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LATEST NEWS :
NOVEMBER 2008 |
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Competitiveness is the basis of industrial
development |
| November 28, 2008 |
| UzA
How can one buy equipment at the manufacturer’s price and who will help
to install and provide service to it? The entrepreneurs could receive
answers to these questions at the seminars held in all regions of
Uzbekistan in the framework of the task to modernize and renew the
industrial production, set by President Islam Karimov.
The seminars were organized by Techno Food Service company, which
specializes in delivery of equipment for food industry. The press
conference in Tashkent was devoted to the results of the company’s
activity in this direction and further plans.
According to Techno Food Service director D.Kuchkarov, about 100
companies, mainly working in the small business and private
entrepreneurship sector, were able to expand and optimize their
production recently with participation of this company.
Thanks to direct supply contracts signed by Techno Food Service with
foreign partners, Uzbek enterprises were provided with highly
technological and power saving equipment, allowing to produce
competitive goods.
These are equipment for production of flour, pasta, bread and
confectionery, tomato paste, vegetable oil, processing of other
agricultural produce, juice and mineral water, polyethylene packaging,
stickers, etc.
Especially important for the non-stop work of the enterprises is that
they are fully provided with services. The company specialists, trained
at manufacturer plants, not only provide consultations on choosing the
equipment and creating optimal conditions for its exploitation, but also
organize its supply at manufacturer prices, conduct installation and
launch works, train the personnel, provide warranty repairs and service,
and help in purchasing spare parts.
In the first nine months of 2008, Techno Food Service provided services
to its clients worth over UZS 250 million. Besides, the creation of new
productions and expansion of the existing ones allow solving the problem
of employment in the country. About 300 workplaces were created,
including in the remote districts of Uzbekistan.
Among the company’s clients is Tashkent floor combine No.1, Ohangarondon,
Khanabad plant Shirin Non and other enterprises, which through
installation of new equipment could significantly increase the
production volumes and improve the quality of their producs.
In accordance with the decree of the President of Uzbekistan of 28
August 2002 on stimulating development of the leasing system, Techno
Food Service has expanded the spectrum of its services and recently
launched a leasing company, Techno Inter Finance.
The company has simplified leasing receiving procedures and does not
require additional guarantees from the clients. The equipment costing a
certain amount serves as a guarantee, while the service specialists have
to keep it in the working state.
Currently, marketing research is being conducted in order to provide
competitive privileges for the customers on both local and foreign
markets. The food industry of Uzbekistan has a huge potential, and its
development will serve to increasing the volumes of export of locally
manufactures products.
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One million cars produced at Asaka plant |
| November 27, 2008 |
| UzA
The car plant in Asaka, Andijan region produced its one millionth car
and launched serial production of Chevrolet Lacetti on 27 November.
Last year, Uzavtosanoat (Uzbek Car Industry) company signed an agreement
with General Motors on setting up the GM Uzbekistan joint venture. The
agreement opened the opportunities to produce new models of GM.
The agreement also allowed moving from assembly of Lacetti (since 2003)
to its full-scale production in Uzbekistan.
Currently the Asaka car plant produces seven models of cars, including
Chevrolet models Epica, Captiva and Tacuma.
Last year, the enterprise produced 170,000 cars, and in the nine months
of this year almost 140,000 cars. The plant, launched in 1996, today
employs more than 5,000 people.
The launch of the new model is a logical continuation of the GM
Uzbekistan’s activities to renew the model line and satisfy the concrete
demands of the consumers, as well as increase the production quality and
introduce new technologies, GM Europe managing director Gerald Johnson
said.
In the coming years, GM Uzbekistan is planning to launch production of
other Chevrolet models, increasing the productino to the plant’s
capacity of 250,000 cars per year.
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Senate Committee considers budget for 2009 |
| November 27, 2008 |
| UzA
On 26 November, the Senate’s Commitee for budget and economic reforms
held a session to discuss the main macroeconomic parameters and the
state budget for 2009.
The senators said the main directions of the tax and budget policy for
the coming year are further strengthening of the macroeconomic stability
and creation of the favorable conditions for development of the economic
entities.
The social part of the budget envisages increasing the incomes of the
population and improvement of the educational and healthcare services,
as well as social protection.
With the purpose of improvement of the activity of the music and arts
schools, starting from 2009, funds will be allocated from budget for
construction and reconstruction of music and arts schools, as well as
their equipment.
The state bidget also includes funds for implementation of the state
programs of development of schools, and improvement of the drinking
water and gas supply to the population.
In order to support and stimulate the development of the small business
producing industrial products, the single tax payment for this sector
will be reduced from 8% to 7%. The reduction of the fixed tax for
incomes of legal entities and individuals dealing with private
entrepreneurship is also planned.
These measures are expected to lead to creation of new workplaces, and
growth of the employment and incomes of the population.
The work to improve the mechanism of control over budget implementation
will continue in the coming year.
After the consideration, the senators approved the state budget for 2009
and included it in the agenda of the 16th plenary session, scheduled for
4 December.
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Uzbektelecom to expand internet channel |
| November 22, 2008 |
| UzA
Uzbektelecom, the national telecommunications operator, is planning to
expand the bandwidth of the external internet channel to 1 Gbps, the
head of the company said.
Speaking to journalists in Tashkent, Shuhrat Sadykov said the current
bandwidth is 515 Mbps. The company provides access to internet to all
providers in the country through its commutation center.
Other plans of Uzbektelecom include expansion of the transport network
and increasing the data transfer speed in the regions of the country.
The mobile services, video telephony and other types of services will
also be improved and expanded.
According to Sadykov, the company is implementing an investment project
on modernization of its telecommunication networks, in which the Chinese
Development Bank and the Huawei Technologies are participating.
Uzbektelecom includes 19 branches and has shares in eight joint ventures
providing mobile and fixed communication, as well as data transfer and
internet services.
The local telecommunication network of Uzbektelecom consists of more
than 2,000 automated telephone stations with a capacity of more than 2
million numbers, 86% of which are digital. The digitization of the local
telecommunication network has allowed to improve the quality of service
and to introduce new services.
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Uzbek Tourism Potential Exhibited in Italy, Raises
Interest |
| November 25, 2008 |
| IA “Jahon”
The XI International Tourism Fair took place at the city of Peastum in
Italy. Over 200 organizations and companies from 37 world countries took
part at the Fair held under the patronage of UNESCO, World Tourism
Organization and the Government of Italy.
Along with the assistance of the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan
to Italy a pavilion dedicated to the tourism potential of Uzbekistan was
put into display at this prestigious international fair.
Many visitors to the Uzbek pavilion, including Italian and foreign
experts in the area of archeology, representatives of tour agencies, as
well as teachers and students of Italian higher educational
establishments took part with a keen interest at the presentations on
the topics “Tashkent – heart of Homeland, symbol of Uzbekistan” and “On
tourism potential of the Republic of Uzbekistan”.
Documentary films “Tashkent – a pearl of Islamic civilization” and
“Invitation to Uzbekistan” have been demonstrated at the presentations.
The visitors were given brochures on cultural, historical and tourism
potential of Uzbekistan made by the National Company Uzbekturism.
The Head of National Commission of Italy on UNESCO F.Karuso noted that
Uzbekistan was a part of the countries where the issues of renaissance
and promotion of historical and cultural values, restoration of ancient
monuments have been raised to the level of state policy.
“In this context, the ongoing wide-scale work on preserving and
restoring invaluable historical architectural monuments of Samarkand,
Bukhara, Khiva, Tashkent and other cities of Uzbekistan deserve an
appreciation”, F.Karuzo said.
Chief of administration of Grosseto Province on Tourism Ch.Takkoni said
that thanks to unique monuments of architecture of Uzbekistan and
constantly developing infrastructure of tourism the number of Italian
tourists who wish to go to Uzbekistan continued to steadily grow.
The delegates to the event manifested a keen interest in presented
information. In particular, they have become interested in history and
modern development of Uzbekistan, many cultural and historical
monuments, as well as conditions created for foreign tourists. The works
of masters of applied arts broadly showcased at the pavilion have left
bright impressions on visitors of the Uzbek exhibition area.
Large tourism companies of Bulgaria, Greece, Egypt, Israel, India,
Turkey and Italy expressed an interest in establishing business contacts
with the Uzbek companies, organizing tours to Uzbekistan, as well as
partaking in tourism exhibitions and fairs to be held in Uzbekistan.
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Uzbekistan, Saudi Arabia Ink Double Taxation
Avoidance Doc |
| November 25, 2008 |
| IA “Jahon”
On November 18 this year Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan signed agreement on
avoidance of double taxation, the Biznes Vestnik Vostoka newspaper
reported quoting the Saudi Press Agency.
The acting Minister of Finance of Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz al-Huwaitar and
the Chairman of the State Tax Committee of Uzbekistan Botir Parpiev
signed the document, according to the newspaper.
The Saudi official said that the agreement defined the relations of two
countries in taxation issues and provides for avoidance of double
taxation of investors.
He also noted that the trade relations between the countries were not at
the expected level despite enormous potential of the countries and
available opportunities.
According to the report, Abdulaziz al-Huwaitar urged the businesspeople
to fully take advantage of benefits of the agreement and implement more
joint investment projects.
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Visiting Hungarian FM Sees Uzbek Legislators, FM |
| November 20, 2008 |
| I.A.“Jahon”
On November 19 this year the delegation to Uzbekistan led by Minister
for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Hungary Kinga Göncz met with the
Speaker of Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan Dilorom
Tashmuhamedova, according to the news agencies.
During the talks the sides noted that agreements achieved at the
meetings of the heads of two states would serve as an important legal
basis for developing mutual cooperation in all spheres, including, the
parliamentary ties. They have thoroughly exchanged views on relations
between higher legislative bodies of the two countries.
The Foreign Minister Göncz has also held talks with the Chairman of
Senate of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Ilgizar Sabirov.
During the talks the sides underscored the importance of
inter-parliamentary cooperation in consolidating the legal basis of
bilateral relations. They discussed the issues of further extending the
ties in this direction.
The same day Kinga Göncz met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of
the Republic of Uzbekistan Vladimir Norov. They exchanged views on
further expanding and consolidating the cooperation between the two
countries.
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As Constitution Date Knocks on the Door, Events
Held Nationwide |
| November 20, 2008 |
| UzA
On the eve of the 16th anniversary of the Main Law – Constitution of
the Republic of Uzbekistan meetings and conferences, various spiritual
and enlightenment events are now being held in towns and districts, as
well as educational establishments in Namangan Province.
One of such events was held in Namangan College of Arts. The scholars
and specialists, representatives of law-enforcement bodies, poets and
writers took part at it.
The Constitution of Uzbekistan was written in line with advanced
world experience and national values. The foundations of national state
system, domestic and foreign policy of the country, rights and freedoms
of human have been reflected in this document which was highly assessed
by international experts.
“This event was very interesting and useful”, Durdona Ismanova,
student of the college, has said. “Once again we have deeply felt the
importance of knowledge of rights and freedoms, need of consciously
fulfilling our duties. At the same time, we should be able to
effectively use opportunities created for us and gain a comprehensive
education”.
Such events were also held in Namangan Engineering Pedagogical
Institute and Medical College.
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Business Forum discuss improving audit, accounting |
| November 20, 2008 |
| On 19 November, Expert
Council of the Business Forum on improving fiscal policy on the topic of
"Actual issues of accounting and audit in economic liberalization
conditions" was conducted at the Hotel Radisson SAS Tashkent.
The event was organized by UNDP projects "Business Forum of
Uzbekistan" and "Public finance reform in Uzbekistan" in partnership
with the Ministry of Finance of Uzbekistan and the Chamber of Commerce
and Industry of Uzbekistan.
Deepening of market-oriented reforms has changed the essence of
economic transactions in Uzbekistan. Consequently, it has impact on the
accounting system, which reflects all the processes in the economy and
discloses information required to make decisions. These changes, in
turn, require an elaboration of necessary legislative basis for
effective regulation as well as timely, complete, transparent and
credible disclosure of financial information, which should be in
compliance with market economy needs and international accounting and
audit standards.
Establishing such accounting and audit system will assist in
providing foreign investors with necessary information, stimulate
investments into Uzbek economy and further development of real sector,
which in turn will increase and employment, incomes and welfare of
population.
Business Forum was organized with the aim to engage all stakeholders
into the decision of accounting and audit system perspectives and the
issues of eliminating existing shortcomings, in particular, improving
legislative regulation of the system and principles of financial
reporting.
Representatives of the Ministry of Finance, Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, entrepreneurs, public professional organizations,
international agencies, academics and researchers in the field of
accounting and audit, practitioners took part in the event.
Trends and actual issues of improving auditing practice, perspectives
of international auditing standards implementation were discussed in the
Business Forum. In addition, the participants also considered issues of
audit of evaluation criteria, accounting of real estate in investment
process and joint activity. Participants were given opportunity to
listen to experts' presentations and discuss recommendations on
improving of legislative basis in the field of accounting and audit.
The discussion has shown high interest of all participants in solving
existing problems. It was indicated that involvement of private sector
in providing proposals and recommendations on improvement of this
practice is an important.
The results of the discussions are very important as they can be used
in the elaboration of well justified and quality recommendation son
introducing changes and amendments into the national standards of
accounting and national standards on auditing.
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Book Fair in Nukus to Address Industry-Related
Tasks |
| November 20, 2008 |
| The role of the book is
great in man’s spiritual life. Not less important it takes on a role in
upbringing the youth in the spirit of love towards Homeland as much as
respect to national and universal values.
Such notion has been emphasized at the opening ceremony of the book
fair in Nukus, the capital city of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. The
Uzbek Agency for Print and Information, Council of Ministers of the
Republic of Karakalpakstan and Ministry of Public Education organized
the fair, according to the report by the Uzbekistan National News Agency
(UzA).
Those who spoke at the opening of the book fair have said that
Uzbekistan paid a considerable attention to propagating books and
culture of reading among people. They spoke on the need to enhance
quality of books, their content and shape a healthy competitive
environment in printing industry.
The textbooks as well as study and methodical tools for students of
the secondary general education schools for a 2009-2010 academic year
and other literature have been displayed at the fair, according to the
report.
“It is important to fully provide pupils with textbooks, necessary
literature and study tools,” the Deputy Minister for Public Education of
the Republic of Karakalpakstan A.Narimbetov said. “The book fairs
promote addressing of such objective. At fairs we learn the views of
teachers, scholars and specialists of relevant area.”
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Saudi-Uzbek double-taxation avoidance accord
signed |
| November 19, 2008 |
| Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan
signed in Riyadh on 18 November an agreement on avoidance of double
taxation between the two countries, Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.
The agreement was signed by Acting Minister of Finance Dr. Abdulaziz
Al-Khuweiter and Chairman of Uzbekistan's State Tax Committee Botir
Parpiev.
Dr. Al-Khuweiter said that the agreement is a stable legal framework
defining tax relations between the two countries, as it consequently
ensure that no double taxation on the income from the activity of the
investor. "Moreover, the agreement reduces the tax burden on investors
to achieve transparency and stability in the tax treatment".
"The volume of trade exchange between the two countries has not
reached the desired level, especially in the light of great potentials
of the two countries' economies as well as bright scopes of available
trade and investment opportunities," he said.
He called on businessmen in both countries to take advantage of this
agreement, which provides advantages and tax cuts for the establishment
of more joint investment projects.
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Uzbekistan, Malaysia Opt for a New Stage of
Cooperation |
| November 18, 2008 |
| I.A.“Jahon”
On November 16 this year the Prime Minister of Malaysia Abdullah bin
Haji Ahmad Badawi arrived in Uzbekistan with an official visit.
Malaysia is one of the reliable partners of Uzbekistan in Southeast
Asia. The Uzbek-Malaysian cooperation is based on mutual interest of
sides in extending the trade and economic relations. At the same time,
the two countries are developing not only bilateral but also the
multilateral ties.
Malaysia is one of the leading member-countries of the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Uzbekistan may use such circumstance in
terms of extending relations with the countries of Southeast Asia. At
the same time, Malaysia is one of the most active and respected
member-countries of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC).
Malaysia has welcomed the announcement by ISESCO, the Islamic
Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, of Tashkent as the
capital of Islamic culture in 2007. Last year it has sent a high-profile
delegation to Uzbekistan to participate at international conferences
held on such occasion in the country.
In October 2005 the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam
Karimov paid an official visit to Malaysia. The visit of the Prime
Minister of Malaysia Abdullah Badawi to Uzbekistan serves as yet another
step on the way of further developing relations and enriching them with
a new substance based on mutual respect, trust and interest.
The main events of the visit took place on November 17, according to the
reports. The high-profile guest has been given a ceremonial welcome at
the presidential residence of Durmen accompanied by observance of an
honorary guard lined up in honor of the incoming high delegation as well
as listening to the national anthems of Malaysia and Uzbekistan.
Following the ceremony President Islam Karimov and Prime Minister
Abdullah Badawi are reported to have retreated for their tęte-ŕ-tęte at
which they had exchanged views on various issues of mutual interest. In
particular, they have tackled further developing bilateral political
relations, expanding the trade, economic and humanitarian cooperation,
outstanding regional and international problems. The sides have
underscored that the positions taken by both sides in terms of bringing
the relations onto a new level, as much as on international problems,
coincided.
Islam Karimov and Abdullah Badawi also discussed cooperation in the
framework of ASEAN and OIC. The contacts as a part of ASEAN are becoming
important to develop the latest technologies and take the Uzbek-made
goods to the markets of Southeast Asia, as well as attract investments
from that region into Uzbekistan.
The sides are also reported to have discussed the situation in
Afghanistan. The views of Uzbekistan and Malaysia on that problem
coincided. They have noted the need to pay a priority attention to
undertaking tangible social and economic projects with a view of
establishing peace in Afghanistan, restoring economy and providing
people with jobs.
At the delegation-level talks that followed after two leaders’
tęte-ŕ-tęte the sides have addressed issues of trade, economic and
humanitarian cooperation.
The two foreign ministries held consultations in August this year in
Kuala-Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia. As a part of event the
presentation of trade, economic and investment potential of Uzbekistan
as well as business-forum was also held. Such events serve for
consolidating direct ties between business people and allow for gaining
information on mutual opportunities. As an outcome, the volume of trade
has been on the rise for over the past years between Uzbekistan and
Malaysia. However, it does not stand for the fact that the available
opportunities are being fully utilized. Uzbekistan’s exports mainly
constitute transport and tourism services. Malaysia imports to
Uzbekistan electrical equipment, palm oil, rubber and rubber products.
The two countries actively cooperate in the investment sphere. During
the stay of President Islam Karimov in Malaysia the sides reached
agreements on investments to the projects of prospecting and development
of oil and gas deposits, establishment of new joint ventures in the
sphere of furniture making, textile and electrical techniques. At the
moment, there are 22 enterprises founded with participation of Malaysian
investors are operating in Uzbekistan.
In the investment sphere Uzbekistan undertakes a number of joint
projects with Malaysian Petronas Corporation in terms of prospecting
works in Aral Sea area on the Usturt Plateau and in Surkhandarya,
opening up new deposits and working out technical feasibility studies on
constructing synthetic liquid fuel production plant. As a whole,
Petronas is expected to invest into Uzbekistan up to 2 billion US
dollars.
With a goal of developing cooperation in the sphere of transport
communications the Uzbek Leader proposed to the Malaysian side the use
of the so-called hub, the international logistical center being
established at the airport of the city of Navoi, the administrative
capital town of Navoi Province in Uzbekistan. Such move would provide
for access for Malaysia to the markets of Central Asian states. Abdullah
Badawi supported that idea and said that Malaysia stood ready to serve
as a bridge for Uzbekistan’s cooperation with Southeast nations.
During the Tashkent negotiations the sides have also exchanged views on
using the latest biotechnologies of Malaysia, as well as cooperating in
the sphere of processing agricultural products. Uzbekistan and Malaysia
considered opportunities of establishing branches in Uzbekistan of large
Malaysian companies for manufacturing equipment, electronics and
information-communication techniques.
On the outcomes of talks the sides adopted a Joint Communiqué between
the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Government of Malaysia.
Also, Uzbekistan and Malaysia signed intergovernmental memoranda of
understanding on cooperation in the area of higher education, scientific
and technological cooperation, memorandum between the National Holding
Company of Uzbekneftegaz and Petronas Carigali Company on cooperation in
training cadres for oil and gas sector, protocol on entering into force
of the Agreement on geological prospecting works at the Surkhan
investment bloc between Uzbekneftegaz Company and Petronas Carigali
Overseas Company.
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Malaysia can learn from Uzbekistan in preserving
heritage |
| November 18, 2008 |
| UzReport
Malaysia can learn from Uzbekistan in the preservation and
conservation of its building and handicraft heritage, Malaysian Unity,
Culture, Arts and Heritage Minister Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal said
Tuesday.
He said Uzbekistan was able to conserve its partly damaged old
buildings using traditional methods although such materials no longer
existed, Bernama reported.
The Uzbeks could conserve and preserve hundred-year-old buildings, he
told Malaysian journalists in Tashkent.
The minister is part of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad
Badawi's delegation which is on a four-day visit here ending Wednesday.
He said Tashkent had been in existence for 2,000 years while
Samarkand was 2,750 years old and yet they could still preserve their
old buildings.
He also said that Malaysia could learn from the conservation and
preservation of Uzbekistan's handicrafts as they still existed after a
hundred years.
He said the cultural exchange programme between the two countries
would include handicraft and wood-craving experts.
Uzbek architecture is not strange to Malaysia as the Putrajaya
Mosque, Perdana Gallery in Langkawi and the Sarawak State Assembly
building which is currently being built have integrated such elements.
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Uzbekistan increases financial stability of real
sector enterprises |
| November 18, 2008 |
| UzReport
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree on measures to
increase the financial stability of the enterprises of the real sector
of the economy on 18 November, UzA reported.
The document is aimed at increasing the level of capitalization and
financial stability of the real sector enterprises, improvement of the
mechanisms of financial recovery and management of weak enterprises, and
wide attraction of investments, including funds of the commercial banks,
in the process of structural reforms of the economy, and modernization
and re-equipment of the production.
In accordance with the decree of the head of the state, the minimum
size of the charter capital of the newly created open and closed
joint-stock companies starting from 1 January 2009 should be equivalent
to US$400,000. The existing open and closed joint-stock companies have
to increase their charter funds to the named sum until 1 January 2010 or
change their form of ownership to private.
The decree envisages improvement of the mechanism of the financial
recovery of the economically weak enterprises, which includes:
- alization of bankrupt production enterprises to commercial banks
through auctions and contests;
- cceptation by banks of investment obligations to ensure financial
recovery and renewal of bankrupt enterprises, their modernization and
organization of manufacture of competitive production;
- further sale of enterprises to strategic investors at market
price.
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German drama days in Tashkent |
| November 14, 2008 |
| “Uzbekistan Today”
It is the fourth year Tashkent hosts German Drama Days. This year,
three plays by modern German and Swiss dramatists were shown on Ilkhom
theatre stage.
Stage improvisations to some extent have already managed to become a
trademark of the theatre. As Boris Gafurov, the art director of Ilkhom
theatre noted, there were German dramatists’ plays, which started the
tradition of holding stage improvisations in this theatre.
This time they showed two plays by German authors and one by Swiss
dramatist picturing the life of ordinary people and problems they face.
The characters of staging, on one hand, are the people, whose life lacks
anything unusual and fantastic and whose private life doesn’t play any
role in development of the world. But at the next turn everything
changes.
“Firstly the idea of stage improvisations was taken skeptically, but
now we can say that it was the very stagings that became a zest of the
season, and every year the audience has an opportunity to get acquainted
with contemporary German drama. It seems to me that actors and stage
directors perform these plays with great talent. And the fact that a
staging is shown only once makes every evening inimitable,” Cristiana
Gunter, director of Goethe Institute in Tashkent said.
Festival of stage improvisations was opened with the staging by Boris
Gafurov, the art director of the theatre. “The Arab Night” by Ronald
Schimmelpfenning, recognized classic of the German dramaturgy is a
complicated polyphony of characters plunged into a half-real, half-magic
air, which was taken by actors like clock-work. “The Arab Night” is a
story showing how hatred and love, life and death can weave into the
roll, which doesn’t let anybody unchanged, when magnetic confusing
fantasy is interfered with life of the big city inhabitants.
Anton Pakhomov was the director of the second play. Full of
reincarnations play by Marius fon Maienburg called “The Monster” became
indeed a zest of German drama days. Tragicomedy of transformation of
deformity into the mental abnormality in the background of urgent theme
about relativity of beauty and success and people’s dependence on
standards established by society was skillfully demonstrated by
transformations of actors.
On the third day, Helena Lustina presented her staging of a play by
Swiss dramatist Lukas Berfus called “The Test”. Two generations of
people with different views mixing in tragicomedy were embodied by two
generations of actors. Funny and tragic story of life and place of the
family values in the contemporary world became the ideal finale of the
German Drama Days on the Ilkhom stage.
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Kazakh, Uzbek customs officials discuss border
control, drugs fight |
| November 03, 2008 |
| UzReport
A working meeting of customs officials of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
has taken place at the common border and customs checkpoint Kaplanbek at
the initiative of the Kazakh Ministry of Finance. They discussed the
future work of checkpoints on the Kazakh-Uzbek border, the fight against
smuggling and illegal drugs and also information exchange.
Officials of South Kazakhstan Region's customs control department
told meeting participants about the dynamic of trade between the two
countries and the movement of people, goods and vehicles across the
Kazakh-Uzbek border. This year trade between South Kazakhstan Region and
Uzbekistan has amounted to US$625 million, 122% up on last year.
However, customs and other services operating on the border are
facing problems because of the inefficient work of checkpoints on both
sides.
For example, only five out of the nine checkpoints that are designed
for passage of goods and vehicles are open. The other four do not
operate regularly for various reasons. For example, the Kazakh Zhibek
Zholy checkpoint and the adjacent Uzbek Gisht Kuprik are temporarily
closed because our side is repairing old and constructing new buildings.
Our Kaplanbek [checkpoint] and the Uzbek Navoi are technically equipped
and fully staffed but we still don't know when our neighbours are
planning to open their side. No vehicles are allowed through the
Tolebi-Minsu [checkpoint] because since 2003 the adjacent road has been
blocked off with concrete slabs and people can cross it only on foot.
This causes concentration of a large number of vehicles at the
operating checkpoints, which, our customs officials believe, benefits
smugglers. The border between our countries goes through a varying
terrain, not only along river beds but also across the steppe and
mountains. Border areas are densely populated, settlements and houses
are very close to the border line, there are numerous roundabout roads
and self-made river crossings that all hinder comprehensive customs
control, creating preconditions for illegal movement of goods, i.e. for
smuggling.
In the past several years South Kazakhstan customs and border
officers have repeatedly destroyed self-made bridges and other
crossings, ploughed up roundabout dirt tracks, blocked off roads and
paths that ran across the border. However, as smuggler fighters
complained at the meeting, ruined crossings soon get rebuilt and road
blocks get all pulled away overnight by tractors.
According to South Kazakhstan Region customs officials, over the
first nine months of this year they uncovered 708 cases of smuggling
goods and vehicles. They opened 11 criminal cases and 697 cases under
the administrative code. They seized goods worth more than 85 million
tenge, extracted fines worth more than 6.2 million tenge and compensated
losses to the state worth 7 million tenge.
The press office of South Kazakhstan Region's customs department told
Izvestiya-Kazakhstan that the Kazakh side proposed joining efforts to
channel the illegal flow of goods and vehicles to go through official
checkpoints for customs formalities and control. This would require
first of all opening and full-time operation of the checkpoints that are
currently working at half-capacity.
After discussing the meeting's agenda, the customs officials agreed
to set up a working group out of heads of operational departments and
appoint people to be in charge of coordination.
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Iran, Uzbekistan call for expansion of bilateral
ties |
| November 01, 2008 |
| UzReport
Iranian Ambassador to Uzbekistan Mohammad Keshavarz-Zadeh held talks
with Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of
Uzbekistan Elyor Ganiev in Tashkent on Saturday, IRNA reported.
During the meeting, the two sides called for expansion of bilateral
ties in all arenas.
Referring to the ninth Tehran-Tashkent Joint Economic Commission
session held recently in Tashkent, Ganiev expressed hope that the level
of the two countries' ties would be upgraded more than before.
Pointing to the deep-rooted Iran-Uzbekistan cultural, religious and
historical commonalities, the Uzbek minister stated that both sides
should leave no stone unturned in boosting mutual interests, the report
said
The Iranian envoy, for his part, expressed Iran's willingness for
expansion of mutual cooperation in economic and trade fields, the
Iranian agency said.
"Holding of the two countries' joint economic commission sessions is
also a good opportunity for following up implementation of
previously-signed accords and surveying new ways for broadening of
Iran-Uzbekistan cooperation," Keshavarz-Zadeh said.
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Uzbek-British cultural cooperation to expand |
| November 01, 2008 |
| UzA,
The Fund “Forum of culture and art of Uzbekistan” and the British
Council signed a Memorandum of understanding, which envisages expansion
of cooperation in education, culture and arts in 2008-2010.
The signing took place during the visit of the chairman and the
executive director of the British Council Martin Davidson to Uzbekistan.
The Fund Forum is a large organization working in the areas of
reviving national traditions and spiritual heritage, development of
culture, arts, education and sports. The fund was the first public
organization in the CIS to become the official partner of UNESCO.
The fund also signed similar memorandums with the Swiss bureu for
cooperation and the Chinese Sun Tsinlin public fund.
The British Council has been implementing its projects in Uzbekistan
for 12 years. This international organization runs projects in 110
countries.
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Uzbek-British cultural cooperation to expand |
| November 01, 2008 |
| UzA,
International exhibition devoted to the Beijing Olympic Games of 2008
is being held in Samarkand.
The event, organized by the National Olympic Committee, was a logical
continuation of the exhibitions held in Moscow, Kiev, Minsk and
Tashkent.
More than 150 pictures are presented at the exhibition, showing the
bright moments of competitions, champions and participants, including
those from Uzbekistan.
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