November 11, 2014
A Promising Picture of the Investment Climate. 2
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for foreign affairs of Japan arrives in Uzbekistan. 2
Japan issues loan for US$760m to Uzbekistan. 3
The Expanding Scales of Interaction. 3
Health Built from Childhood. 4
economy
A Promising Picture of the Investment Climate
The global economy is currently in the midst of major transformations. Developing countries with cheaper workforce and energy resources that held sway over the global scene for a long time are giving way to advanced nations with sophisticated logistics and research and engineering innovation. In light of this, an increasing number of companies are moving their capacities from China back to the United States and Europe or making tracks to new counties such as India and Vietnam. Uzbekistan is no stranger to tough competition in the investment market, where it has its own trump cards.
The core of the work in attracting foreign and local investors to the real sector is seen in the implementation of measures to create a favorable business and investment environment through a better legislative and normative framework and to eliminate excessive red tape and administrative hassle that setting up and doing business involves. As a result, Uzbekistan has over the past few years boasted an annual increase in investments, which have become a basis for the modern domestic industrial policy that seeks to expedite the entry into service of major high-tech and up-to-date facilities and capacities and to ramp up the modernization and technological revamp of manufacture. During the nine months of 2014 alone, investments to the economy totaled upwards of $10 billion, with foreign investment and credits making up 20.7% – over $2.1 billion – of this amount, which is a 19-percent increase as compared with a similar period last year. More importantly, foreign direct investment makes up the bulk of this amount at $1.7 billion, a 22-percent increase.
Thanks to a spirited investment policy, the country has seen a completion of 105 major projects worth $875.7 million in January-September. Also, a hefty amount of funds was channeled into the development of regional industry. On the whole, as many as 4,271 projects have been implemented and 2,715 new facilities have been put into use since the start of the year. More specifically, these include 1,333 projects in the construction materials industry, 1,152 in the food industry, 939 in textiles, 376 in furniture and paper production, and 310 in the chemical and petrochemical sphere, among others. Commercial banks provided credits to the tune of 822.6 billion soums to help implement the projects. In addition, $38.3 million worth of infusions by foreign investors and over 1.1 trillion soums in project initiators’ own funds have been secured. This, in turn, helped create well over 60,000 jobs in Uzbek provinces. (currency rates of CB RU from 11.11.2014 1$= 2392.50 soums)
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
International cooperation
Parliamentary Vice-Minister for foreign affairs of Japan arrives in Uzbekistan
On November 10, 2014, the Minister of foreign affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov received the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for foreign affairs of Japan, Kentaro Sonora, arrived in our country headed by the Japanese delegation to conduct bilateral negotiations with the government, the ministries of foreign affairs, foreign economic relations, investments and trade.
The meeting also discussed priority directions of development of the Uzbek-Japanese relations, international and regional issues.
As noted, the experience of constructive interaction allows the parties to cooperate effectively in bilateral format and within international institutions, including in the framework of the interregional dialogue “Japan + Central Asia”.
The meeting confirmed the interest of the parties to further strengthen mutually beneficial strategic partnership in various fields, the implementation of joint high-tech investment projects, development of mutual trade, the expansion of the leading Japanese companies in promising sectors of the economy of Uzbekistan.
The talks were attended by the Ambassador extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan Kato Fumihiko.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
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Japan issues loan for US$760m to Uzbekistan
The Government of Japan provided a loan for 86.839 billion yens (about US$760 million) to implementation of three projects in energy sector of Uzbekistan.
Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan Elyor Ganiev and Parliamentary Deputy Foreign Minister of Japan Kentaro Sonoura signed an exchange notes on tree projects in Tashkent on 10 November 2014.
According to the Embassy of Japan in Uzbekistan, the loan will be directed to implement three projects – “Project on construction of Turakurgan thermal power station, “Project on construction of Tashkent thermal power central” and “Credit to strengthen opportunities of energy sector”.
The sides underlined that implementation of these projects will help to development of energy sector and stable supply of electricity to consumers, as well as improving efficiency of the sector.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
The Expanding Scales of Interaction
The cooperation between Uzbekistan and China and the friendship bonds between the two peoples have been progressing steadily and enriching with new meaning.
The state visit by President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov to the People’s Republic of China in August 2014 allowed for uplifting the bilateral relations of strategic partnership to a qualitatively new level. More than twenty documents covering projects totaling 5.2 billion US dollars as well as trade agreements for 800 million dollars were inked during that visit. Therefore, agreements were reached for a total of 6 billion dollars, which speaks of the further expansion of cooperation scopes.
The ties between our two nations have been advancing consistently building on the Joint Declaration on the Establishment of Strategic Partnership, the Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, the Joint Declaration on Furthering and Enhancing the Bilateral Relations of Strategic Partnership, along with many other important documents. Crucial in the bilateral relations has been the enlargement of trade-economic, investment, scientific and technological, humanitarian bonds, as well as the consolidation of cooperation in security issues.
Both Uzbekistan and China wield tremendous economic potential. The trade and economic partnership between our two countries has been yielding considerable effects. The volumes of mutual trade turnover have been growing thanks to the shared keen willingness to boost the interaction. Nearly five hundred joint ventures with Chinese investments are set up in Uzbekistan, while more than seventy leading companies of China have their representative offices operating in our country.
Also steadfast have been the scales of investment cooperation. Most businesspeople from the PRC demonstrate enormous interest in the Uzbek market by making investments and establishing joint ventures. Today, China is one of the major investors in the Uzbek market and second biggest in commerce with our nation.
The two countries have been active in their cooperation directed at implementing a great diversity of projects in the hi-tech sector. Notably, an Uzbek-Chinese industrial park of high technologies was founded in 2013 in the form of Jizzakh Special Industrial Zone. The manufacture of mobile phones, construction materials and other goods was launched there. Over 15 joint projects with direct investments from Chinese companies exceeding 50 million dollars are being realized at the Jizzakh SIZ. That is a bright manifestation of the effectiveness of trade-economic partnership between our two nations.
The fuel and energy industry also displays the scales of cooperation. The passage of four lines of the Central Asia-China natural gas pipeline through the territory of our country is suggestive of the high level of mutual confidence and shared interest. Chinese companies have been energetic in prospecting and developing hydrocarbon deposits in Uzbekistan.
A railway linking the two countries has been under joint construction, which is expected to secure an access for Uzbekistan to China and the East Asian nations, and for the PRC to the countries of Central and South Asia.
The relations between Uzbekistan and China have been dynamic also within the frameworks of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which offers a distinct platform for both countries in ensuring security, stability and development in the region.
The relations in the cultural-humanitarian sphere have also been important. The establishment of Confucius Institute in Tashkent – the first one in Central Asia – is indicative of the steadily advancement of mutual interaction in the education sector. In June 2010, an Uzbek language division was opened at China’s Central University for Nationalities. Teaching of Uzbek was launched in the 2012/2013 academic year at the Beijing University of Foreign Languages. Great interest is visible in Uzbekistan toward the Chinese language and literature, while the Uzbek language, culture, traditions and the country in general enjoy a keen interest in China.
Effective and dynamic relations are established among the representatives of culture and arts from the two countries. Chinese musicians have been regular in the Sharq Taronalari international music festival organized in Samarkand. In addition, culture figures of both nations are active in a variety of exhibitions and cultural events held in Uzbekistan and the PRC.
The friendship societies “Uzbekistan-China” and “People’s Republic of China – Central Asian Countries” are rather instrumental in cementing the cultural-humanitarian ties.
The two sides attach a special significance to cooperation in tourism. Uzbekistan’s potential and capacities in this sphere are regularly demonstrated at international travel fairs held in China. Importance of the establishment of sister relations between the cities of Tashkent and Shanghai, Samarkand and Xi’an, Navoi and Zhuzhou, the Tashkent Region and Hunan Province, the Samarkand Region and Shaanxi Province is also worth noting.
Growth in interrelations demands the enhancement of information exchange. To this end, particular emphasis is placed thus on furthering the information and expertise swap among mass media in Uzbekistan and China. Recently, a group of Uzbek journalists traveled to Chinese cities of Beijing and Qingdao, where they were introduced to the activities of print and internet publications, television and radio channels, as well as to training cadres and raising the proficiency of specialists in this area.
The ties between Uzbekistan and China are to keep advancing persistently building on the principles of mutual confidence, respect, equality, will, strategic partnership, while the friendship bonds between our two peoples are to enhance to an even greater extent.
(Source: UzA)
Society
Health Built from Childhood
Fall is in full swing on the street, but it is hardly the case with doctors. They meet their professional holiday, celebrated on the second Sunday of November, in the spirit of creativity (rather resembling spring than autumn) under the ongoing modernization of hospitals and introduction of high-performance diagnostic and treatment technologies…
Much has been said on the transformation of the healthcare system, the novelties it has been introducing, and the people’s boosting health.
If one goes through the highlights, among the foremost achievements made in the sphere over the years of independence is that the maternal and infant mortality has reduced almost thrice, and that children get sick less frequently. Within the last five years alone, the number of children born with abnormalities has decreased by 1.3 times, the incidence of acute respiratory viral infections in children aged 6-15 years diminished by 9.7%, of pneumonia by 49.1%, bronchitis by 32.8%, and scoliosis by 32.7%.
Is it possible for the country to keep moving forward without stopping at what has been accomplished, and continue to raise life expectancy? Chief Pediatrician of the Ministry of Health Dilorom Alimova is convinced that further reforms will be not long in coming. Introduced in the pediatric service, they are expected to build the foundation for boosting the health of the entire population. After all, physicians recommend that health be taken care of from the childhood.
Pediatricians of Uzbekistan are soon to convene in Tashkent for their Seventh Congress. It is expected to help outline priority areas and the modernization of children’s health protection system. Experts have much to discuss. A vertical quality control of the treatment process has been built in the pediatric service in recent years. There are corresponding conditions for the further adoption of new diagnostic and treatment technologies in line with recommendations of the World Health Organization and the UN Children’s Fund. The National Specialized Research Medical Center of Pediatrics is the head guidance medical institution and a model for regional hospitals. Its opening after reconstruction will be a part of the prestigious forum. Across provinces, regional diversified children’s medical centers perform the function of the leading centers. They have also been reconstructed and are currently equipped with up-to-date hardware and accessories. The scale of changes is indicative of the conditions created in those institutions for the further development of health services for children.
Created on the basis of the Research Institute of Pediatrics in 2008, the National Specialized Research Medical Center is known for its achievements in hepatology, gastroenterology and pulmonology. Currently, it is turning into a unique medical institution, as children with any diagnosis can get a quality medical care there.
The center’s new buildings please the eye. We have previously reported on the ENT Congenital and Acquired Diseases Department, which provides the latest technologies of treatment, including the cochlear implantation. The new building houses the departments of surgical treatment of chest and abdomen.
“Surgical departments have been functioning for a few months, but they already perform a wide range of surgeries using modern technologies,” comments the chief surgeon of the department Hurshid Sattarov. “In early 2015, we expect some endovisual equipment for minimally invasive technologies. Their advantage for the pediatric surgery is obviously, as they do not require a long rehabilitation.”
The Consulting and Diagnostics Department has moved to the new building too. Children’s health is examined by doctors of 22 specialties. According to the department head Dilshod Yusupov, the work on equipping rooms with last generation medical devices is underway. They have recently received a device that provides the fluoroscopy, saves the data and prints X-ray pictures. The room is decorated by pictures of animals and favorite cartoon characters; a cheerful baby doll is sitting on the device. It distracts the child’s attention from unpleasant procedures. Besides, very soon the doctors’ rooms will be connected with the reception desk by computer network which should minimize paper work and accelerate the information exchange between doctors.
The buildings were reconstructed with an eye to specifics of the departments. For example, the building for departments for nursing the youngest patients has single rooms for mothers and babies, resuscitation rooms are equipped with modern nursing infant incubators for premature babies, the temperature conditions in which are close to prenatal, as well as with special resuscitation heated baby term tables, lung ventilator, and others. Unlike previous devices, the new ones monitor the condition of a patient: the data on the respiration frequency, pulse and body temperature are displayed on the monitor. In the case of a strong change the device delivers a signal. There is a surgery room for newborns. Doctors of the center are currently undergoing training abroad.
“I have been working at the Newborn Pathology Department for more than 43 years, so my memory keeps hundreds of saved lives,” says the department head Tahir Hikmatullaev. “The work here has always been complicated. Now, after reconstruction, the doctors are assisted by modern infant incubators, heated tables, which significantly facilitate our job and allow achieving higher outcomes.”
“13 departments of the center operate at the advanced level,” said the Chief Doctor of the National Specialized Research Medical Center of Pediatrics Abdumannop Abdukayumov, “including the pulmonology, gastroenterology, allergy, hepatology departments, as well as cardiorheumatology, nephrology and neurology departments, which opened in 2008 after the center had been restructured.”
Meanwhile, the works on strengthening the logistical capacity have not been completed yet. It is planned to open a national reference laboratory of pediatric service with the latest laboratory and diagnostic devices. Chief Expert of Laboratory Service of the Ministry of Health Abdumalik Aripov commented on the opportunities of the new technology as follows: “Diagnosing is a complicated procedure. It is much more difficult when it comes to a child, because he cannot tell about his state. The laboratory with ultramodern analyzers provides a complete list of results of examinations as soon as possible. Gradually, these technologies will be introduced in the regions as well.”
Scaled works are underway in regional multidisciplinary children’s medical centers, which provide treatment of the most common diseases. They were established on the basis of regional children’s hospitals, the level and scope of organization of aid in which is quite uneven. Both medical care and surgical service are well developed in some of the centers, in the other centers one of the directions is even missing. In 2008, such a difference defined the agenda of future work on their upgrade, and the scope of investments.
Three years ago UT reported about the upcoming changes in Sirdaryo regional diversified medical center. Recently, the UT reporters have visited it again and got convinced that all the previously scheduled plans are being gradually implemented.
The Center was located in two adapted buildings of the former nursery school. After the reconstruction they have all appropriate conditions for normal operation. Two new buildings were built on the same territory. One of the buildings was assigned for the diagnostic department with 22 rooms of specialty doctors and a clinical laboratory. A unit of surgical departments is about to open. Like all similar institutions, the Center is equipped under the joint project of the Ministry of Health and the German KfW bank.
“Infant mortality in the region decreased from 40 to 11 ppm, and we have all the conditions to keep this rate falling,” says the Chief Doctor Regional Diversified Medical Children’s Center, Chief Pediatrician of Sirdaryo region Akbar Mirzakhanov. “The new buildings are spacious and comfortable, and most importantly, there are great changes inside. The newborn department has the cutting-edge devices, allowing nursing the children who were previously incurable. Almost every department has new tools that improve the quality of care. Specialized surgical departments for children are projecting for the first time in the region.
Other medical institutions have also been in the government’s focus, as they are shaping the health of the new generation. The hospital of the Tashkent Pediatric Medical Institute ranks among the largest children’s hospitals of national status. It is famous for its Cardiac Surgery Department, which provides operations in children over the age of three, the Reparative Surgery Department with its latest technologies, and other units.
There is also a new building of reception and diagnostic department, with the multi-slice CT and other advanced diagnostic equipment. The Urology Department was opened in the hospital owing to the expansion and increase of usable space in the clinic. Works are underway to reconstruct and equip it.
“We have involved an administrative resource to improve the quality of patient care,” said the Chief Doctor of the hospital Gulrano Usmanova. “We arranged the work of doctors in a way that an arrived child is received by a doctor not longer than in ten minutes, even despite a big inflow of patients.”
The Ministry of Health is developing not only big clinics, but also separate services. For instance, quite recently there was only one neonatal surgery department in Uzbekistan that functioned at full capacity. In order to make quality health care more affordable to the population, the neonatal surgery departments are currently being established on the basis of multidisciplinary children’s centers in Karakalpakstan, Andijon, Qashqadaryo and Samarqand regions. There are many similar examples. As part of caries combating policy children’s dental rooms at regional medical associations have been supplied with new dental devices. The national immunization schedule is expanding under the policy of combating the spread of infectious diseases. For instance, a vaccine against rotavirus has been introduced this year, and next year it is planned to introduce the vaccinations against human papillomavirus, which causes the development of women’s cancers.
In recent years, we have registered a drastic decrease in the number of new patients with hepatitis B. There are mainly the children who had the acute form of the disease five or ten years ago, and now have its chronic form,” noted a physician of Hepatology Department of the Republican Specialized Research Medical Center of Pediatrics Vasila Sabitova. “This is certainly the result of preventive measures taken by the Ministry of Health, however, the introduction of the specific vaccine into the national immunization schedule has played the key role.”
The national program of the Year of the Healthy Child and other governmental programs assign a big part to the development of other services, which directly affect the quality of medical care for children.
A network of mother and child screening centers on identification and prevention of congenital diseases at the pregnancy stage is gaining momentum. The establishment of the Tashkent regional screening center is nearing its completion, so each region will have its screening center.
The perinatal centers specializing in treating women with pregnancies with complications undergo modernization as well. This year, those institutions are equipped with modern resuscitation equipment for newborns.
The measures on strengthening the logistical capacity and training of health workers cover medical institutions at all levels with the focus on primary care – rural health units and regional medical associations. Such a huge attention of the government to healthcare suggests that the nation’s health and gene pool will continue to be strengthened.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
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