DECEMBER 4 – the Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.. 1
National Online Training Seminar Organized for District Electoral Commissions. 1
A joint Uzbek-Chinese enterprise Hayat Power Cable Systems is mapping out an investment project 3
Law on JSC and the protection of shareholders ‘rights amended. 4
Tashket to host annual Fashion Week. 5
DECEMBER 4 – the Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
National Online Training Seminar Organized for District Electoral Commissions
In Tashkent, the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan has organized today a national online training seminar for members of district electoral commissions set up recently for presidential ballot in the country due December 4.
Arranged as a video-conference, the event was attended by members of the Central Election Commission, all members of district electoral commissions, chiefs of press centers of district electoral commissions, experts in the field of electoral law, representatives of political parties and mass media.
The online seminar is designed to further cement the knowledge on electoral law and skills of its application in the process of organization of activities of district electoral commissions established to spearhead preparations and conduct the upcoming vote.
During the event, chairman of the Central Election Commission, Mirza-Ulugbek Abdusalomov, stressed in particular that the presidential elections scheduled for December 4, 2016, constitute an important event in the sociopolitical life of the country. The progress of the electoral process depends, it was noted, on all its participants, their political maturity and choice.
Elections are the integral part of the democratic state ruled by law, free civil society, a principal form of expression of citizens’ free will, their direct participation in the political life, in governance, in shaping the government bodies.
As a result of reforms undertaken in Uzbekistan during independence years at the initiative of the first President of the country, the nation has built an electoral system that meets the democratic principles and universal international standards, and that which secures the guarantees of free expression of will by the citizens.
The critical component of the national electoral system is the operation of independent structure of election commissions that provide for the organization of elections on the basis of publicity and transparency and in full compliance with requirements of the law. The elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan are carried out by the Central Election Commission, district and precinct election commissions.
The Central Election Commission of the Republic of Uzbekistan has the status of constitutional body, occupies a special place in the system of government, and ensures the organization and conduct of elections without any interference of government bodies. The CEC acts on the basis of principles of independence, legitimacy, collegial work, publicity, justice, which facilitates the free expression of will of the voters and further consolidation of guarantees of the democratic nature of elections.
It was underscored at the training seminar that the preparations to the presidential elections in Uzbekistan has been underway in accordance with the Program of Major Activities approved by the Central Election Commission. The political parties have been granted access to elections; electoral districts and district electoral commissions have been formed; and all the conditions and environment conducive for their activities are created. In order to secure the transparency and publicity of the elections, representatives of mass media are being accredited to cover the process. Invitations have been sent to international observers.
Under the Law “On Elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, district electoral commissions have been tasked with oversight of the execution of this law and its universal application within the area (electoral district or region of the nation), with establishment of electoral precincts, fixation of their numeration within the district, publication of their list with the indication of addresses, coordination of activities of precinct electoral commissions, hearing of reports of representatives of political parties, heads of enterprises, institutions and organizations located in the territory of the electoral district, on issues pertaining to preparations and conduct of elections.
It was pointed out in particular that commissions for elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in their activities should attach special significance to such principles as legitimacy, securing publicity and transparency of the electoral process.
During the training seminar, its participants heard the reports expounding the principal tasks and objectives of district electoral commissions for elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the essence and significance of latest amendments and addenda to the national electoral legislation, issues related to the interaction of electoral commissions with political parties, international electoral standards, guarantees of electoral rights of citizens, tasks of press centers to ensure transparency and publicity of elections, the place and significance of the institution of observers in the electoral process, organizational peculiarities of the activities of district electoral commissions, as well as other issues concerning the preparations and conduct of the forthcoming ballot vote.
Participants of the training seminar also got familiar with the work of the Republican Press Center for Covering the Elections of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Tashkent City District Electoral Commission.
(Source: Republican Press Center on Covering the Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
POLItiCs
Acting President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Navoi and Bukhara regions on 24 September 2016 to assess ongoing social and econom reforms in the field, large-scale works in industry, agriculture and the social spheres
During his trip to Navoi region Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed large projects, implemented at the Navoiazot JSC in accordance with the First President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov. In particular, he visited the construction site of the complex on production of polyvinylchloride, caustic soda and methanol. With its commissioning, annually 100 thousand tons of PVC and 295 thousand tons of methanol based on deep processing of local raw materials as well as increase of caustic soda production by 71,8 thousand tons will be produced.
Also he examined the pace of implementation of a large investment project on construction of ammonia and carbamide (urea) production unit at this enterprise. The new capacities will allow to produce annually 600 thousand tons of ammonia and 577,5 thousand tons of urea.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev also visited another construction site, where nitric acid production unit with a capacity of 500 thousand tons per year with modern energy-saving technologies is being erected. After its commissioning, the obsolete equipment, installed here 50 years ago, will be dismantled.
Implementation of these projects, significant for the chemical industry and in general for the economy of Uzbekistan is carried out on the basis of the newest technologies and equipment by leading companies of Japan, Switzerland, China and other countries.
These new enterprises will create over 1300 new jobs. Training of personnel, who will be managing the newest technologies and equipment, has already started at the higher educational institutions and professional colleges of the country. It is envisaged that young specialists will undertake internships at the similar enterprises abroad and then will take in the commissioning works and continue to work here.
Acting President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has also examined works on landscaping and infrastructure development in Navoi. Draft general plan of Navoi city was discussed, instructions were given on construction of affordable housing for low-income families, the issues of waste disposal were considered.
During his trip Shavkat Mirziyoyev also surveyed the pace of agricultural works, cotton fields, talked to farmers of Karmana district.
At the meeting with the representatives of Navoi region, the issues of increasing export potential of the region, effective organization of cotton harvesting and sowing of winter crops, preparing social facilities and houses for the autumn-winter season, harvesting of agricultural products, improving the activity of communal services and house-owners’ association.
On the same day, Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the construction site of the Kandym gas processing plant in Bukhara region.
This large 2,6 bln. dollar investment project, implemented jointly with the Russian company LUKOIL, involving Hyundai Engineering (South Korea) and Enter Engineering (Singapore) is a demonstration of practical implementation of the Program on ensuring structural transformation, modernization and diversification of production for 2015-2019, approved by First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.
In particular, implementation of this project will allow to extract and process 8,1 bln. cubic meters of natural gas thanks to establishment of new highly technological production and modern infrastructure.
Just five months ago – on 18 April this year the official ceremony of laying the first stone of the Kandym plant took place. During this period, an enormous preparatory and construction work has been realized, in particular, vertical planning of facilities, preparation and construction of the external infrastructure have been completed, construction and installation works are underway, orders for equipment with long lead have been placed.
The first phase of the plant is scheduled to open in 2018.
A meeting of Acting President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of LUKOIL Vagit Alekperov took place at the construction site.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev underlined the active work of the company on implementation of joint investment projects in the oil and gas sector of Uzbekistan and expressed satisfaction with the progress of construction of the Kandym gas processing plant.
In his turn, Vagit Alekperov assured that LUKOIL will provide full and timely implementation of those commitments in the framework of the investment projects in the oil and gas sector of Uzbekistan.
Today “LUKOIL” carries out investment projects for the development of promising gas fields at Khauzak, Shady, Kungrad and Kandym group, the development of oil and gas areas of South-West Gissar in the Ustyurt region. In the framework of the joint geological prospecting works, promising hydrocarbon fields have been opened in the Uzbek part of the Aral Sea.
The total volume of the company’s investments in projects in Uzbekistan currently exceeds $5.5 billion.
The parties also discussed promising areas for further expansion of long-term and mutually beneficial cooperation with LUKOIL at the meeting.
(Source: UzA)
investments
A joint Uzbek-Chinese enterprise Hayat Power Cable Systems is mapping out an investment project
In the coming years, the capacity of enhanced processing of copper will grow from 3 to 10,000 tons per year. It is also planned to establish the production of 35 new types and sizes of modern cables and wires of up to 400 kW. It is expected that the expansion will create more than 200 new jobs. The JV also intends to increase the annual production volume to $65 million and export at least 65% of it.
The founders of the company – Almalyk MSP (25%), Uzkabel (25%) and China’s Gulf Cable Trading Company (50%) have also agreed to change the project stake. Now, the plant will increase its stake to 50% with a corresponding decrease in the share of the Chinese side.
Established in 2013 in the Navoi Free Industrial Economic Zone, the company annually produces products for $25-30 million. The total amount of funds invested in its development has exceeded $20.4 million.
The Almalyk Mining and Smelting Plant is the major supplier of raw materials for the producer of copper and aluminum cables of different sizes that meet all international standards. Advanced devices are operated mainly by young professionals.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
BUSINESS CLIMATE
Law on JSC and the protection of shareholders ‘rights amended
On September 23, 2016, Interim President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed the law, which introduced amendments and additions to some legislative acts.
In particular, amendments and additions were introduced to the Law “On joint-stock companies and protection of shareholders ‘rights”. According to amendment to article 10 of the act, JSC is established with the participation of foreign investors, whose share shall not be less than 15% of the charter capital of a JSC, except for cases established by the decisions of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Amendments were also introduced in connection with the adoption of the new edition of the Law “On securities market” (dated 03.06.2015 №ЗРУ-387), which abolished the depository as a separate activity on the securities market with the transfer of functions to the investment intermediaries.
According to the new wording of article 482 of the Law “On execution of judicial acts and acts of other bodies” the debts of clients of the Central Depository of securities and professional participant of the securities market, opened in the account by the Central Depository of securities are not subject for levy.
The Law “On execution of judicial acts and acts of other bodies” also clarified the specifics of the arrest of securities (article 531), the delivery of securities and other valuables for safekeeping (clause 54 and 55).
In addition, on the basis of privileges and preferences for companies, provided by the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 21.12.2015, №ПП-2454, articles 329 and 330 of the Tax code have been supplemented with new rules, according to which joint-stock companies with foreign investments are exempt from payment of state duty in courts of general jurisdiction and economic courts, on submitting claims for violation of their rights and legitimate interests.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
economy: Tashkent Region
The government of Uzbekistan has approved an Action Plan for Integrated Development of Towns and Districts of Tashkent Region by 2018
Tashkent region is often referred to as a miniature of Uzbekistan. It is not surprising, because on a relatively small area of 15.300 square kilometers it has almost everything that attracts the tourists, foreign investors and local residents.
The region can be fairly called the industrial heart of the country: today it produces about 30% of all manufactured products, about 50% of electricity, 100% of metal-roll, 98% coal and 43% of cement. The region runs more than 100 large enterprises and dozens thousands of small companies.
Almalyk Mining and Smelting Plant, Uzbek Metallurgical Plant, Uzbek Refractory and Heat-Resistant Metal Plant, Maxam-Chirchik, and several others are the industrial flagships not just in Uzbekistan, but in the entire region.
The Central Asia’s only automobile engine plant GM Powertrain Uzbekistan with the annual capacity of more than 200,000 items has joined the ranks not so long ago. The plant is equipped with state-of-the-art high-tech equipment, the work cycle is fully computerized, allowing to manufacture products in line with international standards. The new program is called to multiply the number of modern enterprises of this kind.
The document envisages the implementation of several investment projects on construction of new industrial facilities, modernization, technical and technological extension of existing capacities of industrial enterprises.
In addition, it outlines integrated measures on the further development of the feedstock capacity, organization of enhanced processing of fruits and vegetables, increase of food production and exports through effective use of irrigated lands.
It is expected that industrial production in the Tashkent region should increase by 33.4%, food production – by 83.1%, construction materials – by 35% by the end of 2018.
The total cost of all the scheduled investment projects will exceed $630 million, 11,500 new jobs will be created.
The government also entrusted the Ministry of Finance to develop a ‘road map’ on further expansion of the revenue base of local budgets in Akkurgan, Bekabad, Buka, Parkent and Kuyichirchik districts in cooperation with the Tashkent region administration.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
Exhibiton
Tashket to host annual Fashion Week
From 22 to 27 November the Youth Creativity Palace, Library named after Alisher Navoi and Tashkent Institute of Textile and Light Industry will host Tashkent Fashion Week.
The following events will take place in the framework of Tashkent Fashion Week:
- “National dress” festival;
- Be Young (fashion show of young designers);
- Local and foreign designers fashion shows;
- Closing Gala fashion show;
- Workshops and seminars from leading foreign and local designers;
- Exhibition of Uzbek fabrics and works of applied art;
- Scientific-practical conference.
Fashion Week will bring together talented, successful masters, specialists and designers. Particular attention will be paid to the design and the saturation of the internal market with luxury finished products with further access to the international market.
Representatives of the Italian, Korean fashion industries will be special guests of the event. In general, Tashkent Fashion Week promises to be an unforgettable event and a colorful festival of modern and national costume.
Fashion Week is a special annual event in the fashion industry of Uzbekistan, which has proven itself among local and foreign designers, fashion houses, representatives of industry, business and the media. The main goal of Tashkent Fashion Week is to promote and further develop the industry, “the Uzbek fashion” in the country, promote creative potential and open broad prospects to all designers, revealing new names. All the events within the frameworks Fashion Week arefocused on the formation of the professional environment and the establishment of international cooperation in the global fashion industry.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
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