January28, 2015
President Islam Karimov Receives U.S. Ambassador’s Credentials. 2
Uzbekistan attends first preparatory meeting of the 23rd OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum 2
4883 enterprises with foreign capital operate in Uzbekistan. 3
Nothing Disappears Without a Trace. 3
POLICY
President Islam Karimov Receives U.S. Ambassador’s Credentials
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received credentials from Pamela Spratlen, the newly appointed Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America in our country, on 27 January at the Oqsaroy.
The Uzbek leader and the U.S. envoy discussed the current state and prospects of consolidation of bilateral relations along with pressing international and regional issues.
The head of our state congratulated the ambassador on the appointment and wished her every success in her responsible diplomatic mission.
In her turn, Pamela Spratlen said she highly appreciates the positive dynamics in the evolution of multifaceted cooperation between the United States and Uzbekistan.
As it was stressed at the meeting, an important significance is attached to the enhancement of mutually advantageous and fruitful ties, including those in the trade-economic, investment and other fields. Tashkent and Washington place a particular emphasis also on cashing in the available capacities to boost the trade turnover, set up joint high-tech production facilities across diverse sectors of the economy.
During the late-2014 Tashkent consultations between the foreign affairs agencies of our two nations and the business forum with extensive representation of the American-Uzbek Chamber of Commerce and the business circles of Uzbekistan, the two sides addressed a rather wide range of issues pertinent to the further development of bilateral cooperation.
Interaction in the cultural-humanitarian area has also been attached a great deal of significance in the relations between our two countries.
(Source: Press-service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
International cooperation
Uzbekistan attends first preparatory meeting of the 23rd OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum
The first preparatory meeting of the 23rd OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum entitled “Water resources management in the OSCE region – improving security and stability via cooperation” was held in Vienna, Austria on 26-27 January 2015.
A delegation of Uzbekistan participated in the first preparatory meeting of the 23rd OSCE Economic and Environmental Forum on water management, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan said.
Representative of 46 states, including officials of all five Central Asian States, 16 international organizations (such as WTO, WHO, FAO, UNDP, UNEP, UNICEF, World Bank, OPEC and others), as well as NGOs attended the meeting in Vienna.
The participants considered mechanisms and approaches on efficient management of water resources, issues of developing cooperation in water use, study experience of the European states in reforming water sector.
The head of the Uzbek delegation, in his speech, drew attention of participants to nature protection policy of Uzbekistan and measures on improving ecologic conditions in Aral Sea Basin.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
investments
4883 enterprises with foreign capital operate in Uzbekistan
In January-December 2014, 433 enterprises with foreign capital have been newly registered. According to the press service of the State Statistics Committee, a significant number of newly established enterprises with foreign capital are in Tashkent city – 297 units., Tashkent – 39 units., Fergana – 23 units., Samarkand and Jizzakh – 16 units ., Syrdarya – 8 units, Navoi, Namangan and Surkhandarya regions – 7 units.
At the same time, 110 companies have been established with the participation of the capital of China, 69 – Russian Federation, 42 – UK, 36 – the Republic of Korea, 29 – the Republic of Turkey, 16 – the Republic of India, 16 – the Republic of Kazakhstan, etc.
The main part of newly registered enterprises with foreign investment established in the industry – 219, In the sphere of trade and public catering -100, Construction – 18, In agriculture – 16, Transport and communication – 11, and other manufacturing industries – 46, health, physical culture and sports – 19 enterprises.
As of January 1, 2015 the total number of registered companies with foreign capital has reached to 4883 units.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
Tourism
Nothing Disappears Without a Trace
Specialists at the Scientific Research Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources believe that activities to develop geo-tourism may start on the dried-up Hojakul Lake.
The area’s potential was studied under a research project funded by the Committee for the Coordination of Science and Technology Development under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan.
This place is one those spots, where “nothing disappears without a trace” and can tell us a lot about the flora and fauna that existed in this part of the globe over 100 million years ago and even earlier.
Hojakul is a place with multifarious features. For example, on the northern portion a naked eye may spot sediments from the Cretaceous period that reigned over 100 million years ago. The area contains a large number of shells. They have survived through millennia largely thanks to the fact that they have been saturated with iron. On the opposite side are remains of later life, still covered in earlier sediments.
In this seemingly usual mountain scientists discovered and retrieved remains of a variety of sharks, invertebrates, rays, fish, amphibians, turtles, lizards, crocodiles, dinosaurs, pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, birds, mammals, insects, sea urchins, and bivalve shells.
Specialists have unearthed a multitude of remains of plants. The biggest artifact is a two-meter long petrified piece of wood.
The object has piqued the interest of not only nature enthusiasts and travelers, but also scientists since only a small part of the unique area has been explored to date.
Lake Hojakul may become accessible for tourists only after a road is laid and infrastructure is created allowing for recreation and leisure.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
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