INFORMATION DIGEST OF PRESS OF UZBEKISTAN # 100

May 23, 2017

OFFICIALLY
Committee on Interethnic Relations created in Uzbekistan

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Abdulaziz Kamilov receives delegation of European Parliament

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE to visit Uzbekistan

THE STRATEGY OF ACTIONS ON FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF UZBEKISTAN
Uzbekistan: Investments, Innovations and Competent Approach

TOURISM
Bukhara: In Anticipation of the Silk and Spices Festival

SPORT
Chusovitina honored by International Gymnastics Hall of Fame

OFFICIALLY

Committee on Interethnic Relations created in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan created a Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries under the Cabinet of Ministers.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a corresponding decree on creation of the committee.
The committee created on the base of Republican International Culture Center and Council of Friendship Societies and cultural and educational contacts with foreign countries.
According to the decree, the committee will take implement the state policy in the field of ensuring interethnic harmony and tolerance in society.
The Committee will also implement measures to strengthen friendship with the world community, including the Diaspora of Compatriots Abroad.
(Source: UzDaily.com)

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Abdulaziz Kamilov receives delegation of European Parliament
On 22 May 2017, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov received the European Parliament deputies Iuliu Winkler and Ismail Ertug, who represent Romania and Germany respectively.
During the conversation, the sides noted the positive dynamics of relations between Uzbekistan and the European Union, including at the parliamentary level.
The MEPs shared their impressions frp, participation in the “round table” with members of the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, which was held today in Tashkent.
It was noted that Uzbekistan is interested in studying the European experience in the field of ensuring the rule of law, law enforcement practice, enhancing the role and significance of party factions in the parliament, control over the activities of executive bodies and implementation of laws.
The sides also exchanged views on specific issues of international and regional policy.
(Source: UzDaily.com)

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE to visit Uzbekistan
On May 24, 2017 the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan will arrive in Tashkent.
During the visit the guest will be received by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
The Program of the visit also includes negotiations in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

THE STRATEGY OF ACTIONS ON FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF UZBEKISTAN

Uzbekistan: Investments, Innovations and Competent Approach
Building of domestic production base for agricultural engineering ranks among the key areas of the economic block of the Actions Strategy, approved by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Powered by preferential opportunities, the industry has been developing at a seven-mile pace. Uzbekistan Today reporters explored prospects for the domestic agricultural machinery in the coming years.
Strategic partners
Domestic enterprises have huge plans ahead, and most of them envisage attraction of foreign strategic partners. For example, the Russian company Rostselmash is going to launch the assembly of its equipment at the facilities of the Chirchik Plant of Agricultural Machinery by the end of May.
The first batch of Russian machinery produced in Uzbekistan will consist of 20 self-propelled forage harvesters of three types. The parties have also embarked on elaboration of joint development of assembly of press-pick-ups, which is a very marketable product in Uzbekistan. The production capacity is estimated to be about 200 items per year. The total annual demand of the Uzbek market is estimated at 300-400 items of such equipment.
After the full launch of the project in Chirchik, the plant will produce several hundred Russian agricultural machines a year - about seven models of self-propelled harvesters and self-propelled mowers. The Russian side will gradually increase the level of localization of products manufactured in Uzbekistan.
There is another interesting project. The Belarusian Research, Design and Engineering Institute of Foundry BELRDEIF and Uzagrotekhsanoatholding carry out a project on the foundation of Uzbekistan’s first automated foundry for agricultural machinery.
The Uzbek side has studied several options for implementation of this project. Previously, it was planned that the project would be implemented jointly with the South Korean Hanwoo, but later on the issue was decided in favor of Belarusians who have vast experience and advanced technologies in this field.
Foundry production is ranked among centerpieces that provide enhanced localization, allow reducing the cost of agricultural machinery, and producing products with a large added value. To date, the BELRDEIF has developed technical documentation for this project, which is scheduled for finalization by the end of the current year.
Partnership in foundry production has been underway with Uzbekistan Railways, which launched the Foundry-Mechanical Plant in 2013 of a total cost of $150 million. It is equipped with technological lines by German companies, and is now the region’s unrivaled facility to manufacture foundry products for railway transport.
Uzagrogtekhsanoatholding invited representatives of Italian and Korean companies that are engaged in the production of agricultural machinery, to evaluate quality and technologies of the Foundry Mechanical Plant, aiming to further use its capacities for localization of part of components in Uzbekistan.
Export Prospects
Pakistan is about to launch assembly production of agricultural machinery from Uzbekistan. This may happen in the coming months.
Experts say that Pakistan is highly interested in Uzbek experience and technologies in the field of agriculture. The level of mechanization of cotton planting in this country does not exceed 50%, the rest is sown manually. They are currently working on submission of a decree on the introduction of Uzbek technologies in Pakistan to the government. This project implies separate tax, customs and so on.
Very soon, the Uzbek delegation will again visit the country to elaborate on the organization of assembly production. Within the framework of the visit, the delegates will see the areas for future assembly sites.
The project was preceded by testing of eight samples of Uzbek equipment on the Pakistani fields. Moreover, a delegation from Pakistan visited Uzbekistan to make sure that Uzbekistan has its own production base for agricultural machinery. During the visit, the guests got acquainted with the production, which, as they could see, was carried out on enhanced level of localization.
Innovative Resource
Case New Holland Company intends to launch the production of new methane tractors in Uzbekistan in 2018. The Uzbek side participated in operating this kind of tractors in the field in Italy.
Gas agricultural machinery is not yet widely operated in the republic. It is produced privately, and only 50 pieces of such equipment operate in the republic today. The new plant will allow tractors working on both methane and biogas. There are plans afoot to start switching tractors from 80 to 110 horsepower to gas power.
The further mechanization of cotton harvesting is another important area. To make it feasible, the republic needs up to 10,000 units of cotton harvesting equipment. In such conditions, the country will be able to achieve mechanized cotton harvesting by 100%. Today, the country’s fields are operated by over a thousand cotton harvesters. In 2017, it is scheduled to produce more than 600 units of cotton harvesting equipment, while the production of such equipment promises to grow at times in the years to come.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

TOURISM

Bukhara: In Anticipation of the Silk and Spices Festival
Some changes have been made to the program of events of the Traditional Bukhara International Festival ‘Silk and Spices.’
The press office of the regional administration informed, during the last several meetings to discuss the preparation for the festival, the head of Bukhara region Uktam Barnoyev instructed to revise cardinally the approaches to the organization of the festival and start to take it to a higher level.
According to the head of the region, the upcoming event is a great opportunity to present the entire tourist, economic and industrial potential of the region. In this regard, he instructed to attract to the festival the manufacturers of textile products and representatives of services industry along with artists and cultural figures.
As for the cultural program of the festival, it can be supplemented with the performance of the National Symphonic Orchestra of Uzbekistan. Currently, this proposal is being discussed with the Ministry of Culture. It should become a particular, vivid performance that would attract the interest of both tourists and local residents.
“Costume parade will be held along the usual route - from the Ark Citadel to the Labi-Hovuz Square. From ancient times Bukhara was the place of crossing of the West and the East. We want to make our focus on this and plan to show it in interesting details,” Botir Norboyev, head of the regional administration secretariat, said. “The script is related to the creativity of Alisher Navoi and other historical characters. It will be a historical-philosophical interpretation of the creation of the works of the great Uzbek poet.”
This time, a separate, broader and larger program will be prepared for fashion contest and fashion show. It is, as always, expected the participation of the representatives of the fashion industry of Uzbekistan and other countries.
We expect that the 16th Silk and Spices Traditional Festival, May 26 - 28, will cause in its participants a lot of positive emotions and will be an important event in the cultural life of not only Bukhara, but the entire country.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

SPORT

Chusovitina honored by International Gymnastics Hall of Fame
Oksana Chusovitina was honored at the 21st annual International Gymnastics Hall of Fame (IGHOF) ceremony on Saturday, 20 May 2017.
The ceremony of inclusion of Oksana Chusovitina to the Hall of Fame was held in Oklahoma, the United States.
1992 Olympic gold medalist and 7-time Olympian Oksana Chusovitina become the first acting athlete, who was included to the Hall of Fame.
(Source: UzDaily.com)

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