INFORMATION DIGEST OF PRESS OF UZBEKISTAN # 63

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March 30, 2016

INFORMATION DIGEST OF PRESS OF UZBEKISTAN # 63

economy.. 1

Uzbekistan produces agriculture products for 42.3 trln. soums in 2015. 1

Export.. 2

The Uzbek automobile industry intends to significantly expand its presence in foreign markets in the coming years  2

INFRASTRUCTURE.. 2

In the coming years, the streets of Uzbek cities will become lighter and safer for pedestrians and drivers  2

International cooperation.. 2

Meeting with the head of MFA of Germany. 2

Meeting with Israeli diplomat 3

BUSINESS CLIMATE.. 3

Charter capital of Fund on supporting exports of small businesses of Uzbekistan to grow by three times  3

 

 

economy

Uzbekistan produces agriculture products for 42.3 trln. soums in 2015

The agriculture production of Uzbekistan made up 42.28 trillion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 30.03.2016, 1$= 2876.72 soums) in 2015, which grew by 6.8% compared to 2015, the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said.

At the same time, the output of plant-growing reached 25.085 trillion soums (+6.7%) and animal husbandry – 17.195 trillion soums (+6.8%).

In the structure of agricultural production, the share of dekhkan farms and personal subsidiary plots is 65.4% (in January-December 2014 – 65.1%), private farms – 32.6% (32.9%), organizations, carried out agricultural activities – 2.0% (2%).

Plant-growing

In the reporting year, the share of crop production in the total agricultural output was 59.3% (in 2014 – 59%).

In 2015, according to preliminary data, the total sown area in farms of all types was 3.695 million hectares.

The area under grains was 1.671 million hectares (+1%), of which under wheat – 1.446 million hectares (-0.6%). The area under cotton was 1.298 million hectares (-0.2%).

The area under potatoes has increased by 0.4%, vegetables by 1.1%, melons and gourds by 0.9%, and forage crops by 0.5%.

In January-December 2015, farms of all types produced 8.176 million tonnes of grains in weight before treating, including 7.206 million tonnes of spiked cereals, 6.97 million tonnes – wheat.

In the reporting period there were produced 2.697 million tonnes of potatoes (10,0% more than in January-December 2014), 10.128 million tonnes of vegetables (9.1%), 1.853 million tonnes of melons and gourds (9.3%), 2.746 million tonnes of fruit and berries (10.3%) and 1.579 million tonnes of grapes (9.6%).

Animal husbandry

In January-December 2015, the share of animal production in the total agricultural output was 40,7% (in 2014 – 41,0%).

As compared with 1 January 2015 the number of cattle in farms of all types has increased by 642,600 (by 5.8%) of which cows by 88,400 (by 2.2%), sheep and goats – by 648,700 (by 3.5%), poultry by 4.875 million (8.7%).

In the total population the share of cattle in dekhkan farms and personal subsidiary plots was 94.1% and in private farms – 4.8%, caws – 94.6% and 4.5%, sheep and goats – 3.8% and 7.4%, horses – 85.1% and 9.3%, poultry – 64.4% and 11.8% respectively.

In 2015, farms of all types produced 2.033 million tonnes of meat in living weight (6.7% more than in January-December 2014), 9.028 million tonnes of milk (7.1%), 5.526 billion eggs (11.6%) and 36,000 tonnes of wool (4.8%).

The share of dekhkan farms and personal subsidiary plots in the total production of meat was 94.4%, milk – 95.7%, eggs – 56.2%.

Private farms

The agricultural output produced by private farms in January-December 2015 was 13.801 trillion soums, which rose by 4.3% compared to 2014. The share of private farms in the total volume of gross agricultural output was 32.6%.

As of 1 January 2016, private farms had 556,600 heads of cattle (including 187,900 cows), 1.405 million heads of sheep and goats, 20,100 heads of horse and 7.235 million heads of poultry.

In comparison with 1 January 2015 the number of cattle has increased by 11,400 (or by 2.1%), cows – by 0.7 thousand (0,4%), sheep and goats – by 69,000 (5.2%), poultry – by 563,800 (8.5%).

(Source: UzDaily.com)

Export

The Uzbek automobile industry intends to significantly expand its presence in foreign markets in the coming years

Last year, Dubai (UAE) hosted presentations of cars by distributors from 20 countries, including Egypt, Algeria, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Lebanon, Jordan, UAE and the countries of Central and Southern Africa.

Test car lots were shipped to eight countries – South Africa, Egypt, Gabon, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Cape Verde, Madagascar and Ghana. This year, the Uzbek side is considering the opportunity of car deliveries to the Middle East and North African markets, including Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia and Nigeria. Much is being done to attract leading Chevrolet dealers in major cities of Russia into the commercial network GM Uzbekistan.

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

INFRASTRUCTURE

In the coming years, the streets of Uzbek cities will become lighter and safer for pedestrians and drivers

The Uzbek government has approved a program on modernization of external lighting systems with LED technology in Tashkent, regional centers and towns in 2016-2019.

Uzbekistan has built a proper foundation for the production of up-to-date energy-saving devices for outdoor lighting based on LED technology. The best proposals for the supply and turnkey installation of external lighting systems will be selected without bids among domestic manufacturers by a specially appointed commission.

Suppliers of equipment will have to meet the related international standards of quality, and provide the equipment capable of automatic adjustment of the light output in the evening and at night. The works under the program will be funded by the national and local budgets, and the Republican Road Fund under the Ministry of Finance.

In order to make the process more effective, the State Committee for Architecture and Construction of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in cooperation with the O’zkommunkhizmat Agency, will review and update the standards for natural and artificial lighting until mid-April this year, taking into account the introduction of LED devices of reflected light technology in the streets in conformity with international standards.

Earlier, the Islamic Development Bank allocated $36 million for the project on introduction of energy efficient technologies in the street lighting system in Tashkent. The total cost of the initiative exceeded $78 million. The project envisages the replacement of 116,000 inefficient street lighting fixtures by energy efficient lamps, and more than 1,540 obsolete and worn-out lighting supply points by highly efficient.

It is also planned to introduce an automated street lighting control system based on modern computer technology and advanced mobile wireless communication systems.

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

International cooperation

Meeting with the head of MFA of Germany

On March 30, 2016 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Chairperson-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Frank-Walter Steinmeier who arrived today to pay a two day visit to our country.

The foreign ministers discussed various aspects of bilateral relations, exchanged views on the issues of regional and international politics.

Special attention was paid to the topical issues of the OSCE agenda, which is currently being chaired by Germany as well as the state and prospects of Uzbek-German cooperation within the organization.

The meeting was attended by Ambassador of Germany Neithart Hofer-Wissing.

(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

Meeting with Israeli diplomat

On March 29, 2016 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov received the Deputy Director General of the MFA of the State of Israel Jeremy Issacharoff paying a visit to Tashkent as a head of the MFA delegation to participate in the next round of Uzbek-Israeli political consultations.

The sides exchanged views on the topical issues of Uzbek-Israeli agenda and international and regional concern.

The ambassador of Israel Carmela Shamir has also participated in the meeting.

(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Charter capital of Fund on supporting exports of small businesses of Uzbekistan to grow by three times

The Government of Uzbekistan adopted a decision on increasing charter capital of the Fund on supporting exports of small businesses and private enterprises under the National Bank of Uzbekistan for Foreign Economic Activity (NBU).

According to the resolution of the Government, the charter capital of the fund will grow three times from 5.3 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 30.03.2016, 1$= 2876.72 soums) to 10.3 billion soums and US$2 million due to voluntary fees of the founders.

NBU will direct 2.3 billion soums and US$2 million to increase charter capital of the fund, Asaka Bank – 700 million soums, Uzpromstroybank – 700 million soums, Uzbekistan Banking Association – 700 million soums, Uztadbirkorexport – 50 million soums, Uzsanoatexport – 50 million soums, small businesses and farmers – 500 million soums.

The resolution said that the Fund will expend a list of financial services, rendered to small and private businesses.

Fund will participate in the charter capitals of small and private businesses and compensate expenses of businesses and farms, spent to modernization and expansion of production, as well as for attracting foreign specialists.

The Government also decreases the commission for rendering legal, financial and organizational services from 3% to 1%, but not less than 100,000 soums.

The Fund also received a right to open its representative offices in foreign countries.

Fund on supporting exports of small businesses and private enterprises was established in 2013 to expand export potential of small and private businesses, as well as farmers.

(Source: UzDaily.com)

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