INFORMATION DIGEST OF PRESS OF UZBEKISTAN # 61

March 29, 2017

OFFICIALLY
Uzbekistan to celebrate 100th anniversary of the birth of Sharaf Rashidov

POLITICS
People’s satisfaction of the life is the main criterion of all our achievements and milestones

ECONOMY
Foundation of economy and progress

INVESTMENTS
In the next five years, Uzbekistan intends to invest over $114 million in the leather and footwear industry

OFFICIALLY

Uzbekistan to celebrate 100th anniversary of the birth of Sharaf Rashidov
The Resolution of the President of Uzbekistan “On the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the outstanding statesman and writer Sharaf Rashidov” was adopted in order to glorify the bright memory and for worthy celebration of the 100th anniversary of the birth of a prominent statesman, the famous writer Sharaf Rashidov, who headed our republic in extremely hard years, selflessly worked for its development, who made a great contribution to the development of National Literature and Culture through his public and creative activities.
The document approved the composition of the organizing committee and instructed to develop a plan of corresponding measures within a month.
This plan must provide for:
creation of Sharif Rashidov’s memorial complex and erection of the monument in Sharaf-Rashid district of Djizak region by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Finance, the State Committee for Architecture and Construction, the Academy of Arts of Uzbekistan and the Khokimiyat of Jizzakh region;
organization of memorial house museum and landscaping of the territory adjacent to the museum in Jizzakh in order to familiarize our people, especially the younger generation, with the life and work of the outstanding statesman and writer Sharaf Rashidov;
preparation and publication of the collection of "Favorites" of the writer by the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan;
preparation and publication of the book "Distinguished Son of Our People" dedicated to the life and work of Sharaf Rashidov;
creation of a documentary about the life and social-creative activity of Sharaf Rashidov;
joint conduct of the scientific conference "Role of Sharaf Rashidov in the history of Uzbekistan" by the Academy of Sciences of Uzbekistan, the Union of Writers of Uzbekistan, the Republican Center for Spirituality;
organization of events dedicated to the memory of Sharaf Rashidov in higher, secondary special, professional and general secondary educational institutions, military units, labor collectives and mahallas of the country with the participation of well-known writers, scientists and artists;
holding of an evening of memory dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of Sharaf Rashidov in the first decade of November 2017 in Jizzakh and Tashkent.
(Source: UzReport.uz)

POLITICS

People’s satisfaction of the life is the main criterion of all our achievements and milestones
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev arrived in Navoiy region on 28 March to review the creative works, the processes of reform and large projects in the region and for a dialogue with people.
Under the guidance of the First President of Uzbekistan, the Navoiy region has seen a colossal creative transformation in the years of independence. The Navoiy region, primarily, is characterized by rich natural resources, huge economic potential and assiduous residents. This large industrial region of our country consistently develops mining, metallurgy, chemicals, power industry, production of construction materials, cotton processing, food industries.
At present 17 large industrial enterprises operate in the region. The Navoiy mining complex, Navoiazot JSC, Qizilqumcement, Navoiy thermal power station and Elektrkimyozavodi joint venture are among them. 18 companies operate in the “Navoiy” free economic zone, which manufacture over 100 competitive products.
In his pre-election manifesto, the Head of our state had laid out big plans on developing the Navoiy region. During his tour, the President is expected to review execution of these plans, prospective projects and to conduct a direct dialogue with people.
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President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev is considering projects that are being implemented and those which are to be implemented in future in such spheres of Navoiy Region as ore and metal extraction, agriculture, health care and its light industry, and is giving recommendations.
The Head of State has visited the Navoiy Regional People’s Reception Office of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. This office is located in house No 41a on Navoiy Street in the town of Navoiy.
The People’s Reception Office is provided with modern equipment and Internet access, and it will be an effective system for having direct dialogue with the population and ensuring the rights and liberties of individuals and corporate bodies.
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President of our country Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the fields of the «Vangozi agro» farming unit in Qiziltepa district, where he acquainted with prospective projects in the agricultural sphere, including in construction of an animal breeding complex and a dairy plant.
A particular attention in our country is paid to the issues of increasing animal breeding products, supplying the consumer markets with affordable and quality products, creating new jobs. The mentioned complex for 18 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 29.03.2017, 1$= 3595.02 soums) will become one of the large projects in this area.
The Complex will span across 510 ha land, with a capacity of breeding one thousand cattle and one thousand goats and produce 3650 tons of milk and 150 tons of meat annually. The complex, which will be fully commissioned in 2018, will process 6 thousand tons of milk per year.
This year 5 projects on animal farming will be implemented in Navbahor, Qiziltepa and Nurota districts with loans from the People’s Bank of Uzbekistan. As a result, the volume of processed milk in the region will increase by 7,7 thousand tons and of meat by 480 tons. Additional 173 jobs will be created.
The Head of State underlined the necessity to talk to the population on effective use of household plots, to increase their income through encouraging them to breed poultry, growing lemon trees and unabi in greenhouses. If the population will have an impetus to use their household plot and to earn income, their welfare will increase. If people are rich, then the state will also be rich.
Over one thousand tons of fish will be raised annually based on the Vietname technology in Tudakul reservoir, because of which fish production in the region will reach 8,5 thousand tons per year.
«Akva Tudakul» LLC JV plans to organize a workshop on incubating fish fry, a freezing warehouse with a capacity of 250 tons, a shop for processing one thousand tons of fish, producing 400 tons of fish fillets and 350 tons of semi-finished products. Thanks to a loan from the "Ipoteka Bank", new water reservoirs will be created; foreign special equipment and pumps will be purchased to improve water supply.
The total cost of the project is 18.7 billion soums, including 13.3 billion soums through bank loans and 5.4 billion soums, coming from the company’s own funds. The implementation of this project will provide consumers with quality fish products, create about 90 jobs.
The Head of state was provided with information on the ongoing work on the development of fish farming in the Aydar-Arnasay lake system. The resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan has been adopted to regulate the use of these reservoirs, limit illegal fishing, create hatcheries, bring the volume of harvested fish to 20,000 tons over the next three years. According to the document, 14 zones for growing fish in natural conditions have been identified in all regions of our country. Breeding and protection of fish will be organized in these zones.
The President of our country gave the responsible officials relevant assignments on forming special detachments from the employees of the prosecutor’s office and internal affairs departments of Jizzakh, Navoi, Syrdarya and Tashkent regions, to suppress poaching activities on the lakes. The need to organize exports of harvested products were underscored.
In 2017-2018 new vineyards and areas for seedlings on 835 hectares are planned in Khatirchi, Nurota and Qiziltepa districts.
At present, the area of vineyards in the region reaches 6.5 thousand hectares, 4.2 thousand hectares are used for farming needs. 65% of vineyards are used for cultivation of kishmish variety, 30% for table varieties, the rest is allocated to grow industrial varieties. This year, it is planned to create vineyards on 416 hectares, on 419 hectares in 2018 in the above-mentioned districts.
This year, prospective projects in harvesting and processing fruit and vegetable products will be implemented in the region through the creation of new intensive gardens, greenhouses and freezing warehouses. 101 projects through loans from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank will be implemented and about 1,300 people will be employed.
Jumagul Fayzullayeva, a resident of "Malikobod" mahalla, proudly noted that the ongoing reforms serve the interests of a person, the transformations taking place in our country strengthen the people’s confidence in the future.
The happiness of a person, his confidence in the future depends on the well-being of the family, the President said. The goal of our reforms is to create all opportunities for a happy life for our children.
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President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has visited the Navoiy state ore extraction institute. Here a ceremony has been held to start the construction of the Navoiy ore extraction and metallurgy combine’s hydrometallurgy plant No 5 on the basis of the Auminzo-Amantoy gold deposits.
At the Navoiy ore extraction and metallurgy combine, like in all the branches of the country’s industry, modernization work is being done.
At the initiative of the President, 27 projects are to be carried out at the combine in 2017-2026. The hydrometallurgy plant is one of the most important of these projects.
This 396 million-dollar project will make it possible to process 5 million tonnes of ore a year and to create nearly 5 thousand 300 new jobs.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the great socio-economic importance of this new hydrometallurgy plant.
The Head of State pushed a symbolic button there to start development work in the Auminzo-Amantoy deposits. This event was watched via videoconferencing by specialists of the combine in Tomdi District’s territory where hydrometallurgy plant No 5 is to be built.
Labour veteran Bahodir Boronov; a student of the Navoiy state ore extraction institute, Gulchiroy Jorayeva; and others expressed gratitude to the President for being the initiator of this large industrial enterprise and for starting its construction.
The Head of State considered projects there relating to the establishment of Navoiy Region’s department of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
A Presidential resolution dated 17 February 2017 “On measures to further improve the work organization, management and financing of scientific research and the work of the Academy of Sciences” will be the basis for the start of the work of the regional department of the academy. It will specialize in doing fundamental, practical and innovative research directed towards the technological and social development of the territory of Navoiy. It will have 5 scientific laboratories working there.
This scientific centre, which will start working in the third quarter of this year, will make a big contribution to developing scientific and production integration and to training highly qualified specialists at the Navoiy state ore extraction institute.
Scientific knowledge and innovation are essential for industrial development, the President said. The establishment of the Academy of Sciences’ department here is a requirement of life itself. Its purpose is to reduce the cost of production and raise its competitiveness on the basis of scientific knowledge. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct research in line with modern requirements and to improve the laboratories’ work. All this research should be forward-looking.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev looked at projects to be implemented at the Navoiy ore extraction and metallurgy combine in the next few years.
In the years 2017-2026, 27 projects will be implemented at the Navoiy ore extraction and metallurgy combine. The implementation of these projects worth 3 billion 63 million dollars will raise the combine’s production capacity by 30 per cent and create nearly 31 thousand additional jobs.
The development of the Pistali deposit, the construction of hydrometallurgy plant No 6, the expansion of the capacity of hydrometallurgy plant No 2, the fifth phase of the development of the Muruntov field and other projects were also presented.
(Source: UzA)

ECONOMY

Foundation of economy and progress
On February 7 this year the Decree of the President Shavkat Mirziyoev "On the strategy for further development of the Republic of Uzbekistan" in which the concrete priority directions of development of our country for the next five years are defined has been issued. One of such directions is development and liberalization of economy which are aimed at further strengthening macro-economic stability and maintenance of high growth rates of economy, increase in her competitiveness.
The document also provides attracting foreign investments in branches of economy and regions, continuation of institutional and structural reforms, modernization and intensive development of agriculture, reducing state presence in economy, etc. In successful implementation of all these directions and strategy in general the important role belongs to a domestic industry, economy, etc. s the world history testifies, almost all states of the world began developing successfully and quickly thanks to industrial revolution, i.e. transition from manual skills to mechanical manufacturing. Originally artisanal manufactories created on the basis of the primitive equipment and technology gradually began to transform in factories, factories -in the plants, the plants – in concerns and corporations. Thus, moving up such "chain" the industry began to be formed in all countries becoming gradually the large and leading branch of economy.
Today the industry represents that type of production which is a sample how transformation of all other branches and spheres of economy is carried out or can be carried out. High level of concentration, specialization and a combination of industry, use of the advanced equipment and flexible technological systems, use of the most qualified part of labor, observance of a regime of economy, etc. are characteristic of the industry. The industry has a significant impact on formation of the rational productive and economic relations in the society, strengthening and development of inter-industry links, on all course of expanded reproduction. Gradual removal of differences between the city and the village, development of new territories and natural resources, creation of new jobs and growth of employment rate of the population is substantially associated with development of the industry. In a word, the industry is a powerful layer, the foundation of economy, a basis of scientific and technical progress acceleration and improvement of national well-being.
Unfortunately, the industry could not always realize this fatal mission fully and continuously, that become obvious in the former Union and, therefore, in all Soviet Union republics, in the 70-80th years of the last century when the control system and the economic mechanism applied in economy had began to falter seriously and irreparably. That had led to an economic crisis, destruction of the former, over the years developed inter-industrial, interregional and interstate links, growth of prices, inflation and unemployment which finally resulted in collapse of all socialist system of managing. In accordance with the known national saying "every cloud has a silver lining", above mentioned collapse has caused transformation of all former Soviet Union’s republics into the self-sufficient independent states. Uzbekistan which became not only the independent state, but also the member of the UN, an integral part of world space and the global financial and economic market is also included in their number. Along with state independence, the republic has achieved fuel and energy as well as grain independence, the economy from former raw-material, mainly cotton orientation became innovative and competitive one which center is the modern hi-tech industry. Uzbekistan doesn’t get mistaken for Afghanistan or Pakistan any more as quite often happened earlier, it has "image" on the international scene, and own (national) model of economic development not only has been recognized by the world community, but also is used by the countries which, as Uzbekistan, have embarked on the track of independence and formation of socially oriented market economy.
However more than 70 years Uzbekistan’s being as the main cotton base of the USSR and as a result, agrarian character of economy could not pass without leaving a trace. They lead to consequential effects on structure of economy in which by the beginning of the 90-s of the past century the industry share in the gross domestic product (GDP) made only 14,0%, but agriculture share was more than 33,0%.
The industry was also characterized by backward technical and technological level of production, high degree of wear of productive fixed assets, especially their active part – machinery and equipment which in some its branches reached over 50%. The material capacity and power consumption of production made at the industrial enterprises were 6-7 times higher than similar indicators of the developed states, and the low level of mechanization and automation of production caused broad application of manual skills.
The independence achieved by the republic, effectively carried out reforms and institutional transformations have changed radically the situation which has developed in economy. Today in structure of GDP the share of the industry has increased to nearly 34,0%, and agriculture share on the contrary, has decreased to 18,2%. Where once enterprises of agricultural mechanical engineering and the cotton-processing dominated in the industry, today absolutely new branches and productions – from automotive industry which in the past was nearly a dream for the republic, to modern pharmaceutics operate. If at the same time the "dream" has become not only a reality, but also regular, self-evident for present economic life of the country, creation of the domestic pharmaceutical industry is a huge success which not only poets, artists, probably, would call an economy masterpiece. According to the available data, today in the republic 132 pharmaceutical enterprises which produce more than 2 thousand types of medicines, mainly of local raw materials operate. It is necessary to emphasize that important help, an effective impulse in this matter was the resolution of the President Shavkat Mirziyoev of October 31, 2016 "About measures for further improvement of providing the population with pharmaceuticals and products of medical prescription". The industry is a branch which should make structural changes in economy, to equip other branches and spheres with modern means of production, to promote growth of mechanoarmament and available power of work and its productivity, to improve use of the available productive forces and to level technical and economic development of regions. So development of industry, first of all development of its key branches such as mechanical engineering, automotive industry, oil, chemical, petrochemical industry, power, gas industry, industry of construction materials took and continues taking priority in social and economic policy and is carried out by the state purposefully and on a long-term and program basis.
So, for example, the Anti-recessionary program "The Global Financial-economic Crisis, Ways and Measures to Overcome it in the Conditions of Uzbekistan" developed under the leadership of the first President of the country Islam Karimov has allowed to level many negative consequences of the world crisis which has begun in 2008 in the USA. Thanks to the measures provided in the Program the republic was able to keep economic stability, prevent decline in production, unemployment what, unfortunately, not all countries managed to achieve. Other vital example - "Оn the Priorities of Industrial Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2011-2015" Program, including over 500 large investment projects with a total cost of about 50 bln. US dollars which has been realized successfully and had caused creation of the innovative industry capable to compete in the world markets.
Also other programs:– branch, regional, local, related first of all to modernization, technical and technological re-equipment of the existing enterprises, as well as to localization and diversification of production are being developed and realized. Program approach is the basic principle of all transformations which are carried out in the country. It allows not only to assess the situation which has really developed in economy today, but also to make forecasts. of quality, competitive types of production, but also at improvement of a technical, economic and financial conditions of the enterprises, increase in profitability of all domestic industrial production. Program approach is the basic principle of all transformations which are carried out in the country. It allows not only to assess the situation which has really developed in economy today, but to make forecasts as well. So, in order to continue structural transformations and preserve the reached high rates of economic growth, on the one hand, and to increase competitiveness of economy in the world market, on another hand, the more than doubling of growth of GDP volume created in the country and increase of industry share in its structure up to 40,0% is predicted by 2030. To continue structural transformations in the country and activize investments inflow in economy, especially foreign and direct investments, creation of new free economic zones in Urgut and Gizhduvan districts, and in Kokand city is provided. Implementation of complex and consecutive development of regions of the republic as major factor of sustained economic growth and increase in the living standard, especially in rural areas remains a perspective and priority task. To this end implementation of the projects connected with creation in regions of new production capacities in the sphere of the industry and processing of agricultural production, services facilities and communication infrastructure, further improvement of transport service, expansion and modernization of drinking water supply system, etc. is predicted.
According to forecasts and program developments for the further growth of industrial capacity of the country and creation of innovative and competitive economy, implementation of 657 projects worth of 40 bln. US dollars is provided over the next five years. In summary one might note that over years of independence the scales and structure of the industry have radically changed. For the last eleven years average annual growth rates of the industry have accounted 9,1% what surpasses growth rates of GDP. Today over 60% of the industrial output in the republic are production of the branches created over years of independence almost from scratch. The domestic industry is the reliable base of progressive development of economy and acceleration of scientific and technical progress. As the high-tech industry of national economy, it fully meets modern standards of industrially developed states. It can’t but please us, who lives and works in Uzbekistan.
(Source: «Business partner.uz» newspaper)

INVESTMENTS

In the next five years, Uzbekistan intends to invest over $114 million in the leather and footwear industry
The objectives are stipulated by the regional program for the industry development for 2016-2020, which was developed by the Uzbekcharmpoyabzali Association in partnership with regional administrations of the republic.
The program envisages the implementation of five footwear manufacture projects in Karshi, Dehkanabad, Kitab and Nishan districts, leather and haberdashery manufacture in the Kitab district, and a skin processing manufacture at Karshi Leather Company. The projects will create an opportunity of processing one million skins per year, producing 460,000 pairs of shoes and 100,000 leather and haberdashery items, and establishing more than 200 jobs in the region.
A $9.1 million project, which is carried out by the Karshi Leather Company, ranks among the largest initiatives. It envisages the manufacture of high-quality, competitive leather products, and annual exports for $45 million. Based on phased commissioning, the company will create more than 300 jobs, mainly for college graduates.
By the end of 2017, it is planned to additionally create 3,240 workplaces in the industry. All the enterprises under the association will completely switch to the ISO-9001 standard production within five years.
To scale up exports, the Association has scheduled opening of 12 trading houses abroad this year, and expand the map of export supplies to 16 countries by 2020. To date, Uzbekcharmpoyabzali Association incorporates more than 80 enterprises specializing in leather processing, production of finished leather, footwear and leather goods, as well as various types of ceramic tiles.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

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