June 10, 2014
International Conference «About main food programme implementation of reserves in Uzbekistan». 3
Food independence important factor of wellbeing, stability, prosperity. 3
Games Wrap Up, Stadiums Stay Crowded. 5
Press-service of MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan
ECONOMY
Gaining a Foothold
Two international fairs of agricultural machinery and food processing equipment – Uzbekistan Agrominitech Expo-2014 and Uzbekistan Agrotechmash Expo-2014 – are being held in Tashkent’s UzExpoCenter. This year, the two fairs share the same time and venue, making the capital of Uzbekistan a kind of this week’s international agricultural industry center.
Today, agricultural industries need to use the latest technologies and equipment to remain competitive. The world’s food market is expanding nowadays, with new producers entering it and consumers’ food quality and safety requirements getting stricter. Yet the prices always remain one of the key factors in successful sales, so using modern and energy-efficient machinery and equipment allowing for reduction in the costs and keeping the prices attractive is crucial to farmers. That is why a number of agricultural fairs are held in Uzbekistan annually. They are supposed to lead to setting up horticulture and livestock product processing businesses using modern technologies and equipment, as well as show farmers and entrepreneurs the latest equipment, machinery and technologies offered by leading foreign manufacturers.
The first fair Uzbekistan Agrominitech Expo was held in Tashkent in October 2006 at the instigation of the President of Uzbekistan – and it immediately interested local farmers. Today, the fair gives impetus for establishing long-term cooperation between farms and foreign manufacturers of agricultural machinery and equipment. It also helps to launch the production of similar machinery and equipment as well as organize service maintenance of them in the republic. Last year, the fairs resulted in signing 1,185 agreements and letters of intent between local entrepreneurs and foreign companies, providing for purchasing 120.1 billion soums’ worth of agricultural equipment and machinery. This year, over 150 companies from 26 countries are taking part in Uzbekistan Agrominitech Expo.
“We are one of the leading Italian manufacturers of automated food packaging lines,” said Luco Bani of Teco. “In our country, we very well know Uzbekistan’s economy and the great potential of its agricultural sector. That is why many Italian companies are interested in establishing cooperation with your businesses. We are here for the first time, but we have already signed agreements on supplying two lines. We are planning to occupy a considerable part in our niche in Uzbekistan’s market later, and are considering setting up a joint venture in your country.”
The fair Uzbekistan Agrotechmash Expo-2014 is still quite young. Held for the third time this year, it is to act as a demonstration venue for modern machinery and equipment complying with the latest international standards. Over 20 manufacturers of farming machinery and equipment from 10 countries are participating in the fair now. There are also local participants – Uzbekistan’s leading factories, commercial banks and leasing companies. Exhibited at the fair are over 50 units of machinery made by well-known companies; among them are Case New Holland, CLAAS, Lemken, MAN, Doosan, Daichi, Deadong, Rostselmash, Minsk Tractor Plant and others.
The organizers expect over 10,000 representatives of farms and businesses to visit the both fairs. With the help of regional authorities, groups of farmers from all the regions of the republic are coming to the fairs.
Among the notable advantages of the fairs is that Uzbek businesses can purchase agricultural machinery and equipment at them without bidding, which allows many that want to modernize cut expenses and save time.
“France is an old partner of Uzbekistan in the agricultural sector,” said Cyrille Shweitzer, head of strategy department of FranceAgriMer of the Ministry of Agriculture of France. “Visiting the republic now is a group of specialists from 15 leading French companies specializing in agro-food production. I hope the visit of this many guests will help to intensify our cooperation and give fresh impetus to it. Today, Uzbekistan’s food industry is on the rise: many factories are being modernized, new production facilities are being open, and the exports are growing. We are willing to support your republic by providing new technologies and expertise so that we can jointly achieve success.”
(Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)
International Conference «About main food programme implementation of reserves in Uzbekistan»
Food independence important factor of wellbeing, stability, prosperity
Organized at the initiative of our country’s President Islam Karimov, the international conference “On Vital Reserves in the Realization of Food Program in Uzbekistan” took place June 6 at the Palace of Symposia in Tashkent.
The forum was attended by officials of eminent international organizations and financial institutions, including the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, as well as chiefs of diplomatic missions, leading experts and business people from more than 40 countries of the world, including United States of America, China, South Korea, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Austria and others.
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov addressed the conference with a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the international forum.
Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Jose Graziano da Silva noted that Uzbekistan is an enthusiastic participant of the global process in furthering the Millennium Development Goals and has been systematically implementing the objectives set before the nations of the world in 2000 at the Millennium Summit, in particular in the field of cementing food security where it has a tremendous production potential.
From the first days of independence, Uzbekistan chose its own way of development and of integrated and wide-ranging reforms in all spheres, directed at building a democratic state with a rule of law and a socially oriented market economy. In this regard, one of the principal directions in the socio-economic development of the country was to address issues in food supply, accessibility of foodstuffs in accordance with rational norms of healthy nutrition, along with the achievement of high quality and security of food products consumed by the population. Thus measures were taken in the country to accelerate economic reforms in agriculture built on the priority promotion of farming enterprises. The measures taken were aimed also at improving the production relations in rural areas, at introducing an organizational structure in the management of agricultural production that corresponds to market principles, consolidating the freedom of producers of agricultural goods and providing for their reliable legal protection.
The ground for the development of farmer movement in Uzbekistan was laid by the decree of the head of our state “On Further Consolidation of Dehkan (Farmer) Enterprises and State Support for Entrepreneurship in the Republic of Uzbekistan” signed 29 November 1991. The adopted Land Code, laws “On Framing Enterprise”, “On Dehkan Enterprise” and the one “On Guarantees of Freedom of Entrepreneurship” have shaped a robust normative foundation and system of guarantees for the development of farming, economic and financial independence of farmer enterprises.
Moreover, a complex of measures were taken to boost the economic and technical capacities of farming enterprises, optimize the land lots that helped secure a gradual growth in production volumes, effectiveness and profitability of farming enterprises. Currently, a modern production and market infrastructure has been formed and being perfected and that provides farming enterprises with a whole range of essential services.
A logical extension of reforming the agricultural sector of the country was the decree of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Measures to Further Refine the Arrangement of Activities and Develop Farming in Uzbekistan” inked 22 October 2012 that is dedicated to the elevation of effectiveness of farming enterprises, expansion of their rights and powers, reinforcement of the role in the rational use of land and water resources and in the creation of production capacities, the dynamic development and beautification of rural areas, provision for employment and growth in the wellbeing of the population. In accordance with this document, the Council of Farmers of Uzbekistan and councils of farmers in regions and districts were established to safeguard the rights and legitimate interests of farmers both in relations with government and management bodies, local government bodies, and with stocking, supplying and servicing organizations, as well as during cases in courts.
In excess of 73 thousand farming enterprises are operating currently in Uzbekistan, more than 28 thousand of which are diversified in their form and activities. Thus, farmers have become one of the major producers of agricultural goods.
“The agrarian complex has been dynamically advancing in Uzbekistan,” Dimitar Grekov, Minister of Agriculture and Food Industry of Bulgaria, has suggested. “Modern equipment and technologies of reprocessing agricultural products have been introduced in the sphere, of which we have come to be convinced while visiting relevant facilities. The local food products are distinct with high taste properties and quality and modern packaging. I believe the cooperation in this sphere will be effective and mutually advantageous.”
As it was stressed during the conference, in the course of reforming the agricultural sector, a special emphasis was placed on its equipment with state-of-the-art, highly productive, locally manufactured specialized machinery and technological hardware that meets the world requirements and standards.
The new stage in the evolution of technological component of Uzbekistan’s agricultural complex was opened by the resolution of the head of our state “On Measures to Further Perfect the Management and Financial Rehabilitation of Enterprises of Agricultural Machine Building” penned 15 May 2014. In accordance with this document, a holding company, Uzagroprommashholding, is to be established. It is to unite the newly being created Tashkent and Chirchik plants of agricultural machinery as well as the modular factory, which are to manufacture modern types of mounted and trailer agricultural machines along with their components and spare parts.
A special significance was attached at the conference to Uzbekistan’s experience in bolstering the food industry. It was noted that the growth in the production of agricultural goods secures the high rates of development of enterprises in the food industry. Today, they number around 7 thousand across the country. They supply the domestic and foreign markets with quality food products. As a foundation for bolstering the activities of food industry enterprises for the nearest future is served by the Program of Measures to enhance and advance the food industry for 2012-2015 as well as the Program of Additional Measures to enhance reprocessing the agricultural crude, increase the volumes of production and expand the range of food products for 2012-2015.
Association of Food Industry Enterprises functions in Uzbekistan. Today it unites more than a hundred enterprises who supply the population with industrial goods, consumer goods, including vegetable oils, margarine, mayonnaise, sugar and other goods. At the same time, a part of produce is exported.
Currently, the Association is stepping up efforts to enhance the economic reforms in the sector, to expand the range of food products and saturate the domestic market with high quality goods of local production. This is facilitated by the realization of investment projects directed at the modernization, technical and technological renovation of production capacities. To date, this process has been fulfilled at major enterprises, thanks to which the production volumes in the food industry in the first quarter of the year grew by 6.2 percent vis-а-vis the similar period of the year 2013. Notably, a threefold growth has been secured in the confectionery production sector, while the increase in the food production was at 2.5 times.
The range of produced goods also has expanded considerably. Thus, oil and fat industry enterprises stock and process on average 95 thousand tons of oil crops a year such as soya, safflower, and sunflower. The range of bread and bakery goods has increased to a notable extent. Domestic enterprises produce currently more than 300 types of bread and bakery products. Remarkable are achievements also in the confectionery production. In excess of 1,300 tons of candies, waffles, caramel, marmalade, halvah and other sweets a year, and more than 70 types of dairy products, butter, cheese, yoghurt. In line with the Investment Program for 2013-2015, nearly 300 projects is intended to be implemented, envisaging the increase in the volume of produced fruit juices and jams.
Currently, an important challenge is faced by every manufacturer of food products, namely, the introduction of novel standards of quality and management of production, cutting-edge technologies, on which the enterprises depend in order to enter new levels of development, uplift the q and expand the range of produced goods. Apart from this, a great significance is increasingly attached also to the preparation of enterprises to the certification in new rules, retraining the personnel to work with modernized equipment, creation of special repair groups responsible for the state of machinery, and many other things. Currently, almost forty domestic enterprises have an international certificate of quality management ISO 9001. International system of management in food security ISO 22000 operates in a number of enterprises.
“Effective measures are taken in Uzbekistan to promote healthy lifestyle and wellbeing of the population,” Director of the World Health Organization’s Regional Office for Europe Zsuzsanna Jakab has said. “Worthy of high appreciation is Uzbekistan’s participation in the realization of the Codex Alimentarius, a code of food international standards adopted by the International Commission of FAO/WHO, as well as the Health 2020 Strategy that is aimed at providing systemic support for production and ensuring safety of food products, the popularization of healthy lifestyle, commitment to social equality and justice.”
The conference has served as a platform for detailed discussion of measures taken in the country to saturate the domestic consumer market and steadfast provision of the population with fruits and vegetables, first of all in the winter-spring period, and the expansion of their supply for exports. The Uzulgurjisavdoinvest Association is tasked with wholesale procurement, storage and stable provision of population with fruits and vegetables in the country. Its objectives also include uninterrupted supply of trade networks in remote areas with food products of social significance.
57 regional wholesale trade bases and enterprises operate in the system of the Association, which have storehouses and chilling chambers for the storage of potatoes, carrots, onions, fruits, melons, meats, flour, vegetable oils, sugar, canned products and other types of foodstuffs. Constant reconstruction and modernization of storehouses, construction of modern freezing chambers are in progress in the nation.
Speaking at the general session of the conference, Vice President of the Asian Development Bank Wencai Zhang, the European Union’s Special Representative for Central Asia Janos Herman, Director of the Department for Agricultural Development of the Islamic Development Bank Demba Ba and others gave a high appraisal to the results of economic reforms in Uzbekistan, to effective measures taken to ensure food security, particularly owing to the cardinal reforms in agriculture and effective development of food industry.
Later, the conference continued in panel discussions. The issues deliberated on included the evolution of the global market of foodstuffs, cooperation with international financial institutions and investors in order to implement projects in the attraction of modern agro-technologies, the elevation of productivity of fruit and vegetable crops and grapes, the improvement of the systems of infrastructure and logistics, and other matters.
The international conference has brightly demonstrated that Uzbekistan has been taking all the necessary measures to step up the production of foods, draw foreign investments into the sphere, introduce high technological equipment, and boost the export potential. This allows for ensuring food security as a component part of socio-economic development, for creating all the needed conditions for a dynamic development of domestic agricultural industry complex that has an enormous production potential, and thus facilitating steadfast elevation of the wellbeing, stability and prosperity of the country.
A final document was approved to sum up the results of the conference.
(Source: Press service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
Sport
Games Wrap Up, Stadiums Stay Crowded
As a winner of the games the Tashkent team has been awarded with the Greeting Message of the President Islam Karimov to the participants of sports games Barkamol Avlod – 2014, as well as a Damas car, and holders of the second and third prize – Namangan and Samarkand regions’ teams – were presented with Damas car each. At a festive concert Namangan has passed the baton to Jizzakh, thus wrapping up the sports games Barkamol Avlod – 2014 among students of vocational colleges and academic lyceums.
A SPECIAL MISSION
Sports Games Barkamol Avlod occupy an important place in promoting and involving the younger generation in sports, developing the appropriate infrastructure, nurturing the comprehensively advanced and physically strong generation, capable for attaining the ambitious goals.
Addressing the participants of sports games, President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov underscored: “Today we are building a new state, new society in Uzbekistan. We have embarked to achieving great goals, namely, to join the ranks of the advanced democratic nations, to secure growth in living standards and wellbeing of our people, be capable of protecting our freedom and independence, and occupy a well-deserved place in the world community. The crucial and pivotal condition and factor in the accomplishment of the high ends we have set is, first and foremost, our physically healthy and spiritually mature young generation that is inferior to no one in anything and that lives with proudly elevated heads and the sense of dignity, that is capable of assuming responsibility for the fate and future of the Motherland. It is the thousands and thousands of young men and women, boys and girls, our children, like you, who have come together here at this festively decorated stadium.”
A sound mind in a sound body. The truth has been relevant for many millennia. Mobile and active lifestyle is a key pillar of sound health. Doctors keep tirelessly reminding us about that. Umid Nihollari, Barkamol Avlod and Universiade Games have turned into a mass movement of involving young people in sports, as evidenced by the figures. The preliminary rounds of Barkamol Avlod Games in 2011 involved more than 700 thousand students, while in 2014 – 810 thousands. Boys and girls take cue from famous athletes of Uzbekistan, in whose honor the flag of the Motherland is raised on the world stage. The young are proud of the talented athletes, like the world boxing champion Bektemir Melikuziev, the winner of the World Table Tennis Tournament Tohir Salimov, the silver medalist of the World Championship in Judo Sarvar Shomurodov, the winner of the World Chess Championship Mohinur Kahramonova, and many others.
All the games, regardless of the hosting city, leave a bright trace in the chronicle of the development of world sports with memorable emotions from brilliant victories and disappointing defeats. It is enough to remember how the cities get prepared for a competition: sports and youth infrastructure facilities undergo reconstruction or renovation. A Novbakhor stadium, sports complexes Pahlavon and Barkamol Avlod, university and college dormitories and other objects were renovated in the process of preparation for the games in Namangan, like in every city. Games are over, but the reconstructed objects remain at the disposal of the local youth. Thousands of boys and girls often come out of curiosity, and remain forever under the guidance of experienced coaches and trainers.
The gold medal holder in tennis of Barkamol Avlod – 2014, a member of the Namangan region team Humoyun Sultanov comments on the huge creative work: “New sports facilities in Namangan embody the constant care of the head of state, and help us to reach physical and spiritual perfection.”
DIFFERENT RESULTS – SINGLE GOAL
996 university and college students took part in the competitions in 16 kinds of sports – basketball, volleyball, football, handball, chess, weightlifting, boxing, judo, WTF taekwondo, freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, swimming, athletics, tennis, table tennis, gymnastics. The competitions were held in a fair and uncompromising atmosphere. The agilest, fastest and strongest played for 652 gold, silver and bronze medals. The games sparkled with bright and different victories.
The holiday of sports and friendship Barkamol Avlod – 2014 was rich in records and unforgettable events primarily for the contestants. For example, a member of the Qashqadaryo region team, winner of two gold medals in the 400 and 800 meters sprint Azizbek Samadov repeated his record and became the six-time champion.
The young athlete commented his success as follows: “My goal is to achieve high attainments in international competitions, and contribute to the promotion of our country. I hope that executives of the Athletics Federation will notice my performance, and my victory will lead me to the national team of the country.”
Barkamol Avlod Sports Games is a special sporting event. Along with novice athletes, it is a competition for those who have already demonstrated good results in the international arena. For example, a champion of Uzbekistan in judo, a silver medalist of the World Youth Championship in Slovenia, a student of Samarqand College of Olympic Reserve Sarvar Shomuradov replenished his collection with another gold medal. In the weight category under 73 kg he had no rival.
The competitions in Namangan have proved that Uzbekistan is cultivating a variety of sports. Weightlifting is going upscale after Ruslan Nuriddinov won the World Championships in 2013 in Poland. In the same year it became clear that colleges of Olympic reserve had succeeded in training the worthy followers of the champion, and that in the near future Uzbekistan might hold awards at international competitions.
A school – college – university. Umid Nihollari – Barkamol Avlod – the Universiade. The continuity in education and sports contributes to the harmonious development of the personality, continuous self-improvement, achievement of new heights. It is noteworthy that participants of the sports games of 2014 included many of those who had successfully performed at school competitions. For example, a representative of the Tashkent region Alisher Bekmuradov repeated his result at Umid Nihollari – 2012 sports competitions among schoolchildren by winning the ‘gold’ in the single competition in chess. Commenting on his last victory, the young athlete said: “These are two different events, two different awards. It was difficult to repeat the success. The level of my rivals was much higher than two years ago.”
FOR GREATER OPPORTUNITIES
Coaches and jury members avowed that the last games showed a higher level than the previous games. This is the outcome of both the development of Olympic reserve colleges and sports colleges in each region, and the developed sports structure. There is a huge contribution of the Children’s Sports Development Fund, secondary schools, community committees. They have been directly involved in the building of a unique system of promoting sports and healthy lifestyles among children and adolescents. Most importantly, children’s sports have become an integral part of education and training.
The supply of up-to-date outfit and qualified staff to all modern sports facilities ensures the expansion of the ranks of the students going in for sports. Currently, about two million children are regularly engaged in more than 30 kinds of sports in Uzbekistan. The average daily time of utilization of one sports facility makes up 9.5 hours. Given the increasing need for the services of sports facilities, the authorities continue strengthening their logistical capacity and recruiting qualified trainers.
113 sports facilities and swimming pools were built, reconstructed and repaired in 2013 alone with the focus on rural areas. 210.4 billion soums was invested in these purposes. The scale of the work has not decreased this year. Builders are engaged in more than a hundred objects, which will be supplied with new sports equipment after commissioning.
The policy of development of children’s sports institutions has conditioned the establishment and development of the manufacture of training devices and sports equipment. At present, enterprises of Uzbekistan produce 116 out of 120 types of equipment.
The year 2014 has been declared the Year of the Healthy Child. The national program assigns a big part to enhancing the role of sports in nurturing healthy children, and cultivating the love for sports in them, with the focus on girls. There are several ongoing important and long-term initiatives in this field.
A program of action is currently being developed to further upgrade the youth sports schools and specialized youth schools of Olympic reserve in 2015-2019. It is based on a thorough study of the logistical capacity of each school, the provision of qualified staff and territorial optimization. A range of events will comprise four major components.
Reconstruction of gyms, sports grounds and facilities for sports classes, chiefly in Olympic sports, will be continued. The provision of the appropriate equipment remains the foremost task. Close attention will still be paid to the selection of qualified coaches, trainers and specialists, as well as advancement of their skills, with the focus on engaging female trainers to facilitate the involvement of girls in sports. It is planned to further streamline the organizational and medical support of the training process.
A special part is assigned to the further improvement of the conditions for physical education and sports classes at schools. A special program is currently being elaborated for 2015-2020 to address the above mentioned tasks. It will envisage a range of measures to provide all schools with gyms, and double the total number of annually building gyms at schools.
High sports schools are in the highlight as well, for they play a huge role in involving children to sports, and training the top level athletes for participation in international competitions. A range of measures on modernization of the educational and training process in 12 institutions of this kind of national and regional importance by 2017 is underway. This all is expected to contribute to the completion of the building of a coherent system of training elite athletes, coaches, trainers and specialists.
The establishment of Research and Methodology Center for Advanced Training of Trainers at the Uzbek State Institute of Physical Culture should raise the quality and efficiency of sports institutions at all levels.
(Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)