High-Speed Gates for Bukhara. 1
Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of republic of Uzbekistan.. 4
Fractions hear report on activities of Ombudsman. 4
Bird-watching gets developed in Uzbekistan. 6
Transport
High-Speed Gates for Bukhara
National railroad specialists are getting ready to launch a new high-speed railway that will connect Tashkent and Bukhara. They have already signed a contract for the purchase of two modern electric trains, with the creation construction of infrastructure underway. The construction of a state-of the-art Central Station, which will be a finishing touch of the project, is in full swing.
The desire of Uzbekistan Railways to build a new station in Bukhara is understandable. The previous one-story building of the station did not meet modern standards. It was reconstructed and upgraded several times, while the increasing passenger traffic required new urban technologies and solutions.
The old building was demolished last summer due to the upcoming launch of a high-speed line, and consequent increase of the number of routes to Bukhara, as well as creation of better amenities for passengers and foreign tourists. It was the first step towards the construction of a modern terminal with a capacity of 200 people at a time.
The new station will be a two-story building with a VIP hall and four lounges for guests. It will also have duty rooms, CCTV monitoring, mother and child room, a medical center, an information desk and a snack bar. The building combines contemporary interior design with national esthetics and color.
Powered by modern technologies and domestic construction materials of international standards, the builders erected walls and roof, expanded the platform, and constructed ramps for people with disabilities. The finishing of the interior is currently nearing the completion.
A modern fountain, railroad ticket offices, as well as a parking lot will be built in spring in front of the station. The launch of the Central Station is scheduled for September. The total project cost of the construction of high-speed railway to Bukhara exceeds $400 million.
Every day the railway ticket office sells nearly 9,000 tickets for local and international destinations. In 2015, ticket sales increased by 9%, while the number of passengers soared by 12%.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
BUSINESS CLIMATE
Determination of property imported for their production needs by enterprises with foreign investment
In compliance with the Laws of the Republic of Uzbekistan, “On foreign investment” and “On customs tariff”, the property imported to the Republic of Uzbekistan by enterprises set up with a share of invested foreign capital, registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in order to meet their own production needs, is exempt from customs duties within two years since the date of their state registration, according to the established procedure. This privilege is designed to stimulate the creation and efficient activity carried out by production enterprises with foreign investment, which turn out export-oriented and import-substituting goods and invest in the national economy.
To execute the Laws referred to above, as well as the following documents: the Presidential Decree No УП-1652, «On additional stimuli and privileges granted to enterprises with foreign invested capital” as of 30th November 1996, the Presidential Resolution No ПП-136, “On organization of activity of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan” as of 26th July 2005 and the Resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan No 137, “On additional measures to liberalize foreign trade activity in the Republic of Uzbekistan” as of 31st March 1997, the Cabinet of Ministers passed the Regulations, “On the procedure for determining the property imported by enterprises with foreign investment for their own production needs” by its Resolution dated 16th May 2011. The Regulations were issued with a view to improving the certification of property imported by enterprises with foreign investment for their own production needs as well as to ensuring the uniform application of legal norms.
The present document establishes a procedure for determining the property imported by enterprises with foreign investment for their own production needs.
The certificate is issued by an authorized body, provided the following requirements are met:
Imported property is used directly in the technological production process;
All technological production processes are conducted on the applicant’s own (or leased) production site by the latter’s employees;
The applicant uses its own (or borrowed) capital and circulating assets or attracted financial resources.
Such operations as the division of property, sorting of property, wrapping up of property again and in a different way, pre-packing or packaging, mixing of property, and combination of two or more operations indicated above have no relation to the technological production process, unless the legislation stipulates otherwise.
To obtain a certificate, the applicant submits a written application to the authorized body, within whose jurisdiction its enterprise is located. Enclosed with the application are the following documents signed by the enterprise’s head or a person responsible for production and stamped with the applicant’s seal:
-a copy of the applicant’s certificate of state registration as an enterprise with foreign invested capital, which is issued once a year (in cases where the applicant undergoes re-organization, a copy of a new certificate of state registration is presented);
– information about production, including data on the applicant’s own or leased production premises and equipment (with the indication of the enterprise’s production capacity), as well as data on labour resources involved in the production process, with all the information and data being signed by the applicant’s head and a person responsible for production;
– norms of consumption per unit of output (in cases where raw stuff, materials, parts and components etc. are used), as well as calculations of demand for property for 12 months, approved by the applicant’s head and a person responsible for production;
– a copy of the import contract registered with the authorized body in accordance with the established procedure, or any other document, on whose basis the property is delivered from abroad;
– copies of commodity accompanying documents, with a corresponding note made by the state customs service on the delivery of property onto the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The applicant, importing technological equipment and spare parts thereto, as well as the property required for the implementation of works and services, should present, instead of consumption norms per unit of output, a letter that substantiates the need to import certain property, including the description of imported technological equipment and spare parts thereto, as well as their purpose and the place of installation or replacement.
The authorized body independently gathers from other authorized bodies a package of documents and information that are required for issuing the certificate. Such a collection of documents and information is carried out in accordance with the established procedure by means of information interaction, including in electronic form. However, this requirement doesn’t apply to documents and information not stipulated in the present paragraph.
It should be pointed out that amenably to the Regulations, the responsibility for the authenticity of data indicated in the documents, which are presented by the applicant in order to obtain the certificate, is borne by the latter. An incomplete package of required documents is not accepted for consideration.
The application for issuing the certificate is considered within 5 working days since the date of receipt. In the following 3 days after its submission, the applicant should ensure access to its production site for an expert to examine the applicant’s production facility. In cases where the applicant is asked to present additional information, the term of consideration of its application is extended up to 10 working days.
If the expert, considering the presented documents, finds that the information contained there is insufficient, he visits, together with the applicant, the latter’s production site in order to examine the availability of conditions needed to exploit the imported equipment in the technological production process, on the basis of the documents presented in keeping with Paragraph 7 of the Regulations. If the results of examination correspond to the information indicated in the documents presented by the applicant, the expert draws up an examination statement. It is on the basis of a given examination statement that the authorized body issues the required certificate.
The certificate covers the volume (quantity) of property delivered to the Republic’s territory as stipulated in the contract, in accordance with an invoice. The certificate may be issued no later than 12 months from the date the imported property crosses the state border of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
At the same time, the certificate is issued for no more than 12 months. Its term of validity may be prolonged prior to the certificate’s expiry date on the basis of a well-grounded written application submitted by the applicant. Having considered the application, the authorized body sends a letter to the applicant within 5 working days, with the indication of the date, up to which the certificate’s term of validity is extended. This period of extension, however, should not exceed 12 months.
The applicant may be denied the request to issue the certificate, in which case the expert draws up a special resolution, with the indication of reasons behind such a denial. The reasons include:
The absence of information in any of the documents, listed in Paragraph 7 of the present Regulations, which is required for issuing the certificate;
Identification of distorted information in the presented documents;
Refusal to provide access to the production site, for the expert to examine the applicant’s production capacity;
Non-observance by the applicant of the requirements stipulated in Paragraphs 4 and 5 of the present Regulations.
Refusal to issue the certificate on other grounds is not allowed.
In cases where the applicant’s documents are reconsidered, the authorized body is not allowed to make new remarks, which have not been indicated in the expert resolution. At the same time, new remarks may be presented, if the previous ones are indicated without visiting the applicant’s production site.
When denying the applicant’s request, the expert draws up an expert resolution. In this case, the applicant is given 20 days to eliminate the reasons, on which its application is rejected. If the applicant repeatedly presents all the required documentation within the indicated period, no fee is charged for consideration of its application.
The applicant may lodge a complaint against an expert resolution issued by the authorized body in accordance with the established procedure.
If the certificate is damaged or lost, the authorized body issues, following the applicant’s appeal, a duplicate of the certificate, with the sign “duplicate” being indicated right after the certificate’s number. The authorized body may issue the certificate’s duplicate only for the term of validity of the document that has been damaged or lost.
What’s more, the Regulations stipulate the introduction of changes and additions to the certificate issued earlier. To have certain changes and additions introduced into the certificate issued earlier, the applicant submits to the authorized body a written well-grounded request with the indication of reasons for their introduction. If the proposed changes and additions require careful verification, the applicant’s production site may be examined once more. In cases where the authorized body makes a positive decision, the changes and additions are inserted in the certificate within 5 working days.
All the expenses associated with the examination and the subsequent issuing of a certificate are borne by the applicant. For the consideration of an application for issuing a certificate, the applicant pays a fee to the authorized body, which is equivalent to the minimum wage fixed on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the date of application.
For issuing a duplicate of the certificate issued earlier and introducing changes and additions therein, including those emerging as a result of additional examination, a fee is charged at the rate of 10 per cent of the indicated sum.
If the applicant is denied the issuing of a certificate, with a well-grounded expert resolution being drawn up, the fee paid by the applicant is not reimbursed.
The responsibility for the quality of property imported by the applicant for its own production needs is borne by the latter.
The responsibility for both the timely conduct of examination and issuing of a certificate is borne by an expert and an official from the authorized body, who sign the certificate.
The absence of a certificate for property imported by the applicant to meet its own production needs is not regarded as a reason for any limitation of import activity carried out by the latter in keeping with the general procedure stipulated in the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
(Source: «Business partner.uz» newspaper)
Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of republic of Uzbekistan
Fractions hear report on activities of Ombudsman
Meetings of factions of political parties and the deputy group of the Ecological Movement of Uzbekistan took place in the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis. Issues which were introduced in the agenda of the forthcoming meeting of the lower house of parliament have been considered, in particular, the Ombudsman’s activity report in 2015, submitted by the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights, was discussed during the meetings.
The Head of state at a joint session of the new Parliament stressed that in the context of constitutional reforms the work of the chambers of the Oliy Majlis must be built on a new basis, and above all the factions and deputy groups, on the implementation of parliamentary control over the activity of state bodies, unconditional execution of laws, the most important state programs of socio-economic and socio-political development.
Parliamentary control is an important part of the activities of members of the lower house of parliament. Ensuring the rule of law, improving legal awareness of citizens, improvement of legislation and law enforcement practice require the strengthening of the control function of Parliament over the execution of laws and decisions of the lower house at all levels.
Giving constitutional status to parliamentary control as an important part of the powers of the deputies of the Legislative Chamber and the factions of political parties, of course, requires increasing the effectiveness of parliamentary control and the introduction of new methods of its implementation. As the President of the country stressed out it must become part of the daily activity of each deputy.
Institute of the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Oliy Majlis (Ombudsman) is an important tool in the implementation of parliamentary control over ensuring human rights and freedoms, effective feedback mechanism. The practice of an annual discussion of the Ombudsman’s report allows considering in detail the law enforcement process, how citizens feel in their daily lives about socio-political, socio-economic and judicial-legal reforms carried out in the country.
Representatives of the factions were unanimous in the opinion that the report of the Ombudsman comprehensively incorporates information on the implementation of all the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It thoroughly covers all the major events, legislative and regulatory innovations in the field of human rights and freedoms which were introduced in the country during 2015. The report also contains statistical data, results of analytical studies of the effectiveness of law enforcement practices, proposals for further improvement of the legal framework to ensure the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens.
Deputies noted a number of qualitative changes in the structure of the report, which enabled each political party factions and deputy group of the Ecological Movement to identify areas of work which would help ensure comprehensively rights of the social strata of the population that they represent.
Comprehensive discussion allowed studying in depth the information provided, drawing some conclusions and generating proposals that will serve to further improve the implementation of parliamentary control.
Thus, members of the Movement of Entrepreneurs and Businessmen – Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan underlined that based on recommendations submitted by the party on the basis of the discussion of the previous report Ombudsman paid particular attention to the protection of private property, the rights of entrepreneurs and farmers, as well as the course of realization of the Decree of the President “On measures to ensure reliable protection of private property, small business and private entrepreneurship, the removal of barriers to their rapid development” dated May 15, 2015 and the laws adopted in the framework of its implementation.
– Our faction in the lower house of parliament represents the interests of the representatives of the real sector of the economy – said a member of the faction Sh. Bafaev. – On the basis of the Ombudsman’s report we evidenced a clear trend on reducing the numbers of citizens’ appeals in connection with the intervention of government in the activities of businesses. Moreover, there is a high demand for access to preferential credit resources in the business environment for the development of family businesses and farms. We believe it is necessary to strengthen the work on the establishment of consulting and engineering firms, organizations to assist in the preparation of feasibility studies for credit projects, as well as the insurance business.
Participants at the meeting of the faction also underlined the importance of further strengthening the cooperation between the committee of the lower house of parliament with the Ombudsman in terms of exchange of information in the implementation of control and analytical activity of the parliament, the implementation of this work on a regular basis.
Meanwhile, members of the Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Milly Tiklanish” stressed the work of the Ombudsman carried out in the execution of parliamentary control over the implementation of programs in the field of education, the application of the decision of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis on amnesty in connection with the 23 anniversary of the Constitution of the country.
It was also emphasized at the meeting that the representatives of the Ombudsman in the regions take part in the public monitoring of uniform and strict observance of the constitutional and legal provisions related to the implementation of the amnesty act. Issues of social protection and adaptation of persons released from punishment are also under the supervision of the Ombudsman.
At the same time, the faction noted the importance of further strengthening the role of regional representatives in monitoring the implementation of legislation at places.
Members of the fraction of People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan particularly noted that over the past year, the Ombudsman implemented a set of measures for the protection of social rights of citizens, including pensioners and people with disabilities, workers of budgetary organizations, representatives of the social sphere – the electorate of the party, said member of the fraction Sh. Mamajanov. – The Commissioner participated in the implementation of parliamentary control over the execution of the state social-humanitarian program “The Year of attention and care for the older generation” adopted at the initiative of the President of the country.
Measures to protect the family, motherhood and childhood became an important aspect of the activities of the Commissioner. In this regard, the Ombudsman cooperated actively with the Women’s Committee, “Kamolot” PYM, “Mahalla”, “Nuroniy”, “Soglom Avlod Uchun” funds and other institutions of civil society, using their wide humanitarian potential in ensuring the rights, freedoms and legitimate interests of citizens.
Ombudsman made proposals to improve the regulatory framework in the field of child and senior citizens’ rights. The party expressed willingness to discuss them fully with experts, specialists and representatives of civil society institutions.
In turn, members of the fraction of Social Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Adolat” emphasized that the most important task of the party is the widespread introduction of the principle “fairness is the main criterion of our life, justice for everyone.” In this regard, according to deputies of the party, the Ombudsman should play an increasingly important role in our society. Participants of the meeting noted the importance of further liberalization of the judicial-legal system, to ensure its transparency, equality of all participants in the judicial process.
– Institute of the Ombudsman carrying out activities to address complaints and restore violated rights of citizens contributes to further development of the rule of law, – says member of the fraction M. Kurbanbaev – Our faction is a supporter of further strengthening the role of the Ombudsman in the system of parliamentary control over the activity of law enforcement bodies, the effective implementation of reforms in the sphere of liberalization of judicial-legal system.
In this respect, it is important to strengthen cooperation with the Parliament when undertaking control and analytical measures at places, the introduction of the practice of regularly informing the Houses of Parliament on appeals received from citizens which affect personal rights and freedoms of citizens.
In general, members noted that each year the report of the Ombudsman cover more areas, as a result efficiency of the control functions increases.
It should be noted that detailed discussion by the deputies of new convocation and fractions of political parties in the lower house of the report of the Commissioner of the Oliy Majlis for Human Rights (Ombudsman) has allowed analyzing more deeply his activities, developing effective proposals to strengthen parliamentary control over the implementation of laws and other normative-legal acts at places, as well as improve the activity of this institution in the field of protection of human rights and freedoms.
Following the debate, the fractions developed their positions on the issue (taking into account the objectives defined in the election platforms of parties and voters’ interests) and made appropriate decisions.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
Ecology
Bird-watching gets developed in Uzbekistan
World Wetlands Day is celebrated each year in our country together with the international community, and this year it has become a kind of showcase of achievements in the protection of nature and taking account its wealth.
State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Nature Protection and its regional committees became the organizer of the activities. A kind of sightseeing for metropolitan press took place in Tuyabuguz Reservoir which is three dozen kilometers away from Tashkent. A press conference passed on its shore.
– The purpose of the Ramsar Convention, to which 168 countries have already joined, is the protection of internationally important wetlands – especially the quality of Waterfowl Habitat, said to the press a member of the State Biological Control of Uzbekistan, Timur Abduraupov.
The participants received detailed information on the most important wetlands of our country. Kind of presentation began with the venue of the press conference – Tuyabuguz Reservoir.
The pond which is called Tashkent Sea by the people and set in the middle of the last century on Akhangaran river impresses with its spaciousness and an abundance of surrounding greenery. Here specialists from the State Biological Control of the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan for Nature Protection regularly hold spring and preseason counting of hunting – commercial animals, and members of the Society for Protection of Birds of Uzbekistan prepare annual reports for an international census of water birds.
Man-made lake has become a popular place of observation with cognitive goals for birdwatchers. Bird-watching which is a widespread activity in the world among amateurs has been successfully developing in our country.
In Uzbekistan, the territory of the lake Dengizkul and Aydar-Arnosay Lakes system were the first one to be included in the Ramsar list.
Dengizkul Pond is located in the southwest of the Kyzylkum desert. The lake is a natural protected area which is internationally and nationally important. Since 1973, it has the status of an ornithological reserve, which ensures the regime of a specially protected area. Here waterfowl are monitored. More than 170 species can be found in the lake.
24 species of that number are listed in the Red Book of Uzbekistan and the two entered the list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
In winter, Dengizkul Lake becomes a cozy habitat for migratory birds. Then it is possible to observe up to half a million different representatives of ornitafauna.
However, this is an incomplete list of the inhabitants of the lake. 35 species of mammals, 24 species of fish and reptiles, two species of amphibians are still found there. Flora is represented by 47 species of plants of which six are included in the Red Book of Uzbekistan. Sixteen species of plants – endemics of Central Asia – are no longer found in the world.
The given facts strongly support the importance of taking under the protection of the natural wealth and the value of research of flora and fauna, observation of their inhabitants taking place in Dengizkul.
Aydar-Arnosoy lakes system is the second territory of our country included in the Ramsar list of wetlands. This real bird paradise is located just three hours away from Tashkent.
In the northwest, lakes system with the length of almost 300 kilometers starts from Chardara dams on the Syr Darya and extends to the southeast to the foot of the blue Nurata Mountains. Kyzylkum desert is adjacent to the lakes from the west. Biodiversity of the chain of lakes includes seven species of aquatic plants, twenty-two fish species, three species of amphibians, seven species of reptiles and mammals, more than two hundred species of waterfowl.
Lakes attract flamingos, gray geese, red-breasted geese and many rare and endangered species of birds.
Nomadic bird – the black vulture goes down Nuratin Mountains to the lakes in the winter. During mating the feathered bird charms bird lovers with its extraordinary dance.
Countries which have acceded to the Ramsar Convention undertake liabilities to promote the sustainable use of all wetlands through the adoption of appropriate legislative and practical measures on their territories. In this regard, the obligation to ensure the stability of the ecological state and sustainable use of wetlands by the Government of Uzbekistan adopted a “Program of Action for the effective use of the system of lakes Aydar Arnosay over 2008-2015”. As a result of its implementation, more than 150 fishing enterprises and the four game farms have been created. Aydar-Arnosay basin inspection of the State Biological Control carries out monitoring of correctness of human activity on this protected natural area.
In recent years, the neighborhood of Aydar-Arnasay lakes chain became an area of intensive development of tourism infrastructure. Campsites and hotel-yurts are being built for lovers of nature; trails to exotic places are being selected.
As it was reported at the press conference, research and monitoring of the most important water bodies are being continued in the country. 24 sites of wetlands with a status “important bird area” have already been allocated. Thirteen water bodies on them correspond to Ramsar criteria.
Work on expanding the list of Ramsar sites is being continued. For two nominees of Ramsar list – Tudakul and Kuyumazar Lakes in Bukhara region – management plan has been prepared. Karakalpakstan lakes and not less exotic pools in other regions of the country are among the candidates for inclusion in the international list.
One of the activists of the well-known hobbies, Tashkent bird watcher Denis Nuridjanov said at the press conference about observation with the informative purpose for bird lovers – bird-watching.
Bird watchers represent the public on the Internet the best results of its activity in the form of photographs. A propaganda of bird-watching as a sustainable, safe and beneficial pastime occupied an important place in the activity of the fans of this hobby.
Last year, among the events carried out by the participants of this movement, was a contest for the best photo of a bird of Uzbekistan, participation in the 50th international census of waterfowl and other activities related to the life of birds.
Basic tools of bird watcher are binoculars, telescope and the camera. Participants of the press-conference have also taken advantage to using this equipment.
Meaningful events were held in the regions as well. A variety of themed events and activities were held in order to attract public attention to the importance of preserving wetlands.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
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