March 4, 2014
Uzavtosanoat’s sales to reach US$3.7bn in 2014. 2
Uzbekistan to increase capacities of Navoi logistic center up to 300,000 tonnes a year. 2
Toward a Robust Civil Society.. 2
Press-service of MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan
economy
Uzavtosanoat’s sales to reach US$3.7bn in 2014
Uzavtosanoat joint stock company is planning to increase the level of sales up to US$3.7 billion, the head of department of foreign economic activity of Uzavtosanoat Timur Yunusov said last week at the Uzbek-Korean Business Forum.
He said that the volume of sales of Uzavtosanoat reached US$2.6 billion in 2011 and the figure reached over US$3.3 billion in 2013. He noted that the sales volume did not fall despite global crisis.
Timur Yunusov said that currently the industry produces over 250,000 cars, over 3,000 mid-size trucks and buses, as well as 1,000 trucks of MAN model. The level of localization of cars makes up over 80%, he added.
It is worth to mention that GM Uzbekistan is a producer of car in Uzbekistan. Samarkand Automobile Plant produces mid-size trucks and buses at technical assistance of Isuzu (Japan). JV MAN Auto Uzbekistan, created by MAN Truck & Bus (Germany) and Uzavtosanoat, produce commercial trucks.
Last year, the Uzbek automobile industry produced 246,600 cars, 3,500 units of buses and trucks of Isuzu, 1,200 units of MAN trucks, as well as 122,900 units of car engines.
(Source: Uzdaily.com)
Uzbekistan to increase capacities of Navoi logistic center up to 300,000 tonnes a year
Uzbekistan is planning to increase capacities of international multimodal center of logistics on the base of Navoi airport from 100,000 tonnes to 300,000 tonnes of cargo a year, Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan Shavkat Tulyaganov said at the Uzbek-Korean business forum last week.
Shavkat Tulyaganov said that the agreement on transfer of management of international multimodal center of logistics “Navoi” to Korean Air was signed in late December 2013.
Uzbekistan Havo Yollari and Korean Air signed agreement on transfer of management of international multimodal center of logistics “Navoi” to Korean Air in December 2008. Within the agreement the sides planned to create internal and foreign cargo routes to turn Navoi airport to international logistic hub. In the end of 2013, the agreement was prolonged till 1 January 2019.
He underlined that the capacity of the center makes up 100,000 tonnes of freight a year now. In perspective, the sides are planning to increase its capacity up to 300,000 tonnes a year, he added. According to the data of the Uzbek side, the second stage of the project on creation of logistic center is underway at Navoi airport.
The Government of Uzbekistan in cooperation with Korean Air created International intermodal logistic center at Navoi Airport.
The center is used as transcontinental transport-forwarding hub, linking Eastern and Sothern Eastern Asia with Europe, Middle East and the CIS.
Freight terminal has been commissioned at Navoi international airport on 12 August 2010. The terminal, as important transportation and shipping unit in logistic chain with developed infrastructure, can cover all range of transportation services in cargo receiving, storage and shipment with use of various transports.
Terminal at Navoi intermodal logistic center can process 300 tonnes of freight per day or 100,000 tonnes a year. South Korea’s Kyung Sang Machinery Co., Ltd, which also equipped Incheon Airport, provided equipment.
(Source: Uzdaily.com)
Society
Toward a Robust Civil Society
Democratization processes in our country have acquired an irrevocable, irreversible and consistent nature: people have been changing, their political and civic activity, consciousness, the sense of attachment to everything around has been growing. This is an outcome of wide-ranging reforms carried out from the first days of independence to build a democratic state with a rule of law and with human being as the highest value.
Meanwhile, the establishment and development of diverse independent and sustainable civil society institutions that enjoy popular support and are deeply rooted among the people remains an important task. They include citizens’ self-government bodies (mahalla), parties and movements, trade unions, public associations and foundations, nongovernmental non-profit organizations and independent media.
Organizational and legislative measures, including laws on citizens’ self-government bodies, nongovernmental non-profit organizations, public associations and foundations, trade unions, media, rights and guarantees of their activities have contributed to the establishment and consolidation of civil institutions. Practical implementation of the tasks outlined in the ‘Concept of intensifying democratic reforms and forming the civil society in the country’, put forward by President of Uzbekistan and approved by the parliament in November 2010, has become a new stage in their development.
The Independent Institute for Monitoring the Formation of Civil Society (IIMFCS) has been playing a considerable role in the promotion of public organizations, their involvement in national programs, and development of social partnership in the country. The in-depth research and analysis of quantitative and qualitative changes in this field, as well as the study of international practice provided by IIMFCS contribute to the elaboration of measures aimed at building a strong civil society.
At the conference IIMFCS summed up its activities last year, and presented the annual report ‘Qualitative and quantitative changes in the civil society development in Uzbekistan’.
It is noteworthy that the report was prepared in five languages , proving the openness and transparency of the institute. The forum brought together members of the Legislative Chamber and Senate of Oliy Majlis, representatives of state and public institutions, international organizations, research and educational institutions, domestic and foreign media. The reports and speeches highlighted the activity of NGOs, the media, local authorities, political parties, and the state of legal culture of the population.
Boosting the role of NGOs
Uzbekistan has simplified the procedures of registration of NGOs, reporting, streamlining the mechanisms of interaction with public authorities. In particular, as of January 1, 2014, the fee for state registration of NGOs was reduced five times, the fees for the state registration of NGOs symbolism – 2.5 times. The terms of consideration of applications for state registration of NGOs by judicial authorities were cut from two to one month.
The last year demonstrated a stable growth in the number of NGOs registered in the judiciary bodies. For instance, by January 1, 2014, the number of registered NGOs exceeded 7,000, thus, their growth made up 44% over the last three years.
The remarkable increase is the result of establishment of the organizations that support the development of business and farming, sports, environment protection, promotion of public health, consumer protection, as well as other areas where the government needs the support of social structures.
The Public Fund for the Support of NGOs and Other Civil Society Institutions under the country’s parliament is the major source of financial support for the sustainable and independent development of Uzbek NGOs that carry out socially important missions. The number of NGOs involved in grant competitions provided by the fund is growing: in 2012 the competitions involved 564 NGOs with 760 projects; in 2013, as many as 639 NGOs submitted 780 project proposals. The growth in the number of NGO grantees was at 13%.
The results of the studies conducted by the IIMFCS indicate the intensification of the role and importance of NGOs in the implementation of democratic reforms in the country, development and implementation of major national programs of socioeconomic development in recent years.
The report notes the increased involvement of NGO activists in the development and discussion of proposals on streamlining of legislation, in the development and implementation of national programs. For instance, 23 local NGOs were involved in the implementation of the national program Year of the Family at the national level, and more than 320 NGOs participated in it on the regional level. 31 national and more than 430 regional NGOs were involved in the implementation of the national program the Year of Wellbeing and Prosperity. As figures indicate, the level of involvement of NGOs in the implementation of government programs increased by 34%.
Sociological studies of IIMFCS showed that today more than 40% of the country’s NGOs provide social services to the population in vocational training, employment, social rehabilitation, support for vulnerable groups, and others. The majority of them operate in Tashkent city, Khorazm and Samarqand regions.
As noted at the conference, along with successful operation of NGOs on the provision of various social services to the population in the regions, they need to strengthen public control over the activity of local authorities and administration, over the implementation of national and territorial programs of socioeconomic development.
Political parties expand their ranks
All four national political parties – the Liberal Democratic Party, People’s Democratic Party, Milliy Tiklanish Democratic Party, and Social Democratic Party Adolat – have expanded their ranks in recent years.
In 2013, as part of the work on the further strengthening of the multiparty system IIMFCS held a total of 228 national and regional conferences, panel discussions, seminars and trainings with each political party on the establishment of primary party organizations under the local councils of people’s representatives.
The assessment of work of party groups in regional branches of representative authority evidences of intensification of their work in addressing socioeconomic issues, implementation of the parliamentary control over the activity of executive authority, and initiation of inspection of observance of law and other governmental resolutions on the local level.
Besides, IIMFCS informs on intensified reporting on addressing socioeconomic problems and implementation of national programs on the local level.
In 2013, the number of reports of executives on relevant issues of socioeconomic development on the ground, heard by the initiative of the party groups at the sessions of Jokarghy Kenes of Karakalpakstan, regional and Tashkent councils of people’s representatives, increased six times YOY.
Over the past period members of each political party widely used the right for an MP inquiry: in 2012, there were 978 of them, and in 2013 – it was 1,902.
According to some speakers, the political parties need to advance their outreach programs to explain their policy goals and objectives, to clearly state their position on various socially relevant issues. This is especially relevant on the threshold of the upcoming elections to parliament and local councils of people’s representatives in December 2014.
Development of independent media
As of January 1, 2014, as many as 1,372 media outlets have been registered in Uzbekistan, including 1,016 print editions, says the report.
62% of all the media are nongovernmental. They publish and broadcast in 11 languages of nations and nationalities living in Uzbekistan. It is noteworthy that editorials of 198 newspapers (almost 28% of the total) are chaired by women.
The legislative piloting of the draft law on the openness of state authorities and administration in Samarqand and Bukhoro regions in 2013 was a milestone in ensuring freedom of expression and information. According to experts, the involvement of the media, NGOs and citizens in the legislative experiment proved the effectiveness of a new method of engaging the capacity of the civil society. Finalized with an eye to the results of the experiment, the bill was approved for consideration by the lower house of parliament.
Grant competitions for the media that are annually held by the Public Fund for the Support of NGOs and Other Civil Society Institutions under the Oliy Majlis are important in terms of raising the efficiency of the independent media, ensuring transparency and openness of ongoing reforms. The amount of grant funds for the development and support of media activities is growing from year to year. For example, 507.1 million soums was allocated for these purposes in 2012, and in 2013 – 803.5 million soums.
The results of IIMFCS monitoring indicate to the significantly increased role of the media in covering relevant issues of common concern, implementation of public control over the activities of state authorities and administration.
The study of content of 393 newspapers (156 district, 87 urban, 112 regional and 38 central) last year revealed the increase of information and analytical stories that impartially criticize local authorities. In 2012, the domestic press editions published 659 important critical and analytical stories, and in 2013 – 2,159.
They bring up the issues related to landscaping, preparation for the fall-winter season, criticize municipal engineering services, raise the problems of traffic security, education and health.
It is worth noting that in 2012 representatives of state authorities addressed the problems raised in publications in 45% of cases; in the first half of 2013 they responded in 85% of cases. To some extent, this was contributed by submitting official inquiries on critical publications to state authorities, as introduced by IIMFCS.
Target support
As of January 1, 2014, a total of 9,756 citizens’ assemblies have been functioning throughout the country. Based on the population, every citizens’ assembly covers about three thousand people on the average. In November and December 2013 the regular election in self-government bodies elected 9,756 chairpersons (elders) of citizens’ assemblies and 99,618 their advisers.
It is noteworthy that female chairs were elected at 1,310 citizens’ assemblies. In certain regions the number of women elected to this position is significantly higher than the national average.
The Mahalla Republican Charity Fund has been the leading public organization to assist in strengthening citizens’ self-government bodies. Last year, the Fund invested about 21 billion soums in the development of logistical capacity of citizens’ self-government bodies.
Provision of targeted social support to vulnerable groups remains one of the main activities of citizens’ self-government bodies. For instance, in 2013, the total amount of social support distributed by self-government bodies amounted to 1.131 billion soums.
The list of progresses of citizens’ self-government bodies in addressing socially important problems includes the intensified interaction with representatives of local councils in tackling the issues pertaining to ensuring of employment, social support of low-income families, development of private entrepreneurship and family business.
Citizens’ self-government bodies are increasingly using the authority for public control as stipulated by the law. For instance, during on-site monitoring of activity of 588 citizens ‘assemblies in 142 districts and towns more than a half of chairpersons of citizens’ assemblies (55%) said that reporting meetings provided by executive authorities in 2013 were held in the format of interesting discussions or debates, and were of high practical importance.
Level of legal culture
A high level of civic consciousness, political and legal culture are essential factors in the formation of civil society. To achieve this goal it is important to shape a sense of respect for human rights and freedoms in the population, to make people aware of their constitutional rights, to make them a part of the motherland and the events taking place in the country and the world.
Last year, the Institute conducted several sociological studies to determine the level of legal culture and juridical awareness in certain segments of the population: students of educational institutions, entrepreneurs, civil society activists.
The studies showed the increased level of political, legal culture and civic consciousness of the population, its social activity. For example, 95 % of respondents say that the law should be followed always, while 87% are aware of their rights and duties enshrined in the Constitution. 85% of young people believe in achieving justice and rehabilitation of their rights in case if they are violated.
Active participation of citizens in the election of chairpersons of citizens’ assemblies and their advisers late last year in all the cities and villages of Uzbekistan proved the increasing civic involvement. Broad participation of the population ensured transparency and alternative of the elections, and election of worthy representatives, who enjoy people’s respect.
People have been actively involved in the discussion of new laws through social structures. For example, dozens of conferences, panel discussions, meetings with members of parliament, local councils, representatives of public organizations were held in the process of development of the draft law on environmental protection in all regions of the country. An extended discussion of this document demonstrated the commitment of civil society institutions to make a significant contribution to environmental protection. This is another clear evidence of increasing public activity of the population.
The growing public and socioeconomic activity of women was mentioned during the conference as well. The number of women-members of political parties increased from 308.5 thousand in 2011 to 341.7 thousand in 2013. Today they account for about 45% of the total number of members of political parties.
As emphasized by the speakers, it is appropriate to accelerate the development and adoption of the national program designed to raise the law culture in the society, aimed at drastic advancement of juridical education and enlightenment in the country, as well as promotion of legal knowledge in the society under the implementation of the concept.
In an open and constructive exchange of views the participants marked the untapped reserves in the implementation of IIMFCS tasks and solution of existing problems of civil society institutions.
The speakers adopted the guidelines to further strengthen the role of civil society institutions in democratic renewal and modernization of the country.
(Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)