INFORMATION DIGEST № 74

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April 15, 2014

INFORMATION DIGEST № 74

April 15, 2014

 

 

economy.. 2

Program of Additional Measures to Improve Investment Climate and Business Environment adopted in Uzbekistan   2

Society.. 2

Healthcare Technologies. 2

Success Prefers Industrious and Enterprising People. 5

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Press-service of MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan

 

 

economy

Program of Additional Measures to Improve Investment Climate and Business Environment adopted in Uzbekistan

On April 7, 2014, a Decree of the President of Uzbekistan was adopted “On additional measures to improve the investment climate and business environment in the Republic of Uzbekistan”.

This document was adopted in order to further improve business environment, to create favorable investment climate, to increase transparency of activities of government and economic management bodies, to radically improve conditions for doing business and to create new jobs in the private sector.

The Decree has approved the program of additional measures to further improve the investment climate and business environment, increase efficiency of incentives for entrepreneurial activity development for 2014-2015.

Ministries, state committees, agencies, companies, associations, local authorities are instructed within one month to post and constantly update on their official websites the information, regulating the issues of relations with business entities, with special attention to:

– mandatory publication of departmental legal and other acts (except for limited distribution documents and those containing trade secrets);

– procedure and deadlines for processing and issuing to business entities the permits, licenses, certificates and others;

– terms and cost of providing public and other services to business entities.

The State Committee for communication, information and telecommunication technologies together with the Ministry of Justice are instructed to systematically monitor the compliance with the requirements to the official websites of government agencies in relations with business entities.

The Cabinet of Ministers will carry out system monitoring over the implementation of these measures, including through regular surveys of business entities on the effectiveness of their (measures) practical implementation.

We remind you that business entities now can submit requests and complaints to state agencies and the Cabinet of Ministers through through the Single portal of online government services (my.gov.uz), or make free call to the call-center: 200-18-18.

A special interagency working group on entrepreneurship has been created in the Cabinet of Ministers for prompt and quality examination of appeals of businesses, and which is instructed to handle appeals from businesses and entrepreneurs coming through the Portal, without redirecting them to subordinate state agencies.

In addition, relevant responsible person and department are assigned to work with entrepreneurs within government bodies that interact with businesses.

(Source: Uzreport.uz)

 

Society

Healthcare Technologies

Medical technologies, like any other ones, advance constantly to meet the demands of the time. The latest versions allow doctors to conduct surgeries previously thought of impossible, resulting in thousands of saved lives. In this context, the provision of healthcare facilities with cutting-edge equipment is imperative.

Modernization of healthcare facilities is one of the major areas of reforms in the system. Procurement of equipment is funded from diverse sources. This year, the Fund for the Reconstruction, Overhaul and Equipment of Educational and Medical Institutions has allocated 16 billion soums for this purpose. Centralized deliveries are expected under projects run by the Ministry of Health jointly with the World Bank, KfW Bank, Islamic Development Bank and other international financial institutions. Besides, medical institutions purchase hardware with support from philanthropists and also from their own sources.

There are local manufacturers of equipment and medical devices, as indicated by the growth in exhibitions they have been arranging over recent years. Health Week TIHE 2014 is the first exposition project of this year. It has combined three traditional exhibitions: the 19th Tashkent International Health Exhibition TIHE 2014, the 10th International Exhibition of Stomatology Uzbekistan 2014 and AptekaExpoCentralAsia 2014. The exhibition hall of the Uzexpocenter demonstrates goods from 19 countries, As suggested by ITE Uzbekistan, the organizing company, visitors are to find much interesting and useful this year around.

Numerous healthcare institutions have something to tell about new technologies, especially in surgery, orthopedics and traumatology, dentistry. For example, the Vahidov Republican Specialized Center of Surgery has acquired two devices, namely, CUSA Mash and LigaSure that have extended the doctors’ capacity in liver surgery.

Grounded in childhood

The national policy prioritizes the further advancement of mother and child protection services. Over the years of independence, Uzbekistan has carried out large-scale projects on reproductive health. All maternity hospitals have been supplied with the cutting-edge equipment. 11 regional perinatal centers will be further be equipped outfitted this year, thus providing with an opportunity to better nurture low birth weight infants and those born with poor health. High proficiency ensures a happy ending of for hundreds of pathological childbirths.

A largeHuge in flow of modern high-tech equipment is forwarded this year to the pediatric service this year. In this direction, the German KfW Bank is the key financial partner of the Ministry of Health.

Reconstruction of the Republican Specialized Research and Medical Center of Pediatrics is to be completed by the end of this summer. All medical buildings have been reconstructed, and two new buildings have been built over the past three years. The Center is concurrently being equipped with diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical devices, opening up new opportunities for doctors. It has recently commissioned a Congenital and Acquired ENT Organs Department, which provides for the most complicated operations on hearing improvement. In the near future it is expected to launch a free cochlear implantation surgery, which helps children with congenital hearing loss to hear and develop normally. This year, a hundred such operations it is scheduled to be carry carried out one hundred of such operations with the using use of the latest generation implants. A Surgery surgery Department department is another new unit, which in the near future is going to be a platform for intensive introduction of endovisual advanced technologies in national pediatrics. Their advantage is in small incision of soft tissues. After such operationsFollowing such surgeries, the a child is almost not limited in movement, and there are less fewer complications.

The clinic of Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute, the country’s largest pediatric center, is expecting new equipment. It has recently completed the construction of a new building, and is currently reconstructing the existing buildingsones. The magnetic resonance and computed tomography devices and other diagnostic and therapeutic equipment will are to advance the accuracy of diagnosis and quality of treatment.

It is planned to complete the reconstruction and equipping outfitting of seven children’s regional medical centers this year, and six other centers – in 2015. Diagnostic laboratories, radiodiagnosis departments, 23 rooms of specialized doctors of the polyclinics, as well as all medical and surgical departments will be equipped in each center. Karakalpak, Andijon, Samarqand and Qashqadario Qashqadaryo children’s medical centers will launch neonatal surgery departments. It is going to be the first service of this kind in the regions to handle the most complicated intricate operations on newborns.

Focus on regions

Quality health service should be available to for everyone, so and thus the Ministry of Health continues with the implementation of large-scale projects on the development of regional medical institutions. This is the key focus of the Health projectProject, the a joint project scheme with the International Development Association. The first two stages of the projectassignment, Health-1 and Health-2, were chiefly aimed at the development of primary health care in rural areas and upgrade modernization of laboratory services. Under the project, Uzbekistan has developed a network of rural health units equipped with modern medical devices allowing to for the diagnose diagnosis and treatment of the most common diseases,. The nation as well as has upgraded the laboratory service of regional medical associations and other institutions.

Health-3 project is currently underway. Initially, it was expected to cover just a part of districts, but later on it received some additional funding, so the work was unfolded in all regions.

The first tranche of equipment under the project was delivered last year. The list of shipment includes up-to-date ultrasound scanners and digitizers for digitizing images obtained from a the commonfamiliar X-ray machine. New X-ray machines are currently delivered and installed. The necessary accessories have been delivered, too.

In the near future other medical devices will be installed in central district clinics and hospitals under the Health-3 project. The Ministry of Health is creating appropriate conditions for the a rational use of the equipment. The optimization of location of all units of the district medical association is underway as well: they all should be situated on one territory.

Children’s dental service is assigned a special part. It is planned to complete equipping of children’s dental rooms at all multisectoral urban and district polyclinics in 2014-2017.

The Health-3 project covers cities, as well, by a largewide-scale reformation of primary healthcare. A network of family polyclinics was established on the basis of the urban ones. Much is being done today for their comprehensive development. Currently, the issue of outfitting themNow their equipping is a subject matter of for the nearest future.

Oncology project

Oncology institutions are getting prepared for the installation of new equipment. New buildings are being built for Syrdaryo Sirdaryo and Jizzakh specialized clinics; those in other regions are under reconstruction. The first deliveries of equipment under the joint project of the Ministry of Health and the Islamic Development Bank are expected in the coming months.

Diagnostic service will be strengthened, as well. For the first time all cancer clinics will be provided with CT scanners, PCR analyzers, reagents and kits for immunohistochemical studies and identification of tumor markers, as well as mammography devices for screening centers for early detection of breast cancer in women.

This would raise the diagnostic accuracy and early detection of malignant tumors at times, and also develop a preventive service. Besides, it is projected to upgrade the stock of digital X-ray machines, ultrasonic scanners, laparoscopy, duadenofibroscopy, colonofibroscopy, bronchofibroscopy devices.

Modern radiotherapy equipment will is to be installed in all cancer treatment institutions. The cancer service will be provided with dosimetry equipment, gamma-therapeutic devices for remote irradiation, devices and those for intracavitary gamma-therapy. Besides, Uzbekistan will have two additional linear accelerators,; one will be installed at the National Cancer Research Center, and the other – at the Tashkent Municipal Cancer Clinic. Medical linear accelerator is a high precision smart device that delivers high-energy x-rays to the tumor,; however, they affect only tumors cells, leaving the surrounding tissues undamaged.

Still, the National Cancer Research Centre Center will is expected to reserve the status of the leader in innovations. The angiographic device will enable the introduction of new methods of treatment, when the drug is delivered through the vessels directly to the tumor. The country’s first hypothermia device will fight tumors through high temperatures.

All areas are important

The package of projects of the Ministry of Health on to equipping outfit health facilities with modern equipment is fairly big as it includes both ongoing and projecting prospective ideas.

Jointly with KfW Bank, the Ministry is implementing a project on in the provision of the Republican Specialized Center of Cardiology with high-tech equipment. The equipment hardware valued at $3.7 million will be delivered in the years to come to enable doctors for introducing new advanced technologies.

Another project scheme is carried out in cooperation with the Saudi Development Fund. $20 million of loan funds will be used to purchase up-to-date equipment for the republican specialized centers of urology, eye microsurgery, surgery, dermatology and venereology, endocrinology, therapy and medical rehabilitation in 2014-2017. The list of health facilities will be likely expanded in the course of the implementation of the project.

Experts are currently working on the projectsschemes on to equipping regional diversified medical centers for adults that are regional medical institutions to provide specialized high-tech care. Certain branches of abovementioned centers are currently equipped by the Fund for the Reconstruction, Overhaul and Equipping Equipment of Educational and Medical Institutions. A project on supply of urology departments with artificial kidney devices was launched last year. There are several large-scale projects ventures with foreign partners on complex equipping of all units of these institutions. For instance, under the joint project with KfW Bank the Surkhondaryo center will be provided with equipment this year, and the Andijon center is due next year. – the Andijon center.

The workEfforts are underway to consolidateon strengthening the logistical capacity capacities of emergency medical service is underway. The delivery of 100 Damas cars is scheduled for this year. Projects on the provision of up-to-date treatment and diagnostic equipment are elaborated together with foreign partners. The Program for Further Development and ConsolidationStrengthening of Logistical Capacity Capacities of Emergency Service Medical Care for 2012 – 2015 envisages the purchase of the a broad range of medical facilities for emergency care. The Republican Scientific Center of Emergency Medical Aid is supplied with anesthesia and respiratory devices, patient life-support monitors, artificial lungs, digital X-ray kits, ultrasound scanners.

Ambulance The ambulance service is being equipped with ECG, defibrillators, artificial lungs, Ambu-bags, immobilization means, laying devices. The recently established coordination and dispatch service will be staffed outfitted with modern radio systems and computers with specific specialized software.

Strengthening of the logistical capacity capacities is also a part of the programs aimed at the development of psychiatric and tuberculosis institutions. New equipment will be delivered both to republican central and regional provincial institutions.

(Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)

 

Success Prefers Industrious and Enterprising People

That maxim has once again been substantiated by the final national round of the Tashabbus-2014 show contest for the prize of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan that took place in Tashkent.

As the tradition goes, it was organized by the country’s Trade and Industry Chamber with support from the Council of Farmers of Uzbekistan and the Hunarmand Association, along with corresponding government agencies.

The share of small business and private entrepreneurship in the national economy has been rising constantly, owing to which the private sector is assuming a growingly important place in the process of advancement of the nation. Indicative in this regard has also been the annual national show-contest Tashabbus for the prize of the President of the country, and which has come to be one of effective instruments of support and stimulation for entrepreneurship, small business in particular.

This year’s business marathon was attended by some 10 thousand entrepreneurs, farmers and artisans. District and town phases of the competition took place in late February, winners of which booked ticket for performance at the provincial round. 41 most well-deserving and successful participants of regional rounds were entitled for the national stage of the Tashabbus 2014 show contest.

An extensive exhibition was organized at the Turkiston Palace for the goods produced by the winners, where they were afforded opportunity to display the latest achievements in agriculture, innovations in the manufacturing industry and craftsmanship. The neatly arranged exposition and the contest Tashabbus 2014 in general, that helped reveal new names of enterprising entrepreneurs, farmers and craftspeople, has brilliantly confirmed time and again that our land is truly rich for talented and selfless people.

Especially appealing to visitors and participants was the stand of the enterprise Sirdaryo-Mega-Luks that specializes in the production of polypropylene stacks. Earlier on, such products used to be imported, but now the domestic manufacturer sends them for export. Notably, the enterprise sent its goods abroad for a total sum of more than 325 thousand US dollars in the year 2013 alone.

Remarkably, according to the head of Sirdaryo-Mega-Luks Ltd. Muhiddin Normatov, the enterprise was founded in 2009 that was announced in the country as the Year of Rural Development and Beautification. Back then, manufacturers were granted additional tax and customs privileges and preferences, and the process of providing with legal, financial and organizational assistance in the modernization of production, promotion of domestic products for exports has been enhancing dynamically.

The immense support from the state for entrepreneurship is acknowledged also by other participants of the Tashabbus 2014 review contest. Thanks to it, in excess of 26 thousand entities of small business started up last year alone, while the total number of functioning enterprises in this sphere reaches 190 thousand. Currently, the share of private sector amounts to 23 percent of the overall volume of industrial goods manufactured in the country, practically the entire volume of market services, 18 percent of exports, and 75 percent of the total population employed in the economy of the nation.

The national round of the Tashabbus 2014 show contest has demonstrated also the speedy development of agriculture. Previously, people in the agrarian sector were busy by and large in growing agricultural crops, whereas in recent years the policy priority has been on the creation of diversified farming enterprises. As the President of our country Islam Karimov stressed, farming enterprises constitute that very foundation where the rural life is built on. And this is rather justified, since they are busy in reprocessing agricultural goods and the production of final produce, providing services to the rural population and other types of entrepreneurship along with agriculture and livestock. The number of such diversified farming enterprises has now exceeded 18 thousand in Uzbekistan.

They include the fam Fayz in Namangan region, headed by the industrious and enterprising farmer Tolibkhon Abbaskhanov. The farming enterprise specializes in growing cotton, beekeeping and sericulture, and it has bakery and knitwear production workshops. Eye-catching are the samples of final goods in bright brand-name package displayed at the stand.

According to visitors of the exhibition, such an abundance of the quality domestically produced goods is suggestive of the effectiveness of state policy to support farmers.

Particularly attractive were also the colorful stands of folk craftspeople, many of whom continue the trade of their ancestors. Carpets from natural wool, the dazzling suzanni, the national barics of atlas and bekasam and the apparel made of them, the golden embroidered items, the ceramics, musical instruments and many other things are indicative of the government’s enormous attention and comprehensive support for artisans. The effective system of benefits and preferences allows the folk masters to establish and run a successful business, owing to which their products enjoy a mounting popularity also beyond the borders of our nation.

Among them is the 23-year old Nargiza Dalibaeva from the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Notwithstanding her youth, she is already well renowned as a talented designer and endowed folk master. Keeping with the traditions of the scheme “Mentor-Apprentice”, Nargiza has taught the secrets of embroidery, patchwork, carpet weaving and sewing of national apparels to more than 20 girls. Making a good use of the encouraging conditions created in our country for the support and stimulation of craftspeople, Nargiza intends to cement her own business and draw graduates of professional colleges more extensively to this business.

In a word, entrepreneurs, farmers and artisans – participants of the national stage of the Tashabbus 2014 show contest – have gladdened with their quality products in demand.

In accordance with the tradition, names of the winners were announced in ceremonial circumstances at the Turkiston Palace.

They were identified in three principal nominations: The Entrepreneur of the Year, The Farmer of the Year, The Artisan of the Year, along with specialized nominations like The Youngest Entrepreneur of the Year, The Woman Entrepreneur of the Year, The Innovation Project of the Year, The Employer of Youth of the Year, The Family Business of the Year, My Motherland – My Pride, and The Exporter of the Year.

In the nomination The Entrepreneur of the Year, director of the Iftikhor Kiyim Sanoat Ltd. Anna Dobrykh from Namangan region has been named winner. Her enterprise produces children’s, women’s and menswear.

The Farmer of the Year went to the head of the Ahmadiy famer enterprise Bahodir Kenjaev from Sirdaryo region. He cultivates cotton and grain, breeds cattle and produces meats and dairy.

Abdumalik Madraimov from Andijan region has been announced as the Artisan of the Year. The folk master places a special emphasis on the reinvigoration of forgotten traditions in making national musical instruments.

“The Tashabbus competition encourages the development of entrepreneurship in the country and stimulates us to work harder and better,” Anna Dobrykh has shared her thoughts. “And it is a great honor for me to be acknowledged as winner of this contest. The path to victory has been quite taxing because the Tashabbus gathers the best of the best. I am going home with new projects and ideas.”

The triumphant in the Tashabbus 2014 were awarded diplomas and prizes of the President – Spark cars, while prize winners of the competition earned money prizes and valuable gifts.

Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan U.Rozukulov took part in the occasion.

(Source: Uzbekistan National news Agency)