INFORMATION DIGEST OF PRESS OF UZBEKISTAN # 14

January19, 2017

EXPORT
Uzagroeksport Company has scheduled exporting more than 1.27 million tons of fruits and vegetables in 2017

INFRASTRUCTURE
The railway workers of Uzbekistan have completed the electrification of 90 km of steel railway in Karshi-Tashguzar-Dehkanabad section

RELIGION
Some 7,200 Uzbek people to perform Hajj pilgrimage in 2017

SPORT
Who Will Lead Uzbekistan to Tokyo?

EXPORT

Uzagroeksport Company has scheduled exporting more than 1.27 million tons of fruits and vegetables in 2017
This year, Uzbekistan will continue scaling up exports of fresh and processed fruit and vegetable products. According to experts, the implementation of specific measures and programs on expansion of fruit and vegetable production, as adopted late last year, will ensure the further growth of deliveries to neighboring countries, the CIS, Europe and Asia, and provide access to new markets.
In 2016, Uzbekistan adopted more than a dozen legal acts to increase the volumes of fruit and vegetable exports, and create favorable conditions for suppliers. This has contributed to a significant increase in shipments abroad.
In 2016, Uzbek enterprises exported 818,500 tons of fruits and vegetables, which is 38.3% more YOY. In particular, they exported 242,100 tons of vegetables (with 29.6% of specific share in total exports), 229,600 tons of fruits (28%), 6,800 tons of melons (0.8 %), 96,200 tons of grapes (11.7%), 120,200 tons of legumes (14.7%), and 124,500 tons of dried products (15.2%).
A total of 65 kinds of fruits and vegetables were exported. In this context, the main volumes in value terms fell on cherries (14.4%), dried grapes (12.8%), apricots (7.63%), fresh grapes (7.57%), mung peas (6.91% ), tomatoes (6.86%), beans (6.51%), greenery (5.65%), peaches (4.11%) and persimmon (3.96%).
Fruits and vegetables were exported in 43 countries in the world, while the map of exports has expanded by 9 new countries last year: canned capers were delivered to Spain and Italy for the first time, walnuts - to Lebanon, dried grapes – to Vietnam and Israel, dried vegetables – to Belgium, grapes and melons – to Switzerland, dried apricots – to the Netherlands, grapes and dried fruits – to the Czech Republic.
The progress allowed Uzbekistan to rank 48th among the largest exporters of fruits and vegetables last year.
The Extraordinary and the First International Fruit and Vegetable Fairs in July and November 2016 have played a pivotal role in the promotion of domestic products. More than 300 representatives of ministries, departments, organizations and trading, logistics and agricultural companies from 33 countries took part in the latter event.
The fairs were a platform for business meetings with representatives of foreign companies and partners, signing supply contracts for fresh and processed fruit and vegetable products with the largest Russian companies Tander and X5 Retail Group. The total value of contracts concluded in the First International Fruit and Vegetable Fair exceeded $1 billion.
Active launch of trading houses abroad is another landmark moment of the last year to highlight. Uzagroeksport opened five trade houses in partnership with Russia’s major wholesale companies, and two - in the Republic of Kazakhstan. Uzbekistan signed an agreement on the establishment of a trading house in Novosibirsk in order to organize supplies of fruit and vegetable products to the Siberian Federal District.
Uzbekistan is completing the works on the opening of trading houses in India, Germany, Poland, Latvia, the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Belarus as part of expanding its export map. Trading houses in these countries will be registered by the end of 2017 and will start operation.
Talks are currently underway on opening of joint trading houses in Kuwait, Oman, Japan and the Republic of Korea, which would also diversify the outlets. These markets show the high demand in cherries, melons, pomegranates, apricots, beans, walnuts, peanuts, dried fruit, and legumes.
Uzbekistan has recently addressed the issue of delivery of legumes, and mung peas in particular, to the new market of India. In the fourth quarter of 2016 a pilot batch of 1,700 tons worth more than $1.1 million was shipped to the Indian companies.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

INFRASTRUCTURE

The railway workers of Uzbekistan have completed the electrification of 90 km of steel railway in Karshi-Tashguzar-Dehkanabad section
In the years of independence, Uzbekistan has done much to expand its railway network and electrify it in the framework of development and improvement of transport infrastructure. Namely the electrification of railroads has made it possible to organize the movement of electric traction trains, freight and passenger trains. 1,700 km of railways have been electrified over the past 25 years the country, 500 km of which were electrified in 2016.
Works on the electrification of the Karshi-Termez section are currently underway. Electrical and assembly works on the 325 km section are conducted in phases. The works on the Karshi-Dehkanabad section were launched in September 2016. A solemn celebration of the completion of electrical works from Karshi to Dehkanabad, which is as much as 90 km, took place at the Dehkanabad railway station on the New Year’s Eve.
As noted at the event, large-scale works on repair and electrification of railways contribute not just to the development of certain regions, but to the whole socio-economic sector of the country. Electrification of the Karshi - Termez railway section will allow replacing diesel locomotives with advanced electric locomotives, cutting costs for passenger and cargo transportation by more than a third, significantly increase the speed and capacity of the railway. It is also important that the use of electric locomotives on instead of ‘smoking’ diesel locomotives will improve the environmental situation in the region.
The major components for railway electrification have been domesticated within the localization program and are now manufactured by domestic enterprises, significantly saving currency reserves. The project envisages the full completion of electrification of the railway section Karshi - Termez in 2017.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

RELIGION

Some 7,200 Uzbek people to perform Hajj pilgrimage in 2017
Annual quota for Hajj, allocated to pilgrims from Uzbekistan, was set at the level of 7,200 people, the press service of the Department on Religious affairs under the Cabinet of Uzbekistan said.
Department on Religious affairs said that annual quota for Hajj pilgrims increased from 5,200 to 7,200 people.
Department underlined that the decision was adopted in connection with the growth of those wishing to conduct pilgrimage.
At the same time, pilgrims, who already conducted pilgrimage, will not be able to perform Hajj pilgrimage this year.
(Source: UzDaily.com)

SPORT

Who Will Lead Uzbekistan to Tokyo?
Last week, the most discussed news of the National Olympic Committee were the outcomes of the General Assembly, which elected a new leadership and awarded once again the winners of the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
Chairman of the National Holding Company "Uzbekneftegaz" Alisher Sultanov was elected the new president of the National Olympic Committee. In this position he succeeded Mirabror Usmanov, who was appointed Honorary President of the NOC.
The Assembly also elected vice presidents of the National Olympic Committee. The posts went to the director general of Uzbekistan Airways Valeriy Tian, president of the Wrestling Association of Uzbekistan Salim Abduvaliev, and Farhod Turdiev who previously held the same post.
The participants talked about the results of the last Olympic four-year-period, which, one might say, was a breakthrough in terms of achievements. Take, for example, the triumphant performance at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro. Never before had our team in the Olympic Games won 13 medals, of which four were gold.
Another recognition for the contribution of Rio de Janeiro Olympic champions was their awarding with unusual souvenirs. Hasanboi Dusmatov, Shahobiddin Zoirov, Fazliddin Goibnazarov and Ruslan Nuridinov were handed commemorative figurines depicting their silhouettes. Bronze figurines were made by gallery masters Ravshan Mirtajiev, and awards were presented by the Prime Minister of the Republic Abdulla Aripov on behalf of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

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