A consortium of German companies to help “Uzbekenergo” in the construction of heliostations. 2
Amount of medical services for foreign citizens is increasing in Uzbekistan. 3
National Company “Uzbektourism” celebrates 23 years anniversary. 4
investments
A consortium of German companies to help “Uzbekenergo” in the construction of heliostations
As a result of international tender JSC “Uzbekenergo” signed a contract with a consortium of German companies GOPA International Energy Consultant GmbH, Suntrace GmbH and the Renewables Academy AG (RENAC) for consulting services to support the project “Construction of a solar photovoltaic power plant of 100 MW in the Samarkand region”.
Recall that on March 1, 2013 President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a decree “On measures for further development of alternative energy sources.”
The Decree approved the proposal of the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the “Uzbekenergo” on the implementation of the project of construction of solar photovoltaic power plant of 100 MW in the Samarkand region.
For the construction of this solar power plant the Asian Development Bank (ADB) allocated a loan worth $110 million. ADB assistance is carried out at the expense of resources of the Asian Development Fund.
Project implementation period will be five years, with an expected completion date in March 2019.
It should be noted that the project of construction of solar power plants in the Samarkand region will allow Uzbekistan – one of the countries with large reserves of hydrocarbon raw materials and energy in the world – to diversify energy resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Uzbekistan has intensive solar radiation and the power plant, which will be based on the most advanced photovoltaic technology, will allow the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan to expand the use of renewable energy sources in the energy sector.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
International cooperation
The ceremony of laying down a foundation stone into construction of a modern textile complex was held in the Kashkadarya region
The ceremony of laying down a foundation stone into construction of a modern textile complex of the Dutch Company LT Textile Coopertief U.A. was held in the Qarshi district of the Kashkadarya region.
The light industry of Uzbekistan is one of the most active branches of national economy attracting foreign investments. There are about 290 enterprises operating within the system of the State Share-Holding Company ‘Uzbekyengilsanoat’ , of which 156 were set up with the participation of foreign investors from South Korea, India, Singapore, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, the United States and other countries. Such a willingness of foreign companies is quite justified – the favorable investment climate and proposed preferences and benefits are complemented with a significant raw materials base, a developed transport and communication infrastructure, availability of qualified personnel and technological foundation.
According to results of the first half a year of 2015 the enterprises of this sector have brought up the production of output up to 6 trillion soums having increased this indicator by 14.2% YOY. The establishments of the textile industry alone manufactured produce to the amount of 4.39 trillion soums (growth by 12.2%), including that of cotton fabric – worth 1.18 trillion soums (19.3%) and knitted garments – 400.5 billion soums (16.2%). The clothing industry increased production by 22.8%, bringing the output to 1.11 trillion soums; and the tanning and boot and shoe industry – by 22% (344.2 billion soums) (currency rates of CB RU from 12.08.2015 1$= 2585.27 soums). The production of raw silk has grown up 1.6 times over, that of lisle thread cotton yarn – 1.3 times over; garments and knotted garments – 1.2 times over, including outer garments and knitwear – 2.1 times over; and that of working uniforms – 1.6 times over.
The new production facility, the construction of which is planned to be completed in November 2016, will contribute its share to this dynamic progress of the industry. According to forecasts, the enterprise will process 20 thousand tons of cotton fiber, 15 thousand tons of hank and mixed yarn in the first quarter of 2017. It is planned to export 80% of the manufactured output and create 700 new jobs upon reaching the enterprise’s production capacity.
In compliance with their obligations the Europeans are determined to invest not less than $55 mln. into organization of textile production fitted out with high-tech and energy-efficient equipment and setting up a specialized service center for the maintenance of the textile equipment in the course of 2015-2016. Apart from that the company plans to arrange the production of cotton fabric and mixed cloths by the end of 2018 on account of its own resources in the amount of $5 mln.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
MEDICINE
Amount of medical services for foreign citizens is increasing in Uzbekistan
What makes Uzbekistan attractive is not just its architectural and archeological monuments. The country offers an increasing amount of medical services for foreign citizens. This year alone, this figure has increased twofold.
In 2013, more than 4,000 people from 26 countries sought medical services at clinics and medical centers in the republic. The next year, the number swelled to 8136 people from 39 countries. Accordingly, the amount of monies earned from medical services increased from 2.9 billion soums to 5.3 billion soums,” said Yelizaveta Pak, head of the Medical Tourism Development Section at the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan, in an interview with Uzbekistan Today (currency rates of CB RU from 12.08.2015 1$= 2585.27 soums). “However, it is too soon to talk about a significant share of services for foreign citizens in the total structure of paid services because medical tourism has taken off just recently.”
What makes the national healthcare system attractive to foreigners?
“First of all, it’s the broad range of modern medical institutions furnished with cutting-edge equipment, the fast growth rate of medicine and material-technical resources, and close cooperation with international clinics. The cost of services, as compared with other countries, is considerably lower, including accommodation for escort and other costs. The territorial accessibility of the region also plays an important role because long-distance trips may have a negative impact on a patient’s health.
The country is also attractive due it its arid and warm climate. Patients appreciate the political stability, medical personnel’s knowledge of foreign languages and hospitability.
The large number of tourist destinations – architectural and archeological landmarks along with reasonably prices services – also plays an important role.”
Which clinics in Uzbekistan enjoy great demand?
“The bulk of high-tech medical services for foreign citizens are provided by republican centers for surgery, oncology, cardiology, eye microsurgery, endocrinology, obstetrics and gynecology as well as clinics at research institutions and medical universities that boast cutting-edge medical equipment and high-caliber specialists. However, the list of healthcare establishments, whose medical help has been sought by foreign citizens, includes 48 hospitals, including those at regional and district levels. The main criterion of a clinic’s appeal is conformity with a patient’s disease profile and high-quality services.”
Do many foreign citizens come to Uzbekistan for treatment purposes?
“Special research work is being conducted on this theme. But conversing with some patients from abroad, you learn that virtually all of them come to receive treatment although there are cases when people who come to Uzbekistan to visit friends or relative or on business seek emergency aid.”
What is being done to popularize local healthcare abroad?
“In 2012, the Ministry of Health set up a department of medical tourism development. We represent our clinics at various international tourism forums. We have participated actively in the 19th and 20th Tashkent International Fair “Silk Road Tourism”, in a session of an international roundtable focusing on the improvement of the quality of sanatorium and resort-based treatment and medical tourism, the international seminar “Relevant Issues in Sanatorium and Resort Treatment and Medical Rehabilitation of Children with Respiratory Diseases”. Our participation in the 6th International Congress on Medical Tourism held in Istanbul, Turkey and other events has proved fruitful.
As a result, the brands of national clinics have become more recognizable in the international market of medical services. Therefore, the scope of services available to international visitors continues to grow.”
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
Tourism
National Company “Uzbektourism” celebrates 23 years anniversary
National Company “Uzbektourism” was founded on July 27, 1992, according to the decree of the President of Uzbekistan , in order to develop the tourism industry to the level of relevant international standards, improving the management of this sphere, enhance its economic efficiency, as well as the implementation of a unified state policy on the field of tourism and tourism infrastructure. Today, NC “Uzbektourism” celebrates its 23-year anniversary.
It should be noted that Uzbekistan, being one of the oldest centers of world civilization, has the most significant potential for tourism in this region. After gaining state independence, Uzbekistan elaborated radically new principles of state policy on the sphere of tourism. During the years of independence a number of normative legal documents, aimed at regulating the various aspects of the tourism industry had been adopted, including the provisions of the Law of Republic of Uzbekistan “On Tourism”, which was adopted on August 20, 1999.
Programs of targeted measures on the development of tourism throughout the country have been implemented over the past period by the initiative of the government of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Priority directions of ongoing programs are the development of tourism infrastructure, including the attraction of investments, diversification of tourism products, the intensification of activities to attract tourists, improvement of facilities for tourists, training and developing of skills of specialists in the tourism sector.
In 1993, Uzbekistan became a full member of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The Republic of Uzbekistan is a member of the Executive Board of this authoritative international organization for many years. In cooperation with the World Tourism Organization and to revive the Great Silk Road – a major international tourist route – in 1994, 19 countries adopted the Samarkand Declaration on Silk Road Tourism. The declaration was signed at the famous Registan Square, under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Secretary-General of the WTO.
Emphasizing the importance of culture in promoting the peace, prosperity and mutual understanding among cultures, Khiva Declaration on tourism and preservation of cultural heritage, supported by the UNWTO, UNESCO and the Council of Europe was adopted in 1999.
Another important document, Bukhara declaration on tourism along the Silk Road, which highlights the benefits of sustainable tourism and identifies concrete steps to promote cultural and eco-tourism on the Silk Road was adopted in 2002.
Recognizing the important contribution of Uzbekistan in the development of world tourism, Regional Office of UNWTO for the coordination and development of tourism on the Silk Road was founded in the city of Samarkand in 2004.
In October 2014, Samarkand hosted the 99th session of the UNWTO Executive Council, dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Samarkand Declaration of member countries of the International Project of Tourism along the Silk Road.
During the years of independence Uzbekistan has been actively developing mutually beneficial cooperation in the tourism sphere with many countries of the world. Intergovernmental agreements and Memoranda of understanding in the field of tourism signed with 37 countries, including Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Portugal, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Cyprus, South Korea, China, Russia, Turkey and other countries.
NC “Uzbektourism” expands international cooperation in the framework of the signed inter-agency agreements and Memoranda with tourism administrations of 16 countries, including Spain, Poland, Egypt, Iran, Hungary, Latvia, Singapore and others.
Since 1995, Uzbekistan on an annual basis hosts the largest in the region, the traditional Tashkent International Tourism Fair (TITF) “Tourism on the Silk Road”, which is included in the list of international tourist exhibitions held with the support and under the auspices of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Every year it is attended by over the 12 thousand visitors from more than 40 countries.
The Republic of Uzbekistan is a permanent member of the world’s largest tourist forums. Organized by “Uzbektourism” unified national stand “Uzbekistan” combines the participation of domestic tour operators, NAC “Uzbekistan Airways” and “Uzbekistan Temir Yollari” NRC in major international exhibitions and fairs held in Istanbul, Madrid, Riga, Berlin, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Tokyo, London and other cities around the world.
Undoubtedly, Uzbekistan possesses great tourism potential. A number of modern hotels are built, the number of shopping centers, recreation areas, with dramatically improved service is increasing. All this is the result carried out in our country far-sighted policy in the sphere of tourism.
In the country there are more than 7,000 monuments of different epochs and civilizations (archaeological, architectural and natural), 110 international tourist routes (65 of them – on the objects of historical – cultural heritage, 30 – natural and recreational, 15 – ecological routes with elements of health tourism).
550 companies – tour operators carry out their activity in this direction. In Uzbekistan, there are more than 500 hotels, motels and campgrounds for more than 50 thousand people, 11 international airports, connecting Uzbekistan with more than 50 cities in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North America.
5 universities and 12 vocational colleges are preparing modern specialists in the field of tourism. The tourism industry of the Republic employs more than 200,000 people.
Every year, more than 2 million foreign tourists from 70 countries around the world visit our country. The volume of exports of tourism services is over 615 million dollars, the share of tourism in GDP – more than 2%.
(Source: «Business partner.uz» newspaper)
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