Uzvinprom-holding produces industrial goods for 1.18 trln. soums. 1
Exhibitions in Uzbekistan: priorities, achievements and outcomes. 2
Puppets that Speak Foreign Languages. 6
economy: 2015
Uzvinprom-holding produces industrial goods for 1.18 trln. soums
Enterprises of Uzvinprom-holding produced industrial goods for 1.186 trillion soums in comparable prices in 2015, which rose by 5.3% compared to 2014. (currency rates of CB RU from 28.01.2016, 1$= 2831.49 soums)
The volume of produced consumer goods reached 913.492 billion soums, which is 4.3% more than in 2014.
The enterprise of the industry produced 28.03 million liters of wine (-8.4%), 60.466 million liters of vodka and beverage products (1.6%) 1.347 million liters of champagne wine (+3.5%), 709,100 liters of brandy (+11.4%) and 66.195 million liters of edible alcohol (+0.3%).
The company’s enterprises exported products for US$18.987 million in January-December 2015.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
Export
Fund for Support of Exports of Small Businesses and Enterprises is getting new opportunities for development 2016 year
Ranking among the most effective mechanisms of promoting the development of the domestic ‘small economy’, the Fund for Support of Exports of Small Businesses and Enterprises is getting new opportunities for development this year.
Established in 2013 under the National Bank for Foreign Economic Activities, the unique structure is called to provide legal, financial and organizational services to businesses in promoting their products and services to foreign markets. In a short time, the Fund has demonstrated its effectiveness by helping thousands of entrepreneurs.
This year marks a new stage of its development. As proposed by President Islam Karimov, it is planned to strengthen the Fund’s financial capacity by increasing the size of the share capital at least twice, expand the powers, functions and a list of financial services, and consider the possibility of establishment of its affiliates in the regions.
Last year was very fruitful: the Fund assisted 3,213 businesses in promoting their goods and services to foreign markets. As a result, they exported goods and services totaling more than $1.05 billion.
As the Fund’s representatives commented to Uzbekistan Today, the poor awareness of specifics of foreign markets of certain countries and their demand for particular products ranks among the major problems of the domestic small business today. Therefore, having received the financial support, the majority of the entrepreneurs needed help in studying foreign markets and search for foreign partners.
The arrangement of participation of Uzbek enterprises and companies in the world’s largest exhibitions was another essential component of the work. Few hundreds domestic enterprises presented their products at the leading forums like Green Week (Germany), FoodEx Japan-2015 (Japan), the National Exhibition of Industrial Products of China, Textillegprom-2015 (Russia), and many others. As a result, they signed agreements at $135 million. Compared to last year, the volume of agreements has increased twice, or by $68 million.
Uzbekistan signed memorandums with two Korean companies on the construction of modern production facilities in Uzbekistan. O2&B CO is planning to build a manufacture of medicines with the focus on the drugs for treatment and prevention of thyroid gland diseases. Young Shin Tech Company is intending to establish the production of automobile gas tanks for the cars running on propane and butane. In the future, the products will be exported to the CIS countries.
The Fund’s research shows the growing global need for new kinds of innovative products, which were manufactured through the deep processing of raw materials. To this end, as well as to expand the country’s export capacity, the Fund held a contest of innovative projects in May – December last year, aiming at enhancement of the competitiveness of Uzbek goods at world markets in five areas: food, chemical, textile, machinery and electrical industries, as well as the construction materials industry. The top projects were allocated grant funds for 230 million soums. (currency rates of CB RU from 28.01.2016, 1$= 2831.49 soums)
The list of good examples includes an innovative project on obtaining pomegranate juice, which opens up new export opportunities of the product. Today, natural pomegranate juice is made solely of sweet species, because it is impossible to make juice from sour pomegranate due to its high acidic aspect. The proposed technology reduces their acidity. Given that the price of sour pomegranate is 50% lower than that of the sweet, the production of natural juice to this technology would reduce production costs and increase its competitiveness on world markets.
Besides, the Fund has been implementing a project on the establishment of a network of agricultural firms jointly with the National Bank and the farms that specialize in horticulture and cultivation of vegetables and fruits. Based on the requirements of the major importers and foreign retail chains, they have been steadily supplying fruits and vegetables throughout the year, getting additional profits and expanding export potential by means making export contracts at more favorable prices.
The Fund regularly holds meetings and discussions in all parts of the country in order to introduce entrepreneurs to favorable conditions in the country, and widely involve manufacturers in export activities and expand exports of their products. Last year the Fund’s representatives attended 3,715 enterprises of the country, studied their problems and provided assistance.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
Exhibiton
Exhibitions in Uzbekistan: priorities, achievements and outcomes
The year 2015 was successful for the Joint-Stock National Exhibition Complex, Uzexpocenter. Official statistics leave no doubt of the fact: the total number of exhibitions it held last year comes to 53, compared to 49 in 2014. In 2015, its exhibition halls were packed with 4,660 participants, of which indigenous enterprises accounted for 3,590, or 17 per cent of the total. The overall exhibition floor space reaches 63,800 sq. m. By the way, Uzexpocenter presents a given indictor in the “net” form, instead of the “gross” form generally used by exhibition organizations throughout the world.
One of the company’s main priorities is to support the most pivotal national projects. At this stage it is worth mentioning the Republican Fair of Innovative Ideas, Technologies and Projects. Having already become a traditional event in Uzbekistan, this annual fair of innovations is convened in keeping with the Resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, “On additional measures to stimulate the introduction of innovative projects and technologies in production” dated 15 July 2008. The 8th Fair attracted an impressive list of ministries, departments, associations, banks, state and private enterprises from all industries and sectors of the national economy. Taking part in the event were also scientific organizations of the Uzbek Academy of Sciences, higher educational establishments, research and innovative centers, experimental-design organizations and individual inventors.
The exhibits shown at the Fair included more than 400 technologies, methods, projects and innovative ideas worked out within the framework of state scientific-technical programs by research, educational and experimental-design organizations of the Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Higher and Specialized Secondary Education, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Supply of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other departments and innovative centers.
In response to entrepreneurs’ demand for ready innovative solutions, the Republican Fair of Innovative Ideas, Technologies and Projects – 2015, unlike the previous ones, has created a separate section, called “High-Tech”, with as many as 60 domestic ready-for-introduction projects and technologies being placed on view.
In the course of the fair, its participators could discuss the most urgent issues surrounding the formation in Uzbekistan of an innovative economy. The three seminars organized during the event were devoted to ways to improve and further develop the regulatory-legal framework for innovative activity, the role of scientific-technical information in this process and the development of alternative power engineering in the country. Additionally, a round-table discussion, “The innovative development of Uzbekistan: problems and prospects” was arranged within the fair’s framework.
A great deal of international exhibitions dedicated to a given theme that are arranged in the exhibition halls of the AO National Exhibition Complex Uzexpocenter make an inestimable contribution to the introduction of the most advanced agricultural mini-technologies and compact equipment in the agrarian sector of the Uzbek economy, thereby increasing the efficiency and productivity of domestic farming.
And today, Uzbekistan AGRO MINITECH EXPO is the biggest and most ambitious exhibition of all similar specialized events, which have already become traditional. Held on the initiative of the President Islam Karimov of the Republic of Uzbekistan, such expositions of mini-technologies and compact equipment take place at Uzexpocenter at the end of May each year, beginning from 1998.
The thematic content of the exhibition is striking, indeed. Uzbekistan AGRO MINITECH EXPO – 2015, as one example, encompassed about 100 directions, including equipment for the production and processing of fruit and vegetables, meat and dairy products, equipment for the production of flour and mixed fodder, machinery and equipment for horticulture and vine-growing, pre-packing and packaging equipment, chemical preparations for plant protection, veterinary, astrakhan sheep breeding and leather processing, organization of hothouse gardening and many others.
Last year, 188 companies and firms from 19 countries participated in the exhibition. The event attracted upwards of 8,000 farmers, private entrepreneurs, representatives of agrarian firms and small businesses from all over the Republic.
In a move to boost the localization process and the development of cooperation within and between industries, as well as to ensure wide access to information about the goods and services made in Uzbekistan, another important exhibition is organized by Uzexpocentre on an annual basis. Called the Republican Industrial Fair and Cooperative Exchange, the event proves indispensable in helping domestic economic players to find partners and to strike with them economic deals for the delivery of their output.
It has become a tradition to divide the Republican Industrial Fair and Cooperative Exchange into two stages. At the first stage, held in April-May, sectoral exhibitions and fairs are arranged, whereas the second stage, held in October-November, represents a united concluding exhibition.
The leading industries of Uzbekistan demonstrate their output in respective sections, such as geological prospecting, extraction and processing of mineral resources and raw materials, science-intensive technologies, car-making, agricultural machinery construction, electro-technical and chemical sectors, pharmaceutics, food industry, production of building materials, printing industry, transport, construction of means of transport etc.
The exhibits put on display by enterprises and organizations give a graphic picture of the range of produce manufactured in the country. What’s more, exhibition visitors can familiarize themselves with the goods that are promising from the standpoint of using local raw materials and available technological potentialities as well as forging cooperative relations.
In 2015, over 1,700 indigenous enterprises (up from 1,350 enterprises registered a year earlier) took part in the autumn stage of the International Industrial Fair and Cooperative Exchange held between 26 October and 25 November. The 800 foreign participants (up from 350 ones in 2014) included representatives of companies and firms operating in Germany, Italy, Latvia, South Korea, China, Poland, Russia, Turkey and other countries.
Another significant event held annually in the Republic is the Uzbek International Cotton Fair, which is designed to provide the cotton industry’s leaders, representatives of textile enterprises and commercial agents with ample opportunity to participate in fair and exchange auctions and to sign direct trade deals for the delivery of cotton fiber. The 2015 event attracted more than 1,000 participants, representing foreign firms and companies from 40 countries of the world.
Many enterprises of Uzbekistan’s light industry displayed a wide spectrum of their output, including cotton yarn, linen, fabrics, finished clothes and knitted wear, articles made of silk and suchlike.
The company Uzbekengilsanoat organized a fashion show, where a lot of excellent garments made of natural fabrics were demonstrated. All of them were designed, taking into consideration modern trends in the world fashion industry, Uzbek national traditions and the specialties of the region’s hot climate.
Presentations of the investment potentialities available in the Republic’s provinces, as well as new projects to develop the textile industry were the characteristic feature of the Uzbek International Cotton Fair – 2015.
Among the new exhibitions held in Uzbekistan last year for the first time, one should mention the following: ICT Expo and ICT Forum, Beauty Uzbekistan, the Training Session “Neck or Nothing. Ideology of the Leader – Ideology of Victory” and the Republican Conference-Seminar of Law-Enforcement Authorities.
Speaking about the exhibitions arranged in the exhibition halls of the Joint-Stock National Exhibition Complex Uzexpocenter by foreign exhibition companies ITE Uzbekistan, IEG Uzbekistan, Expo Position and ZarExpo, it should be pointed out that their themes cover almost all industries.
The exhibits displayed graphically illustrate the latest achievements in such sectors as construction, power engineering, oil and gas, machine-building, food industry, agriculture, public health, textile industry, transport, protection and security, road construction and some others.
The most significant projects include the following international and specialized exhibitions arranged by ITE Uzbekistan:
– Textile Expo Uzbekistan 2015 (textile equipment and fashion) – more than 72 companies-participants from 10 countries);
– OGU 2015 (oil and gas) – over 138 companies-participants from 14 countries;
– TIHE 2015 (healthcare and medicine) – 164 companies-participants from 22 countries.
It is obvious that the organization of international specialized exhibitions at AO NEC Uzexpocenter facilitates both the introduction of modern technologies and equipment in the leading sectors of the Uzbek economy and the satiation of the home market with quality goods and services, as well as supports domestic manufacturers by creating an optimal business environment in which to forge business ties, to exchange experience and to attract investments.
In the matter of its exhibition activity abroad, it is necessary to note that Uzexpocenter organized the country’s national stand at the annual International Agricultural Fair, Green Week – 2015 (15-25 January). About 1,600 companies and farms from 67 countries of the world, including the Republic of Uzbekistan, took part in the event. A presentation of Uzbekistan’s economic and agricultural potential that was held within its framework attracted more than 120 representatives of German companies. They were informed about the present state of the country’s economic development, priority directions of investment cooperation, steps taken to modernize domestic industrial enterprises and to further improve the business climate in the Republic.
As well as that, AO National Exhibition Complex Uzexpocenter installed a national stand of Uzbekistan at the world exhibition Expo Milano – 2015 that took place in the town of Milano (Italy) between 1 May and 31 October. Its main theme was “To feed the planet. Energy for life”. The exhibition’s main organizer was Italy’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.
The exhibition’s participators included representatives from 145 countries. The best technologies in the field of nutrition were displayed there. Visitors to Expo Milano – 2015 could get concrete answers to such vital questions as wholesome nutrition, safety of foodstuffs, their sufficiency for each inhabitant of the planet and suchlike. The exhibition drew a total attendance of more than 20 million people. Its program included over 7,000 events. All visitors were given a chance to taste the best cuisine and dishes, to learn much about the gustatory traditions, agriculture and the food industry of each participant of Expo Milano – 2015.
The Republic of Uzbekistan took part in the event by organizing a national pavilion in the “Fruit & Legume Crops” Cluster, which occupied an area of 500 sq. m.
Its introductory section offered information about the country, its ancient history, the present-day potentialities, its strong developing economy, investment potential, cooperation in the field of international transit by road and rail freightage, its stupendous tourist potential, culture etc.
The theme sections of the Uzbek national pavilion at the World Exhibition Expo Milano – 2015 highlighted the vast export potential of the Republic’s agriculture, investment potentialities of the dynamically developing food and processing industries, measures to ensure the national food sufficiency, rich wine-making traditions and characteristic features of Uzbek cuisine.
The work of the Uzbek exposition was accompanied by the demonstration of special educational, sightseeing and scientific films dedicated to the themes of its numerous sections.
The home-made produce was shown at the World Food Forum by the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Supply of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Farmers’ Union, the State Committee on Nature Conservation, the Association of Food-Industry Enterprises, the holding company Uzvinsanoatholding, the Joint-Stock Company Uzdonmakhsulot and the State Joint-Stock Company Uzkimyosanoat.
Expo Milano – 2015 covered the total floor space of 1.1 million sq. m. The exhibition finished its work on 31 October 2015.
One more exhibition is worth mentioning. The Republic of Uzbekistan participated in the International Food Exhibition 2015, held in Riga (Latvia) on 2-5 September. Last year, this biggest food event of the Baltics marked its 20th anniversary and attracted the record number of participators – almost 700 companies from 37 countries. Uzbekistan has been taking part in the exhibition 3 years in succession. Covering the floor space of 107 sq. m., the national stand astonished hordes of visitors by a great variety of fresh fruit and vegetables, melons and gourds, bean cultures, greens, spices, dried fruits, juices, tinned produce, confectionery, national sweets etc. displayed there. The interesting exposition of Uzbekistan was a success with the forum’s visitors. AO National Exhibition Complex, Uzexpocenter was rewarded with certificates (diploma) for active participation of the Uzbek delegation in Riga Food 2015, as well as for the bright demonstration of home-made produce on the Republic’s national stand.
In 2016, Uzexpocenter plans to arrange 50 exhibitions in its exhibition halls, of which 33 are host exhibition projects and 17 – indigenous ones.
These days, the Joint-Stock National Exhibition Complex, Uzexpocenter is seeking to improve the quality and to expand the spectrum of services offered to customers, as well as to upgrade the company’s infrastructural facilities by studying all remarks and wishes expressed by its partners and guests alike.
(Source: «Business partner.uz» newspaper)
Theatre
Puppets that Speak Foreign Languages
The troupe of the Republican Puppet Theatre traveled frequently presenting their performances in the festivals around the world. The actors memorized the texts in Hindi, Urdu, German, French, and English to familiarize the spectators of different countries with the characters on the stage.
One of the first successful performances of the Puppet Theatre staged in English was “Caravanserai on the Silk Road.” It was played in the festivals in the US and also performed Tashkent for foreign guests. Spectators could see how traditional theatrical performances were held in public places. The main puppet character Uzbekistan is Kachal palvan, the analogue of Russian Petrushka, English Punch, and Italian Pulcinella. It is funny, eccentric, and sharp fellow who always quarrels with his wife and makes fun of people’s sins in the performances.
“The performance was improvised, so the actors had to learn the language”, says the director Dinara Alieva. “Despite they spoke simple English they were able to convey to American viewers the customs and the way of life of the Uzbek people. While the show raised social problems of the society it also contained the scenes of cockfighting the national wrestling kurash.
The first performance in English designed for Uzbek audience was “Once again Andersen” based on the tale of the famous by Danish writer “The Little Match Girl.” It was already staged at that time in Uzbek and Russian languages, but we decided to translate it into English as well. This time we used the help of a native speaker and recorded the soundtrack to make it sound right.
The show “Once again Andersen” was named the best in the International Festival of Puppet Theatres of Obraztsov in Moscow and in the festival “Art-visit” in Krasnodar. But in Uzbekistan for the time being it is played in average once a month mostly attended by the students of specialized schools and children of foreigners.
“I know that only our theater has such practices which can be used the teachers of English and their students. We can arrange this show any time upon their request. It will be a kind of easy lesson for children with basic knowledge of language. It will help memorize new words and phrases. And in the class students can discuss the favorite scenes from the show in English, so the lessons will be more lively and interesting”, said Dinara Alieva.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
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