June 4, 2015
Development of transport corridors discussed in Tashkent 3
economy
With an Eye to Export
A new stage of development of domestic viticulture has been is progress. Wine production is a long tradition for Uzbekistan; however, the approach to its manufacture has changed. That has entailed an increase in exports due to expansion to new markets. Wine tourism is developing rapidly in the country.
Viticulture and winemaking are specific branches of the country’s economy. It takes an average of 3 to 5 years to produce quality wine in the climatic conditions of Uzbekistan, ranging from planting the vines to the final product. However, it would be a mistake to suppose that effective and rapid development of the industry is impossible in local conditions. Here, the traditions have entwined with modern approaches, technologies and equipment. Most importantly, the industry experts clearly understand what to do and where to go.
Uzvinosanoat Holding Company has been purposefully working on increasing the manufacture of competitive products and raising profitability of winemaking in general. In 2013-2015, the Company has planted 2,600 hectares of new vineyards with the varieties for industrial use, bringing the territory of its vineyards to 6,300 hectares. Many artesian wells have been drilled to water 725 hectares of new vineyards using intensive and water-saving technologies. For example, drip irrigation has been introduced on 305 hectares.
The company has been taking some practical measures to expand the areas of new vineyards, and strengthen their logistical capacity, bolster the mutually beneficial cooperation with farms that specialize in the cultivation of industrial grape varieties, as well as advance their skills and incentives.
Experts point out that the development of wine-making depends largely on the extent of readiness of authorities to competently regulate this activity, to provide protection and support for unique products. In the short term, Uzbekistan is planning to trigger several unique projects, some of which will involve foreign experience. Small businesses produce the highest quality products in the world’s wine manufacturers like France, Italy, Germany, Spain and the United States. They may even be family businesses with just a few hectares of vineyards. Most importantly, small businesses are able to quickly react to changes in consumers’ preferences, and sometimes even shape them by non-standard approaches, creating a new trend.
130,000 tons of grapes were processed in 2014, while this year the figure is expected to reach 132,000 tons, including 18,000 tons of grapes from the company’s plantations. That requires the further expansion of capacities and installation of new lines. More than 20 enterprises were upgraded for these purposes.
More than 150 enterprises of the industry have been implementing investment projects aimed at the establishment of industrial vineyards, provision of food security, improvement of soil fertility and increase in production volumes. In 2014 for instance, 3,500 tons of fruits, 10,200 tons of vegetables, melons, potatoes and other farm crops were grown between the rows in vineyards.
“We have been paying great attention to mutually beneficial cooperation with farmers, improving the level of their skills and stimulation of advanced farms. Every year we hold local showcase workshops for over 10,000 farmers. Landowners are assisted by service centers in Parkent, Bakhmal and Gallaorol districts,” said department head of the O’zvinosanoat-Holding Company Adiba Ahmadjanova.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
International cooperation
Development of transport corridors discussed in Tashkent
An international conference “Transport corridor Uzbekistan – Latvia – EU states: new opportunities and perspectives” was held in Tashkent on 3 June 2015.
Embassy of Latvia in Uzbekistan, Ministry of Transport of Latvia, Association of International Business and Technologies and Association of developing business logistics organized the conference.
The conference was aimed at establishing efficient transport communication between Uzbekistan and Latvia and Uzbekistan and EU states, determine perspective transport routes, exchange experience in logistic management, etc.
Representatives of transport and logistics companies of Central Asia, China, Afghanistan, international organizations and institutions such as UNDP, USAID, GIZ, CAREC IBR, WB, ADB and others attended the event.
A delegation of Latvia led by Deputy Minister of Transport Uldis Reimanis arrived in Uzbekistan on 1 June 2015 to participate in the conference.
Uzbekistan is one of two doubly landlocked states of the world (along with Liechtenstein). That means that Uzbekistan is completely surrounded by landlocked nations. In the result, prices of products from Uzbekistan increases due to extra expenses for transportation. Uzbekistan actively works on developing transport corridors to export and imports of goods.
At the conference, the participants discussed perspectives of interaction between Latvia and Uzbekistan in transport policy, Great Silk Road project, transit of cargoes from Central Asia to the EU via Latvia.
At the conference, Bakhtiyor Ergashev, project coordinator of the Center for Economic Research, said that at the scenario of real growth of GDP at the level of 8%, Uzbekistan should invest US$46.7 billion to increase cargo transportation.
He said that to achieve 8% growth of economy, Uzbekistan should ensure 9.2% growth of cargo transportation in near future. In next 15 years, the volume of cargo transportation should rose 4.4 times to 6.04 billion tonnes.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
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