February 11, 2014
Uzbekistan’s President Travels to Sochi2
In 2013, the Uzbek automobile industry implemented 16 investment projects worth $221.83 million.. 2
Fund for support of exports of small businesses helps 153 companies. 3
In Honor for the Great Poet. 3
In 2013, Djizzak region’s economy attracted $14.5 million in foreign direct investment. 4
Press-service of MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Policy
Uzbekistan’s President Travels to Sochi
As it was reported earlier, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov attended the official opening ceremony of the 22nd Winter Olympics in the city of Sochi on February 7.
The leader of Uzbekistan was welcomed warmly at the Adler Airport by the leadership of Sochi and representatives of the International Olympic Committee.
Later that day, the head of our state took part in the official opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in the Fisht Stadium located in the complex of the Olympic village specially built for the grand international sporting event.
Fans from across the planet sincerely and cordially greeted the teams of nations participating in the chief winter competitions of the four-year period.
The performance culminated in the setting of the Olympic flame with the involvement of outstanding Russian athletes.
As part of the visit, the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov met with the President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov. During the traditionally friendly and candid conversation, the two sides exchanged views on the current state of multifaceted bilateral relations and discussed the practical aspects of the forthcoming official visit of Uzbekistan’s leader to Turkmenistan.
Within the Sochi events, the head of our state also held a brief meeting with Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey. The two sides addressed the current state of bilateral relations and stressed the need in bolstering and consolidating them. The two leaders also touched on other issues of shared interest. The meeting was held in a warm and friendly atmosphere.
(Source:Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
economy
In 2013, the Uzbek automobile industry implemented 16 investment projects worth $221.83 million
According to UzAvtoSanoat, 16 investment projects worth $221.83 million were implemented under the Investment program of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2013. By the end of the year 12 projects worth $150.20 million were commissioned, and the following projects were completed:
– “Launch of manufacture of exterior and interior painted plastic parts”, Uz-Koram Co. with total cost of $7.64 million (full capacity – 150 thousand sets, 39 jobs created);
– “Mastering the manufacture of Lacetti car model’s exhaust system”, JV Uz-Dong Won Co. with total cost of $0.8 million (full capacity – 30 thousand sets, 10 jobs created);
– “Mastering of Lacetti car model component parts”, Uz-Koram Co. with total cost of $ 0.7 million (full capacity – 45 thousand sets, 3 jobs created);
– “Increasing capacity of automobile harnesses manufacture for GM Uzbekistan”, JV Uz-Koji, total cost of $2.1 million, the project is implemented with significant savings (full capacity – 120 thousand sets, 15 jobs created);
– “Modernization of heat treatment line of automobile glasses”, Avtooyna LLC, total cost of $2.12 million (full capacity – 270 thousand sets);
– “Launch of manufacture of car windows”, total cost of $9.8 million (full capacity – 250 thousand sets, 90 jobs created);
– “Mastering manufacture of tilt and slide mechanisms of automobile seats”, JV Uz-Tong Hong Co., total cost of $2.7 million, the project is implemented with significant savings (full capacity – 92 thousand sets, 38 jobs created);
– “Launch of manufacture of large-size panels of Lacetti car model”, JV Uz-Semyung, total cost of $1 million (full capacity – 45 thousand, 30 jobs created);
– “Mastering manufacture of upgraded model – Lacetti MCE (facelift)”, GM Uzbekistan, total cost of $23.4 million (full capacity – 50 thousand);
– “Modernization and replacement of obsolete equipment and technological fitting, GM Uzbekistan”, total cost of $16.25 million;
– “Establishment of a new complex for manufacture of trucks and components in Samarkand region (III stage – mastering of manufacture of trailers and superstructures)”, total cost of $81.5 million (full capacity – 3000, 580 jobs created);
– “Mastering manufacture of fastening bands for Lacetti car model and shockproof door beams for Spark”, JV Uz-Dong Won Co., total cost of $1.6 million (full capacity – 90 thousand, 8 jobs created).
Under the Program of localization, enterprises provided output on 51 projects, totaling 6864.4 billion soums.
Currently, the industry employs over 24 thousand people, in 2013 over 900 new jobs were created.
(Source: Uzreport.com)
Fund for support of exports of small businesses helps 153 companies
Fund for support of exports of small businesses and private entrepreneurs under the National Bank of Uzbekistan for Foreign Economic Activity helped 153 business entities to sign export agreements for over US$56 million.
In particular, the fund helped Zartola Textile and Dae Yong Licoris signed export contracts for US$66,100. Besides, the fund provided financial assistance to Asklepiy-Swift for 150 million soums and to find foreign partners. In the result, it signed two export contracts for over US$1 million. (Currency rates of CB from 11.02.2014 1$=2209.68 soums).
The Fund analyzed external markets to reveal potential to export local products. The Fund found out that there are demand for 16 types of goods and 15 types of services in 173 countries, which can be provided by the Uzbek businesses, UzA reported.
The Fund also studied products of over 14,300 small and private businesses to determine level of competitiveness of their products at the external markets. Based on the study, it can be said that over 1,600 companies have chance to export their products in 2014.
The Fund established cooperation ties with over 57 foreign companies to promote products and services of small and private businesses.
This year, the Fund plans to provide support to over 370 local businesses via rendering legal, financial and organization services to promote their products in external markets. The fund will also help to find potential buyers and prepare export agreements, certify their products, obtain permissions, etc. The fund will also help local businesses to participate in tenders abroad and establish contacts with foreign buyers at various fairs. It is planned to sign export contracts for US$580 million in 2014.
Fund for support of exports of small businesses and private entrepreneurs of Uzbekistan was founded in August 2013 under the National Bank of Uzbekistan for Foreign Economic Activity. It has branches across Uzbekistan.
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov exempted the Fund from payment of all taxes, duties and payments to the state funds, except single social payment.
(Source: Uzdaily.com)
Society
In Honor for the Great Poet
These days, enlightenment events, literary evenings, academic conferences, poetic readings in tribute to the 573th birthday anniversary of the great thinker and poet Alisher Navoi are in progress across the nation.
As the tradition goes, the Alisher Navoi National Park of Uzbekistan hosted February 9 an official event occasioned to this date. It was attended by senators, members of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, heads of various ministries and other government agencies, creative unions and social organizations, poets and writers, literary critics, culture and art figures, students and representatives of the wider public.
Chairman of the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan M.Ahmedov, the Navoi Studies scholar – associate professor of the Mirzo Ulugbek National University of Uzbekistan G.Adilova, the poet N.Jonuzok and other speakers noted that the noble endeavors spearheaded under the leadership of President Islam Karimov to study the rich scientific and artistic legacy of our great ancestors serve to promote our national literature and boost the spiritual and enlightenment state of mind of the people, especially the youth.
In bolstering the spirituality and enlightenment of the people, nurturing a comprehensively advanced generation, promoting the Uzbek language and national literature, boundless is the significance of creativity of the outstanding poet and thinker Alisher Navoi. A tremendous attention is paid in our country to the thorough examination of the rich heritage of Navoi, to the publication of his works, explanation of their essence and content. President Islam Karimov initiated a comprehensive stimulation of efforts on this front, and a complete collection of works of the celebrated poet has been published.
Alisher Navoi’s works are studied extensively in general schools, colleges and lyceums, higher education institutions and scientific research institutions. In the enlightenment center eponymous with him – the National Library of Uzbekistan – consistent efforts are undertaken to create an electronic version of Navoi’s masterpieces, expand and consolidate the cooperation in this field with libraries and museums abroad.
Fostering a physically and spiritually mature, comprehensively advanced individual, the human freedom, peace and harmony, creative endeavors, accord, patriotism, as well as the idea calling people on noble deeds are glorified in the creativity of Navoi with a remarkable artistic mastery. The works of the poet are being translated into many languages of the world. As a sign of honor to the great Navoi, monuments in tribute to him are erected in a number of cities around the globe.
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Poland in our country Marian Przezdziecki noted that the ideas glorified in Alisher Navoi’s works that urge the human race towards humanism have become an invaluable spiritual wealth of all the peoples of the world. For the first time the ghazels of the poet have been translated by Polish specialists into Polish, and a collection of poems has been published.
The event participants enjoyed the excerpts from the poem “Farhad and Shirin”, the classical songs composed for the ghazels of the classic. Students of the Tashkent Institute of Oriental Studies recited poems of Navoi in English, German, French, Japanese and Korean.
The participants of the occasion laid wreaths to the monument of Alisher Navoi.
The official event was attended by the State Adviser to the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Kh.Sultanov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan A.Ikramov and the hokim (mayor) of the city of Tashkent R.Usmanov.
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Later the day, a mushoira (a poetic competition) in honor of Alisher Navoi’s creativity took place at the metropolitan Alley of Poets in Navoi Street. At the event with the participation of poets and writers, Navoi Studies scholars, young talents, it was noted that the creativity of Alisher Navoi calls on the human race for kindness and grace. The participants recited some ghazels from Navoi.
The events dedicated to the birthday anniversary of the celebrated poet are underway also in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and all the regions of our nation.
(Source: Uzbekistan National News Agency – UzA)
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
In 2013, Djizzak region’s economy attracted $14.5 million in foreign direct investment
In Jizzakh region was held the meeting on the 2013 results and the region’s socio-economic development priorities for 2014.
The meeting, chaired by the governor S. Ismailov, thoroughly analyzed the work accomplished in 2013 on the region’s economic development. Particular attention was paid to the implementation of the priority tasks set in the President’s speech at the January 17, 2014 Cabinet of Ministers meeting.
In 2013, the region’s gross regional product (GRP) grew by 10.2%, including the industrial output- by 12.2%, agricultural output – 6.2%, construction works – 22.4%, retail trade – 17.8%. The share of services in GRP was 39.4%, and the share of industrial output in the structure of exports reached 41%.
In line with the Program of attracting foreign investment, $14.5 million of foreign direct investment were attracted to the implementation of 17 projects, including 16 projects – $9.2 million. 994 new small business entities were established as a result of the consistent measures to further improve the business environment and to support small business and entrepreneurs. The share of small business in GRP reached 79.9 percent.
In 2013, over 800 projects were implemented in industry, agriculture and services. 534.9 thousand square meters of housing, 3 schools of music and arts were built. 318 kilometers of water pipes, almost 40 kilometers of gas pipelines were laid and new collectors were built.
44 million jobs were created in line with the Regional Job Creation Program, of which 68.4% – in rural areas.
At the meeting, along with the achieved results were also noted the shortcomings, and specific measures have been adopted to address them.
(Source: Uzreport.uz)