It has been 20 years since an automobile was produced in Uzbekistan for the first time. 1
PROBLEMS OF WATER RESOURCES IN THE CENTRAL ASIA.. 2
Press Release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 2
Nigina Abduraimova wins ITF tournament in China. 3
economy
It has been 20 years since an automobile was produced in Uzbekistan for the first time
A quarter of a century ago, if you said to a person who by village understood a cotton field, by worker a cotton picker and by machine building a cotton harvester that in several years’ time Uzbekistan would join the ranks of countries producing cars, what would be his response?! Indeed, an agricultural republic, which had to import even wheat, set up the production of cars just five years after achieving independence. That was unprecedented. After all, car manufacturing is a very complex and modern branch of industry.
With every passing day the greatest holiday of the country– the 25th anniversary of its independence is drawing nearer to us. At these significant moments, it is natural for Uzbek people to take a deeper look at life and search for an answer to a question: Who were we in the past and who are we today?
In a historically short space of time, consistent reforms aimed at establishing a law-governed democratic state and a strong civil society, at making systemic economic changes and at taking up a worthy position among developed countries were implemented in the country under the leadership of President Islam Karimov.
These reforms made it possible for the large creative and intellectual potential of the Uzbek people to be used for the development of their homeland and for the realization of their big dreams and for their living standards to be second to none.
Leading analysts of the world are trying to find out the secret of the country’s economic success. Although in the early 1990s, it rejected typical forms of transition to a market economy, a few years afterwards Uzbekistan was one of the first among the former Soviet republics to achieve GDP growth. This country created a strong social security system for low-income sections of its population and achieved self-sufficiency in such strategic products as oil and grain. All these were unexpected for the international community.
20 years ago, the Asaka automobile plant was put into operation. On 19 July 1996 the official opening ceremony of the UzDaewooauto joint venture took place in Asaka.
At that ceremony, President Islam Karimov said: “People in our country and far and close neighbours understand well that the construction of this large plant requires not only economic and financial possibilities but also big moral power and a big heart.”
Car manufacturing is regarded as one of the leading branches of industry in the world. According to reports, this branch of industry accounts for nearly 10 per cent of the world’s GDP and is capable of a deep systemic economic change. The most modern and advanced technologies are widely used in car manufacturing, and its products are of large added value. This serves to ensure the industry’s competitiveness.
Every job created in the branch leads to 7-15 jobs opening in other branches and to a rise in demand for highly qualified specialists in the country.
Results of programme for setting up local production
The setting up of local production of products is a priority area of developing the car manufacturing industry and raising its production potential. It makes the consistent and steady development of the economy possible. Thanks to it, new jobs can be created, and the process of introducing modern efficient technologies into the production sector can be accelerated. Most importantly, it serves to use local raw materials and production resources more widely, to encourage the production of competitive goods and to save foreign currency through reducing the import of components.
Today, bumpers, auto enamels, sealants, industrial paints, exhaust pipes, fuel tanks, fuel pumps, car windows and seats, car batteries, electric cable binders, car interior components, car exterior lights, fuel, oil and air filters, encapsulated glass, generators, compressors, wheel discs, car frame parts and other products are made at many enterprises in the country.
In the initial years, dozens of joint ventures such as Uzdongju, Uzdongwon, Uztonghong and Uzsemyung were established.
Today more than 35 large production entities are working within the Uzavtosanoat joint-stock company.
It should be said especially that in 2011 the General Motors Powertrain Uzbekistan joint venture’s work on motor production was started in cooperation with General Motors.
General Motors Powertrain Uzbekistan has the capacity to produce more than 225 thousand car engines a year. Motors being produced to Euro-5 international ecological standards are supplied to the Asaka car manufacturing plant and are also exported.
The programme for setting up the local production of finished goods, components and materials in20015-2019, approved by the presidential decree dated 11 February 2015, creates wide possibilities for enterprises of the sphere. This programme envisages the local production of more than 30 types of industrial products such as shock absorbers, speedometers, technical resin for cars, small and standard batteries, radiators, air conditioners and noise blocking materials.
The country’s car manufacturing sector had a good effect on other similar sectors in it and is of important significance to providing employment. This is clearly evident in the fact that today more than 27 thousand people work in this system.
At every house
An automobile is a means of transport and of raising the quality of life. This aspect alone can help one understand and feel that the living standards in the country have risen so much. Today 42 in every 100 families in the country have cars.
“In the past, by house people understood a house consisting of a few rooms. Nowadays the construction of a house starts with building a parking space,” says Bahriddin Tursunov living in Bakhmal District.
Briefly speaking, the country’s car manufacturing industry, which is a vivid example of the Uzbek model of development, rapidly and steadily developed over the past 20 years and turned into a firm branch of this independent country’s industry. Today this country is among 52 countries producing cars and is among the top 30 in terms of production capacity, which shows that the international prestige of the Uzbek national auto-industry is rising. All these are actually confirmation of the ongoing realization of Uzbek people’s dream – the Uzbekistan is a Country with a Great Future idea put forward by the President in the very first days of sovereignty.
(Source: UzA)
PROBLEMS OF WATER RESOURCES IN THE CENTRAL ASIA
Press Release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan
With regard to information published on July 1, 2016 in the mass media of a number of countries on conclusion of a framework agreement between JSC «Rogun HPP» and Italian company «Salini Impregilo S.p.A» for the construction of the Rogun hydroelectric power plant (HPP), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan informs about the following.
On July 19, 2016 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan was handed over a letter of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan Sh.M.Mirziyoyev addressed to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan K.Rasulzoda. It read as follows:
«According to published reports, the Government of Tajikistan has concluded a framework agreement with the company «Salini Impregilo» in order to implement the project of construction of the Rogun HPP.
In this regard, we consider it necessary to draw Your attention once again to the fact that a number of studies on the construction site and, above all, a complex international project assessment carried out under the auspices of the World Bank have confirmed that the construction of the Rogun HPP is associated with a large-scale threat to the Central Asian region, which has been repeatedly mentioned in the statements of heads and experts of neighboring countries, and which the Government of Tajikistan is well aware of.
For this reason, having realized the enormous technological, environmental, social and economic risks incurred by the given project, the World Bank refused to participate in financing the construction of the Rogun HPP.
Time and again we have to remind that the construction project of the Rogun HPP was developed more than 35 years ago, in 1970’s during the period of the Soviet gigantomania. Today, taking into account the modern requirements and experience it needs a cardinal revision.
Not to mention the fact that raises serious doubts about the choice of the site for the construction of such a grand-scale hydroelectric complex in the world with an unprecedented height of 335 meters of the dam, while in mountainous area with magnitude of seismicity 9-10 on the Richter scale, there is no practical clarity on the total estimated value of the property, which far exceeds the stated 3.9 billion US dollars; the full project documentation has not been completed; serious comments made by reputable experts have not been taken into consideration.
The persistence of the Government of Tajikistan that seeks to continue the construction of the Rogun HPP at all costs cannot but cause in terms of the anxiety possible dangerous and irreparable consequences of such risky steps taken by the Tajik side.
We have every reason to believe that the Tajik leadership can address the complex problems with the energy supply of the country through the construction of small and medium-sized hydropower plants, using numerous rivers and water resources in Tajikistan.
As we know, such a promising program has already been implemented in Tajikistan».
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
sport
Nigina Abduraimova wins ITF tournament in China
Uzbekistan number one Nigina Abduraimova won an ITF tournament in Qujing (China).
In the final of the tournament, Nigina Abduraimova outplayed Fangzhou Liu of China in straight sets 7:5 and 6:3. She won her second title of the season.
The prize fund of the tournament was US$25,000. Nigina Abduraimova received 50 points. Now she holds the 192nd place in WTA ranking.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
Reference to the source is a must in reproducing materials