21st Tashkent International Tourism Fair.. 3
Uzbek delegation holds talks with Korea’s First Deputy Foreign Minister 4
Uzbek-Lithuanian political consultations take place in Vilnius. 4
Legilative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of republic of Uzbekistan.. 5
A program of creating workplaces and ensuring employment of the population is in action. 5
INFRASTRUCTURE
An ambitious program on streamlining the network of transport communications of Uzbekistan in line with international standards was presented in Tashkent
A UT reporter was impressed by the plans of the domestic road sector – it has scheduled to build and reconstruct almost 2,700 kilometers of roads by the end of 2019.
Today, roads act as peculiar blood vessels of the global economy. In conditions when China – the world’s industrial workshop – located far away from raw materials and consumers, there is a need to build optimal supply chains using automobile vehicles as, perhaps, the most popular form of transportation.
Uzbekistan has a significant strategic advantage in this context. Located in the heart of Central Asia, it serves as a link between Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Today, the transportation of goods from Uzbekistan is carried out in nine directions. The territory of the republic is crossed by nearly 20 international transport routes and directions that are vectored on the Russian Federation, Ukraine, Europe, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, China, and on the Caucasus.
The total length of the country’s highways exceeds 40,000 km, including more than 3,000 km of roads of international importance. In the short term, Uzbekistan intends to increase the rates by means of three new corridors. Two corridors will focus on the European countries, transiting through the Turkish port of Mersin to Turkmenistan, Iran and Turkey, as well as on the Baku-Akhalkalaki-Kars route. Another very relevant direction heads to China and Southeast Asia through the Khorgos logistics center.
With this purpose, it is planned to construct and reconstruct 418.5 km of roads with cement-concrete pavement, and over 2,281 km asphalt coated roads, build 350 meters of bridges, seven transport junctions as part of the Uzbek national highway by the end of 2019.
The ascending scale of construction is evidenced by the dynamic growth of the funds allocated. Only 31.6 billion soums was allocated in 2006, while by the end of the current year it The performance rates are similarly impressive. In 2006, the road specialists built and reconstructed 241 km of two-lane roads, while the year 2015 will mark the completion of works on 376.6 km of four-lane roads. At the same time, Uzbekistan is planning to draw nearly $2.4 billion of funds of international credit and financial institutions for the reconstruction of roads by the end of 2018 (currency rates of CB RU from 07.10.2015 1$= 2635.08 soums).
Representatives of the road-construction sector see the maintenance of good condition of roads as one of their key missions. This year, the National Road Fund has allocated 288.8 billion soums to repair 112 km of roads of national and international importance, and 50 billion soums for local roads.
However, all the efforts would be impossible without the up-to-date technology depot. In the next five years, it is envisaged to purchase 993 units of specialized equipment and 38 production facilities.
Another important point to be mentioned boils down to the fact that Uzbekistan has been actively building also the entire related infrastructure, not just roads. 37 motels and campgrounds, 85 automobile gas stations, 78 emergency aid and technical assistance units, nine tourist complexes and 31 parking lots have been built in the regions during the last four years.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
21st Tashkent International Tourism Fair
The 21st Tashkent International Tourism Fair entitled “Tourism on the Silk Road” opened 5 October at the capital’s Uzexpocenter complex
The opening ceremony of the event organized by the Uzbektourism National Company and the advertising agency “The Great Silk Road” with support from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) was attended by representatives of Uzbek and foreign travel agencies and companies, hotels, specialists of the sphere and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in our country.
Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of Uzbektourism Farrukh Rizaev, Executive Director of the UNWTO Zoltan Somogyi and others stressed that the tourism sector has been advancing steadily in Uzbekistan under the leadership of President Islam Karimov and that everything necessary is created for an exciting and meaningful leisure of travelers.
Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On measures to further support and develop tourism in the Republic of Uzbekistan”, signed 10 October 2012, serves as an important guide for action in the promotion of the travel industry and tourism infrastructure as well as the active encouragement of national tour services in the international markets.
In terms of the number of historical monuments Uzbekistan is included in the list of top ten nations. Our ancient cities like Samarkand, Bukhara, Tashkent, Khiva and Shahrisabz are famed throughout the world. The rich cultural and spiritual heritage and the beautiful nature of our country create an opportunity to stimulate modern forms of travel such as ecotourism, geotourism, climbing, extreme and cultural tourism, fishing, white-water rafting.
As a result of the expansion of tourist routes, improvement of transport and communications and the sphere of services, the flow of tourists to our country has been increasing. In 2014, the volume of tour services in Uzbekistan amounted to 116 percent vis-à-vis the year 2013, while the export of such services reached 120 percent. In January-June this year, the number of arrivals to our country by tourists from abroad grew by 7 percent compared with the same period last year.
Uzbekistan Airways national company has attained a well-deserved niche in the international tourist market. The aircraft fleet and airports have been modernized, while the geography of flights has expanded – an important factor in attracting potential tourists to our country. Running from the capital Tashkent to Samarkand and Karshi, the state-of-the-art high-speed Afrosiyob train creates convenience and comfort of tourists.
1,279 tourism entities and facilities, including 548 hotels, tourist camps and campgrounds, 731 travel companies operate currently in Uzbekistan.
Great many projects are implemented in our country in cooperation with the World Tourism Organization. Uzbekistan joined the institution in 1993. The UNWTO Silk Road Samarkand Regional Center has been functioning in the ancient city since 2004. International tourism fairs, conferences and seminars are held jointly with the Organization. Last October, Samarkand played host to the 99th Session of the Executive Council of the UN World Tourism Organization, which proved an essential stride toward bolstering the travel industry.
Held since 1995, the Tashkent International Tourism Fair has been making a great contribution to the development of this sphere in Uzbekistan. It helps to inform the world community about our country’s immense potential in the field, enhance and consolidate cooperation with travel companies of foreign nations.
This year’s fair is attended by representatives of more than 700 firms and companies from Uzbekistan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Switzerland, Latvia, Russia, Poland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, China, India, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Vietnam Malaysia, Thailand, Turkey, Dominican Republic, Israel, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and other countries.
“Uzbekistan has created extensive opportunities for doing business, including interaction in the travel industry,” Suchin Jienjitlert, Secretary General of the Thai Hotels Association, has suggested. “There are many in Thailand who wish to visit Uzbekistan. During this fair, we intend to get familiar with this country’s capacities in the sphere of tourism, establish cooperation with local firms and companies.”
Organized within the framework of the exhibition, Hosted Buyers program offers an opportunity for executives and managers of foreign companies to get to know the tour destinations in our country, and establish contacts and conclude mutually beneficial agreements.
The program of the fair included an international conference entitled “Preserving cultural heritage as a contribution to the development of tourism in Uzbekistan” organized by the Uzbektourism National Company in cooperation with UNWTO. It was noted during the forum that special significance is attached in our country to the perpetuation and study of the rich cultural legacy and that it is critical in the promotion of tourism.
(Source: UzA)
International cooperation
Uzbek delegation holds talks with Korea’s First Deputy Foreign Minister
On October 4-6 the delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan took part in the 9th meeting of the Cooperation Forum “Republic of Korea – Central Asia” in Seoul.
The delegation included representatives of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs; the Ministry of Health; the Ministry of Culture and Sports; the State Customs Committee; State Committee for Land Resources, Geodesy, Cartography and State Cadastre.
The representatives of the member states discussed the conditions and prospects for cooperation in the field of health, geospatial information, the customs administration, cultural exchanges as well as joint efforts to further expand mutually beneficial cooperation in the format of the forum.
The exhibition “Trade-investment and tourism road show”, which was attended by over 200 representatives of business circles of the Republic of Korea and Central Asian countries, was held in the framework of the forum.
During its stay in Seoul the Uzbek delegation held talks with First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea Cho Tae-Yong, says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The parties considered the priority areas of progressive development of bilateral relations, the course of the practical implementation of the agreements concluded during the Uzbek-South Korean summits.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
Uzbek-Lithuanian political consultations take place in Vilnius
The sixth round of political consultations between Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and Lithuania was held in Vilnius on 6 October 2015.
The Lithuanian delegation was headed the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrius Krivas, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan said.
The sides exchanged opinion on wide-range of issues, priority directions on further development of bilateral relations in political-diplomatic, trade-economic, investment, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres, as well as some international and regional issues.
The sides called for expansion of the Uzbek-Lithuanian relations, giving them multi-faceted nature, the activation of the joint mechanisms of cooperation. The sides stressed mutual interest in strengthening direct contacts between the state and public organizations, leading economic institutes of the two countries, representatives of small and medium businesses.
The Lithuanian side was informed about upcoming International investment forum, which will be held in Tashkent on 5-6 November 2015.
The sides also considered proposals on further deepening relations both in Uzbekistan-EU format, as well as within the UN and other organizations.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
Legilative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of republic of Uzbekistan
A program of creating workplaces and ensuring employment of the population is in action
On September 30, on the initiative of the faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, a regular meeting of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan was held.
Deputiesheard the information of the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the implementation of the Program of creating workplaces and ensuring employment of the population for 2015.
This parliamentary hearing was preceded by the study of the status of this Program, carried out by deputies of the lower chamber of the Oliy Majlis.
The event was attended by deputies of the Legislative Chamber, representatives of the Cabinet of Ministers, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population and other concerned ministries, departments and agencies, local state governing bodies and the mass media.
It was noted that the above Program is implemented in the light of the objectives identified at the meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers dedicated to the results of socio-economic development of the country in 2014 and the most important priorities of economic program for 2015. Large-scale reforms that are conducted by the initiative of the President of the country are yielding good results. In Uzbekistan, a strong institutional framework for the progressive development of economic sectors has been created. Against the background of the global financial and economic crisis, an integrated approach in the implementation of economic and social programs in our country allows to provide sustained high rates of economic growth, the effectiveness of social policy.
At the hearing, a detailed information on creating workplaces and ensuring employment due to the introduction in 2015 of new facilities, modernization, reconstruction and better use of existing production facilities, mainly in industry, services, expansion of infrastructure scale, communications and housing, the accelerated development of small business, including individual and family businesses, farming enterprises, capacity building of home-based forms of work, restoring inactive enterprises was provided.
Implementation of appropriate measures allowed to provide employment of 441,8 thousand people in January-June this year. 62,2 percent of workplaces were created in rural areas. Most of the employed accounted for Samarkand, Ferghana, Tashkent, Kashkadarya, Bukhara, Andijan regions and Tashkent city.
Due to the introduction of incentives introduced in accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On measures of ensuring reliable protection of private property, small business and private entrepreneurship, the removal of barriers to their rapid development” of May 15, 2015 significantly increased the number of people employed in the sphere of individual entrepreneurship.
Within the framework of the Program, representatives of the unemployed population have been assisted in finding jobs through conduction of fairs of vacancies. As a result, 141 thousand citizens seeking employment were provided with permanent and temporary work by regional and city centers of employment promotion, 15 thousand were provided information and advice on labor law and employment opportunities.
As it was noted at the event, deputies of the Legislative Chamber in the course of studying the implementation of the Program got acquainted with the work carried out at places for the development of the labor market. In particular, in the course of the study, they paid special attention to legal practice in this sphere, in order to further improve implementation of the Program, its improvement, identifying untapped reserves and possibilities.
During the meeting, deputies analyzed information on the execution of the Program in detail and on the basis of the results of this work. During the discussion, it was noted that in some regions it is necessary to intensify efforts on creating workplaces and providing employment.
The current system of monitoring and analyzing the implementation of the Program of creating workplaces and ensuring employment for 2015, carried out by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Uzbekistan requires improving.
In the process of discussing information on the implementation of the Program of creating workplaces and ensuring employment for 2015, factions of political parties in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis expressed their positions.
As it was noted by members of the faction of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan, government of country together with the commercial banks and enterprises implemented specific measures and systematic work on record-keeping and monitoring the creation of workplaces, employment of the unemployed population, primarily youth in the new workplaces. In January-June 2015, according to sector programs of modernization and re-equipment of economy sectors about 32 thousand workplaces were created in industry, in the sphere of services – 29 thousand, in agriculture – 23 thousand. Over 7 thousand were opened by the restoration of inactive companies.
By reducing the size of the single social payment for small and micro enterprises, farms from 25 to 15 percent, as the result of development of small business and private entrepreneurship, and farms, all forms of home based work, employment to nearly of 351 thousand people was provided.
In addition, the UzLiDeP faction, on the basis of socio-economic, socio-political importance of expanding the ranks of the middle class, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population was recommended to strengthen the monitoring of involvement of youth in small business and farming activities, and periodically provide its results to the Legislative Chamber.
Representatives of the faction of the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milliytiklanish” emphasized that more than 118 thousand workplaces were organized during the reporting period due to the development of family business and handicrafts, which fully meets the tasks and program objectives of the party.
Members of the faction drew attention to the need for increased employment of population due to further development of the service sector, particularly tourism in the remote rural areas.
Members of the faction emphasized the need for comprehensive support of representatives of the unemployed population who have expressed a desire to establish a business activity in all kinds of national crafts, in the sphere of service and tourism, further strengthening social partnership in this direction between state governing bodies a places and other subjects.
Representatives of the faction also highlighted the need for a thorough analysis and discussion by party groups in local Kengashes of people’s deputies of the backlog issues identified in the program of forecasts on workplaces creation and ensuring employment and taking urgent measures on achieving the planned parameters to the end of the year.
Members of the faction of the People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan along with positive assessments developed by the Government of additional measures on further improving the system of employment of graduates of professional colleges of 2014-2015, and expressed a number of criticisms on various aspects of implementation of the Program of creating workplaces and ensuring employment for 2015 .
During the consideration of issues if implementing the Program at places, deputies suggested to critically examine the submitted data on ensuring employment of graduates of professional colleges to the real situation of activities and improve the efficiency of the work done in this direction.
In addition, special attention was paid to the revitalization and improvement of the efficiency of activities of the district, city working commissions on coordination, support and development of cooperation between enterprises and citizens engaged in the production of goods and services at home. In particular, it was suggested to constantly study and analyse the process of training of specialists in professional colleges with the parameters of the Program of creating workplaces and ensuring employment, as well as taking into account the real needs of the labor market.
In order to determine the legal status and targets of permanent regional commissions on organization of the coordination work on unconditional fulfillment of the target parameters of the employment program, the Cabinet of Ministers was recommended to develop an appropriate Regulation.
Members of the faction of the Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Adolat” positively assessed the work and efforts on creating in 2015 of generally 261,6 thousand workplaces and employment of 725,9 thousand people, in total – 987,5 thousand people, including 487,7 thousand for the employment of graduates of professional colleges in the context of territories and areas. The importance of hearing the information on the process of implementation of the Program of creating workplaces and ensuring employment for 2015 at the level of the country’s parliament, which places the responsibility on deputy corps for its effective implementation and, in turn, will serve to increase the level of employment and well-being of the population, especially in the countryside.
Members of the faction drew attention to the need to create workplaces in rural areas by not only farmers and dehkan farms, but also the development of industrial production, including on the basis of diversified farms, as well as with the use of innovative technologies that will serve to increase the number of sustainable workplaces.
In their opinion, it is necessary to pay attention to the further improvement of the legal framework of the state guarantees in the sphere of labor and employment, strengthening the protection of rights and interests of workers and employers.
Taking into account opinions expressed during the discussion, the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis noted the information on the implementation of the Program. According to the results of the parliamentary hearing, specific suggestions and recommendations on ensuring unconditional implementation of the Program parameters in the context of areas and sectors, raising to a qualitatively new level of cooperation between deputy corps and the executive bodies in this direction, the organization of workplaces by stimulating the development of small business, family business and home-based work, further improving the mechanism for the development of programs for the coming years were given.
An appropriate decision was taken.
(Source: Information Service of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
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