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EXPLORE UZBEKISTAN

EXPLORE UZBEKISTAN

                                              LATEST NEWS : July 2010                             ARCHIVES

Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers has convened to review the socioeconomic progress in the country for the first part of the year. The government has also worked out an additional action plan directed at unconditional implementation of priority policies in social and economic development in 2010. The guidelines had been mapped out by President Islam Karimov during the government’s similar session on January 29, 2010.

In the first six months, the growth of gross domestic product has amounted to eight percent as compared to the same period last year. The volume of industrial production rose by 8%, consumer goods production by 11.8%, agriculture by 6.9%, while construction works expanded by 11.5%, retail trade by10.3%, and services by 10.9%. The efforts undertaken to support exporters and search for new markets ensured the growth of exports by 14.3% and a significant positive trade balance. National manufacturers in this period exported goods and services in 139 countries in the world, including 26 new countries.

State budget was fulfilled with a surplus of 0.2% to GDP, inflation did not exceed the projected limits.

Anti-crisis program in action

At the meeting the Cabinet of Ministers has extensively reviewed and deeply analyzed the outcomes of the ongoing and deepening structural reforms, modernization of the country’s economy, the anti-crisis measures for 2009-2012 and analyzed on its basis the efforts to ensure high and sustainable economic growth, improve its efficiency and macroeconomic balance.

The economic performance achieved during the first half confirm the correctness of the chosen strategy, recognized by authoritative international financial structures. Thus, a mission of the International Monetary Fund in late June this year highly assessed the anti-crisis measures and overall economic policy of the country.

“Thanks to the anti-crisis package of measures, the government’s program on industrial upgrading and infrastructural development and improvement of external economic environment in 2010 real GDP is expected to show 8% growth,” noted the Joint Statement of the IMF, the Government and the Central Bank of the Republic Uzbekistan.

Foreign experts emphasize that the government’s program to modernize the industry is rightly focused on the development of infrastructure, which will lay the foundation for more investment in Uzbekistan. It is recognized that in recent years the republic has considerably developed the financial sector.

At the cabinet meeting the ministers examined in detail the progress of the government’s measures to increase the capitalization of banks and accelerate their investment activity, attract long-term credit resources for stable financing of industries in accordance with the target of economic growth.

It was noted that as a result of taken efforts the volume of individual deposits increased by 41.8% in comparison with the beginning of the year, the resource base of banks has been considerably enhanced, which enabled a 30.3% growth in credit investments. During the reporting period, the volume of drawn investment loans increased 2.3-fold.

In their reports heads of commercial banks paid special attention to additional measures to further strengthen the resource base and enhance credit support for manufacturing enterprises, especially those carrying out investment projects to build new, modern production floors, modernize and technologically rebuild the enterprises, including bankrupt ones transferred to banks.

The country continues to expand an effective cashless payment system based on plastic cards. At the meeting of the government it was said that the further development of cashless payment system has increased the number of issued plastic cards and installed terminals against the same period in 2009 by 38.7% and 66.5%, respectively, the volume of cashless payments via plastic cards grew 2.7 times.

The Cabinet of Ministers fully considered the impact of measures taken to ensure stable operation, financial stability and competitiveness of basic industries, business associations and large enterprises. It was stressed that the continuation of an active investment policy had ensured 7.1 trillion soums of drawn investment, including foreign direct investment, which was 1.3 times more than in the first half of last year. Implementation of 108 projects of technical modernization of production had completed, and 529 production facilities were launched.

However, the government set specific objectives to ensure the unconditional implementation of the policy measures on modernization, technical upgrading and diversification of industries. Thus, ministries, agencies and relevant companies were instructed to develop a program of additional measures to reduce energy consumption and the introduction of energy saving systems in the economy sectors in the medium term.

Particular attention was paid to the implementation of the employment program for 2010. It was mentioned the targeted efforts in the first half of 2010 ensured the creation of more than 509,000 jobs, including more than 350,000 jobs in rural areas.

However, the heads of the Council of Ministers of Karakalpakstan, regional, district and city councils, ministries and agencies were charged with specific tasks to adopt additional measures aimed at further increasing the employment and incomes. It primarily envisaged creation of more jobs, their stable operation, as well as the employment of graduates of vocational colleges and academic lyceums, especially in rural areas.
 

Rapidly changing villages

Today everyone can meet in rural areas of the country modern residential quarters that literally grew up in the eyes, and fundamentally different from the old design. New homes are designed and constructed to meet modern standards of architecture. They have original architecture, and the same amenities met in urban areas. However, they are constructed to satisfy all the peculiarities of rural housing. Another benefit is that the new homes are built in conjunction with the necessary social infrastructure: outlets, medical institutions, educational institutions, sports facilities...

This promising project was initiated by President Islam Karimov last year with a national program of the Year of Rural Development and Improvement. In accordance with the program, the republic started an extensive work on the organization of the architectural planning of villages, improving the design of individual housing and social facilities in rural areas.

In accordance with a presidential resolution of January 21, 2009, for the integrated development of rural settlements and radical change in appearance of villages, a special Design and Research Institute Qishloqqurilishloyiha was established, which develops model projects of individual multi-room houses, public service facilities whose construction apply modern industrial technologies.

In addition, the institute has developed mechanisms of carrying out these projects. A decisive role here is played by an engineering company Qishloq Qurilish Invest providing complete construction of individual houses and social facilities and having its branches in every region of the country.

In addition, a special Joint-Stock Commercial Qishloq Qurilish Bank was established for financing the project and establishing a system of long-term concessional lending, which is successfully operating today.

The government’s meeting had extensively reviewed the progress of projects of social, transport, engineering and communication infrastructure, housing construction in rural areas based on typical design.

Currently, 223 tracts of land located in rural areas are allocated for construction of 6,800 homes of typical design, to be put into service in the third quarter of 2010; 213.9 km of external engineering and communications networks of new rural residential areas have been already completed. 116 new construction materials enterprises have been commissioned this year, including 25 brick plants.

President Islam Karimov during his visit to Andijon and Ferg’ona regions in May this year examined the first houses erected in accordance with model projects, and talked with local residents. Noting in his conversations with the owners of new homes the benefits of the new homes, he expressed his views on the further development of designs and give appropriate suggestions and recommendations.

The president shrewdly noticed that it was about the construction of good houses that will serve not only current but also future generations. “The most important thing is that people do not just want to live in a house for decades peacefully and quietly with their families, but leave it to future generations. We have no right to forget about it, about the bright faith of people in their own future, we must inspire confidence,” he stressed.

The program is carried on. In this regard Joint-Stock Commercial Qishloq Qurilish Bank, Qishloq Qurilish Invest jointly with the State Committee for Architecture and Construction, the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional administrations were instructed at the meeting of government to develop and submit to the Cabinet of Ministers a draft program of individual housing construction in rural areas of new model designs for 2011.

Path to the future

It is known that the key priority for the modern economy of Uzbekistan is to attract investments, particularly through the mobilization of domestic resources toward the implementation of accelerated modernization, technical and technological rearmament of the most important sectors of economy, rapid development of transport infrastructure and construction of social infrastructure. Among these priorities, the development of road-building industry became an important component of the national policy aimed at full integration of national transport networks to the global communication system.

To date, the country has made an enormous work on the development and modernization of general highways, improvement of road management, raising the capacity of road construction industry. And today, the transportation system of Uzbekistan is one of the most extensive in Central Asia.

Today a total of twenty international routes and directions run through the territory of Uzbekistan located in the heart of Central Asia. Such a favorable geographical position enables the country to receive significant revenues from the export of motor transport services, including the transit services for foreign cargoes through the roads network of the republic.

As part of this work the republic has initiated a large and ambitious project of construction of the Uzbek National Highway to run from north-west to south-eastern border of the country. This highway will connect the major cities of the republic, create strong incentives for socioeconomic development of regions and increase the volume of transit traffic through the territory of Uzbekistan 1.5-2 times. The road of 2755 km in length is to assume the main stream of international transit and intra-traffic traffic across the whole country, and eventually to come to China and the Caspian Sea ports.

The full functioning of this route would create thousands of jobs, increase investment rating of the republic, solve the problem of high tariffs on transportation, increase the availability of natural resources. The Uzbek National Highway will give impetus to the development of mutually beneficial trade relations with countries of the world, protect the economic interests of Uzbekistan.

At the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers it was reported that the program of construction and reconstruction of roads of international and national significance, including construction facilities of the Uzbek National Highway had already drawn 190.6 billion soums, or 1.8 times more than in the first half of 2009; roadside and service infrastructure is under construction and commissioning.

An important component of large-scale economic reforms in our country is creation of a network of logistics centers. They are, according to local and foreign analysts, will contribute to further boosting the economy of Uzbekistan, increase its efficiency and strengthen the position of the country in the global market.

In this regard, at a cabinet meeting it was reported that in the first half of 2010 the freight and passenger traffic through Navoi International Airport, which creates a free industrial economic zone, increased by 22%. In addition, another major logistics center was launched in Angren.

The successful implementation of such promising projects becomes a kind of powerful engine that drives the economy on a path of stable and rapid development, serves as a basis for future prosperity.

www.ut.uz
 

Uzbekistan was one of the first countries in the Commonwealth of Independent States to start introducing digital TV broadcasting.

The transfer to digital TV started in 2007 and should complete by 2015, according to the plan.
In 2008, test zones of digital broadcasting were set up in two cities of the country – Tashkent and Bukhara,

Currently, 25 channels are broadcast in the capital, and their number will soon increase to over 40.
This year, a digital transmitted will be supplied to Samarkand, while in Tashkent their number will be increased from two to four.

Next year, digital transmitters will be mounted in four other regions of Uzbekistan.

Tashkent-based company TelMax Electronics produces special TV tuners to receive digital channels.
To date, the company produced more than 5,000 of such set-top-boxes. With growth of demand for the receivers, a new company will be launched with foreign investments to manufacture 50,000 to 60,000 receivers per year.

www.uza.uz    
 

LThe grain growers of Uzbekistan harvested about 7 million tons of crop, which is more than planned. President Islam Karimov congratulated the country’s farmers with the high result.

Compared to last year, 286,000 tons of grain more was harvested, with average crop capacity on irrigated lands comprising 51 centners per hectare. The crop was also very rich on dry land.

According to the Agriculture and Water Management Ministry, the increase in grain harvest has been made possible thanks to selecting grain breeds depending on the soil and climatic conditions of the regions. Besides, the grain growing techniques have also been improving from year to year.

A special attention in the country is given to developing high-yielding and disease-resistant grain types. The Uzbek scientists have created more than 10 high-yielding grain varieties over the recent years, including Chillaki, Zamin-1, Bobur, Dustlik, Andijon-1, Andijon-2, Andijon-4 and others.

There is still a lot of grain in the country’s fields, and the farmers are making everything possible to collect it without losses.

www.uza.uz    
 

The State Joint Stock Company O'zbekenergo is effectively carrying out the reconstruction and upgrade of generating capacities and electric networks, and an integrated policy in the sector. The work is implemented in compliance with the Resolution On the program of measures for implementation of important projects on modernization, technical and technological extension of production for 2009-2014.

The company includes 54 enterprises and organizations. The installed capacity of country's power plants makes up 12.4 Kwt.

As SJSC O'zbekenergo informed, 37 investment projects costing over $3.5 billion favor balanced development of the sector. Their implementation will ensure the stable functioning of the energy system, secure supply of electricity to customers and increase of the exporting potential.

One of such big projects relates to the New-Angren HPP. They are carrying out works on changing over power-generating units №1-5 to the year-round coal firing due to the necessity of reduction of the natural gas consumption during the energy generation process. The reconstruction of the Angren opencast colliery is currently under way. Its upgrade will enable them to bring the coal extraction up to 6.4 million tones by 2012 (currently the colliery production capacity comprises 3.2 million tones of coal a year). Meanwhile, it is projected to increase the coal supply to the New-Angren HPP from 2.2 to 5.2 million tones that should result in the annual saving of 825 million cubic meters of natural gas.

It is projected to build a high-voltage line of 500Kw between Sirdaryo HPP and New-Angren HPP.

This extra connection between the biggest power plants will raise the operation security for the whole energy system of the country and enable them to overflow energy. The power transmission line 150 kilometer in length will significantly improve the energy supply to consumers living in the Farg'ona valley. O'zbekenergo is planning to carry out this project at the expense of its own financial sources.

There is another unique investment project aiming at the additional electricity production without fuel firing. It envisages the construction of cryogenic gas expansion generating machines in Talimarjan and Sirdaryo HPP that would use the expansion energy of the compressed natural gas with a total capacity of 20 megawatt. They will make it possible to produce the electric power by mean of the gas power in gas mains. The anticipated saving makes up 16 million cubic meters of natural gas. The project costs $20 million with the attraction of foreign investment.

Other investment projects are connected with the introduction of modern scientific products, such as combined-cycle plants (CCP) for upgrading the Tashkent, Navoi, and Talimarjan HPP. The CCP capacity in the Tashkent HPP makes up 370 megawatt. Such combined-cycle power plant for combined production of electric and heat energy producing 2.8 billion kilowatt-hours will ensure 175 million cubic meters of saved natural gas.

The similar energy efficiency and saving of the blue fuel is expected in the other power plants.
The upgrade of the Tashkent heat and power plant includes introduction of three gas-turbine engines (GTE) with 27 megawatt each, which give significant saving. The cost of one of such GTE is $52 million. The project is financed by the grant funds of New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization of Japan (NEDO).

The cost of one such gas turbines is $52 million, this project is backed through grant funds of Japan’s New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Construction of two other gas-turbine plants as part of the distribution of the model NEDO project is to be funded through soft loan of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The industry pays attention to energy-saving technologies. It began a phased introduction of an automated accounting and of electrical energy consumption control systems. Introduction of automated metering system at enterprises, economic entities and among households allow reduction of technological losses, a more accurate estimation of the whole chain of power delivery.

The optimum operation mode of the system will improve the rational use of energy resources.

Implementation of this project is scheduled for one year which will cost $34.8 million. Experts believe the innovation can save 2.75 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year and reduce annually up to 1.9 million tons of greenhouse gases. Cost of energy saved will be about $125 million a year.

The program is to be funded by O'zbekenergo, Reconstruction and Development Fund of Uzbekistan, as well as foreign investments and loans. The introduction of automated metering system is the first stage of the program of modernization of the electricity metering system, worth about $360 million.

Implementation of these and other investment projects will undoubtedly increase the effectiveness, reliability and quality of power supply to businesses and population.
 

www.ut.uz
 

In the first half of the year the total capital of banks of Uzbekistan reached 3.374 trillion soums, having risen 1.5 times as compared with the same period last year (2.335 trillion soums).

Bank assets as of July 1 totaled 19.969 trillion soum, which was 34% more than in late June last year (14.865 trillion soums).

These data were announced at the enlarged meeting of the Board of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan on the progress of the banking system in the first half of 2010.

According to the press service of the Central Bank, the monetary policy of the Central Bank in the first half of this year was aimed at the achievement of projected macroeconomic rates, as well as achieving the objectives of the anti-crisis program for 2009-2012.

To avoid the influence of monetary factors on inflation and basing on the target parameters of the money supply the Central Bank refinancing rate was maintained unchanged at 14% a year. This allowed to keep inflation below the forecast rates.

The volume of loans the commercial banks directed toward basic sectors of the economy in January-June exceeded 11 trillion soums. The share of credit resources allocated for investment purposes made almost 79%.

As part of the anti-crisis program commercial banks restored full production at 122 out of 143 bankrupt enterprises taken to the balance of banks. Fifty five of these companies were sold to strategic investors.

By means of 102 billion soums of bank investment these businesses have produced 260.6 billion soums worth of goods, of which $30.8 million of goods were exported, and created over 20,000 jobs.

The volume of credits issued by banks to private entrepreneurs and small businesses grew 1.5 times against the same period last year (936 million soums) and reached 1.4 trillion soums. Thanks to the loans allocated to the sector, more than 135,000 people were provided with constant jobs.

The growth of household savings in banks as of July 1 totaled 3.9 trillion soum that is 78% more than that registered in the first half of 2009 (2.1 trillion soums). As the press office of the Central Bank informed, this was possible due to stimulating measures for attracting free funds of population and economic entities and attractive types of deposits.

Number of plastic cards in circulation in the first half amounted to more than 7 million pieces, while the number of payment terminals installed in trade and service points exceeded
61,000. The volume of transactions made using plastic cards rose more than twice to $2.7 trillion soums against 1.1 trillion soums in the first half of last year.
 

www.ut.uz
 

The State Personalization Center under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan signed a contract with Oberthur Technologies S.A Company (France) to the amount of over 75,107 million euro within the closed tender on the project Establishment of Biometric Passport System in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Loan funds of the Societe Generate bank of France will be drawn for the financing. They will be refinanced through the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Financial costs and loan servicing expenditures for the investment period will be defrayed at the expense of the country’s state budget.

The French company will be released of the value-added tax for its works and services during the project implementation. Foreign subcontractors and advisers will be released from the legal entity income tax paid on the income received both from the payment source and fixed institution.

Besides, equipment and special hardware including components, consumables and spare parts supplied within the project were released from customs payments.

The Biometric passport system should be introduced in the country by 1 January, 2011.

The first stage envisages changing passports in officers working in ministries, governmental bodies, individuals going or staying abroad as well as in people reaching a certain age. All Uzbek citizens will receive biometric passports in the course of the second stage in 2012-2016.
 

www.ut.uz    
 

The national team of Uzbekistan returned from Astana, Kazakhstan, where they attended the 51st International Competition in Mathematics with best results ever for the whole history of the country’s participation in this prestigious intellectual youths’ competition. The collection of trophies includes one bronze and four silver medals and the honorable mention diploma.

Names of students from the academic lyceum №1 under the Samarqand Economy and Service Institute Zafar Abdurakhimov, Ibrohimbek Akromov, Zarif Ibrohimov and Umida Juraeva were among the silver medal winners announced in the closing ceremony of the competition. Azizkhon Nazarov, student of the specialized school № 52 of Qorako’l district of Bukhoro region was announced among the bronze medal winners.

The honorable mention diploma was presented to Jasurbek Bakhromov, student of the professional college for light industry from Boyovut district of Sirdaryo region. The victory came hard since 517 strongest young mathematicians from 96 countries took part in the competition.

The next success of Uzbek students in the international competition was commented by the chief specialist of the Center for Secondary Special and Professional Education Murat Shorakhimov: “This is the result of a good training and goal-mindedness of all participants of the national team. There is a significant merit of pedagogical teams of our schools, pedagogical colleges and academic lyceums, and certainly good training of students before the competition.

We attracted young teachers to this activity who won high awards in international competitions while being students.”

The World Competition in Mathematics is the fourth international competition with participation of the national team of Uzbekistan. our students worthily represented their country in the Jautikov’s International Competition in Mathematics and Physics, Mendeleev’s International Competition in Chemistry and World Competition in Biology.
 

www.ut.uz
 

Nearly five hundred young talents are returning these days from Kelajak Ovozi (Voice of the Future) summer training camps in Qashqadaryo region. This four-year old project is designed to support gifted and active youngsters, winners of various contests, academic fairs, providing them with opportunity to spend their summer vacations in exciting, picturesque training campgrounds of Uzbekistan.

The project goes hand in hand with the national program Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation. It is supported by the Fund Forum, Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, Kelajak Ovozi Center of Youth Initiatives, Kamolot Youth Social Movement, and other organizations.

Kelajak Ovozi summer training camp has become one of the most promising and awe-inspiring projects of the Center of Youth Initiatives with its popularity growing terrifically among the brightest of Uzbekistan’s students.

Two weeks that these young people were pretty happy to spend at the campground, they say, have proved rather amusing yet rewarding. The program they were offered was quite event intensive; it comprised three major elements: academic training and practice, cultural events, and sports. While the last year’s curriculum dealt with business models to have the youth learn secrets of running business amid the global economic recession, this time it has been even more appealing and motivating: the attendees enquired into workings of international cooperation, social, educational, cultural and business ties.

Young people attended training courses on psychology, business, negotiation practice, mutual communication and public speaking, modern information and communication technologies, fundamentals of contemporary journalism, management and other subjects. Those who is interested in science, art and culture were also able to enrich their knowledge.

“I am so glad to have the opportunity come to the camp,” said Dilfuza Otamuradova, a student from Khorazm region, Kelazhak Ovozi activist. “The studies here are largely different from the classes at the institute. Training seminars organized in form of interactive games have allowed us to dive deeper into the topic we study and significantly broaden our outlook.”

Conferences, training seminars, online courses, youth forums were devoted to various issues. Young people especially loved training courses on financial education during which they learned various financial aspects. Students solved various situational tasks based on the “Plan Your Future” program developed by experts of international organization Microfinance Center.

This was yet another contribution to raising awareness among young people of Uzbekistan in this area, encouraging them to actively use financial services and improve the welfare of their families in the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation.

“It was my third visit here,” said Ilkhom Khafizov, a 4-year student of Namangan State University, winner of Fund Forum’s educational grant. “During training seminars, interactive games we get a lot of new information. In the morning we had training seminars, and then after a rest we had quizzes and sport games. And in the evening we had interesting cultural programs. In short, every day there was rich in events and fascinating.”

Boys and girls were very excited about a social action ‘We are for a healthy lifestyle’. This project was aimed at involving them into the ‘Healthy Youth’ movement through training, open discussions, meetings with health professionals, consultations and the like.

As part of the camp agenda, which, by the way, is developed each year young people themselves, activists of the Youth Initiatives Center participated in competitions and presentations, drama performances, meetings with celebrities, fashion shows. They also held Champions League, Miss Megacity competition, quiz games, KVN and others.

“Two years ago we created a nonprofessional music group and now in this camp we were able to give a concert,” says Yaroslav Nikitin, winner of Fund Forum’s educational grant, an activist of the Youth Initiatives Center, a member of Kelajak Ovozi music band. “Our group has been in Geneva (Switzerland), at a festival ‘Tashkent: Kecha va Bugun’ (Tashkent: Yesterday and Today). Today, we are working hard and fruitfully, and this camp inspires us with new musical ideas. Our friends from different regions help us very much, and every year we find many new friends.

Participants have really loved the camp. Kelajak Ovozi Press Center published daily wall newspaper about the events in the camp, while young journalists of youth television studios from all regions of the country covered the events in their TV news reports. Young TV reporters, like other journalists have continued to learn new techniques and methods of work at the daily master classes and seminars conducted by professionals from Yoshlar TV channel and UzNTT television network.

Public Fund for Support and Development of Independent Print Mass Media and News Agencies of Uzbekistan held a competition for the best news, best reporting and best interview and awarded diplomas and digital cameras to the winners, while 50 other young members of the Kelajak Press received gifts. However no one had been left without gifts.

The organizers of the camp also presented all regional Kelajak Ovozi centers with computers and Kelajak Ovozi television studios and Kelajak Lingvo Project with TV sets. Other active participants of the camp also received gifts.

“Despite the fact that I have recently joined the Kelajak Ovozi center, I have had already a lot of positive impressions,” said Bekhzod Iminov, winner of the first national discussion forum and Kelajak Ovozi member. “They are associated primarily with a wonderful organization and a unique opportunity provided to us to enrich our theoretical knowledge and practical skills. I have always admired my peers, their commitment, desire to express themselves, their creativity, ability to work and relax.”

Undoubtedly, the camp has not only provided the youth with a good deal of useful information, but also resulted in a number of new projects developed by representatives of different regions in close collaboration. Such communication unites them, drives their joint work to a brand new level.
 

www.ut.uz    
 

Center for Secondary Special and Professional Education purchases learning facilities and stock worth 9.5 billion soums in total this year to equip colleges and lyceums.

“This equipment will be distributed among 196 professional colleges and 18 academic lyceums that have been built and reconstructed in 2009-2010. Equipments and facilities will be delivered to the destination by the beginning of the coming academic year,” informed Sodiq Tojiyev, chief of the material, technical and methodological supply department of the Center for Secondary Special and Professional Education.

The equipment comprises full sets for chemistry, physics, biology, informatics and pre-conscription training rooms. The list also includes computing facilities for information resource centers and sports equipment.

Training shops will be additionally equipped. Each of 73 colleges providing driving classes will receive Matiz and Damas cars. 14 colleges specializing in agriculture will be supplied with tractors and the utility.

“Almost all facilities for education institutions are of home manufacture,” emphasized Sodiq Tojiev. Samarqand El-Holding, Andijon machine building plant GM-Uzbekistan, Tashkent Tractor Plant as well as a group of sports equipment producers are the key suppliers.

www.ut.uz
 

The Government of Japan has allocated a grant of approximately US$2.6 million to fund training of Uzbekistan’s specialists in Japan.

Uzbekistan and Japan signed the exchange notes under the program of the Japanese Government on the project “Provision of scholarships for training” (Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarships).

A signing ceremony, which took place in the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan Tsutomu Hiraoka.

We should recall that the training scholarships project has been conducted by the government of Japan since 1999 with the aim of training qualified personnel.

This signing of the exchange notes is the eleventh and the total amount allocated to this time is 233 million yen (approximately $2.6 million). In total, since 1999 the government of Japan has been allocated about $32.8 million to implement the project, including the latest grant.

During the signing ceremony of exchange of notes Tsutomu Hiraoka said: “the training scholarships project contributes not only to the economic growth in Uzbekistan, but also helps to strengthen the bilateral friendly relations. I hope that the students selected under the program, starting from their return to homeland, will contribute to the future of Uzbekistan, as well as scholars of Japan will make utmost efforts to enhance close contact between the two peoples.”

Let us recall that so far 191 citizen of the Republic of Uzbekistan were trained in the Masters at the Japanese universities.

At the beginning of next month, 11th internship will start in Japan as part of the project, and it will be attended by 15 citizens of Uzbekistan. In this regard, the Japanese diplomat expressed hope that this program will provide social and economic development of Uzbekistan and will become a bridge between the Uzbek and Japanese peoples.

www.ut.uz
 

Information and education portal of the Ministry of Public Education www.eduportal.uz is getting enriched with various learning aids. Kozim G’ofurov, first deputy director of the Republican Center for General Education Multimedia Programs Development told UT correspondent about prospects of the portal’s development.

Our portal was the first Internet resource to provide users with the opportunity of free and unlimited access to national multimedia software for schoolchildren. The Electronic Textbooks section will have over 30 new editions soon. Users will also enjoy the news in the Laboratory Works section. The old software will be changed by the latest ones.

Unlike the present software, giving the user the only opportunity of watching the course of a laboratory work, the innovations will give a chance of participating in the course of a virtual laboratory work. New software was designed for interactive action with a user; therefore the process will go depending on the data specified by the user.

We are currently continuing updating the sections Distance Education on the base of so-called E-Learning. Those sections will provide new training courses this year, that will be conducted by invited leading local teachers. The software will help students to consolidate their school knowledge and learn some additional information. Besides, it is planned to bring more facilities of the portal to assist teachers with their distance advanced training.

We hope to arrange the next extramural subject competition for schoolchildren online. This prestigious competition has been held using Internet technologies for the last two years. The participants find information and subject tasks in the www.eduportal.uz. Then they send jury their solutions by the electronic mail. Now we are going to organize it in a way that participants will receive tasks and the tasks will be examined in the real time. At the appointed time students will receive their tasks online and will receive back the results of their solutions as they send them some minutes later.

Establishment and development of the electronic school in Uzbekistan is another promising project. Previously we had to postpone this pilot project since the foreign software did not meet our conditions in full. Now we are elaborating the concept on the establishment of the electronic school basing on the national software that we have to design. This project will empower our teachers to direct an electronic class register, conduct parents’ meetings, it will enable students to get their home tasks and track on the timetable, and help parents to monitor the advancement of their children.”

www.ut.uz
 

 

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with United States Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg, at Oqsaroy July 17. Welcoming the guest, the head of our state expressed satisfaction with the current state and positive dynamics of bilateral relations developing in the spirit of partnership and mutual understanding. Today, political, trade and economic, cultural, educational and many other areas are defined as priority tracks in Uzbek-American relations.

A good illustration to this has been the effect of a round table held recently in Washington, DC, that was attended by representatives of leading US business circles willing to explore investment opportunities in our republic, long-term projects and the Free Industrial and Economic Zone in Navoi being successfully built in our country.
 

The two nations effectively cooperate to bolster regional security and stability in Central Asia that includes working out joint measures to counter transnational threats and challenges. In this context, as the guest suggested, crucial have been Uzbekistan’s initiatives on resolving the conflict in Afghanistan by non-military means and socio-economic reconstruction of that country.   Significant amounts of humanitarian goods and non-military cargo are delivered to Afghanistan through the territory of our republic.

In addition, Uzbekistan provides practical assistance to its southern neighbor by supplying it with electricity, construction materials and soft commodities. Furthermore, our country participates in building up Afghanistan’s transport infrastructure.

During the meeting at Oqsaroy, James Steinberg expressed sincere gratitude to President Karimov for the warm welcome, and confirmed the willingness of the United States to consolidate and boost the mutually beneficial Uzbek-American cooperation. The senior US diplomat stressed the constructive nature of our nation’s policy aimed at maintaining and fostering peace in the region.

Deputy Secretary of State appreciated in particular Uzbekistan’s balanced and reasonable stance toward the recent events in Kyrgyzstan with our government providing a wide-scale and comprehensive aid to the victims and refugees fled from southern regions of that country.

Prospects of enhancing the bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues and other topics of common interest have also been discussed at the event.

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President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with Vice Chancellor of Federal Republic of Germany, Minister of Foreign Affairs Guido Westerwelle, on July 15 at Oqsaroy. Welcoming the guest, the head of our state underscored the high level of mutual understanding and confidence reached between the two nations that is confirmed by the persistent progress in Uzbek-German cooperation in many spheres. Germany is one of the key political, economic and trade partners of our country in Western Europe. Uzbekistan and the Federal Republic cooperate closely in bolstering regional security and stability in Central Asia.

Advancing relations between the two nations has also facilitated enhancing the mutually beneficial cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union.
 

In Uzbekistan, major investment projects are implemented in various sectors of economy with the participation of German banks.   Higher education and research institutions of the two countries have built equally practical ties.   Within these relations, joint research projects have been conducted in sophisticated dimensions of industrial development, agriculture, efficient use of natural resources.

During the meeting at Oqsaroy, Guido Westerwelle expressed his sincere gratitude to the head of our state for the warm welcome and reiterated Germany’s willingness to boost its comprehensive interactions with Uzbekistan in many directions.

According to the Vice Chancellor, our country has been making a remarkable input into securing peace and stability in the region by consistently advocating, among other things, to address the situation in Afghanistan with non-military means. In addition, the German foreign minister gave his high appraisal of the reasonable and constructive stance of the Republic of Uzbekistan with regard to the recent events in Kyrgyzstan.

Further development of bilateral cooperation and other topics of common interest have also been discussed at the event.

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Last week, a delegation of Latvia headed by that country’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Aivis Ronis, on a working visit in Uzbekistan, held talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

During the talks, the sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects of the Uzbek-Latvian relations in political, trade and economic spheres, as well as cooperation within the European Union.

During the meeting, a special attention was paid to current issues of regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the situation in Afghanistan. In this context, the increasing relevance of the initiative of President Islam Karimov in the Contact Group “6+3” was noted providing for the establishment of peace and stability in the country.

They also drew attention to the recent tragic events in southern Kyrgyzstan. The Latvian side expressed its appreciation of the Government of Uzbekistan which provided necessary assistance to the victims and refugees crossing the Uzbek-Kyrgyz border.

During the talks, further strengthening of the inter-parliamentary ties between the two countries was also agreed.

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A delegation from Japan headed by President of the Japanese Organization for External Technical Assistance in medical equipment OMETA Kenichi Matsumoto paid a business visit to our country.

Members of the Japanese delegation held talks in ministries and agencies of Uzbekistan, had visited the Navoi Free Industrial Economic zone.

The head of the Japanese delegation noted, “We would like to look more closely into the possibilities of FIEZ Navoi, so that in the future to open a joint venture for production of medical equipment and pharmaceutical products.”

As a first stage “the organization for External Technical Assistance in medical equipment OMETA is going to create a production of two types of medical equipment: the first will help various cancer researches and the second - to help establish an accurate control of infectious diseases,”Kenichi Matsumoto explained.

In the framework of the visit the Japanese delegation visited Bukhoro, where they were introduced to the ancient monuments of architecture. Following the visit, the head of the delegation said: “The Uzbek citizens are carefully refer to the monuments of architecture.

I am very pleased to notice that in the culture of the Uzbek and Japanese peoples there is much in common. We will bring to the Japanese as much information about the rich heritage that has Uzbekistan as possible. I am confident that with the mutual desire traditional friendly relations between Uzbekistan and Japan will continue to develop for the benefit of our peoples.”

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An Uzbek-American business forum took place in Washington, DC, where the attendees discussed prospects for mutually beneficial cooperation in various areas.

Ilhom Nematov, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to the United States, and Shavkat Tulyaganov, Deputy Minister for Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade, attended the event from the Uzbek side while the United States was represented by Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Robert Blake, Chairman of US-Uzbek Trade Chamber Harry Eustace and others.

Members of the business forum exchanged views on furthering trade and economic cooperation between the two countries in various fields, including oil and gas, power, chemical, automotive, pharmaceutical, construction and other industries. A particular attention was paid to attracting investments of US companies to Navoi free industrial and economic zone.

In this regard, Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake said that “Uzbekistan has successfully coped with the impact of global economic crisis and continued to display a steady growth. Since Uzbekistan became independence American companies have invested about 500 million dollars in the country, and I am confident that this figure can be increased for sure.

During the first Uzbek-US annual consultations that took place in December 2009, enhancement of trade and investment cooperation between the two nations was defined as a priority issue.

“Throughout this time Uzbekistan has proved that it is open for business. This year the ADB Annual Meeting and a meeting of the Working Group on the Framework Agreement on trade and investment between the United States and Central Asia were held in Uzbekistan.

These activities have presented Uzbekistan with a good opportunity to demonstrate the capacities of both the country and the entire region”, Robert Blake added.

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In recent years, Aral Sea and adjacent southern territory attracts an increased interest as a promising area for prospecting new deposits of hydrocarbons. Ustyurt Plateau, including the Aral Sea, and adjacent Karakum and Kizilkum deserts, historically treated as a once existed vast water body stretched from the Caucasus in the west to the Tian Shan in the east. Eastern Ustyurt, located between the oil and gas regions – Emba, South Mangishlak, Bukhoro, Khiva – considered by many scientists and researchers as a highly promising area for oil and gas production.

The territory of Eastern Ustyurt was explored for oil and gas by all geological and geophysical methods (geological mapping, seismic work, drilling of deep boreholes), which confirmed the predictions.

In conversation with the UT correspondent, Nodir Mukhitdinov, deputy director of the Oil and Gas Geology and Exploration Institute, said: “Currently, the geological study of the Uzbek part of Aral Sea area is conducted in accordance with the decree of the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan ‘On the geological study of the Uzbek part of Aral Sea and the subsequent development of newly discovered fields in terms of the Product Sharing Agreement’ by a consortium of investors of five major companies: Uzbekneftegaz (Uzbekistan) Petronas Carigali (Malaysia), CNPC (China), KNOS (Korea) and Lukoil (Russia).”

Since 2007, the waters of Aral Sea were explored by 2D seismic surveys using modern geophysical equipment. The opportunities for successful marine seismic surveys in these areas are especially worthy of note.

As a result of geophysical surveys and processing of data through the latest software systems the prospectors were able to identify four promising fields in Jurassic deposits and prepare them for deep drilling: West Aral, Umid, Aktepa and Shagala. In addition, in the eastern and western parts of the investigated areas prospectors discovered Kinderli, Central Aral structure and a number of other objects.

From the abovementioned promising sites for exploration drilling investors have chosen the Western Aral. As a result of drilling and testing of the Jurassic deposits prospectors got commercial influx of gas and condensate, and also opened a new gas condensate field. This has proved high potential of the Uzbek part of Aral Sea area in the discovery of new reserves of hydrocarbons and confirmed the forecasts of Uzbek geologists.

“We have scheduled for 2010 the second exploration well in Shagala area. If the well yields the produce from the Cretaceous, Jurassic, and possibly Paleozoic sediments, we will open a new line of oil and gas prospecting in the eastern part of the Aral Sea,” noted N. Mukhitdinov.

Currently, investors are considering options of drilling new exploration wells in Aktepa and Umid, as well as accelerating the exploration for deposits in western Aral Sea with the options of natural gas production. The increased interest of domestic and foreign companies in this region can be associated to its high oil and gas prospects and sufficient infrastructure, availability of existing natural-gas pipelines and transport links.

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Secondary special and professional education institutions in Navoi region will partake in deciding upon the provision of plants in free industrial-economic zone with qualified staff. Approximately 1,000 professional colleges’ graduates will be employed by those plants this year.   In addition, taking into account the demand in specialists in currently building enterprises, they are now considering the issue of changing the specialty of one college in Navoi town and three colleges in Karmana district.

The UT correspondent acquainted with the activity of the educational institutions of the secondary special and professional education system in the region.
 

“47 professional colleges and four academic lyceums are currently functioning in Navoi region,” instructed Serikbay Aldamuradov, head of the regional administration of Center for Secondary Special and Professional Education. “Comprehensive improvement of quality of education, training of highly qualified and requisite specialists is the key goal of our work.”

Graduates of colleges and lyceums have been recently presented diplomas. How is the process of their employment going?

“A total of 15,300 young people have graduated from colleges and lyceums this year. 1,364 of them are academic lyceums’ graduates who are going to enter higher educational institutions. The rest are professional colleges’ graduates. Each of them will be employed according to the contract between his/her parents and the educational institution with potential employer. Job fairs arranged by education institutions together with employers assisted formation of such contracts.

About 1,000 of our graduates are being employed by plants, opening in the Navoi free industrial-economic zone this year. I should note that Navoi Mining and Smelting Plant annually provides all graduates of Navoi and Uchquduq Mining Professional Colleges and Zarafshon Industrial College with job places in its enterprises.

Navoi region has a very big employment potential in general. Meanwhile, complications happen. This year, for example, it occurred that medical colleges graduated more specialists than medical institutions could actually employ. However, we knew about the situation long before the end of the academic year, so we were getting ready to solve it. We provided students with additional knowledge so that they could find a job in a pharmaceutical plant and hygienic means plant, which will open the Navoi free industrial-economic zone this year.”

Let’s talk about development prospects. 51 secondary special education institutions are functioning in the region today. Do they project building the new ones? What are the plans on the infrastructure development in education institutions?

“Navoi region was one of the first transferred to the 12-year education. Our educational capacity is enough to provide all school leavers of the region, as well as some from the other regions, with the secondary special and professional education. With the purpose of arranging additional amenities for citizens of densely populated districts we are planning to build two more professional colleges in Khatirchi district, one in Novbahor and one in Kanimekh districts. Building of nine professional colleges and academic lyceums in Khatirchi, Nurota, Karmana, Kanimekh, Tamdin, Uchquduq districts and Navoi town is planned for 2012-2013 years. They will be built for youngsters coming to study from remote settlements.”

How do you work on raising quality of the training process?

“First of all we exchange experience between colleges and lyceums. Some of them have over ten years of experience, and some of them are quite new, with 3-4 years of working experience. As a rule the indicators of the “elder” colleges are much higher than those of the younger ones.

Therefore we arrange favorable conditions for their experience exchange in all activities: organization of the training process, establishment of cooperation with higher education institutions and potential employers, organization of the circle activity and cultural events. This really works!”

Applying every opportunity to get job

“College graduates can be well competitive with the skilled specialists,” noted Ismoil Ortiqov, director of the Navoi Industrial Economic College, reasoning of the recruitment competition that will challenge young graduates in the newly opening enterprise. “Our professional college basically trains specialists for chemical industry. From my experience I can say that our graduates are in demand.

We are confident in our graduates since they go to an employer with solid theory and practical skills. They underwent practical training in the workshops of a college or lyceum, and then in manufacture during pregraduation training. So they know their professional duties and working conditions very well.

I would say that our graduates even possess an advantage over their competitors – skilled specialists in a process of employment. They were trained to work with the equipment of different generations. Along with that, young people are informed about the production development tendencies since they were guided by key specialists. The core advantage of our graduates is their youth, goal-mindedness, readiness to take up higher achievements.”

Extra effective learning

“Theory combined with practical training on the workplace is recognized the most effective way of training specialists. This form of education is broadly applied in foreign countries,” noted Karim Zainutdinov, deputy director of Navoi Mining Professional College. “This education system was applied in Uzbekistan as well, including our college, oriented to training specialists for the Navoi Mining and Smelting Plant.

“A student attends practical training right after his theory is over. Our college disposes 12 workshops in certain directions. All of them are equipped with production facilities similar to those used in enterprises. There is a fitting shop, for instance. Here students perfect their skills, working on the state-of-the-art machines, including those with program control.

We place much emphasis on circles. Students can advance their skills on the topic in circles that function in our workshops in the after-study hours. Young people master complicated operation in the process of creative work making various details or some compound constructions. Later on they apply such skills in the process of fulfilling practical production tasks.

Participation of production masters in the training process positively influences on the quality of training. Specialists from the enterprises of the Navoi Mining and Smelting Plant closely cooperate with our college: they conduct practical training lessons, partake in defending graduation works.

Robust knowledge is imperative

“This year our lyceum turns four and we have two graduations,” tells Ra’no Khaitova, a director of academic lyceum № 2 under the Navoi State Mining Institute about her lyceum. “Now we are waiting for the results of preliminary examinations to higher educational institutions. Then, we are to know who of our graduates becomes student. We hope they will show high results. This year, our students have already demonstrated themselves worthily. Six of our students took part in the republican subject competition among professional colleges, academic lyceums and comprehensive schools.

In general, our lyceum specially treats Olympiads: tutors and students are united under one determination - every student should strive for a victory in these prestigious intellectual competitions, while tutors should assist them in reaching their goals. Thus, we perfect our learning process, raise its quality. The growth of the education process quality favors raising the level of students’ knowledge, which means that our students have more chances to enter higher educational institutions.

Our academic lyceum has all conditions for organization of high-level education process: the standard model building equipped with modern laboratories for physics, chemistry and biology. We also have special language laboratories to study languages. Besides, we have the education to follow its example. It is the academic lyceum under the Navoi State Pedagogical Institute. They managed to train two winners of international competitions: in chemistry and mathematics.

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The organization system of the education process in academic lyceums and professional colleges will be changed in 2010-2011 academic year in Uzbekistan.

The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan approved a complex of measures aimed at the improvement of the organization system of the education process in academic lyceums and professional colleges.

32 pilot affiliates will be established starting from 2010-2011 academic years on the basis of 14 leading professional colleges with the developed methodological, material and technical base, highly qualified teachers and practical training masters. They will be opened under core professional colleges in remote districts.

Besides, 20 professional colleges throughout the republic will change the specialty in compliance with the job market requirements.

Three medical colleges will be transformed into academic lyceums under the higher medical education institutions of the country. 78 medical colleges will be assigned to six higher medical education institutions.

Directors, deputy directors on educational, spiritual-enlightenment activity and production training, methodologists, practical training masters from core professional colleges and teachers will get a monthly bonus amounting 20% of the basic rate starting from 1 September, 2010.

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UN country team in Uzbekistan highly evaluates the effective efforts of Uzbekistan in response to the humanitarian crisis, which became a result of the violence in Kyrgyzstan in June and led to mass flow of refugees to eastern regions of Uzbekistan, UN Resident Coordinator Anita Nirody said.

In her letter to President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, Anita Nirody expressed deep gratitude to the head of the state and the country’s government for close, effective and timely interaction with the United Nations agencies, which had been provided with immediate access to refugee camps created on the territory of Uzbekistan after the first wave of disorder in Kyrgyzstan.

Upon the invitation of the government of Uzbekistan, the UN Resident Coordinator, as well as representatives of the UNICEF and the WHO that visited refugee camps and received first-hand information on their state, were amazed by the high level of selflessness and measures undertaken by the leadership of Uzbekistan, Anita Nirody said in her letter.

Following consultations with the government of Uzbekistan, United Nations agencies, including UNHCR, UNICEF, World Food Program, UN OCHA, World Health Organization, UNFPA and others sent employees and humanitarian aid, which included blankets, foodstuffs, water, sanitary and hygienic items, as well as first medical aid kits for refugees.

“After the return of refugees in the end of June, the humanitarian aid of the United Nations, which was delivered to Uzbekistan, was forwarded to the neighboring Kyrgyzstan. In this regard, we express our special gratitude to the government of Uzbekistan for the support of our activities,” Anita Nirody said.

Expressing hope for further interaction, UN Resident Coordinator said she believed joint efforts to solve the refugee situation would help to further strengthen cooperation between the United Nations and the government of Uzbekistan.

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President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received credentials from newly appointed Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia, Arab Republic of Egypt and the French Republic – Mohamad Asruhin, Muhammad Abdulqadir al-Hashshab and François Gauthier, respectively.

Accepting the credentials, the head of state congratulated the high-ranking diplomats on their appointment to the prominent and honorable post, wished best of luck in the successful implementation of their missions. Islam Karimov also underscored the progress in the rewarding mutual relations between our republic and these nations.

Indonesia was among the first to have President Karimov visit the country in the wake of Uzbekistan’s independence. Bilateral relations built back then on mutual confidence, respect and interest, have been consistently expanding today in many areas.

The Uzbek-Indonesian cooperation has been distinct with similarity of views on a number of political issues and with a mutually beneficial economic partnership. Delegations at various levels and business forums have regularly been exchanged. Foreign ministries of the two nations have been accustomed at holding consultations on pressing issues of modern development.

“Uzbekistan is a country with a robust and a persistently developing economy”, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Indonesia Mohamad Asruhin said. “An encouraging investment climate, preferences and privileges for doing business created in your country attract foreign business circles to Uzbekistan. In this respect, I would like to place a particular weight on working out and implementing major investment projects between our nations”.

Relations between Uzbekistan and Egypt have been dynamic in trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres, and also within international and regional institutions like the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC). Numerous joint projects are being developed effectively, contributing to the enhancement of bilateral investment cooperation and regular contacts among business people.

Uzbekistan is rightly considered a historic center of culture and statehood in Maverannahr, while Egypt is regarded so in the Middle East. The outstanding thinkers of our land made a great input into the development of world civilization and culture.

Our great ancestor Ahmad al-Farghoniy invented a device to measure the water level in the Nile that testifies to the highest extent of scientific and cultural progress of our peoples. The Egyptians still use that edifice.

During President Islam Karimov’s state visit to the Arab Republic of Egypt in 2007, a monument to Ahmad al-Farghoniy was opened beside the Miqyosi Nile complex, with a deep symbolic meaning.

Egypt’s Ambassador Muhammad Abdulqadir al-Hashshab gave his high appraisal of the level and current state of Uzbek-Egyptian relations and expressed interest in fostering bilateral cooperation in various sectors of economy.

“The relations between our peoples in many areas have rather deep historical roots. We are willing to do our best to put the goals and tasks outlined in bilateral documents into practice”, the Egyptian ambassador pointed out.

Uzbekistan has also been effectively developing cooperation with the French Republic. Bilateral ties have been set in motion to boost mutual interaction. In particular, a regular session of Uzbek-French intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation was held July 1. Our countries have mutually employed a most favorable nation regime in the economic sphere.

The volume of trade turnover between Uzbekistan and France amounted to 189.6 million US dollars in 2009. Fifteen joint ventures are created in our country with the participation of French investors.

The volume of French capital in the Uzbek economy has been increasing every year. It is designed to attract more than 600 firms and associations in industrial production, agriculture, energy, infrastructure, tourism, hotel business, transport, healthcare and other spheres.

“Cooperation between Uzbekistan and France in trade-economic and investment areas has an enormous potential,” Ambassador François Gauthier said. “The high intellectual capacities of Uzbek people serve to further and bolster our mutual relations in many dimensions. I intend to keep placing a special emphasis on these issues during my mission.”

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The Cabinet of Ministers’ Complex for education, healthcare, social protection, information systems and telecommunications held a session to consider the results of the sector’s development in the first half of 2010.

In the reporting period, the complex produced goods and provided services worth UZS 1.2 trillion, which is 14.3% more than in the same period last year.

The enterprises of the sector provided paid services to the population for UZS 602.3 billion, 6.5% up from last year.

USD 152.1 million of foreign investments was acquired on investment projects, 76.3% more from the forecast.

The session participants considered issues of increasing the efficiency of use of children’s sports objects, publication of textbooks for 2010-2011 academic year, implementation of other tasks defined in the state program “Year of harmoniously developed generation”.

The complex considered introduction of information and communication technologies in the ministries an departments, local authorities, expansion of broadband telecommunication network and use of internet.

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Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Richard Norland has stressed a steady expansion of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United States in all key aspects covering political, security, economic and universal human issues. Speaking at an official reception in honor of America’s Independence Day, Ambassador Norland said that the United States regards Uzbekistan’s own path forward with due respect. “We believe we have as much to learn as to share our experience through our interaction with the government and people of Uzbekistan.   “Over the years of cooperation, our countries have learned lessons from the past to help build a better understanding and enduring partnership. We have made a real progress in all aspects. No topic is off the limits today for a candid discussion based on mutual respect.

Addressing the situation in Afghanistan, the US chief of mission put thus, “The United States highly values its ability to consult with Uzbekistan and cooperate in the name of providing for peace and stability in the troubled land right across the border.

“Recent developments in Kyrgyzstan demonstrated once again how fragile peace and security may be. Uzbekistan has played a significant role in keeping the conflict from escalating, and its handling of the refugee crisis helped save many lives,” Norland added.

Further on, the top US diplomat in this country suggested that this year’s celebration of Independence Day is special for him because he is leaving Uzbekistan this summer following the three years in Tashkent as ambassador to be assigned a new position at US State Department.

In this regard, Richard Norland implied that he and his wife take pride in referring to themselves as friends of the Uzbek people. “This incredibly industrious, gifted, enthusiastic nation deserves the best, and this historic people will undoubtedly keep making its contribution to progress in the region and the wider world,” Ambassador declared.

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Belgian weekly New Europe published a series of articles on the economy of Uzbekistan.

The monetary policy of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan is mentioned in the article “The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has left its refinancing rate at 14% per annum”, and this decision, according to the New Europe, has been taken as the basis of the main directions of the monetary policy in 2010, as well as actual and expected levels of inflation to cushion the inflationary and devaluation pressure caused primarily by external economic factors, as well as managing the money supply.”

The article “Uzbekistan in 2011 to modernize the electricity accounting system” tells about the Memorandum on Strategic Partnership to implement an automated system of accounting and control of electricity consumption (ASACEC) in Uzbekistan, signed between the Uzbekenergo and a consortium of Czech companies Inekon Power-Sitronics. The publication notes that the $34.8 million project will begin next year and last for one year.

Furthermore, the New Europe reports that “the implementation of this project will save 2.75 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually and reduce up to 1.9 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, thus saving about $125 million per year. The program will be financed by Uzbekenergo, Reconstruction and Development Fund of Uzbekistan, as well as foreign investments and loans. The introduction of ASACEC is the first stage of the program of modernization of the electricity accounting system, worth about $360 million.

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Five Uzbek pianists returned from Romania with an astounding triumph. They won five medals: three gold and two bronze medals in the Pro-Piano Romania international contest June 15-20, 2010.   All of them are students of the Uspensky Republican Special Music Academic Lyceum (URSMAL). This year’s gala laureates are Zumrad Safarova, Nodira Dadamuhamedova, Guzal Isametdinova (all first prize winners), Zoya Vaschenko and Sherzod Tursunov (both came third).

Uzbekistan has long been acknowledged as rich in creative talents. Today, over 300 of them are world-famous awardees of prestigious international music challenges and festivals. Over 50 young talents aged 6-18, prize-holders of international contests in France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Russia and many other countries, study at URSMAL. Since 2002, 108 students of the lyceum have won international awards.

This education institution is unique. It is included in the list of world’s top ten schools in the category. It is consistently backed by the achievements of its students who have brought high honors from international races by displaying Uzbekistan’s arts all across the globe.

The republican secondary special school became the Republican Special Music Academic Lyceum in 2002. The two stage education system did not disturb the continuing professional music education that comprises study from the first grade of the school till the third year of lyceum. As international practice shows, it is this system of music education that brings the highest results. Many countries, especially in the South-East Asia are currently adopting this experience with their rapid progress in the world’s music arena.

The integrity of traditions, teaching methodology that has been formed for 70 years of the institution’s history, talented, skilled and young pedagogues, its former graduates make up the basis for not only the URSMAL itself, but for music professional education in the republic to a big extent.

The recent participation of children in the prestigious international contest has become another demonstration of the high performance mastery. Each of them has a unique talent. In spite of their young age, they can compete with high level musicians in piano art. Young musicians perform serious, complicated compositions requiring not only the high technical mastery but also a deep comprehension.

“This is the 14th time of our participation in the international contest”, noted Alla Kim, head of special piano department of URSMAL, Honored Public Education Worker of the Republic of Uzbekistan. “It consisted of two rounds. Our participants successfully passed the first round, reached the second round and won prizes. We were delighted to hear the jury’s appreciation; they noted a very high level of training and musicality of our children. Three of my students took part in this contest. Nodira Dadamuhamedova is among them; the gold medal is her tenth award. Besides, she became a laureate of Zulfia State Award this year. Our children permanently perform in symphonic orchestras, almost all conductors are glad to cooperate with our students. However, we would not be able to achieve all those results without the government support.

The Uzbek government creates all conditions necessary for supporting talented children. The state thinks far ahead and takes care of the younger generation that will make the country’s future.

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About five hundred boys and girls participate in Kelajak Ovozi summer training camps in Qashqadaryo region that gathers talented youths from all over Uzbekistan for the fourth time. This project is implemented in accordance with the national program of the Year of Comprehensively Advanced Generation, and organized by the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education of Uzbekistan, Kamolot Civic Youth Movement, Kelajak Ovozi Center, Fund Forum and others.

The camp represents one of the most striking examples of how the Center of Youth Initiatives helps realize youths’ innovative ideas. Several years ago, activists of the center came up with an idea to spend the summer holidays with use, to discuss new projects with friends from other regions, to gain new knowledge for the further fruitful work. No sooner said than done. In previous years the camp lived up to expectations, the young people established closer contacts with activists from other regions, met at various seminars and round tables, resulting in a number of interesting, thoughtful and genuinely useful projects that were realized during the year in practice. And again hot days have come, and again the Kelajak Ovozi summer training camp began its work.

The curriculum of the camp consists of three major parts: teaching-practical, cultural and sporting.

There is a training program and invited coaches and experts with international experience. This year, summer holidays in the camp will be held in a role-playing game Megalopolis. Its basic idea is that the groups will represent mega-cities (Paris, New York, Tokyo, Seoul, Moscow, Beijing, etc.), and the participants will be residents of these cities. In the process of role-playing game mega cities will have business, economic, cultural and sports contacts with each others, which will allow participants to test their knowledge in practice.

Trainings will be held on the following subjects: business, psychology, negotiation skills, ICT, public speaking and debate, formation and consolidation of the team, developing creativity and problem solving skills, skills for effective employment and personal growth, contemporary financial system, geo-economics, modern PR technology, foundations of contemporary journalism, management and others. Classes and lectures will be conducted by experienced professionals in various fields, representatives of leading public and international organizations, culture, art, film actors and singers specially invited to the camp.

“Each of these boys and girls is full of dreams, talent, desire to make a personal contribution to the prosperity of society,” said Marat Rakhimov, head coach of the Kelajak Ovozi camp. “The children themselves have developed a program of activities in the camp, made all the preparations, up to a design of pavilions, offices and rooms, where they will spend this time. This is our challenge to combine a proactive, committed young people, create conditions for full realization of their potential.”

Children really loved the camp. The program is very intense, every day they have interactive workshops and training sessions, various competitions, sports competitions, cultural excursions, meetings, games. Kelajak Ovozi Press Center daily produces wall newspapers of the camp life.

While young journalists from the youth television studios from all regions provide coverage of all events in their own news blocks. They have cameras and cutting studios. Young journalists shoot their reports on modern television equipment provided by the National Association of Electronic Mass Media as part of the Youth TV Studios Promotion Project. Every day the news are transmitted to a big screen in the camp and broadcast through the UzNTT network. Meanwhile young TV journalists, as well as representatives of other directions, do not stop learning new techniques and methods of work at the daily master classes and workshops.

“We are just full of new ideas, energy and creative projects,” shared Zhasur Tursunov, a member of last year’s camp and winner of Kelajak Ovozi award. “We have very strong tutors, learn a mass of new information and experiences. It’s quite difficult to do something alone, but when there are so many like-minded people and such strong support, you realize that everything is possible. I am confident each of us will remember these ten days forever.

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A previously unknown minor planet with a four-year rotation period around the Sun was discovered by Uzbek astronomers in 2007 and officially included in the International Minor Planet Catalog under the number 210271. The planet has been given the name Samarqand. “That was the first planet of this kind discovered in Uzbekistan”, Shuhrat Egamberdiyev, director of Mirzo Ulughbek Astronomy Institute, said in an interview. “The revelation served as a convincing testimony to the considerable progress made by our astronomers throughout independence years.

At the request of scientists, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov called the planet after one of the world’s greatest cities – Samarqand. The title was approved by the Minor Planets Center of Harvard International Astronomical Union. The center informed the global academic community of the news in a respective circular.

In different times, international scientists had named five minor planets in honor of our eminent scientists in recognition of the latter’s marvelous merits. By acknowledging the pioneers, the scholars entitled them Uzbekistania, Avicenna, Ulughbek, Beruni and Khorezmi.

The latest discovery in Uzbekistan was made at Maydanak Astrophysics Observatory of the Astronomy Institute, located high in the mountains 120 kilometers from Samarqand. The success was the outcome of the hard work by young scientists Bahodir Hafizov and Aleksei Sergeyev. They exposed the minor planet during one of the cool nights of October 2007 while monitoring the sky with the principal observatory telescope AZT-22 with a unique mirror of one-and-a-half meters in diameter. The researchers noticed a faintly luminous object moving in the background of still stars.

They determined its coordinates and calculated the preliminary elements of the orbit. The data was sent to the Minor Planet Center who informed the lucky astronomers that that object had not been listed in catalogs, and was given a preliminary number. It took them two more years of scrupulous research to specify the orbit of the unknown item to have the Minor Planet Center confirm the discovery of the Uzbek scholars.

The minor planet Samarqand rotates around the Sun between Mars and Jupiter orbits as part of the so-called asteroid belt. Asteroids are solid astronomical bodies containing iron, chondrites and some other chemical compounds. Studying asteroids has been of paramount scientific value because their substance, unlike that of major planets, did not participate in evolutionary processes and remained as they were in the early periods of the solar system’s formation.

Asteroids are blocks of protoplanetary substance. They should have become a basis for the formation of planets, but that did not happen. Science fiction authors even named it Faeton and wrote a lot of works. One of them was about the smart civilization on the planet that led to the destruction of the planet by its unreasonable actions. However, according to modern scientific idea, such planet has never been existed since it just couldn’t form.

There are numerous fabulous works on danger of the collision of a big asteroid with Earth,” noted Shuhrat Egamberdiyev. I bring the opinion of the specialists participating in Tashkent international scientific conference to the notice of readers: there is no danger of collision of our planet with a big asteroid or comet in the soonest time.”

The conference participants informed that Maydanak observatory locating in the center of Eurasian continent, with its excellent astronomical climate to observe cosmic bodies, is planned to be included into the network of ground observatories studying the Wilson-Harington comet. Japanese scientists are going to send their exploring spacecraft there. Uzbek scientists together with their colleagues from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan continuously monitor asteroids in the Maydanak observatory.

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As reported earlier, some 100,000 citizens of Kyrgyzstan, who had fled the tragic events in the south of that country of 11-15 June, were received by Uzbekistan and temporarily placed in Andijan, Namangan and Ferghana regions.

They were provided with required assistance by the government of Uzbekistan, public organizations, enterprises and the ordinary people. Special camps were equipped in the regions bordering with Kyrgyzstan.

International organizations and a number of foreign states sent humanitarian aid to Uzbekistan to support the victims of the violence, the majority of whom were women, children and the elderly.

The government has taken all necessary measures to ensure maximally fast and targeted delivery of aid to the displaced people from Kyrgyzstan.

Humanitarian aid worth a total of USD 3,926,600 was delivered to Uzbekistan, half of which was provided by international organizations.

In particular, the UN provided aid worth USD 1,337,900, the ICRC – USD 636,000, UNICEF – USD 67,000, Medical Teams International – USD 64,400, Médecins Sans Frontières – USD 41,800.

Russia has sent humanitarian aid worth USD 1,280,500, China – USD 438,000 and Georgia – USD 60,900.

The people of Kyrgyzstan, who were temporarily placed in Uzbekistan, were provided with free medical aid, as well as all required items, including tents, blankets, clothes, food products and others.

The government of Uzbekistan issued humanitarian aid worth a total UZS 4,034,412,900. Besides, the country’s organizations and enterprises transferred over UZS 3,100,000,000, and a large amount of aid was provided by the people of Uzbekistan.

The representatives of the transitional government of Kyrgyzstan, as well as governors of Osh and Jalalabad regions and heads of districts visited the campts in Uzbekistan. In their talks to the temporarily placed people, they affirmed them of full security after their return to Kyrgyzstan.

 Thus, virtually all temporarily placed citizens from Kyrgyzstan have returned to their home country.

Given this fact, the government of Uzbekistan proposed tranferring the remaining part of the humanitarian aid worth USD 2,445,700 to Kyrgyzstan.

A total of 35 tons of medicaments were delivered to Uzbekistan as international humanitarian aid, all of which were used for the needs of the ill and wounded people.

Of 168.6 tons of food items, 91.8 tons were distributed among the displaced, and the remaining 76.8 tons are being given to Kyrgyzstan.

Non-food items sent by donors (tents, blankets, kitchen utensils, canisters, generators, clothes) comprised 621.4 tons. 169.8 tons of the total amount were used while the temporary camps functioned in Uzbekistan. The remaining 451.6 tons are also being transferred to the neighboring country.

In all, of the total humanitarian cargoes worth USD 3,926,600 delivered to Uzbekistan, part worth USD 1,480,900 was used. All cargoes were delivered either through warehouses, or directly to camps.

Apart from the remaining part of the humanitarian aid, Uzbekistan continues carrying out transit deliveries of 70 tons of aid to Kyrgyzstan, supplied by the UN and the Médecins Sans Frontières.

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President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov congratulated Roza Otunbayeva with her receiving the authorities of the President of Kyrgyzstan for the transitional period.

In his letter to Roza Otunbayeva, Islam Karimov wished the friendly people of Kyrgyzstan peace, consent, stability and prosperity.

The head of Uzbekistan expressed confidence that objective and just inquiry of the bloody and inhuman events in Osh and Jalalabad provinces of Kyrgyzstan, held with participation of specialists and international experts, would prove the commonness and the inseparability of the interests of Kyrgyz and Uzbek population, who had lived in the south of Kyrgyzstan for many ages.

At the same time, such inquiry would reveal the real instigators and orderers from the outside, who are ready to sacrifice thousands of innocent lives to achieve their dirty goals, President of Uzbekistan said.

“I would once again like to express my belief that the wisdom of the Kyrgyz people gives strength to overcome the present difficulties,” Islam Karimov noted.

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The following joint statement was issued on 30 June in Tashkent by a staff mission from the International Monetary Fund and the authorities of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

“An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission visited the Republic of Uzbekistan from June 14 – 29, 2010 to hold discussions with the Uzbek authorities for the 2010 Article IV consultation.

The mission was headed by Ms. Taline Koranchelian, Assistant to the Director in the Middle East and Central Asia Department; David Owen, Deputy Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department, joined the policy discussions.

“The discussions focused on Uzbekistan’s policy response to the global crisis and the economic outcome in 2009, the outlook for 2010 and for the medium term, and policy issues of importance for Uzbekistan.

“Uzbekistan has remained resilient to the global economic crisis largely because of the authorities’ cautious policies, which ensured significant fiscal surpluses and enabled them to accumulate considerable resources to support growth in this period. The mission congratulates the authorities for their timely and effective response to the crisis. It notes that the authorities’ anti-crisis program, including the reduction in the tax burden, was crucial to limit the impact of the global crisis on the banking sector, to maintain a balance of payments surplus, and to preserve robust growth in 2009.

A very cautious approach to borrowing on global financial markets also limited the country’s exposure to the global crisis. Real GDP is estimated to have grown by 8.1 percent in 2009, one of the highest rates in the world, while average inflation increased slightly.

“Driven by the continuing effects of the anti-crisis package, the authorities’ industrial modernization and infrastructure development program, and the better external environment, real GDP is expected to continue growing at a healthy 8 percent pace in 2010. The authorities and the mission agreed that the main challenge in the short term is to guard against a build-up of inflationary pressures through continued cautious macroeconomic policies.

“The mission fully agrees with the authorities that Uzbekistan’ medium-term challenge is to further increase the real income per capita of the Uzbek population and to create new jobs for the young and growing labor force. In this context, the authorities’ industrial modernization program rightly focuses on infrastructure development that should lay the ground for increased investment in Uzbekistan.

The financial sector has developed significantly over the past four years, and the substantial increases in capitalization and bank assets contributed to the stability of the banking sector and will allow to support the authorities’ industrial modernization and infrastructure development program.

“To fully realize the potential economic benefit of the authorities’ program, the mission made a number of recommendations. These included: maintenance of tight monetary policy, a more flexible exchange rate policy; further reforms, particularly in the exchange system, tax administration, and the deepening of the financial sector; and significant improvement in the quality and dissemination of data. These recommendations will be thoroughly considered by the authorities in the formulation and implementation of economic policies.

“The mission emphasized to the authorities that the Fund staff stands ready to assist Uzbekistan in its reform efforts, including through technical assistance.

“The mission is grateful for the excellent cooperation with the Uzbek authorities, and the fruitful and open discussions.”

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