INFORMATION DIGEST OF PRESS OF UZBEKISTAN #175

September 6, 2017

STATE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN TO KYRGYZSTAN
Cooperation based on friendship and mutual trust

FINANCE
Starting from September 5, 2017, the exchange rate of the Central Bank is set at 8100 UZS for 1 USD

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Special Rapporteur on human rights set to visit Uzbekistan

SOCIETY
Public Affairs

REGIONS: TASHKENT
Zones of Economic Development

PROBLEMS OF THE ARAL SEA AND WATER RESOURCES OF CENTRAL ASIA
There Is Water, But Is There Common Sense?

STATE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN TO KYRGYZSTAN

Cooperation based on friendship and mutual trust
As previously reported, on September 5, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Kyrgyzstan with a state visit at the invitation of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev.
The official meeting was held at “Manas” international airport. The President of the Kyrgyz Republic Almazbek Atambayev met the head of our state. The national flags of the two countries were raised and a guard of honor was lined up at the airport in honor of the honored guest.
National anthems of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan has sounded. The heads of the states passed the guard of honor.
Recently, traditional cooperation between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan has been enriched with new content, interrelationship has been significantly intensified. The meetings of the heads of the states at the highest level and visits of delegations at the level of governments and regions were held.
Our people have lived side by side on the banks of one river since ancient times. We have a common history, similar cultural and religious values, traditions and customs. As the well-known writer Chingiz Aitmatov said, “our people share one blood, one language”.
At the Ala-Archa residence in Bishkek, the meeting of the heads of the two states in a narrow format was held. The sides discussed prospects of further expansion and deepening of cooperation in political, trade, economic, transport, communication, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres, issues of intensification of cooperation between the border regions of the two countries, as well as current regional and international problems of mutual interest.
The President of our country expressed gratitude to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic for the sincere reception and special respect shown to the delegation of Uzbekistan.
We highly appreciate historical fraternal and good-neighborly relations between our people. This serves as a solid basis for strengthening cooperation between our states, said the head of our state.
Almazbek Atambayev, welcoming Shavkat Mirziyoyev who arrived in Kyrgyzstan with a state visit, noted that this is a logical continuation of the dialogue between our states at the highest level, a convenient opportunity for discussing issues of mutual interest, emphasized the consistent development of mutually beneficial cooperation between the two states in all spheres.
The meeting of the Presidents of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan continued with participation of official delegations.
During the meetings, current issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation were discussed. Views were exchanged on further development of relations in political, trade and economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
The Central Asian region has a priority in the foreign policy of Uzbekistan. The visit of the President of Kyrgyzstan Almazbek Atambayev last December to Samarkand served as a starting point for the current negotiations, which were continued in the spirit of Samarkand meeting.
Over the past period of 2017, the trade turnover between our countries has increased by 60 percent.
At the meeting, the Presidents agreed also on the rational use of water resources in accordance with the common interests of our states.
At the previous meetings, the heads of the two states discussed issues of development of effective transport communications in the region, construction of a railway through the territory of Kyrgyzstan, which will allow to shorten the route to China. This time, an agreement was reached on accelerating the creation of a legal framework for cooperation in this direction.
In a short time, relations between our regions have become stronger. Confirmation of this is the visits of representatives of Batkent, Jalalabad, Osh regions to Andijan, the delegation of Uzbekistan to Osh.
The President of our country proposed creation of a Council of khokims in the border areas in order to consistently fulfill the reached agreements.
Special attention is paid to strengthening and expanding close cooperation in cultural and humanitarian sphere, friendship and good-neighborly relations between the two states. In this regard, it is worth noting the successful tour of the Osh State Academic Uzbek Music and Drama Theater named after Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur in Fergana Valley in February this year, and in June – the collective of the Uzbek State Music Theater named after Mukimi in Osh, Uzgen, Aravan, Navkat, Karasu, Jalalabad.
A secondary school that is being built with the assistance of Uzbekistan in Osh is also a vivid example of friendship of our people. This school will be provided with modern educational equipment and supplies, textbooks, literature.
In October this year it was decided to hold Days of Culture of Uzbekistan in Kyrgyzstan, and in 2018 – Days of Culture of Kyrgyzstan in Uzbekistan.
Representatives of Kyrgyzstan took the second place at the recently held “Sharq taronalari” International Music Festival in Samarkand.
Today there are about 300 thousand of our compatriots of Kyrgyz nationality in Uzbekistan. All conditions have been created for the development of their culture, language, traditions and customs. There are 6 Kyrgyz national cultural centers, education in 56 schools is conducted in the Kyrgyz language.
The negotiations clearly demonstrated the consistent development of bilateral relations and broad prospects for strengthening cooperation in priority areas.
As a result of negotiations, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Almazbek Atambayev signed the Joint Statement, the Agreement on Uzbek-Kyrgyz state border. Intergovernmental agreements on trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between the cities of Andijan and Osh, Tashkent and Bishkek, cooperation between the chambers of commerce and industry of the two countries, cooperation and mutual assistance on the issues of compliance with tax legislation, cooperation between the regions, agreements on scientific and technical cooperation in the sphere of higher education, Plan for joint activities on further deepening and expanding cooperation between the border regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Kyrgyz Republic for 2017-2019, Memorandum on Inter-parliamentary Cooperation and other important documents were also signed.
At the meeting with mass media representatives, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Almazbek Atambayev noted that the negotiations were held in an atmosphere of mutual respect, trust and constructiveness and that the achieved historic agreements will raise the level of cooperation between our countries to a qualitatively new level.
The state visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Kyrgyz Republic continues.
(Source: UzA)

FINANCE

Starting from September 5, 2017, the exchange rate of the Central Bank is set at 8100 UZS for 1 USD
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. DP-5177 of September 2, 2017 “On priority measures of liberalizing foreign exchange policy”, one of the priority directions of the state economic policy in the area of further liberalization of foreign exchange market is the exclusive use of market mechanisms in setting the national currency rate in relation to foreign currency.
Based on the analysis of dynamics of exchange rate factors for 2003-2017, as well as taking into account the results of test transactions on the sale of foreign currency by banks to importing enterprises at the contractual rate, the estimated equilibrium level of the exchange rate for 1 USD is 8000-8150 UZS.
In this regard, the exchange rate of the Central Bank, starting from September 5, 2017, is set at 8100 UZS for 1 USD.
The rate of the Central Bank will continue to be set every Monday as the average value of rates fixed at trades of currency exchange in the previous week and will be applied for accounting purposes, statistical and other reporting on currency transactions, as well as for calculation of customs and other mandatory payments in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
Interbank trading sessions on the purchase and sale of foreign currency at the Uzbek Republican Currency Exchange will be held daily, at which the exchange rate will be determined on the basis of the current supply and demand for foreign currency and published on the website of the currency exchange.
(Source:UzA)

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Special Rapporteur on human rights set to visit Uzbekistan
On 5 September, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a meeting with the head of the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for Central Asia Ryszard Komenda.
On 5 September, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan held a meeting with the head of the Regional Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) for Central Asia Ryszard Komenda.
The meeting discussed prospects of development of relations between Uzbekistan and the OHCHR as one of the important institutions of the UN.
The parties emphasized that the visit of the UN High Commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein to Tashkent, and agreements on further cooperation, including in the framework of the implementation of the Action Strategy, derive the bilateral cooperation to a new stage.
The sides also considered practical aspects of the visit of the Special Rapporteur of the UN Council on human rights Ahmed Shaheed to Uzbekistan, which is scheduled for late September.
(Source:UzReport)

SOCIETY

Public Affairs
Citizens with red armbands protecting the public order can soon become the norm in our days.
By the decisions of the Minister of Internal Affairs of Uzbekistan, the head of the city department of internal affairs and the hokim (mayor) of Tashkent, a new subdivision "Nazorat guruhi" consisting of teachers of physical culture of the general schools of the capital was experimentally opened in the police department of Mirzo-Ulughbek district.
The subdivision began its work in connection with the conduct of several events and holidays - Independence Day, Eid al Adha holiday and the beginning of a new academic year in early September.
They will work together with the police department, but this does not mean that they will be given the same powers as the guardians of order. Employees of the new unit will monitor the order in public places, and if necessary, check documents of suspicious citizens.
In the future, if this experiment justifies itself, it is planned to introduce such subdivisions in every district of the capital.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

REGIONS: TASHKENT

Zones of Economic Development
Tashkent Municipality has held a press conference on the development of small industrial zones in the capital.
Resolution of the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev ‘On the establishment of small industrial zones in the city of Tashkent’ has opened new opportunities for entrepreneurs. Under the document, small industrial zones are being established in Mirzo-Ulugbek, Almazar, Chilanzar, Mirabad and Bektemir districts of the capital. Similar zones have been effectively operating in Yakkasaroy, Yunusabad, and Sergeli districts.
According to the director of the state unitary enterprise ‘Yakkasaroy Kichik Sanoat Zonasi Administration’ Rustam Nuraliyev, the Yakkasaray small industrial zone occupies 61.2 hectares. To date, they have signed lease contracts with 301 business entities for a period of 10 years, 255 enterprises have already started production activities.
In the small industrial zone, entrepreneurs run recycled paper and wood manufactures, machinery, clothing, food and other manufactures, with special focus on exports. Nearly seven thousand jobs have been created.
The press conference provided information on small industrial zones in Sergeli and Yunusabad districts. In particular, more than 2,500 jobs have been created in Sergeli zone on a total area of 13 hectares, 112 business entities operate in the Yunusabad small industrial zone.
Small industrial zones provide all the appropriate conditions for entrepreneurs and employees: legal and notarial services, mini-banks, medical offices, beauty salons, canteens.
It is worth mentioning that the production areas and land plots on SIZ territory are provided for long-term lease for a period of 10 years. In the future, the term can be extended for another decade provided that the companies fulfill the terms of the agreement.
The exemption from payment of property tax and profit tax, as well as a single tax payment for a period of two years is the most attractive benefit. Its operation can be extended for another two years, provided that no less than 30% of the total output is exported.
All the opportunities are available with investments of at least 3,000 times the minimum wage (one minimum wage is 149,775 soums (currency rate of CB RU from 06.09.2017, 1$=8100.00 soums). In the case if the company’s annual revenue is less than 2,000 times the minimum wage, the benefits will be canceled.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

PROBLEMS OF THE ARAL SEA AND WATER RESOURCES OF CENTRAL ASIA

There Is Water, But Is There Common Sense?
The delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan headed by the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, Boriy Alikhanov, is taking part in the World Water Week, held from August 27 to September 2, 2017, in Stockholm, Sweden.
A remarkable aphorism: The Stone Age ended not because the stones ran out, and the oil century ended not because oil ran out.
Similarly, in the history of civilization, the end of the water age will be associated not with the disappearance of water, but with its effective use and guaranteed access to this resource of everyone, regardless of its habitat, social status and financial situation.
Since 1991, the Stockholm International Water Institute annually holds the World Water Week in the Swedish capital. From 2 to 3 thousand representatives of governmental organizations, business and scientific sector from more than 100 countries, get together to discuss ways of developing global water resources.
According to international experts, with reasonable and rational use of even existing reserves would be enough for all the inhabitants of the planet. However, the world is increasingly confronted with the manifestations of the world water crisis. Over the last century, not only has the use of water resources increased six-fold, but also its amount on Earth has declined because of environmental pollution and irrational use of fresh water.
Many researchers are persistently trying to justify scenarios for the development of water use for decades to come. As a rule, these calculations are based on two stable trends - population growth and global warming. While forecasts are not very consoling: UNESCO predicts that by 2030, more than 3 billion people will suffer from a lack of water resources.
Speaking at the Swedish forum, the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis, the head of the Eco-Movement of Uzbekistan, Boriy Alikhanov, stressed: the Uzbek side believes that the use of water resources of the trans-boundary rivers of Central Asia should be solved taking into account the interests of more than 60 million people living in all countries of the region , any actions carried out on those rivers should not have a negative impact on the existing ecological and water balance. In order to strengthen mutual understanding among all Central Asian countries and to establish openness and transparency in relations, we consider it necessary to take joint efforts to find mutually acceptable solutions for addressing the issue of rational and equitable use of the region’s water resources.
Figure
Today, according to experts, 1.8 billion people live without access to clean water.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

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