DECEMBER 4 – THE ELECTIONS OF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN.. 1
Meeting with Russian journalists. 1
The new trends and development prospects for trade and economic relations of Uzbekistan. 1
Sanofi and Uzpharmsanoat launch local production of medicaments. 3
DECEMBER 4 – THE ELECTIONS OF PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
Meeting with Russian journalists
In the republican press centre for coverage of the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a meeting took place on 28 November 2016 between the chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, M.Abdusalomov, and representatives of Russian media accredited for coverage of the country’s presidential elections.
The chairman of the Central Electoral Commission familiarized the journalists with the work being carried out by electoral commissions within the framework of the implementation of the main events programme for the preparation and conduct of the presidential elections of 4 December this year.
It was said during the meeting that the institution of presidency plays a key role in the system of state administration of Uzbekistan. As enshrined in the country’s Constitution, President is the head of state and ensures the coordinated functioning and cooperation of the bodies of state administration. President acts as a guarantor of the observance of rights and liberties as well as the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Changes and additions made in December 2015 to the legislation on presidential elections of the Republic of Uzbekistan are directed towards further improving the electoral practice, creating the necessary conditions for citizens’ free participation in elections, wide and equal conditions for political parties and presidential candidates during election campaigns in accordance with principles of fairness, openness and transparency.
During the conversation, it was emphasized that with the aim of ensuring the openness of electoral processes and providing journalists with access to official information about the election campaign, there are the republican press centre and the press centres of district electoral commissions functioning in the country. To date, they have conducted about 100 press conferences and briefings on important stages of the election campaign. The Central Electoral Commission and district electoral commissions have already accredited 1 thousand 306 representatives of local and foreign mass media.
Since the day of the announcement of the election campaign, 15 thousand 845 reports have been published in local and foreign mass media.
During the meeting, answers were given to questions that were of interest to the mass media representatives.
(Source: UzA)
economy
The new trends and development prospects for trade and economic relations of Uzbekistan
Gaining of independence and establishment of Uzbekistan as a full-fledged member of the world community opened up opportunities for structural reforms and modernization of the economy, and gradual integration of the country into the global economy. Azizbek Adahamov, Senior Specialist at the Ministry of Foreign Economiс Relations, Investments and Trade, is charged with the analysis of world markets, studies of export capacity and foreign trade regulation. He has shared with his thoughts on the new trends and development prospects for trade and economic relations:
“Targeted measures on the establishment of mutually beneficial trade and economic relations have helped Uzbekistan to establish trade ties with more than 180 countries. The republic signed agreements on trade and economic cooperation with 45 states under the terms of mutual most favored nation treatment. Uzbekistan also established free trade treatment with the CIS states, providing for non-application of export and import customs duties, prohibitions and quantitative restrictions.
The adoption of the Customs Code of Uzbekistan in the new edition in the current year ranks among the key changes in the legislation of the republic in the framework of the ongoing work on simplification of trade, and streamlining of legislation in foreign trade in accordance with international norms and regulations. The act provides for the application of best international expertise in the field of customs administration, introduction of IT in the customs business, ensuring of transparency of customs administration, simplification and reduction of terms of customs clearance.
Continuous streamlining and liberalization of foreign trade mechanisms that are aimed at expansion of exports and substitution of imports have significantly increased the volumes, and changed the structure of foreign trade. Prior to independence, the republic mainly exported raw materials and imported finished products, largely consumer goods. Applied from the first years of independence, the measures on the full support of entrepreneurship with the focus on the production of goods, works and services, have paved the way for the establishment of new manufactures and increase in the volume of current capacities on the production of high-quality import-substituting products.
Today, the bulk of imports, or 91.3%, falls on the goods intended for further processing and production of finished products with higher added value. The proportion of imports of machinery and equipment has significantly increased from 12.1 in 1990 to 40.5% in 2015. Imports of food products have also fell from 48.9 to 12.8%, while the volume of their exports has grown by 2.6 times.
It is worth to mention the dynamic growth of exports of finished products with high added value. In just a quarter of a century, the volume of exports has increased by nearly 30 times. The diversification of its commodity structure has decreased export of monoculture – cotton fibers, the share of which has decreased from 59.7% in 1990 to 27.5 in 2000, and to 6% in 2015.
As shown by international experience, a good business climate is one of the key conditions for successful development of business. The introduction of advanced market-based mechanisms of currency regulation and exchange rate policy, which stimulate the growth of export potential, active channeling of direct foreign investments, and increase the competitiveness of domestic producers on foreign markets, opens up the way for companies of different property forms to the drastically new level of development, expansion of mutually beneficial economic cooperation with foreign partners, scales up the volumes of competitive products, creates jobs, and raises people’s welfare.
Currently, the share of non-resource goods in total exports makes up around 70%, while in the early 90s of the last century this index was less than 30%. To date, Uzbekistan has established exports of various models of cars and trucks in line with international standards, spare parts and accessories, modern buses, agricultural machinery, new types of chemical, cable and wire products, refrigerators, washing machines, air conditioners, LCD TVs, LED lamps and solar water heating systems, textile and knitted articles, building materials, pharmaceuticals, soft drinks and other industrial products.
The share of food exports in total exports has increased from 3.2% in 1992 to 11% in 2015. During the years of independence, Uzbekistan has achieved a significant growth in exports of services, which is essential for economic development. For example, the volume of exported services in 1993 was $46.8 million (2% of total exports), while in 2015 it exceeded $3.1 billion (25% of exports) due to the sustainable development of tourism and transport sectors.
The overall stimulation and support of domestic exporters ensures a stable growth in the number of export-oriented manufactures. For example, their number has more than tripled against 1997.
State support of export-oriented enterprises allows maintaining positive trends in foreign trade activities of small businesses and private enterprises. Thus, their share in total exports has increased from 7.3 to 27.1% over the past 12 years, mainly owing to exports of building materials, leather goods, clothing and furniture, foods. More than 920 trade houses of domestic enterprises represent them abroad, 52 of which were established in 2015. The map of exports has expanded as well. In 1992, Uzbekistan exported its products to 60 countries, against almost 170 countries at the present time.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
transport
In the first nine months of the current year, all types of transport in Uzbekistan carried more than 1.17 billion tons of cargo, which is a 4.8% increase year on year
As reported by the State Statistics Committee, “the share of road transport was 91.8% (1.07 billion tons), railway transport stood at 4.3% (50.8 million tons), pipeline transport accounted for 3.9% (45.7 million tons) in the total volume of transported cargo.”
The share of road transport was 37.3%, pipeline transport – 36.5%, railway transport – 26.1% in the turnover structure.
5.6 billion passengers were transported in January-September with a four percent increase against the same period in 2015. The largest proportion in passenger traffic accounted for road transport – 99%, its share in passenger turnover amounted to 89.5%.
15.5 million people traveled by rail with a two percent increase YOY. The passenger turnover in January-September 2016 increased by 2.9% and exceeded 2.95 billion passenger-kilometers.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
Society
Sanofi and Uzpharmsanoat launch local production of medicaments
Sanofi Uzbekistan in cooperation with Uzpharmsanoat at support of Ministry of Healthcare and Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan started to realize joint projects on localization of production of medicaments in Uzbekistan.
Within the first phase of the project, it is planned to launch production of flu vaccine. In future, French company plans to localize other medicaments against chronic cardiovascular and endocrine systems, as well as the gastrointestinal tract.
The project is initiated within the memorandum of understanding, signed at the six session of intergovernmental commission on trade-economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and France. The memorandum includes issues of expanding trade-economic, investment, financial and technical cooperation.
Chairperson of Uzpharmsanoat Mirzanozim Dusmuratov said Uzpharmsanoat and Sanofi launched local production of medicaments at BIO VAKTSINALAR. The production premises passed quality audit of Sanofi. The enterprise launched production of Vaksigrip, which is a vaccine against flu.
Gulnara Holmatova, head of Sanofi in Uzbekistan, said that within the memorandum, Sanofi is ready to share its expertise and experience in sphere of vaccination and medical treatment, as well as provide access to the best European medicaments on affordable prices. She said that organization of localized production in Uzbekistan to satisfy local demand, Sanofi demonstrated importance of the country and positions itself as privileged partner for a long time.
Normunds Zemvaldis, director of division of Sanofi Pasteur for Central Asia and Belarus, said that the company plans to expand portfolio of vaccines, produced in Uzbekistan, not only flu vaccines.
(Source: «Business partner.uz» newspaper)
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