sources and energy-saving technologies, Investment Agreement for the project of Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex based on Surgil gas deposit with the development of the deposit.

In general, during the visit of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, ministries and agencies of the two countries signed 16 documents. They provided for the development of cooperation in such fields as infrastructure, healthcare, environmental protection, plant quarantine, tourism, agriculture and other industries, as well as the establishment of Seoul Park in Tashkent.

Islam Karimov also met with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea, Chung Un-Chan. During the meeting they discussed issues related to further enhancement of coordination and cooperation between the two governments for successful implementation of agreements reached during the visit.

President Islam Karimov also held talks with Speaker of National Assembly (parliament) of South Korea, Kim Heng O. It was noted that cooperation of the legislative bodies is essential for the development of interstate relations. They exchanged views on further expansion of parliamentary ties.

President Islam Karimov visited the National Memorial Complex of the Republic of Korea. Paid tribute to the valiant sons of the Korean people who died for the liberation of their homeland, laid a wreath to the memorial.

State visit of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to the Republic of Korea has ended.
 

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The genius of Alisher Navoiy is often likened to sunlight that can never be eclipsed. The people of Uzbekistan these days celebrate the birthday of the great bard and thinker, founder of Uzbek language and literature Alisher Navoiy. Various aspects of the esteemed poet’s creativity and life are addressed at round tables, conferences, lectures organized throughout the nation. As if preparing to mark the poet’s birthday, the nature itself has “dressed up”, put on the fluffy snow-white gown. Early in the morning that day, numerous admirers of the outstanding person, accompanied by the gentle sun, gathered at the Alisher Navoiy National Park to pay tribute to the august genius and lay flowers to his monument. Following this established tradition, a poetic contest, mushoira, took place at the capital’s Avenue of Poets.   Alisher Navoiy was gifted and proficient in all genres that existed in the East. Crucially, he had an ability to demonstrate with a unique magnificence that the human is capable of reaching greatness, by the splendor and beauty of which people feel boundlessly humbled.

The fame of Alisher Navoiy – creator of fine samples of high lyrics and the man who displayed the broad aptitude of Uzbek language, its riches, flexibility and grace – has barely dwindled in 569 years.

And this time, birthday of Alisher Navoi whose genius still excite the minds of the modern researchers, once and again addressing to studying his legacy, has become a good occasion to a new meeting of renowned academics, poets and authors, young researchers and literature admirers gathered in the Fundamental library of the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan for the traditional 54th scientific conference on issues of studying literary and scientific heritage of the great poet. The conference was organized by the Alisher Navoi Institute of Language and Literature and the Union of Writers. The reports read within the conference informed about new research works on role of Navoiy in the development of public opinions of the world nations, moral relations in his works, and the development of Navoiy studying in foreign countries.

“Every year from the first days of February throughout all month we organize in Tashkent and regions various actions occasioned to the life and creativity of Alisher Navoiy,” notes the deputy director of the Alisher Navoi Institute of Language and Literature Rahmatulla Barakayev.

“Gathering in these meetings, academics, poets and authors always inform something new about our great ancestor. For instance, last year the edition of collected works of Alisher Navoiy of 20 volumes was timed to this date. Huge work was done by academics and researchers for the development of this edition. This academic publication includes all earlier not published works of the poet who left immense literary heritage, carefully preserved by the nation.”

The monograph of Professor Ibrohim Haqqulov Comprehension of Navoi has become this year’s novelty. The new wave of interpretation of works of Navoi which for centuries found their readers comes forth today. The report of Ibrohim Haqqulov’s within the conference was addressed to the history of a poem. Navoiy wrote 2600 gazelles each of which has its own history and which is the part of the poet’s life.

Study of life and creativity of Alisher Navoiy was started at his lifetime. For instance, in the 15th century the well-known historian Hondamir devoted his book ‘Habib Us-Siyar’ to Navoiy. Professor Asad Qudratillayev’s report was just on this book. As usual, renowned Navoiy historian Suyuma G’aniyeva recounted many interesting facts about the creativity of the poet.

“Today, here in the library, the exhibition on the great Uzbek thinker’s life and creativity is taking place,” informs Shahlo Holdorova, the third-year student of the journalism faculty, the National University of Uzbekistan. “All these actions help the youth to get deeper acquainted with the creativity of Navoiy. I believe, the more profound we study life and creativity of the great poet, the better effects it would have in our lives. Thus, every word of the thinker consists of deep sense, wise admonitions and would serve as the guiding star throughout our lives.”

Navoi is considered the first poet who wrote in the Uzbek language not only huge number of bewitching lyrical verses, but a circle of poems ‘Hamsa’ (Quinary) that is turned into literary genre in creativity of other outstanding poets. According to specialists, the Alisher Navoi Institute of Language and Literature has already worked out and put to print “Mumtoz Adabiy Asarlar Lug’ati” (Dictionary of Classical Literary Works) that is to be a good supplement to new generation of textbooks and irreplaceable manual for correct interpretation of works of Uzbek authors of classical literature before the 20th century.

Art and book exhibitions, literary-musical evenings and spiritual-enlightening events organized in all towns and remote places of the republic are occasioned to the birthday of our favorite poet. For instance, the Center of National Arts of Uzbekistan of the Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan Foundation has prepared the project that includes the theater staging Seven Planets on the motives of the poem Sab’ai Sayyor that is performed by the theater of ethnography dancing Charhpalak. The scenario was written by Professor, laureate of Beruniy state prize Suyuma G’aniyeva, while Candidate for Art History, Associate Professor Nurilla Oqilov put the poem on the stage.

The exhibition of works by well-known artist Jamol Usmonov on the theme from works of Alisher Navoi Seven Planets and Language of Birds has become the second part of the project. The artist has spent many years for studying the creative heritage of Alisher Navoi in order to create series of pictorial works where he reveals humanistic content of poems of the great poet.

The artist continues with his creativity the traditions of outstanding artists who also addressed in their works to Navoiy’s creativity.

Alisher Navoi State Academic Bolshoi Theater has hosted literary-musical evening with participation of the theater artists and students of the state conservatory. The attendees of the evening recited gazelles of Navoiy, sand songs on his lyrics as well as the ensemble Sabo performed classical dances.

“Every year to the birthday of Alisher Navoiy we prepare special program. This year we invite youth for to get them familiarized with wonderful creativity of the poet as well as with musical works in which his ever-living products continue to exist,” says the director of the State Bolshoi Theater Bahtiyor Yoqubov. “Today the interest in the heritage of our great ancestor increases all across the globe. His works are translated into many languages of the world.”

The collection Gazelles of Navoi published in France is the brightest evidence of it. The edition had been prepared by Professor at Samarqand State University Murod Ergashev together with the art critic from France Jean-Jacques Gauteau. All these works determine a new approach to studying Navoiy’s creativity. And, today academics face considerable issues, first of all – textual study of Navoi’s products. Research works being conducted for many years were based on the preserved manuscripts that have been kept in the funds. And, today, when the interest of international society in the creativity of Navoiy grows, we have an access to the world funds preserving other manuscripts with works of the poet.
 

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The number of Internet users in Uzbekistan reaches 2.74 million.

Uzbekistan summed up the development of information and communication technologies in 2009 and outlined the activity prospects for this year.
The results were discussed in the board meeting of the Uzbek Agency for Communication and Informatization last week.

Thus, 12 investment projects were started last year in the communication and informatization sphere. The communication main Toshkent-Bukhoro was built on the basis of modern technologies. It enabled the channel capacity increase by 60 times and created opportunity for the broadband service. Besides, international communication lines in the directions Andijon-Osh, Kong’irot-Beynau, Denau-Tursunzade and Termiz-Khayraton were put into operation.

Services provided by enterprises of information and communication sphere realized 1.7 trillion soums. Over $382 million was drawn within the projects implemented at the expense of direct foreign investment and loans. Besides, over 70 billion soums was drawn at the expense of enterprises’ own funds.

A total speed within the international information networks reached 1.2 Gb/sec. The number of Internet users comprised 2.74 million that is 96.8 users per each 1,000 people. The number of registered UZ domains exceeded 9,700.
The installation of telephones in the infrastructure units of social purposes continues. Last year 3,940 infrastructure units were provided with telephone connection.

Assembly works comprising a total of 21,500 ports were concluded in 78 analog rural telephone stations in some regions. Currently they carry out a pilot launch of those stations.

20 portable post offices were established in more than 200 remote settlements to provide rural population with mail services.
 

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An exhibition of innovative projects for agriculture and water resources, developed for the third Republican Fair of Innovative Ideas, Technologies and Projects was organized in Tashkent.

It was attended by scientists and specialists of higher educational establishments and scientific research institutes of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan, inventors and project leaders.

The decree of President Islam Karimov “On additional measures to stimulate innovative projects and technologies in production” of July 15, 2008 outlines important measures aimed at enhancing the collaboration between research institutions and enterprises of the manufacturing sector of economy, widespread adoption of scientific achievements.

Traditional Republican Fair of Innovative Ideas, Technologies and Projects serves to improve the work in this direction. All relevant agencies and organizations get ready for the next fair to take place in March 1-3 this year.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources also takes measures in this direction. A special commission has organized the exhibition in order to select the most promising projects. It featured more than three hundred scientific developments.

“More than 120 submitted projects were selected for the third Republican Fair of Innovative Ideas, Technologies and Projects,” said Mukhammajon Tashbaltaev, deputy director at Research and Production Center of Agriculture under the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources.” The commission paid a particular attention to technologies that improve production efficiency and reduce costs.”

Most of the submitted projects relate to compact installations for plant breeding and seed production, pest control, crop cultivation using modern technologies, protection of animals from various diseases, resource-saving units and equipment.

Many young scholars are among the participants of the fair this year.

“Our scientific team will present over 60 projects at the traditional trade fair,” said Bakhtiyor Dzhumaev, head of innovation and integration center at Tashkent State Agrarian University. “It is noteworthy that 21 innovative projects were developed by students, postgraduates and undergraduates. For example, a device for cleaning gear oil at universal tractors can be installed straight to the gearbox, thereby preventing working parts of the tractor from wearing out. The duration of use of transmission oil increases by 50% thus saving 20 liters of oil per year for a tractor. If we consider that there are 30 thousand of these tractors in our country, we can save up to 600,000 liters of oil. At the same time the emission of harmful exhaust gases to the atmosphere is sharply reduced.
 

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The name of the great Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi - humanist, thinker, statesman, founder of the Uzbek literary language, who left a rich literary heritage to his descendants, is a symbol of progress of his era for the peoples of the world.

On the eve of the landmark date, many true fans of Navoi’s poetry gathered together at the foot of the Alisher Navoi monument erected on the major square of Soka University in the Land of the Rising Sun. A ceremony of laying flowers was held attended by executives, faculty, students of the University as well as the Uzbek young men and women studying in Japan, representatives of the Japan-Uzbekistan Friendship Association and the media.

In his speech, the Soka University’s rector Hideo Yamamoto stressed that with the active support of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, the two countries fruitfully cooperate for many years.

Hideo Yamamoto underscored that President Islam Karimov is the Honorary Doctor of the Soka University, and he made a unique gift in 2004 - a monument of Alisher Navoi. President Islam Karimov’s welcoming message noted that “Alisher Navoi’s monument presented to the Soka University by the Government of Uzbekistan as a gift, is a symbol of cultural dialogue between our peoples historically linked by the Great Silk Road”.

Hideo Yamamoto also said that the founder of the Soka University, Honorary Citizen of the Uzbek city of Navoi, D.Ikeda in his lectures often quotes poetry and wise words by the great Uzbek poet Alisher Navoi.

Member of the Japan-Uzbekistan Friendship Association Takeshi Otsuka said that the Alisher Navoi monument mounted on the main square of the largest Soka University became a bright symbol of friendship between the peoples of Uzbekistan and Japan.

During the event, the Soka University students read excerpts from Navoi’s poems and lyrics.

Based on public diplomacy, friendly and cultural and educational relations between Uzbekistan and Japan have a long history. A vivid example of this is the Uzbekistan-Japan Friendship Society set up in March 1999.

Recently, a meeting of the Uzbekistan-Japan Friendship Society was held in Tashkent. Participants discussed the results of activities and prospects for the organization’s further development.

This meeting brought together members of the Uzbekistan-Japan Friendship Society, representatives of the Council of friendship societies and cultural and enlightenment ties of Uzbekistan with foreign countries.

Uzbekistan-Japan Friendship Society consists of scientists, artists, representatives of governmental and public organizations. The priority is to assist to development off cultural exchange and acquaintance of citizens of Japan with rich history, culture and art of our people.

With the support of the Society, conferences, symposia, seminars on the achievements of Uzbekistan during the years of independence are conducted in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Cooperation with various Japanese organizations working in cultural sphere is developed, including Associations of Japan-Uzbekistan, Fokusima-Uzbekistan and World Peace Bell.

A meeting of Japan-Uzbekistan Friendship Society was held in Tokyo in the end of January that addressed the release of a book “The Great Silk Road” in March on the history, culture, religions, and the tourist potential of Uzbekistan.
 

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The delegation of Uzbekistan participated in the 30th annual International Tourism Fair FITUR held in Madrid (Spain).

The event was attended by senior management of the World Tourism Organization, the Ministry of Culture of Spain and the city administration of Madrid, foreign business circles and diplomatic corps accredited in Madrid.

In the fair the Uzbek side was represented by NAC Uzbekistan Airways, as well as travel companies Uzbekturizm, Dolores Travel Services, El Mundo Travel, Planeta Tur, Sitara International, Orient Voyages and others.

During the fair there was a presentation of tourism potential of Uzbekistan with the participation of cultural workers, accompanied by a demonstration of national dances and music. The presentation provided information on travel routes, cultural and historical heritage and spiritual values of Uzbekistan.

The event also included meetings with the leadership of Spain’s leading tour operators, including the following companies: Catha, Banoa, Tuareg Viages, Mundo Explora, Iberoget, and Master Pilman.

During the fair there were also talks held with representatives of major travel agencies of Portugal, Brazil, Colombia and Argentina who are interested in opening of the tourism market of Uzbekistan for travelers from all over the world.
 

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Uzbek Metallurgical Plant is planning to organize production of ferro-alloys on the basis of Dautash deposit in Qashqadaryo region.

Uzmetkombinat concluded a contract with Russia’s Uralmekhanobr on the technical study of the project of ferro-alloys production line based on Dautash manganese deposits.

Upon the study, in the first half of 2010 Bekabad plant is planning to announce a tender for the project feasibility study. The results are scheduled to be announced in the fourth quarter of the year.

In accordance with the prerequisites, the project envisages the organization of mine of manganese ore and facilities for primary ore concentration directly on site, as well as concentrating units for producing ferromanganese and silicomanganese ferrosilicomanganese at Uzmetkombinat.

Resources of Dautash deposits comprise 1.25 million tons of ore with manganese content up to 20%. Experts estimate that the annual ore production of 40,000 tons will enable production of 15,000 tons of manganese ore while the annual needs of enterprises of the republic reach 8,000 tons. The rest will be exported.
 

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High speed trains to run Uzbek railways. In accordance with the decree of the Uzbekistan’s President from January 5, 2010, O’zbekiston Temir Yo’llari (Uzbekistan Railways) acquires two Spanish high-speed electric trains TALGO-250 to start running in the third quarter of 2011. The document highlights that upon the negotiations with the Spain’s PATENTES TALGO, S.L. Uzbekistan Railways concluded a contract for the purchase of two high-speed passenger trains TALGO-250, consisting of four head and eighteen passenger cars totaling €38 million.

Uzbekistan Railways will bring the infrastructure of the section of the railway line between Tashkent and Samarqand in line with international requirements and standards to ensure efficient operation of the acquired high-speed passenger trains, including the construction and reconstruction of railway tracks and stations, two-way fencing, upgrading of the contact network.

The document also identifies financial sources for the acquisition of high-speed passenger trains: 50% of the cost of the contract will be provided by Uzbekistan Railways in foreign currency and 50% of the value of the contract through the loan of the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan refinanced by the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan, for 10 years including 2-year a grace period.

The decree also establishes the developer of the feasibility study of the project, the forecast schedule of repayment of principal and interest on the credit of the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan was approved. Uzbekistan Railways is exempt within the project from customs duties (except fees for customs clearance) for the imported equipment, value-added tax on works (services) performed by non-residents of Uzbekistan, tax on property purchased for high-speed passenger electric trains TALGO-250 for 5 years from the date of commissioning. Also there are other measures envisaged for the project.
Background

The purchase agreement on high-speed trains of Spain-based Patentes Talgo, S.L. along the route Tashkent-Samarqand was signed in July 2009 within the visit of Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos to Uzbekistan. The agreement provides for the organization of service trains, as well as training of drivers in Spain. The arrival of trains in Uzbekistan is scheduled for March-April 2011. The new trains will run between Tashkent and Samarqand at a speed of 250 km

hour. The Spanish trains will reduce the journey time by more than one-third. By the way, today high-speed train Registan travels this road (356 km) for 3.5 hours. Uzbekistan Railways during the 2009-2013 period is planning to invest $1.734 billion in the development and modernization of the railway industry, including $1.019 billion in rolling stock.
 

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Central Bank of Uzbekistan has reviewed the banking system of the country in 2009.Monetary policy of the Central Bank last year was aimed at strengthening macroeconomic stability. A set of anti-crisis measures adopted by the government, including in banking and financial system, designed for 2009-2012 has a great importance in mitigating and neutralizing the impact of the global financial crisis.

In 2009, several measures were implemented to ensure stable and uninterrupted operation of the banking and credit system, financial support to real sector enterprises, particularly small businesses and entrepreneurs.

Thanks to the efforts taken over the past two years, the total capital of commercial banks increased 2 times and today amounts to more than 3 trillion soums.

The average capital adequacy of commercial banks in Uzbekistan exceeds 23%, which is almost 3 times higher than international standards set by the Basel Committee.

In general, to date, the banking system of Uzbekistan meets international requirements and in a number of standards has sustainable positions. For example, 14 commercial banks, whose assets in the aggregate constitute 90% of the banking system, have received high ratings of “stable” from such leading international rating companies like Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings.

Regarding the total assets of commercial banks of Uzbekistan, in 2009 they increased by 30% and amounted to more than 15.7 trillion soums. This figure is more than twice the amount of funds in the accounts of the population and legal entities.

Total current liquidity of the banking system is 10 times higher of the current liabilities on banks’ external payments.

Today we can note a radical increase of the volume and changes in the structure of the loan portfolio of domestic banks. Despite the ongoing global financial and economic downturn, banks paid considerable attention to active support to the manufacturing sector of the economy. At the beginning of the year, the total amount of credit resources channeled to the real sector of the economy amounted to more than 8.5 trillion soums. The share of bank loans available for investment purposes reached 70% of the total loan portfolio. This figure rose 14 times against to that of 2000.

The major credit sources in the past year were local companies’ own and borrowed funds, which constituted 84% of the total loan portfolio of commercial banks.

Elimination of low-profit and economically insolvent enterprises with the participation of commercial banks have a great importance in enhancing the financial sustainability of the enterprises.

Of 86 enterprises transferred to the balance of commercial banks as insolvent ones, 70 companies were fully restored to production, and sold to prospective investors.

Active financial assistance of commercial banks to small and private businesses also raises their importance in the economic growth of the country. Last year, the volume of loans channeled to the industry, increased by 48% to 1.85 trillion soums as compared 2008.

Among the priorities defined for 2010, there is the allocation of credit resources for small business sector in the amount of 1.4 times of the funds provided in 2009, while the volume of micro-loans will rise 1.3 times.

Deposits in commercial banks increased 1.7 times during 2009.
 

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Bright and spectacular performance of Huja Nasriddin's First Love with the use of new sound equipment granted by the Government of Japan, has been as if regenerated. From now on, spectators in the capital can get deeper into the philosophical sense of the product, enjoying the magnitude and beauty of the performance.

Timur Zulfikarov's touching poem was laid as the basis of this performance that was premiered at the international festival Meeting In Russia, Saint-Petersburg. Its rebirth took place in the theater festival The Baltic House In Tashkent. Within the project Improvement of the Sound Equipment of the Youth Theater of Uzbekistan the Tashkent spectator has become the witness of the third variation of the performance. The last staging is no less important rather than the previous ones.

After all, it has a direct connection with the significant event for this theater – installation of the new sound equipment by SONY.

“Performance Ho’ja Nasriddin's First Love is quite modern with lots of dances, music, rhythm, though a word, high word, is also of a great value,” tells the art director of the Uzbek Youth Theater Nabi Abdurahmonov. “It is important for me the figurative word to sound much more accurately and reach the spectator. Though it sounds ironic, yet the technical equipment plays rather big role for high touch of actors and spectators.”

The contact with the spectator has been established at this ‘premiere’. Bright, interesting theater sets, a volume pure sound wiped the border between the scene and the audience, the spectator and the actor, the real world real and the poetry one. We become witnesses of the birth of true first love of a young man who passing over life difficulties, follows the Great Way of Good. This philosophical parable so skillfully staged has left nobody indifferent, it touches, makes thinking, empathize the hero and with a sinking heart watch tense moments on the scene.

“The presented performance is a symphony on the first love,” shares his impressions the chief specialist of the Creative Association O’zbekteatr Ahmadjon Rakhimov. “It symbolizes boundless great love. I believe the actors managed to reach the spectator, they played wholeheartedly indeed, expressively and emotionally. The received grant from the government of Japan is the award for persistent work of the theater troupe.

It is out of argument: each performance in the repertoire of the Youth Theater is interesting and unique in its own way, crucial issues troubling the mankind, particularly the young generation, are brought up in them. Installation of the new sound equipment opens the big prospects for this theater.

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E-learning – is the name of the new project by the information education portal of the Ministry of Public Education focused on the distance learning development.

The regular users of the portal know very well another button entitled “distance education” empowering them to undergo various distance courses in information and communication technologies. The E-learning project has a bit different task: it is envisaged to assist the distance education development in school education system.

In particular, there are currently the courses for school teachers to acquire the teaching foundations through distance technologies. The users can also acquaint with the other direction of the E-learning project implemented by the Republican Center for General Education Multimedia Programs Development of the Ministry of Public Education together with teachers of the Tashkent school №12. Inherently, this cooperation establishes a foundation for acquiring the school basics through distance education technologies.

Floor to a specialist

Igor Khan,

Deputy Director, the Republican Center for General Education Multimedia Programs Development:

E-learning is a promising start. Currently we consider it as another resource to empower schoolchildren to make up leeway or revert to a complicated topic within the school curriculum. Finally, perhaps, schoolchildren will get the opportunity of undergoing the school curriculum distantly, at home. However, there is much to do for that since it is just the beginning.
 

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Five years ago, higher education institutions in Uzbekistan started organizing lectures for the public.

For example, public lectures of Tashkent Irrigation and Land Reclamation Institute – one of the oldest institutes in the country – are inquisitively attended not only by its students, undergraduates and postgraduates but also by representatives of the National University of Uzbekistan, Tashkent Technical University and Tashkent Architecturу and Construction Institute. Young scientists of the Central Asian Irrigation Institute and Scientific Research Institute for Water Problems are frequent visitors of open lectures. The institute conducts about 100 lectures for all comers every year.

The public lecture is a routine lesson within the curriculum that can be attended by all people interested. The secret of their popularity and demand is in their content. Along with the learning material, a tutor acquaints them with the latest progresses in global science and experience of introduction of innovations into the life of the country. It has become a tradition to use modern office equipment and special software in open lectures.

Thus, many public lectures at Tashkent Irrigation and Land Reclamation Institute were addressing on the issues of mechanizations and computerization of field watering and opportunities for using water saving irrigation technologies. For instance, one of the last lectures highlighted the computerized management mechanism in the Big Farg’ona Channel. Farmers receive only some strictly ordered water, and therefore, use this valuable resource rationally.

Summing up public lectures in universities it is worthy to note their contributing prospects. It is wonderful that everybody has an access to the most interesting and useful things in the higher education institutions.

Ramz Abduraupov,

Head of methodology department of Tashkent Irrigation and Land Reclamation Institute:

Public lectures have become an integral part of the institute’s life. They make the learning process more eventful and interesting. Such classes give additional opportunities for communication and experience exchange between tutors and students from different universities. Besides, they are of big importance for informing youth about university science achievements.

Khusan Mamajonov,

Student, Farg’ona Polytechnic Institute:

Public lectures in our institute are always interesting and entertaining. They are not ordinary classes but events to inform us about innovations, scientific and engineering breakthroughs. Besides, the public lectures’ admission is free. Therefore, I can attend the lectures I’m interested in, regardless of the place of their conduction: at our institute, Farg’ona State University or Farg’ona Branch of Tashkent University for Information Technologies. I am keen in information technologies and use this opportunity quite often.
 

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Cultural entertaining events are the integral part of every student’s life since they favor cultivating national traditions and universal values in him. The improvement of organization and conduction of such events is one of important policies of the program the Year of Effective Spiritual and Enlightenment Activity of the Ministry of Public Education.

This year they focus on arrangement of joint excursions, visits to museums and theaters. Just during the winter holidays the local public education administration organized trips to theaters for over 150 thousand students, over 100 thousands visited museums, and more than 200 thousands took part in the New Year mass festivities. The number of students traveling all over the republic has increased due the development of cooperation between schools and republican centers for children’s tourism and local geography as well as eco learning Bioecosan and other out-of-school education centers.

It has become a good tradition to conduct various school events occasioned to holidays and important dates such as Teacher’s Day, Constitution Day, Navruz, to commemorate births of outstanding figures of art and culture. Approach to arrangement of such events has been radically changed this year. Now they organize numerous contests, creativity exhibitions, student’s amateur talent concerts, public lessons, sports competitions, meetings with representatives of different professions. According to the specialists of the spiritual and moral education administration of the Ministry of Public Education, they achieved considerable progress taking into consideration the age-specific peculiarities of students’ development while conducting such events.

There are some measures taken on enhancement of cooperation centers family-mahalla-school organized under every school. These centers’ activity is focused on arrangement of favorable conditions for students to initiate and participate in taking care after lonely and aging people, beautification of the city and creative activity. The improvement of methodological foundations of this activity was discussed in the conference Family, Mahalla, School in Tashkent and Family Psychology and Children’s Education in Samarqand. The centers held seminars on each of three directions of their activity in most progressive schools of Andijon region.

In short, all necessary conditions are created for each student to choose the pastime to his liking.

Umid Egamberdiev, Head of moral and spiritual education administration of the Ministry of Public Education:

From my point of view, the work within the program the Year of Effective Spiritual and Enlightenment Activity is most efficient in Karakalpakstan, Khorazm, Jizzakh and Samarqand regions and Tashkent city. These regions achieved improvement in the interaction between the ministry staff and deputy directors on spiritual and enlightenment activities. Now we collaborate not only through the territorial public education administration but also directly. This enables us prompt fulfillment of all organizational tasks.

Zumrad Rahmonova, Deputy Director of Khorazm regional center for children’s tourism and local history:

The number of schools arranging tourist travels along the route Khiva-Buhoro-Samarqand-Tashkent for their students during vacations has considerably increased of late. A lot of children come here from other regions of the republic. It is no mere chance that this route is so popular: these cities have many historical monuments. It happens that young travelers, on one hand, acquaint with the country’s sights, and on the other hand, they fix the knowledge acquired in the history studies. Thus, cultural and enlightenment events promote the profound study of history.
 

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OUR KEY TASK IS TO FURTHER DEVELOP

THE COUNTRY AND INCREASE THE WELL BEING

OF THE PEOPLE

Address by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

Islam Karimov at the session of the Cabinet of Ministers

dedicated to the outcomes of social and economic development of the country in 2009 and most important priorities of the economic program for 2010

Distinguished participants of the meeting!

Today our most important task is to critically assess the outcomes of 2009 in the conditions of deepening the global financial and economic crisis and on this basis to define the most important priorities of the social and economic development of the country for 2010.

It is principally important to objectively assess the efficiency of the Anti-crisis program for 2009-2012 so that if it needs to introduce the relevant corrections into the course of its implementation in 2010 and the forthcoming years.

I think that today there is no need to speak about the fact that the year 2009 turned out to be truly very difficult for us.

In fact, we have all grounds to state that the year 2009 became a genuine trial, firstly, of the “Uzbek model” that we chose of transition from the old command and administrative, distribution system to the market system of governance built on the five renowned principles and strategy of consistent and step-by-step reforms and evolutionary development of state and economy.

The fact that the complex of anti-crisis measures adopted by the government has been well thought-out and timely was considerably significant in terms of mitigating and neutralizing the impact of the crisis. Those measures are set for 2009-2012 and ensure the sustainable and continuous work of our financial-economic, budget, banking and credit system, as well as the measures on rendering assistance to enterprises, real sectors of economy and social support of the country’s population.

The complex of the anti-crisis decisions adopted by the government has been well thought and timely.

Allow me to briefly dwell on what has been accomplished to consolidate the financial and banking system.

The measures that have been and are being adopted allowed for over the last two years to increase the total capital of commercial banks. Last year alone over 500 billion UZS of state funds have been additionally allocated to replenish the charter capitals of leading banks.

Today the banking system of Uzbekistan not only remains as one of the most stable ones that meet the strict international requirements, but also enjoys the sustainable positions on a number of established standards. The volume of capital sufficiency of our banks exceeds 23 percent, i.e. it is almost as high as three times the international standards set by the Basel Committee.

Fourteen commercial banks of the republic, whose assets in total make up more than 90 percent of the banking system, have received the high rating point “stable” from the leading international rating companies such as “Fitch Ratings”, “Moody’s” and “Standard and Poors”.

By now the total assets of banks as more as twofold exceed the amount of funds in the accounts of population and legal entities, while ensuring their full protection and guaranteeing the timeliness of payments. The aggregate current liquidity of the banking system is ten times more the current obligations of banks on foreign payments. In other words, we have established the solid “safety cushion” of the entire banking system.

The liquidity and sustainability of national banks serves as a powerful factor of growth of confidence towards the banking system, mobilization of spare funds of enterprises and population to saving accounts. The volume of deposits of population for over the last year alone grew for 1,7 times. In the whole, for over the last ten years the domestic sources being channeled to crediting the real sectors of economy increased for more than 25 times.

As a result, the structure of credit portfolio of banks has cardinally changed. If in 2000 the credit portfolio formed almost 54 percent at the expense of foreign borrowings, then in 2009 84 percent of all credit portfolios of our banks were established at the expense of internal sources. In the conditions of limited foreign sources of borrowings due to renowned reasons it is of an utmost significance vis-à-vis the development of our economy.

In this, the foreign borrowings are attracted primarily in the long-term basis exclusively to financing the investment projects in terms of modernization of strategic branches of economy, support of small businesses and private entrepreneurship.

The total amount of credit resources being channeled to the real sector of economy grew in 2009 as compared to the year 2000 for 14 times. In this, the share of credits of banks aimed to finance the investment projects made up in the total credit portfolio about 70 percent.

The measures in terms of ensuring the financial sustainability and supporting the enterprises of real sector of economy in the conditions of global financial and economic crisis, firstly, at the expense of modernization of production, expanding cooperative, establishing the sustainable partnership relations, stimulating the domestic demand for the products manufactured by domestic manufacturers were profoundly significant.

Thanks to the adopted program we have taken the measures in terms of reducing the non-production expenses, decreasing the net cost of a product, as well as replenishing the circulation funds of enterprises with an aim of ensuring their stable work.

As a state support we have restructured the delayed and current credit debts on payments to budget and non-budget funds on 50 enterprises, which has much supported their production activity, while leaving at their disposal over 350 billion UZS.

In the whole, the net cost of the products manufactured on the branches of industry decreased by 18 percent, and in a number of branches and enterprises such as the Almalyk Mining and Smelting Enterprise, “Uzmetkombinat” Joint-Stock Production Association, the enterprises of the “Uzeltekhsanoat” Association and “Uzstroymaterialy” Company, and others – by 20-25 percent.

The work being accomplished to liquidate the low-profit, economically unsound enterprises and involving to this process of commercial banks is substantially important in terms of raising the financial sustainability of enterprises.

In all, 240 bankrupt enterprises have been revealed in the country, including the large enterprises, of which at the moment 154 have already been realized to new owners. 86 bankrupt enterprises have been transferred to the balance of commercial banks.

Today the production has been fully reestablished at the 70 economically unsound enterprises, which were transferred to the balance of commercial banks, and they have been realized to perspective investors. Yet in terms of others – the work on their financial recovery is being accomplished.

The measures that we took have allowed to free the economy of our country from the needless ballast, repay the credit debts to the budget and appears on wages worth total sum 1 trillion UZS, as well as establish on the basis of bankrupt enterprises over 100 new types of productions and additionally create more than 17,000 jobs.

In the framework of the large-scale localization program more than 840 projects was implemented last year, which has permitted to increase the volume of manufacturing of products being localized as compared to the year 2008 to 2,3 times. We have established the production of over 120 new types of goods, from amongst which there are the oil and gas equipment, produce of chemical industry, component parts for the carmaking industry and many others. About 2,000 new jobs have been created.

In the conditions of sharp worsening of the state of world markets for the most important types of products being exported due to the global crisis it was considerably significant to take the efficient measures to support and stimulate the domestic exporter enterprises, consolidate the export potential, preserve and further expand the volumes of domestic products in the world markets.

In order to provide for sustainable work of exporter enterprises, increase their competitiveness in the foreign markets we have taken the unprecedented measures to support them, i.e. in terms of not allowing the groundless growth of prices for the energy resources and public utilities, decreasing the prime cost in the enterprises by way of optimizing the technological processes, applying the new mechanisms in shaping the export prices, extending terms on banking guarantees, reducing terms of returning the vale added tax and taking other measures of support.

The assistance on the part of the country’s banks played not less important role in ensuring the stable operation of exporter enterprises. Last year alone, as a part of efforts to replenish their circulation funds the exporter enterprises received soft loans worth in total 233 billion UZS, which has paved way to prevent shrinking of production due to temporary difficulties in terms of exporting their products.

Thanks to the adopted measures on supporting the exporter enterprises we have been able to provide for their stable operation and increase in 2009 the volume of product supplies for export by 2,4 percent. This has allowed completing the foreign trade circulation in 2009 with big positive balance, which in its turn serves as the most important indicator of a reliability of balance of payment and sustainability as a whole of our economy.

The additional measures in terms of stimulating and relieving the tax burden, simplifying and unifying the taxation system served as the most important direction of supporting the economic entities.

Last year the economic entities of the country enjoyed a broad spectrum of additional tax and customs benefits.

We have allotted benefits on the income tax and single tax payment for the enterprises of the light and food industries specialized in the output of consumer products, as well as the enterprises that participate in the production localization program.

The newly established specialized contract organizations on construction and reconstruction of the housing stock are freed of all types of taxes for the term of five years. The dividends of founders of enterprises being channeled to capitalization and investing have also been freed from taxation for the same period.

In the whole, in the framework of implementation of the Anti-crisis program, thanks to offering the tax benefits and preferences the economic entities saved funds worth more than 500 billion UZS, which were channeled to replenishing the circulation funds, technical re-equipment of production, assimilating the new types of products and materially stimulating the workers.

A special attention was paid to reinforcing support and stimulating the accelerated development of small business and private entrepreneurship, which plays an ever more significant role in ensuring economic growth, creating jobs and addressing the employment problems, growth of incomes and well being of population. At the moment, the small businesses produce about 50 percent of the gross domestic product against 30 percent in 2000. This is, above all, the result of a particular support, which is being constantly rendered to a small business and private entrepreneurship on the part of state.

In 2009 the single tax payment for the small industrial enterprises was reduced from 8 to 7 percent; the amount of fixed tax for individual entrepreneurs was also reduced on the average for 1,3 times.

The expenses the entrepreneurs bear on establishing their business have been significantly reduced. Thus, the cost of receiving the architectural and planning tasks was reduced fourfold, of the design estimates – for 2,5-fold, and the cost of filling in the cadastral documentation – twofold.

About 2,000 spare premises, which were revealed as a result of stock-taking, have been allotted to small businesses for rent. In this, the renting tariffs for premises depending on their location and type of activity are reduced from 3 to 10 times.

The total amount of credit resources allocated to this sector exceeded 1,8 trillion UZS.

A key priority of implementing the Anti-crisis program became the attraction of investments, above all, thanks to mobilizing the inner sources in order to undertake the accelerated modernization, technical and technological re-equipment of the most important branches of economy, advanced development of transport communications and construction of facilities of the social infrastructure.

During 2009 in the framework of the Investment program and sector programs of technical modernization we implemented 690 investment projects, of which 303 projects were successfully completed. In the whole, 22 large production facilities were commissioned in the country, of which 8 facilities – in the oil and gas, chemical and metallurgical industry, 9 – in the machine building and 5 – in the construction industry.

Last year we completed the implementation of such strategic projects as the reconstruction of aggregates of ammonia at the “Ferghanaazot” and “Maksam-Chirchik” enterprises, construction of the plant in Namangan on producing headlights and lights for automobiles, as well as of the “Daewoo Textile” textile complex in Bukhara. The booster compressor station “Gazli” and gas dewatering installation at the “Kungrad” compressor station with a productivity of 35 million cubic meters of gas per day have been commissioned. The construction of gas pipeline, which goes through the territory of Uzbekistan from Turkmenistan to China, was completed. It expands the transit potential capacities of our country.

Besides, more than 480 new productions have been established in the provinces, above all, in the sphere of small business, as well as in such branches as the industry of construction materials, food and light industries, as much as other branches of economy.

I would like to especially note that thanks to implementation of the strategic investment projects on construction of the “Novoangren-Uzbekistan” Power Transmission Line-500 with substation, 165-km-long “Ahangaran-Pungan” trunk gas pipeline through the Kamchik mountain pass, as well as of the “Guzar-Surhan” high voltage power transmission line we have in fact completed creation of the single power and gas systems in the scope of entire country.

This permits to reliably provide the population of Ferghana Valley and south of Uzbekistan with natural gas and electricity, as well as significantly increase the export of electricity.

We have kept on the focus of our attention the implementation of the large-scale program on construction and reconstruction of the Uzbek national automobile highway that meets the high international standards, which reliably links all provinces of the country and ensures access to regional and world markets.

During last year we commissioned 217 kilometers and undertook a complete overhaul of 538 kilometers of automobile roads as well as 19 bridges. More than 280 billion UZS at the expense of the country’s Road Fund were channeled to accomplishment of such works. We have attracted the soft loans of the ADB worth in total 56 million dollars to procure the road construction techniques.

We have continued the works on developing and modernizing the railroad transport system of the country. Five bridges were commissioned with participation of Japanese capital on the new railroad line Toshguzar-Boysun-Kumkurgan. Six new double track sections of the Navoi-Uchkuduk-Sultanuzdag-Nukus railroad line have been commissioned. We have started the work on the projects of electrification of railroads, renewing the stock of railroad locomotives and rolling stock.

The substantial works were accomplished in 2009 on construction of the inter-modal center of international transportation on the basis of the “Navoi” Airport as one of the key facilities of the free industrial and economic zone being established in Navoi Province. During last year the national air company, exploiting the modern transport aircraft rented from the “Korean Air”, undertook more than 330 flights on international destinations and transported about 8,500 tons of cargo, which paved way to integrate the Navoi Airport into the global logistical network.

The international logistical center in the town of Angren has also been constructed and commissioned. It will provide the year-round transport link between the regions of the country and the provinces of Ferghana Valley.

Speaking of the development of communication systems, one should emphasize that the development of high technological telecommunication sphere is strategically important for us.  Today it is difficult to imagine the life without computer equipment, information technologies, Internet, and mobile phone connection.

Twelve investment projects were launched in this direction in 2009. Tashkent-Bukhara communication backbone was expanded on the basis of modern technologies, which has allowed to increase the throughput 60-fold and thus provided for opportunities of rendering broadband services such as video-telephone connection, Internet and so on. The international lines of communication Andijan-Osh, Kungrad-Beyneu, Denau-Tursunzade, Termez-Khayraton have been commissioned.

In the year 2009 in the framework of the program on improvement of reclamation condition of lands 840 kilometers  of collector and drainage networks have been commissioned along with 250 drainage wells, 15 units of reclamation pumping stations and constructions. In total 130 billion UZS have been channeled for implementation of projects on improving the reclamation state of lands.

As a result the reclamation condition of over 240,000 hectares of irrigated land has been improved, which allows to raise the level of crop yield and increase the incomes of farmers.

In 2009 along with implementation of large investment projects and development of production and communication facilities, development of agriculture and reclamation construction the issues of enhancing the social sphere have remained in the focus of our attention.

In total 2,5 billion dollars-worth of funds, which make up 27,8 percent of total amount of assimilated capital investments in 2009, were channeled to aforementioned purposes.

The implementation of the two most important social programs – National program of cadres training and State program for development of school education has been practically completed. The integrated system of continuous education has been established, which encompasses 9 years of school education and 3 years of secondary specialized vocational education, i.e. transition to 12 years education, which grants our children the opportunity to master a concrete profession along with general secondary education is about to be completed.

Speaking of the effectiveness and efficiency of measures taken in the framework of the Anti-crisis Action Program in 2009, one should emphasize that they targeted two key tasks – creation of new jobs and further raising the living standards of our people.

Thanks to the measures being taken in the country, over 940,000 new jobs were created in 2009, of them around 500,000 in rural areas. More than 390,000 new jobs were created in the sphere of small business, including 270,000 in the services sector.

Still one of the most important directions of employment is giving incentives to home-based labor in cooperation with industrial enterprises and carrying out the work at home on contractor basis. Thanks to such practice, more than 130,000 new jobs were created.

Summing up the results of 2009, today we have all grounds to note with pleasure that thanks to correctly chosen strategy of development, renewal and modernization of the country, mobilization of all our strength and capacities with a view to implement the Anti-crisis Action Plan we have not only withstood the challenges and threats of global crisis, but we are among few countries who have been ensuring the sustainable rates of economic and social development, well-being and prosperity of our people.

In 2009 the GDP of Uzbekistan grew by 8,1 percent, volumes of industrial production – by 9 percent, agricultural production – by 5,7 percent, retail trade – by 16,6 percent, paid services to the people – by 12,9 percent.  It is worth noting that despite complex weather conditions of last year, for the first time the country harvested 7,3 million tons of grain, of them 6,6 million tons of wheat; while the cotton crop made up 3,4 million tons.

In 2009 the volumes of investments in the economy touched in USD equivalent 8,2 billion, which is 24,8 percent more than in 2008. By 68 percent grew the volumes of attracted foreign investments and what is of a special importance is that direct investments, which grew by 1,8-fold, make up their major share.

The inflation did not go beyond prescribed limits in 2009 and made up 7,4 percent. Last year Uzbekistan was one of the few countries in the world where the State budget was executed at 0,2 percent surplus against GDP.

With a special pleasure I would like to note that for over the last year the real incomes of people increased by 26,5 percent, while the growth of average monthly salary, pensions and allowances made up on average 40 percent.

The successes achieved by Uzbekistan in implementation of anti-crisis measures have been recognized by competent international financial and economic institutions such as the IMF, WB, ADB and several other leading financial institutions of the world.

Thus, in a statement by IMF executive directors, who visited Uzbekistan in October 2009, it is noted that “Uzbekistan has demonstrated significant sustainability against the influence of the global economic crisis as a result of a discreet policy, which has allowed the government to accumulate significant resources needed to ensure growth in this period and withstand the crisis as well as thanks to a reasonable policy of participation in the world financial markets”.

Dear friends!

Before dwelling upon the most important priorities of social and economic development of the country in 2010, I believe it is necessary to shortly comment on summarized assessments of competent international experts and economists, their forecast of trends of development in the world economy in 2010. 

First, in line with their analysis and assessments, the acuteness and peak manifestations of the global financial crisis will gradually descent, and in 2010 the gradual slow growth of the world economy is expected.

Following slowdown in the global economy in 2009 approximately to 1 percent, the economic growth this year may touch around 3 percent, which is much lower than the rates of pre-crisis period.

At the same time, as analysts note, it is expected that unemployment will grow which naturally will impact the people’s living standards.

Second, the unstable growth of an international market and continuing fall of domestic demand, which can be witnessed in many countries, does not contribute to forming a basis for consistent increase of growth rates in the real sector of economy.

The situation is aggravated by the fact that the broad-scale and extensive state interference in the peak phase of crisis was aimed, above all, at maintaining solvency of bank and financial system and eradicating the loopholes in mortgage lending  and just slightly touched the sphere and productions of the real sector of economy, small business and entrepreneurship.

In this regard, this year the real sector of economy will face the problems related to weakness of financial condition of enterprises and companies, their inability to pay off their loans and credits.

In 2010 and forthcoming years the banking system can face the danger of a new wave of insolvency due to the growth of bad debts in mortgage and consumer lending.

Along with it, the fall and contraction of production volumes, growing unemployment and limitation of real incomes of people lead to significant reduction of tax proceeds and growth of budget deficiency, which can evolve into chronic in some countries.

Third, despite continuing slowdown in consumer demand checks price rise and in some places even deflation can be witnessed, enormous emission of money and pumping of bank and financial sector to support their liquidity create dangerous risk of hike in inflation processes in a number of countries.

Containing the growing wave of inflation will be an extremely difficult task.

Fourth, one cannot but note still continuing large speculative games and danger of inflating the new “bubbles” on stock, raw and financial markets, which can cause a new financial collapse and diversion of finds from renewal and modernization of a real economy.

Fifth, the biggest problems for making and developing economies, above all, of the developing countries are caused by a continuing policy of protectionism in the world practice.

Despite numerous statements on unacceptability of such practice at the meetings of G20 there is an impression that eradication of protectionism as a vivid obstacle for a free economy is hardly possible in the near-terms prospect. 

Sixth, the priority task for 2010 and forthcoming years, according to the IMF experts, is preparation to curtailing extremely high level of state interference in economy.

The extensive continuation of support measures in financial and economic sphere can entail the risk of disproportions in balancing the economy and serious restrictions on the way of free entrepreneurship.

The conclusion, which arise out of these assessments and forecast of further development of the world economy in the conditions of continuing crisis testify for the fact that despite that the peak phase of the crisis has passed, the entire cycle of financial and economic crisis is still to be overcome.

The process of leaving the crisis and post-crisis rehabilitation of economy can have quite long, complex and uneven character.

Dear participants of the session!

The most important task and the main priority of social and economic development for 2010 is continuation and deepening of reforms, renewal and modernization of the country, unconditional implementation of Anti-crisis action plan for 2009-2012 and on its basis ensuring the high and sustainable rates of economic growth, its effectiveness and macroeconomic balance.

The growing potential, new and modern production capacities, which have been commissioned for over the last years, development of production and social infrastructure, systemic reforms and liberalization of economy, exclusively favorable investment climate allow us to envision in 2010 the following:

The growth of the GDP and industrial production at 108,3 percent, agriculture – at 105 percent, achieve growth of investments in the economy to 30 percent against GDP.

The target task is to ensure growth of production exports to 8,5 percent, qualitatively change its structure at the expense of increasing the share of finished products with high added value.

It is envisioned to tighten the budget and financial fiscal and credit policy, saving regime in comparison to 2009, above all, by introducing modern resource and energy efficient technologies.

The inflation is expected to be within 7-9 percent.

The achievement of the set goals will depend, firstly, on to what extent in full we shall be able to mobilize all our capacities and resources, ensure the unconditional implementation of the measures envisioned by the Antic-crisis action plan in terms of neutralizing the still remaining big risks and consequences of the crisis.

This will require the Cabinet of Ministers undertaking the strict and system-based control over the implementation by each and every executor of the tasks laid on him vis-à-vis sector complexes and sphere of economy, as well as territories.

Taking into consideration the ongoing global financial and economic crisis and its impact on the country’s economy, ensuring the financial and banking sustainability remains to be the most important priority task.

The point is about further capitalization and enhancement of the investment activity of banks, increasing the volumes of crediting directed to resuming and expanding the priority directions of structural transformations in the economy, modernization, technical and technological renewal of production.

All of us must realize one single truth – we can have nor modernization or renewal without investments! And here we mean not only acceleration of implementation by enterprises of the investment projects, but also that to what extent actively the commercial banks are directly interested in implementing the investment processes with their credit resources.

For this the commercial banks must have a sufficient capital, be financially stable, and in a word, they must turn into large investment institutions.

Thanks to the measures taken in terms of stimulating the rise of share of long-term of credits of commercial banks, the proportion of credits allocated with a term of over 3 years, has now made up 69 percent in the total sum of the credit portfolio of banks, while having increased for over the last 10 years for 28 times.

Along with that, taking into account the dynamics and scale of growth of economy, structural transformations, implementation of investment projects, the need to increase the credit potential of the banking system requires further attention and support.

The Central Bank, Ministry of Finance jointly with commercial banks need to elaborate the program of further increasing the total capital of banks, including its growth in 2010 no less than by 20 percent, with taking its share in the nearest two years to no less than 10 percent towards GDP.

One should additional elaborate the issues on introducing the new types of banking services, attracting the spare funds of population and economic entities for long-term deposits of banks with growth of no less than by 30 percent, creating the firm basis to increase the share of long-term credit investments into the country’s economy at the expense of domestic sources.

There is a need to change the criteria of assessing the activity of commercial banks – today their work must be assessed through the prism of growth in the long-term credit investments and attraction of domestic sources for this purpose.

In this regard, I would like to note the work of the National Bank of Foreign Economic Activity and Uzpromstroybank, which have respectively over 85 and 71 percent of long-term credits in their credit portfolio. This must be a benchmark for other banks, as well.

The practice of involving commercial banks in the process of financial rehabilitation of unprofitable and economically insolvent enterprises has fully proven its correctness. I think it is not necessary to once again repeat the unacceptability of keeping such enterprises with obsolete equipment and technologies and with no economic prospects. They must be mopped up and new modern productions must be established on their basis.

The work in terms of enhancing the role of commercial banks in financing small business, private entrepreneurship and farmers needs to be continued. In 2009 the volumes of bank crediting of small business increased for 1,5 times as compared to 2008, while the volume of allocated micro-credits grew twofold.

In 2010 the target is to allocate not less than 2,5 trillion UZS-worth of credit resources to enterprises of small business and private entrepreneurship, which will be 1,4 times more against 2009, the volumes of micro-credits is to be increased up to 420 billion UZS or 1,3 times of last year.

The most important priority of implementation of economic program for 2010 must be continuation of the policy of deepening the structural reforms in the economy with a view of enhancing the competitiveness of the country.

One should objectively admit that in this direction a lot has been accomplished and significant results have been secured.

As a result of implementation of consistent program, the share of industrial production in the country’s GDP in 2009 increased from 14 to 24 percent against 2000, the transport and communication – from 7,7 to 12 percent, while the share of agriculture fell from 30 to 18 percent.

Along with that, we realize that there is much yet to do on structural reforms and diversification of our economy so that in the following years it becomes ever more sustainable, self-sufficient, less dependent on external factors, and above all, competitive on the world and regional markets.

Given the specific conditions of our country and the region the point is about advanced development of modern industries such as gas processing, petrochemical, chemical industry, energy, motor-car construction, electrical engineering, pharmacy, machine-building and, certainly, the industry of modern information technologies and telecommunications systems, transition in the near future to digital and broad-format television.

In addition, a special attention should be paid to the further development of production, first of all, in the light, textile and food industries, on deeper processing cotton, other agricultural products and raw materials, industry of construction materials, organization of production of the finished high-quality products, which are in sustainable demand.

The Cabinet of Ministers must once more critically review the sector programs and take additional steps on their adjustment and accelerated implementation.

At that, it is necessary:

First, to continue the work on expanding and establishing the stable cooperation relations between enterprises and ensure active involvement of small businesses and private entrepreneurship into the process. The work of the Republican Industrial Fair and Cooperative Exchange must be raised to a qualitatively new level. It should be kept in mind that the development of cooperative relations in current terms is a powerful factor of sustainable work of enterprises and industries of the economy, the most important direction in development of new types of products, and most importantly – creation of new jobs, ensuring employment and income growth of population.

Last year the government took decisions to improve the mechanism of formation and implementation of programs on localization of production, established the entire system, clearly defined the roles and delimited authority of bodies responsible for elaboration of localization programs – the Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade.

It is necessary to bring this work to its logical end and, taking into account the worked-out approaches and criteria, critically review the projects included into the current localization program, as well as to prepare within a month a localization program for 2010.

The volume of localized products should rise in 2010 comparing with that of last year by 40 percent, while the proportion of localized products exported to foreign markets – by 12 percent.

Second, for over the last years the total and real incomes of population has significantly increased, as well as the consumer demand has grown steadily, and all these were possible due to the measures taken to increase wages, pensions, stipends and allowances, reduction of individual income tax rates and decrease the inflation level. Thus, compared with 2000 last year the average wage increased for 28,5 times, average pension - almost for 18 times, cash income per capita - 12 times. It is planned to increase wages this year not less than by 30 percent, the real incomes – by 23 percent.  The expenditures of the population on purchasing the non-food industrial durable goods considerably increased.

In these circumstances, the issues of ensuring balance in the domestic market of growing solvent demand of the population with volumes of production by domestic companies of consumer goods, increasing their range and list of products, reliable saturation by them of the domestic consumer market are gaining a special importance.

The Cabinet of Ministers at its meetings should critically assess the progress of adopted programs and to take additional measures for their rapid implementation and stable saturation of the internal market with domestic products, which are superior by quality and pricing as compared to imported goods, and full satisfaction of growing demands of our people.

Third, it is extremely important to expand the scope of services provided to the population. These sectors do not depend neither on external conditions nor weather conditions, i.e. are resistant to change of external factors. At the same time, they create internal demand for many types of domestic products, as well as play an important role in balancing the consumer market. The share of services in GDP should grow from 47 percent in 2009 to 49 percent in 2010.

Fourth, the resolution of the task of active development of small businesses, more sustainable and flexible to changes of market conditions and creating new jobs remains crucial in our conditions.

Therefore indeed, we have decided to reduce the single tax payment to 7 percent for all small enterprises in 2010. The government, local state authorities are obliged to strengthen measures in terms of supporting the development of small enterprises and entrepreneurship through a substantial expansion of crediting, prevent cases of illegal interference in their activities by public bodies and creation of any barriers to their activities. The goal is to bring the share of small businesses in GDP to 52,5 percent in 2010 against 50 percent last year.

Fifth, further diversification of the export structure of our products and foreign trade turnover in general remains a pressing task. We need to go away as quickly as possible from the continuing export of raw materials, prices of which have recently plummeted down on the world market, and intensively increase export of finished and competitive products, while expanding the geography of their supplies.

We must look for new markets, new transport corridors, in a word, to conduct an active marketing in foreign economic policy.

In 2010 we must come to grips with issues of improving the system of transportation of export cargos through the optimization of tariffs with member countries of international transport corridors and flexible system of tariff preferences.

In this regard, the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, Ministry of Economy and Ministry of Finance shall be instructed to develop special programs for 2010-2012 to each industry, which produces finished products, on promoting finished products to new foreign markets, providing with all necessary measures, including marketing, financial and institutional support.

The next our important priority, which is a long-term and crucial for the growth of potential, power and competitiveness of the country’s economy, is to conduct the active investment policy for implementation of strategically important projects aimed at modernization, technical and technological renewal of the leading basic industries, development of a powerful modern network of transport and infrastructural communications.

We have always given priority to implementation of an active investment policy as an important factor of structural transformation of the economy. Suffice it to say that each year the funds from all sources of financing are directed to investing into the economy in excess of a quarter of gross domestic product, and in 2010, in accordance with the Investment program, the capital expenditures will compose more than 30 percent of increase against last year’s level of 22,1 percent. Thus, more than 75 percent of all capital investments are spent for implementation of investment projects for production purposes.

The distinctive feature of our investment strategy is that the priority is given to those investment projects, which are aimed at creating the new high-tech industries with advanced technology and provides the downstream processing of our raw materials, increasing the country's export potential and creating new jobs.

Thus, in 2010 over 3 billion dollars-worth foreign investments will be attracted to implementation of strategically important projects, or with growth against last year making up more than 30 percent. Also, the foreign direct investments will increase by 46 percent.

Establishment of the Reconstruction and Development Fund of Uzbekistan in 2007, which has so far accumulated more than 3,7 billion dollars, was of a great importance in terms of involving the domestic resources to implementing the long-term strategically important projects, primarily to building infrastructure, reconstructing and modernizing the production.

Our major partners in implementing the investment projects on production of high-tech products with high added value are the largest and the world-renowned companies, as well as such major international financial institutions as the Asian Development Bank, World Bank, Islamic Bank, the investment banks of South Korea and Japan, as well as of a number of Arab States, and others.

A great perspective significance to bring our economy to the leading positions has the implementation of such strategically important projects as the construction of combined-cycle plants in Tashkent, Navoi and Talimarjan thermal power plants, construction of Ustyurt gas-chemical complex at the base of the Surgil field on production of polyethylene and propylene, creation of a new production complex PVC and caustic soda, the construction of installations of propane-butane mixture at the Muborak Gas Processing Plant and Shurtanneftegaz to increase production of liquefied natural gas, conversion of units Novo-Angren Thermal Power Plant to coal fuel, organization of production of automotive power-trains and number of other important projects.

All of these projects, despite the global financial and economic crisis, were included into the Program of measures for implementation of important projects on modernization, technical and technological re-equipment of production for 2009-2014, which was adopted in 2009. This program includes over 327 projects at a total cost of more than 42,5 billion dollars. The funding sources have been specifically identified for most of them with consortium of investors to have been formed.

The Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade jointly with the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance and concerned ministries and departments must intensify the work on harmonization the terms and conditions for implementation of strategic investment projects included in the list of the Investment program, as well as new projects being developed in the context of long-term technical policy of strategic industries and major enterprises.

I would like to especially mention that important and key place in our long-term projects is reserved to establishing modern communication and transportation system, including all types of transport: road, rail and air.

In 2010 it is envisaged to allocate 540 billion UZS at the expense of the Republican Road Fund for the development of automobile roads, or almost 2 times higher than the last year. Today, it is being worked out a new project on the construction of parts of the Uzbek national highway at the expense of the funds allocated by the ADB.

The ultimate goal of implementing the envisaged program is to increase the volume of transport and transit services by way of reorienting the substantial part of trade flows between Europe and Asia onto domestic transit routes, establish the logistics centers based on existing infrastructure, as well as provide thousands of people with jobs.

The Cabinet of Ministers must take under its special control the implementation of the adopted program of development of roadside infrastructure and services along the Uzbek national highway for the period 2010-2015.

A special attention should be paid to the further development of the railway communication, for modernization of which it is scheduled to channel more than 105 million dollars in 2010. It is necessary to ensure the completion of construction of the Tashguzar-Baysun-Kumkurgan railway line, including its infrastructure and continue construction of electrified railway lines along destinations Yangiyer-Jizzakh and Yangiyer-Farhad.

Along with this, it is necessary to accelerate implementation of projects on updating the fleet of passenger locomotives, modernization and rehabilitation of cargo locomotives and wagons. The implementation of the project on procurement and commissioning of the two Spanish high-speed trains for use on the route Tashkent-Samarkand must be started this year with fulfillment of all procedures.

The pressing direction in the sphere of investments is to further increase the volume of foreign investments being attracted to the Free Industrial-Economic Zone “Navoi”.

First of all, it is necessary to implement 17 projects, which have already been launched, and continue to focus on attracting to FIEZ “Navoi” the investments from the high-tech level countries such as Republic of Korea, Japan, Germany, the United States, Great Britain, France, Italy and others.

Dear friends!

I think it will be absolutely fair, if we shall place the Program on accelerated development and construction of housing and social infrastructure in rural areas as one of the top priorities in 2010.

Announcement of 2009 as the “Year of development and improvement of the countryside” and implementation of the adopted State program in this regard became the beginning of a long-term focused work in terms of radical reorganization and renewal of the countryside’s appearance upon modern architectural and industrial basis, construction of housing, social and community facilities and communications. All these measures were intended to radically improve the living standards in rural areas and bring them closer to the urban conditions.

In 2009 alone at the expense of all sources of funding over 2 trillion 600 billion UZS were allocated for these purposes.

Most importantly, in 2009 we practically created a powerful planning, industrial-construction and engineering-technical potential with a long-term perspective for the construction in rural areas.

The sources of financing and mechanism of allocation of funds are identified; a specialized “Qishloq Qurilish Bank” (Rural Construction Bank) and “Qishlokqurilishloyiha” Design and Research Institute were established; 22 models of housing projects and 16 projects of social construction, and model plans for complex house construction were developed and approved after an extensive discussion on the outcomes of the national and regional exhibitions; a specialized company-customer – “Qishloq Qurilish Invest” (Rural Construction Invest) was established; new housing construction has been started at 42 sites of the country.

And most importantly, this comprehensive project – unique both in its nature and substance – enjoys a powerful support throughout the rural population and the public of the country in general.

It is envisaged to allocate over 250 billion UZS for housing construction alone in the framework of the 2010 Investment Program as the soft loans to residents issued through a specially established for this purpose “Qishloq Qurilish Bank”, which is more than 4 times as much as it was allocated in 2009. Thus, the own funds of developers will make up yet about 70 billion UZS.

In 2010 it is planned to build 7630 homes with an estimated value of over 470 billion UZS in all 159 rural areas of the country.

It is envisaged not only to build modern and comfortable cottages, but also to create modern systems of residential areas, including kindergartens, secondary schools and schools of music and the arts, sports and medical facilities, service facilities, improved roads, in short, everything you need for a comfortable and decent living for the rural population.

In fact, a dynamically growing strong housing market with all the necessary social and communication infrastructure is practically being formed in the country.

It is necessary for the State Architectural Construction Agency to carry out a strong systematic control over the strict implementation of development plans, requirements of sanitary and construction norms. We need to improve the system of development of documentation related to the settlement patterns, regional planning, general plans of cities, continue the work on improving the projects of individual houses, of facilities for social-cultural and sanitary-household purposes in rural areas using modern building materials and technologies, taking into consideration the climatic conditions and terrain, as well as socio-demographic characteristics of the regions of the country.

We must not forget that this program provides huge scale of work, allows to create tens of thousands new jobs and promote an active involvement of the whole population of the country in its implementation.

Setting forth the goal to implement the long-term program on the intensified development and building of housing and social infrastructure, we greatly contribute to solving the most acute problem of our country in terms of job creation and interrelated problems of income growth and improvement of living standards.

In 2010 in total over 950,000 new jobs are envisioned to be created in the country. About half of them will be created by developing small enterprises, micro-firms, private entrepreneurship, sphere of services, expansion of volumes of subcontracts on construction work, including repair and housing reconstruction.

The major direction in the sphere of employment, that proved itself in practice, in 2010 remains involving population in various forms of home-based labor, expansion of workmanship and national crafts, stimulation of family business which is supposed to employ more than 208,000 people, mainly women with many children, disabled, and other socially vulnerable categories of the population.

The special working commissions at the level of a province, city and district have been established to control the implementation of all provided measures on creating the new jobs. All these measures have been stipulated in the Republican program “On creation of jobs and employment for 2010 on all territorial levels of Uzbekistan” which was worked out in collaboration with all the ministries, departments, economic entities and the enterprises and have been adopted by Oliy Majlis.

Preliminarily, on the level of territories of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, provinces and city of Tashkent all parameters of this program have been thoroughly worked out and taken under control by the local Kengashes (Councils).

The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of Economics, the State Committee on Statistics must create the accurate system of statistics on the exact number of actually created jobs in each province and a city, as well as the monitoring system over implementation of the program. If necessary, those agencies must put forward concrete proposals to the Cabinet of Ministers to prevent lagging behind in the implementation parameters stipulated in the program.

Dear participants of the meeting!

We declared 2010 as the “Year of harmoniously developed generation”.

We aim to create necessary opportunities and conditions to ensure that our children grow healthy not only physically and spiritually, but also grow into harmoniously developed people having obtained contemporary intellectual know-how as well as meeting the requirements of the 21^st century in which they will live and work.

The State program on this issue that has been adopted recently by the government provides for mobilization of all our resources and capabilities to achieve the set goals given all – both state and non-state sources.

Using all the sources of financing 8 trillion UZS, including 1,8 trillion UZS from the state budget, 3,3 trillion UZS – credits by commercial banks and over 2,7 trillion UZS – the financial assets of responsible agencies, are planned to be channeled to accomplishing a comprehensive set of measures stipulated in the Program in 2010.

I believe I will express our overall opinion, the opinion of people living in this blessed land of Uzbekistan, if I say that the implementation of this program is a cause of each and everyone of us. The main thing is to approach to its implementation not just formally, but sincerely and comprehension of the fact that through this Program we are building the great future of our country.

Dear compatriots!

The tasks we set before us, the priorities of socio-economic development we put forward in 2010 are well-grounded and we are fully capable of implementing them.

The basis for it is the experience we have obtained and the powerful potential created by the tireless efforts of our people for over the past years and our confidence in the future.
 

 

On February 10 to 12 this year on the invitation of the President of the Republic of Korea Lee Myung Bak the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov will go to the Republic of Korea on a State visit, the report by the Uzbekistan National News Agency said. According to the report, during the visit the sides will discuss the issues of expanding and deepening the Uzbek-Korean cooperation, the outstanding problems of regional and international nature of mutual interest.

On the outcomes of talks in Seoul the sides are expected to sign a number of bilateral documents directed to deepening the interaction of the two states in various areas.
 

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The announcement of 2010 the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation and approval of government program by the same title in Uzbekistan has drawn an ample response from the international community.   That includes ideas and opinions coming from different nations and international organizations.   The representative office of the UN Development Program (UNDP) in Tashkent notes that this initiative provides youths with big opportunities to realize their potential.

The goals, specified in the report presented by the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov in the solemn meeting on the occasion of the 17th anniversary of the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan correspond to the government policy focused on the raise of people’s welfare.

Taking into consideration the fact that youths under 25 comprise 60% of the population of Uzbekistan the envisaged measures will promote the further improvement of access to education, healthcare and other social services for the majority of the country’s population.

The fact that healthcare and education costs exceed the half of the State Budget for 2010 proves the government’s commitment to the harmonious development of the growing generation, the UNDP emphasizes.

The UNDP notes that the government program the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation stresses the necessity of the further improvement of education quality on all levels by means of introduction of training standards, revision of educational directions and specialties in the higher and secondary special education system taking into consideration the market economy requirements. These measures are focused on the complete realization of the educational system’s potential in compliance with the National Program of Cadres Training. They also envisage development and adoption of new regulatory documents, distribution of modern information technologies and pedagogical methodologies.

Arrangement of favorable environment for small and entrepreneurial business as well as involvement of youths in this sphere is another important task of the program. The activities for the improvement of infrastructure and legal basis for small and entrepreneurial business are aimed at the generation of employment and formation of the dynamic private sector in Uzbekistan, the UNDP notes.

The government program the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation can be considered as the logical extension of government’s efforts for the comprehensive support of the youths, training of national specialists and growth of their potential. Therefore the UNDP highly appreciates the Uzbek government’s efforts aiming at the mitigation of the global economic crisis’s impact on the country’s economy. It was stressed that the progress achieved in this line is observable in terms of provision of continuous and stable economic growth in future for the improvement of the Uzbek people’s welfare.
 

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In accordance with government program of the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation, Tashkent has hosted a youth media festival Yoshlar Parvozi. The future of any profession is premised on younger generation of specialists, their training and ability to keep up with the times.   Therefore, attention is focused today on the younger media workers who should be aware of the changes taking place in the nation, and reflect them objectively in their agenda and periodicals.

Participants of the media forum addressed issues around training young specialists, improving their skills, material support and other matters of concern.

The event was organized by the Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan, National Association of Electronic Mass Media of Uzbekistan (NAEMM), Creative Union of Journalists, Public Fund for Support and Development of Independent Print Media and News Agencies, Kamolot Civic Youth Movement, Kelajak Ovozi Center of Youths’ Initiatives.

More than 200 members of regional youth mass media gathered at the forum to review their activities in 2009. Within three days of seminars and training workshops, they discussed new initiatives the best of which have been included in the concept of activities for 2010.

Bakhtiyor Turahanov, editor-in-chief of Kelajak Ovozi youth television station, said that under the government program of the Year of Youth in 2008, regions with the assistance of the Fund Forum and NAEMM established youth television stations to enable the activists to grasp the basics of TV journalism. For two years, these journalists have raised their professional level and are willing to take on their own projects. In 2009 alone, youth studios prepared and aired over 250 programs. “We are very encouraged that our youth project enjoys government support within the program of the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation,” said Turahanov.

“Last year we launched a website of youth press centers Kelajak Ovozi. This year an internet homepage for youth studios is projected to start, where everyone will be able to leave their comments and share opinions about TV programs young people produce. Also, a series of training seminars will be held this year as part of a joint project of the Fund Forum and Public Fund for Support and Development of Independent Print Media and News Agencies, entitled “The Cultural Forum”. The Public Fund will provide logistical support for leading youth-oriented publications whose daily circulation reaches more than 600,000 copies in total,” remarked Abdulaziz Abdullayev, director of the Public Fund for Support and Development of Independent Print Media and News Agencies of Uzbekistan.

As part of the media forum, there was held a presentation of certificates for grants for each project aimed to improve the quality of television product in 2010. The forum completed with awarding the most active representatives of the media projects with Yoshlar Parvozi awards.

“Our youth television studio the last year released more than 160 programs on STV channel and UzNTT network. We weekly prepare programs for STV and twice a month for UzNTT. This year we are launching projects of “The Health ABC” and “About Us the Finest”. Our target audience are young people, but we’d like to make programs for all age groups,” said Elsa Ivatulina, a reporter at Samarqand Youth TV Studio, winner of the Yoshlar Parvozi Media Award as the Journalist of the Year.

According to Dildora Aminazarova, a correspondent at Namangan Youth Studio, this year their studio will talk about how young people realize their intellectual, creative and sporting potential.

“Our youth television studio prepares programs Sharq TV. This year I want to launch a new project about youth and hope to succeed,” shared D. Aminazarova.

The Youth Media Forum was the first event in a series of occasions to be held throughout the year and aimed at further development of creative opportunities for young people, especially youngsters who dream of becoming a real journalist.
 

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A seminar entitled “Uzbekistan and Central Asia in Focus” has taken place in Germany

The event was organized by the “German-Uzbek Society” in association with German society for foreign policy. At the seminar it was noted that in recent years, the European Union attaches great importance to the Central Asian region, as evidenced by the adoption of the EU strategy for Central Asia by the initiative of the Federal Republic of Germany.

As is known, this document identified such areas of cooperation such as energy, security, including combating terrorism and drug trafficking, and ecology as prospective areas of cooperation with the region.

According to the president of “German-Uzbek Society”, former deputy of the Bundestag W. Bauer, in connection with the changes occurring in the world security, stability, and energy cooperation become an important part of the relationships. In this regard, he stressed: “Successful implementation of the EU Strategy for Central Asia is impossible without active participation of Uzbekistan in this process as a key country in the region. Germany, in turn, has close ties with Uzbekistan in the trade and economic, cultural and social fields, and ecology.”

Vice-President “German-Uzbek Society” Peter Spary informed participants of the event on his visit to Uzbekistan as an international observer at the elections for the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In this regard, he underscored that the elections were organized at the high level and passed without any violations of the national legislation. He estimated that during the parliamentary elections all the necessary conditions for broad participation of voters in the elections were provided at polling stations.

Speaking of the Uzbek-German cooperation, member of the Board of “German-Uzbek Society” D. Hermann told about the partnership between schools in Bonn and Bukhoro. According to her, the German youth has recently become more interested in Uzbekistan, as evidenced by the active exchange between the Uzbek and German pupils and students.

Head of German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation M. Vekkerling informed the participants about cooperation of his fund with Uzbekistan. According to him, the Foundation for International Legal Cooperation in cooperation with German society of technical assistance intends to continue technical assistance to implement joint projects with the Uzbek partners for further improvement of the judicial system in Uzbekistan.
 

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Bahrain University has hosted a presentation of the book Higher Morals as Invincible Force authored by the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov. Bahrain University’s students and faculty that included political scientists,
historians, social scientists, participated at the event.

Speaking at the presentation, Ali Mansur Al-Shihab, vice-president of the University, highly appreciated the gradually developing relations between Uzbekistan and Bahrain. He noted: “Having acquainted with the work by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov we received an extensive view on cultural, educational and scientific development in the country. The book is of big interest for readers from all Arabic countries in terms of many common historical, religious, spiritual and cultural aspects. Besides, foreign scientists and experts take a big interest in the modern life in Uzbekistan.”

The information councillor of the university’s president Hassan Usef al-Shihabi emphasized that he had read the book High Spirituality – Invincible Force by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov with big interest.

“The book contains a big scientific and informational material and comprehensively reflects the historical stages of the process of formation and revival of the Uzbek people’s spirituality. The reader can see the whole history of people of Movarrounahr, who made the great contribution into the development of the global civilization and presented the world with such great scholars as Imam al-Buhari, at-Termezi, Maturidi, al-Khorezmi, al-Fergani, Bahauddin Nakshbandi, Beruni, Ibn Sino, and many others. Their works are still of great value. All intellects of the universe humble to this heritage and the whole Muslim Ummah is proud of it,” the scientist stressed.

The director of the vocational guidance bureau of the university Makhmud al-Anaysi highlighted the meticulous attention of the Uzbek government to the comprehensive development of the growing generation and its upbringing on the basis of traditional values and modern scientific achievements.

Thereupon he said: “The book High Spirituality is an Invincible Force is not only a conceptual view of the Uzbekistan’s President on training of morally and spiritually rich personnel, but also his deep concern about the further progress of the republic in conditions of the “new global order”.

He was supported by the deputy chairman of the Chamber for Commerce and Trade board of Bahrain Muhammad Ahmadi, who stressed that the book High Spirituality is an Invincible Force by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov is a code of moral norms and regulations of the Uzbek people in current conditions of the lack of the single concept for moral and spiritual education of the growing generation in many countries of the world. “These principles are requisite in our society due to the global crisis tendencies we witnessed of late, which acutely intensified negative social processes on the global scale,” he noted.

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Last year, 22 major manufacturing units were completed in the country, including 8 in petroleum, chemical, metal working industry, 9 in engineering, 5 in the construction industry.

The completed strategic projects include the reconstruction of ammonia units at Farg’onaazot and Maxam-Chirchiq, cars lights factory in Namangan, Daewoo Textile factory in Bukhoro. Gazli booster station as well as a dehydration unit at Kungrad gas compressor station with the capacity of 35 million cubic meters of gas per day were launched. Construction of gas pipeline passing through Uzbekistan from Turkmenistan to China was completed, thereby increasing the transit potential of our country.

In addition, more than 480 new enterprises set up in regions, especially in small businesses in such industries as construction materials, food and textile industry.

Owing to the implementation of strategic investment projects on construction of Yangi Angren-O’zbekiston HVLine-500 with Ghuzor-Surkhon substation power line, Ohangaron-Pungan gas pipeline through Qamchiq Pass of 165 km long. A unified national electricity and gas systems has almost completed. This allows the country to reliably provide electricity and gas supplies to the population in Farg’ona Valley and southern regions, as well as significantly increase the export of electricity.

Particular attention was paid to a major program of construction and reconstruction of the Uzbek National Highway to meet high international standards, securely connect all areas of the country and provide access to regional and global markets.

Over the past year, 217 km of roads were put into operation, 538 km of roads and 19 bridges passed major repair. These works had drawn over 280 billion soums from the Road Fund of the Republic. $56 million of preferential credit resources of ADB have been attracted for the purchase of road construction equipment.

Railways continued the development and modernization of the railway transport system. Five railway bridges were constructed on the new line Toshguzar-Boysun-Qumqo’rg’on with the participation of Japanese capital. Six new railway sidings Navoi-Uchquduq-Sultanuizdag-Nukus were put into operation. Projects of electrification of railways, updating the fleet of railway locomotives and rolling stock has begun.

In 2009, a huge work was made on the construction of an intermodal transportation center at Navoi International Airport as one of the key objects within the free industrial and economic zone. Over the past year, the national airline company provided more than 330 flights on international destinations and transported about 8,500 tons of cargo on modern transport aircraft leased from Korean Air, thus integrating of the airport of Navoi to the global logistics network.
 

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President Islam Karimov has approved five treaties signed by the governments of Uzbekistan and Oman in Muscat, October 5, 2009.

The approved documents include intergovernmental agreements on trade and economic cooperation, air services, as well as a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the sphere of tourism.

Head of nation also approved the agreement between the two governments on the construction of a library building at Tashkent Institute of Oriental Studies, and that on scientific and cultural cooperation.

Another important document is an additional protocol amending the agreement on avoidance of double taxation of income and prevention of tax evasion on income and capital.

We recall that these documents were signed during the state visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Oman in October.

In March last year, during his visit of the Minister of National Economy of Oman Ahmed Bin Abdulnabi Macki to Tashkent, the sides signed agreements on promotion and reciprocal protection of investments, as well as the avoidance of double taxation on income and prevention of tax evasion on income and capital. The President approved these documents in June.

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The arrangement of healthy atmosphere promoting the children’s comprehensive development is one of important directions of reforms in the educational system.   The Institute for Advanced Training of Teachers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan has made a considerable input into this process.   The key specialists of the institute carry out a considerable work on perfection of the methodology of lessons’ conduction as well as interaction between school and parents on upbringing and supporting children’s

desire for the development and learning the new material for their harmonious and comprehensive development.

Teachers-practitioners from over a hundred schools of Ellikqala, Amudaryo, Tahiotosh, Ho’jayli, Kegeyli districts and Nukus take an active part in these developments along with the scientists of the institute.

New solutions represent a synthesis of the best national and foreign pedagogical experience. In whole, researchers offer developments on conducting lessons with application of play forms of presentation of a material and interactive methods of training, as well as modern information-communication technologies.
Moreover, they recommend giving more attention to class hours that should promote the cohesion of pupils and develop their skills of displaying their personal initiative and work in a collective. In perfection of work of general schools much emphasis is placed on relations of pedagogical collective and parents. These interrelations are considered as a unit that creates conditions for all-round opening of talents of each pupil.

Such are the results of this activity: for the last three years the institute has developed 10 collections of methodical recommendations on organizing class hours, pedagogical hints, and parents meetings that was approved by the educational-methodological council of the Center of Education of the Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan. Methods offered in the given manuals get wide application in everyday life of general schools.

Interview

Kenesbay Davletyarov, ice-rector, Institute for Retraining and Advanced Training of Teachers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan:

More teachers participate in the improvement of the teaching methodology and interaction between schools and parents as regards of education of the growing generation. It results in distribution of literally the best and science-based experience. Thus, in the 2008-2009 academic year, over a hundred teaching guidance products were approved and recommended for application.

Anfisa Khegay, primary school teacher, Progress Educational Complex of the Ministry of Public Education of Republic of Karakalpakstan:

Initially, the aspiration for the reformation of the national education system is oriented for creation in educational institutions of all conditions to open talent of every student. In this regard, major changes have taken place in both the content of learning and methods of teaching. In particular, national pedagogical experience was enriched with interactive and play methods of teaching as well as with experience of conducting lessons using multimedia materials.
 

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Uzbekneftegaz Holding and the Vietnamese Petrovietnam Company discussed prospects for cooperation in exploration of the Kosorsk investment block of Ustyurt region. Last week the holding company held talks with a delegation
from Petrovietnam headed by President Phung Dinh Thuc.

The companies expect good results from the cooperation, especially in geological surveys in Kosorsk investment block of Ustyurt region, said the press office of the holding.

In August 2008, Petrovietnam and Uzbekneftegaz signed an agreement on cooperation in oil and gas sector that identified three areas: exploration, oil and gas potential survey of new territories and specialists exchange.

The companies intend to establish a joint venture to conduct exploration and provide associated services in the territory of Uzbekistan, Vietnam and other countries. The joint venture will provide services for the implementation of advanced technologies in developing new oil and gas fields, as well as increasing oil recovery in long-developed fields.

According to Uzbekneftegaz, since 2001 Uzbekistan has achieved steady
growth in hydrocarbon production, especially contributed by gas fields in Ustyurt region.

Currently, foreign companies have totally invested about $700 million in exploration in this region.
 

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Uzbekistan is home to unique wetland areas. The exceptional value of these lands for preservation of biodiversity and stable development of ecosystems was highlighted in the press conference at the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Scientists, officers of nature protection organizations met with mass media representatives on the occasion of World Wetlands Day.

Aiming at preservation of so important places the world community developed a special international multilateral agreement – the Wetlands Convention. The document was called the Ramsar Convention due to the place of its adoption. 158 states have joined the convention. According to the Resolution of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, our country joined this document eight years ago.

Uzbekistan is a land of a thousand water-storage basins and lakes. Arnasay, Dengizkul, Sudochie, Tudakul, Karakar are among the biggest ones. The areas covered by the convention are included into the special list called Ramsar list. Dengizkul and Aydar-Arnasay lake system in the lower reaches of the Zarafshan river in the Syrdarya region were the first in the country to be given the status of the protected areas. Annually, almost 300 thousand migratory birds of tens of species hibernate in these water reservoirs. Many of them are rare.

Currently they prepare documents for inclusion of Quymazar and Tudakul lakes in Karakalpakstan into the Ramsar list. Both water reservoirs are the favorite place of migrating birds’ hibernation. Having been attracted by rather mild climate, some of them prefer nestling here. The others just transit our country.

In autumn flocks fly through Uzbekistan from the north of Eurasian continent to the Hindustan peninsula, Asia Minor and Africa to return home in spring. Water bodies in Uzbekistan are their favorite stop.

Public organizations deal with preservation of bird species diversity in Uzbekistan along with state institutions. The birds protection society cooperates with such authoritative organizations as Bird Life International and Royal Bird Protection Society of Great Britain.

The press conference organizers announced the beginning of the children’s ecology forum Biodiversity through the Children’s Eyes – 2010 within the International Biodiversity Year. The forum is founded and organized by the State Committee for Nature Protection together with some nature protection organizations. Children between 7 and 14 from all regions of Uzbekistan will take place in the event. The forum includes two rounds on the national and international levels.
 

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Sixty modern homes are built in Honqa, Khiva and Bogot districts of Khorazm region.

The projects of model individual houses designed on the basis of modern standards of architecture and design take into account the climatic conditions of the region and local building materials. Besides, the focus is made on sufficient gas and water supply, electricity and sewerage networks, construction of roads.

“There are all conditions created for the quality of all construction and installation works,” said Jumaboy Sultanov, director of Khorazm regional branch of a specialized subsidiary of Qishloq Qurilish Invest. “Presently, contractors have already drawn one 1.65 billion soums. Modern homes will be commissioned on the eve of Navruz holiday.

Construction of ten two-storey houses for twenty families in Khiva district is carried out by the major contractor, a specialized construction and repair enterprise Khiva Bino Inshoot Qurilish.

“We have long dreamt of these modern homes,” said Shirin Eshjonova. “Children grow up, and we would like to have a convenient and comfortable accommodation. We made an application for a standard-design apartment built in the Juryon village. Soon we will move into a new house. Our children are especially happy.”

According to Khorazm regional branch of Qishloq Qurilish Invest, construction of another 530 model homes is scheduled this year in ten localities. 45.6 hectares of land have been already allocated, prepared design estimates which passes the expertise.
 

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Dear Mr. Akilov,

I am addressing You on the issue directly related to the interests of all countries in the Central Asian region. The point is about the construction project of the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station.

As You are well aware, the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan has not once addressed the Governments of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Russian Federation, as well as international organizations on the necessity of conducting the independent examination of construction of the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station, which was started yet in 80s, during the so-called grand Soviet constructions period.

The principle position of the Republic of Uzbekistan on this issue is that prior to resuming the construction of the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station it is necessary to have the project go through a detailed and independent examination, since it was designed about 40 years ago on the basis of outdated designing, engineering and technological decisions.

As we deeply believe, it is necessary to have an impartial and qualified evaluation of possible consequences of constructing such a grand in its scope facility as the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station, with attaching a prior attention to the following:

- The damage that this project may inflict to the region’s already fragile ecological balance due to the consequences of the Aral Sea disaster;

- The project’s impact on the volume and water-flow management of the Amudarya River, since the survival of millions of people in the region with sharp continental desert climate, directly depends on the availability of potable and irrigating water, particularly during the systematically recurrent water-shortage periods;

- The extent of the project’s protection from anthropogenic risks, firstly, from a threat of powerful earthquakes since the planned construction area of the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station is in high seismicity zone on the tectonic break line, where the trembles with a magnitude up to 10 occurred more than once. It is hard to conceive the scope of a humanitarian disaster which could be caused by a dam breach with losses of hundred of thousands of people.

This threat is enhanced, in as much as accidents, which pose a real menace for the entire region, are oftentimes occurring at such hydropower facilities as Toktogul and Nurek hydroelectric power stations, built more than 35 years ago and where major-reconstructing works have not been implemented for over the last 20 years

The recent Sajano-Shushenskaya Power Station accident has vividly manifested these disastrous effects, which could be caused by serious oversights and flaws made in planning and constructing the largest hydropower facilities.

The legitimacy of Uzbekistan’s position on this issue is unambiguously supported by such authoritative international organizations and financial institutions as the United Nations, European Union, World, Asian and Islamic development banks, as well as the Russian Federation and its public circles, as well as other countries.

However, despite our repeated appeals on this issue, there occurs their full ignorance on the part of the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, which has not viewed possible after-effects and the proper planning and technical support, but yet continues to speedily undertake construction of this facility.

Having said that, under contract for this work a number of Russian design and building-assembly organizations are involved, which, obviously, are less interested in possible negative effects caused by this construction.

By addressing You, we ask to come back once again to the issue of conducting independent examination under the aegis of the UN and its relevant institutions, which can impartially evaluate both the validity of the project itself and all its possible after-effects, including problems of environment, water balance, threats of anthropogenic disasters and continue planning and constructing the Rogun Hydroelectric Power Station only after receiving proper response to all questions.

The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan hopes that reasonable approaches shall prevail on this issue, which is vitally important for a stable development of our region.

In case the position of Uzbekistan is further ignored, we reserve the right to appeal on this issue to the international community and world environmental organizations in order to prevent possible catastrophic consequences of implementation of this project.

Sincerely,


Shavkat Mirziyoyev,
Prime Minister of the
Republic of Uzbekistan