December17, 2014
Full Set of Localization Projects. 2
Uzbekistan to modernize 19 hydro power stations by 2020. 2
TO 100th anniversery of NATIONAL POET ZULFIYA.. 3
Acclaimed Writer on His Latest Book about Zulfiya. 3
economy
Full Set of Localization Projects
Localization of production within the country is turning into one of the main trends of industrial development in the CIS space. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has long adopted this policy: the country focused on local manufacturers yet in the early 1990-es. The policy has resulted in the creation of hundreds of modern industries producing a wide range of consumer goods and components.
The localization program is obviously not a panacea for the development of the real economy, but it is an important part of the process its modernization and technological extension. As experts emphasize, it is important ‘not to overplay’ in this process. Many countries, which introduced protective measures to protect domestic producers, completely destroyed the competition and discouraged the progressive development in the industry.
When a company has no competitors in the market, it does not need to look for ways to reduce costs and improve production. It is enough to produce large amounts of goods, and, deprived of alternatives, the population will have to purchase goods even of ambiguous quality.
Uzbekistan went the other way. The country did not set the barriers for foreign companies. It applied another economic mechanism – it encouraged investors for establishing joint ventures, and bringing in their technologies and experience. Thereby, Uzbekistan ensured a mutual benefit: foreign businessmen opened a new market and made a profit, and the country benefited from having new cutting-edge manufactures, producing high-quality and relatively cheap products, establishment of new jobs. The budget, in turn, received additional tax payments.
Late December, the Uzbek government approved 18 new projects on localization of production. Experts expect that they will help to intensify further expansion of localization of manufacture of modern competitive finished goods and components based on local raw materials, enhance the efficiency of cross-sectoral industrial cooperation, including small businesses and large enterprises, as well as create new jobs.
It is noteworthy that most of the projects are focused on the production of consumer goods. This evidences not just of the intention of the government and manufacturers to produce certain products, but also of the demand of the people, who trust the quality. The medicines like herbal, tablet, suppository and ointment drugs, solutions, and others, have appeared in the country owing to four projects. It is scheduled to implement an interesting project in the Samarqand region: a Stekloplastik enterprise will produce 31 kinds of sports equipment. Over 5.2 thousand items will be produced next year.
A Toshafus joint venture is ambitiously intending to rank high in the country’s industrial map among the projects on industrial production: by the end of 2016 it is planning to bring the production of different capacity elevators up to 240 thousand items a year. The car industry will remain in the spotlight. It is planned to establish the production of 31 types of components under two projects.
(Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)
investments
Uzbekistan to modernize 19 hydro power stations by 2020
Uzbekistan is planning to modernize and improve 19 existing hydro power stations by 2020, deputy head of department on implementation of investment projects of Uzbekenergo Abdulla Ahmedov said.
He noted that these works will be conducted for rational use of reserves of fuel-energy resources and develop renewable energy sources.
He said that in the result, the capacity of stations will grow by 118.5 megawatt and help to produce additional 600 million KWY of electricity. Ahmedov said it will help to save 250 million cubic meters of gas.
Abdulla Ahmedov said Uzbekenergo is implementing 28 large investment projects on creation of new generating capacities, modernization and reconstruction of existing capacities.
The projects are implemented in line with the presidential resolution “On priorities of development of industry of Uzbekistan in 2011-2015” from 15 December 2010 and “On investment programme of Uzbekistan for 2014” from 18 November 2013.
These projects envisage introduction of modern technologies on combine production of electricity and heating energy on the bases of combined-cycle facilities, increasing share of coal and hydro energy resources due to reconstruction of existing coal power stations, as well as the construction of interconnection transmission lines and substations, indoor substations, etc.
Abdulla Ahmedov said Uzbekenergo is paying attention to decreasing emission to atmosphere and using efficient and modern technologic equipment. The programme also envisages development of renewable sources of energy – wind, solar, hydro power and integrated solar-heating power stations.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
TO 100th anniversery of NATIONAL POET ZULFIYA
Acclaimed Writer on His Latest Book about Zulfiya
Acclaimed biographical novelist Naim Karimov has completed work on his book charting the life of late Uzbek poetess Zulfiya. An Uzbekistan Today correspondent met with the writer to speak about the book.
“How is the novel about Zulfiya different from the previous works you have written in this genre?”
“My first biographical novel was dedicated to Chulpon. It is a product of a massive amount of research into archives that are available not just in Uzbekistan, but also abroad. I did similar research while working on books about Shakhzod, Hamid Olimjon, and Mirtemir. Unlike those works, the bibliographical novel about Zulfiya draws on her personal memories and musings as well as previously published materials about her. I also relied on works by other authors while working on this novel. This helped to demonstrate her versatility and everything that inspired her.
Biographies are very popular with readers, who crave real-life stories and want to identify with a hero or heroine. One of the options was to present the material as a piece of literary critique, but it seemed like that would be understandable to the cognoscenti only.”
“Was it easy to work on the book?”
“Writing a book is no mean feat and is a big responsibility, and more so when it deals with a renowned personality, who is loved and remembered. Zulfiya was an active person, and that facilitated my work on the book. Her biography is full of curious facts.
Everything in her life – her creativity and public work – is interesting. One of her biggest influences was her mother, who had taken an interest in classics and poetry. The literature club at the pedagogical school she attended also had a big role to play, as did the critics she always listened to. According to the memories of her family members, her husband Hamid Olimjon also influenced her writing style.
It is interesting to observe changes in her creativity. Her earlier poems were dedicated to women’s problems while her later works focused on universal themes. Zulfiya’s works have been translated into 25 languages. She collaborated closely with translators. The translation of her poem “The Evening at Balkhash” into Russian by Semyon Gibkin was a result of that collaboration. Zufiya had proposed a different poem, but the translator convinced the poetess that it would not be understandable enough if rendered into Russian. Zulfiya conceded.
Zulfiya communicated actively with foreign poetesses. As a public figure, she is of great interest. While an editor of the women’s magazine Saodat, she helped a lot of her fellow countrywomen to deal with various situations and many women were grateful to her for her help.”
“How soon will the book be available?”
“The plan is to time the publication of the book to her 100th anniversary. I think it will be published in the spring next year.”
(Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)
Reference to the source is a must in reproducing materials