INFORMATION DIGEST OF PRESS OF UZBEKISTAN # 68

April 7, 2017

THE STATE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN TO RUSSIA
A Historic Visit Opening New Horizons for Cooperation

POLITICS
President of Uzbekistan received chairman of the Executive committee- Executive secretary of CIS

MEETING OF CIS COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS
Meeting with Foreign Minister of Belarus

Meeting with Foreign Minister of Armenia

Meeting of heads of MFAs of the Central Asian nations

INVESTMENTS
A new production site on the production of spare parts for agricultural machinery is to be established in Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan in the near future

BUSINESS CLIMATE
Investment Fairway

THE STATE VISIT OF THE PRESIDENT OF UZBEKISTAN TO RUSSIA

A Historic Visit Opening New Horizons for Cooperation
On April 4-5, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev paid a state visit to the Russian Federation on the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.
The main events of the state visit took place on April 5. The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev laid a wreath to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the Alexander Garden in Moscow.
On April 3, a terrorist act caused numerous human casualties in the metro of St. Petersburg. The head of our state honored their memory and laid flowers to the stone of the city-hero of Leningrad in the same garden.
The official meeting ceremony of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took place in the Kremlin. A guard of honor was lined up in tribute of the high-level guest. State anthems of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation were played. The two Presidents went around the guard of honor.
At the meeting in a narrow format heads of state discussed the issues of further advancement of the cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia, strengthening of peace and security, as well as regional and international matters of mutual interest.
The sides exchanged views on the current state and prospects for the development of cooperation in the political, trade, economic, investment, scientific, technical, cultural and humanitarian spheres.
Vladimir Putin, welcoming Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who arrived on a state visit to Russia, noted that this visit is an opportunity to discuss the issues of interest for the parties.
"It is essential for us to continue cooperation with Uzbekistan at a new level", the Russian President said. “Our countries have many unused opportunities for further advancement of cooperation; their mobilization is beneficial for both countries.”
Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated that this meeting will be a significant step towards further cementing the relations between our states.
"First of all, I express my sincere condolences to you, the people of Russia in connection with the tragedy that occurred on April 3 in St. Petersburg", said Shavkat Mirziyoyev. “The cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia develops on the basis of high trust and mutual respect. The dynamic nature of the strengthening of relations at various levels confirms the mutual interest of the parties in expanding the multifaceted partnership. Once again I express my gratitude for the visit to our country in order to pay tribute to the memory of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.”
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin continued negotiations with participation of official delegations of the two countries.
The regular nature of the negotiations at the highest level indicates a high degree of interstate relations. The current meeting of the heads of Uzbekistan and Russia was a logical continuation of the fruitful dialogue between our countries.
The talks focused on further advancement of the cooperation in the spheres of trade, economy, petrochemical industry, transport communications, agriculture, tourism, culture, creation of decent conditions for labor migrants and others.
Uzbekistan and Russia fully support each other in the international arena. Bilateral consultations between the foreign policy, foreign trade and defense departments of our countries are consistently continuing. The parties also effectively interact within the framework of the UN, the SCO, the CIS and other international structures.
Trade and economic relations play a key role in Uzbek-Russian relations. In accordance with the Program for economic cooperation for 2013-2017, the Intergovernmental Agreement on main directions for development and deepening economic cooperation for 2015-2019, an interaction is dynamically evolving in this area.
Russia is one of the leading trade partners of Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan exports to this country natural gas, vehicles, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, knitwear, cotton fiber, fruits and vegetables, various services. Russia delivers to our country vehicles, food products, products of the chemical and paper industry.
In Uzbekistan there are 961 joint ventures established in cooperation with Russian partners. In our country representative offices of 64 firms and companies of Russia were opened. 569 business entities formed with the participation of Uzbek capital are effectively functioning on the territory of the Russian Federation.
The volume of mutual trade turnover is consistently growing. In particular, in recent years, this indicator doubled in agriculture.
At the talks conducted in an open and friendly atmosphere, the sides exchanged views on the prospects for further development of the cooperation, bringing it to a new level.
In 2017, 25 years have passed since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation. The cooperation between the two states has a solid legal basis. Relations between our countries are dynamically advancing within the framework of the Strategic Partnership Treaty signed on June 16, 2004, the Allied Relations Treaty, signed on November 14, 2005.
The President of our country Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that in accordance with the Strategy for Actions of the development of the Republic of Uzbekistan along five priority directions in 2017-2021, an effective work is carried out to actively attract foreign investments in the economy and regions of our country through improving the investment climate.
Uzbekistan and Russia have huge potential in the fuel and energy sector. It is of a significant role in the advancement of cooperation in this direction. Russian companies Lukoil and Gazprom are actively involved in the exploration and development of hydrocarbon deposits in our country. In 2016, the national holding company Uzbekneftegaz together with the company Lukoil started construction of the Kandym gas processing complex in the Bukhara region.
One of the world’s leading energy companies Gazprom is actively working on the realization of major projects to conduct geological exploration works in Uzbekistan and to develop promising hydrocarbon deposits, as well as in the export delivery of natural gas. As a result of geological and prospecting works carried out on the Ustyurt plateau, the gas condensate field Jel was opened. The Shakhpakhta field is being developed jointly where 3.5 billion cubic meters of gas have already been produced.
Automobiles of Uzbekistan are always in demand in Russia. The car models Matiz and Nexia were several times recognized as the best cars of the year in this country. In 2016, the sales of a new car of the brand Ravon Gentra increased in Russia.
In the world market, fruit and vegetable products grown on our fertile land, are in great demand. The Decree of the First President of our country "On measures to improve the system of purchase and use of fruit and vegetable products, potatoes and melons" on 12 April 2016 created a solid basis for boosting the export of these products.
On the outcomes of 2016, the volume of mutual trade in the agricultural sector increased by 20 percent and reached 398 million dollars. At the talks, an agreement was reached to increase the volumes and types of export of fruit and vegetable products grown and processed in our country.
Intergovernmental and interdepartmental relations are an important factor in the elaboration and realization of joint projects. On February 15 of this year, the regular meeting of the Uzbek-Russian intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation was conducted in Tashkent.
At the meeting, there were discussed the issues of increasing the volume of trade turnover, development of investment cooperation, expansion of the contacts in transport and transit spheres. It was noted that our countries have significant, still not fully involved opportunities for further evolvement of mutually beneficial cooperation, the use of which is also of mutual interest.
During the negotiations, the focus was also placed on to the issues of further expansion of interrelations in the field of healthcare, science, education, culture, sport and tourism.
Uzbekistan and Russia is effectively cooperating in the healthcare and education advancement, elaborating and realizing new projects in clinical, preventive, experimental cardiology.
The President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev also met with the Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev.
"Uzbekistan is one of Russia’s most reliable partners", Dmitry Medvedev said. “Our countries successfully cooperate in different spheres. It is planned to sign a very large package of documents during your visit. I am firmly convinced that your visit will open a new page in the history of relations between our states.”
"I express my sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims of the terrorist act in St. Petersburg", Shavkat Mirziyoyev said. "Terrorism is a threat without borders and needs to be combated together through joint efforts”
The President of our country underlined that this visit is a favorable opportunity to elevate bilateral relations to the new level, exchange views on the issues of regional and international significance.
“I believe that today’s negotiations will become a beginning of a new stage in our cooperation”, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.
The relation between Uzbekistan and Russia are also evolving consistently in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. The peoples of the two countries respect each other’s culture, literature and art. In Moscow, a monument of the great Uzbek poet and thinker Alisher Navoi was erected. In Tashkent, the square where the monument of Pushkin stands, is one of the favorite places for the residents and guests of our capital.
On the eve of the visit of the delegation of Uzbekistan, an exhibition for the objects of the State Museum of Art named after Igor Savitsky of our country was opened in the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow. Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Vladimir Putin visited the exhibition.
This state art museum named after I.Savitsky, also called a “Louvre in the steppe”, is widely known to art lovers and connoisseurs for its priceless exhibits. The museum has about a hundred thousand works of art such as drawings, sculptures, archaeological finds and ethnographic items and historical documents.
In 2002, Igor Savitsky, a prominent scholar who left this great heritage to modern generations, was awarded an order “Buyuk Khizmatlari Uchun” (For Great Merits).
Unique exhibits demonstrated at the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts are of great interest on the visitors.
Following the state visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the Russian Federation, a number of important documents were signed. The Presidents of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Russian Federation Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Vladimir Putin signed a joint statement. The governments, ministries and departments of the two countries signed documents on the development of interregional cooperation, the temporary organization of labor activity, relations in healthcare, medical education and science, tourism, construction, oil and gas, mining, metallurgy, banking, finance, customs, agriculture and other sectors.
At a meeting with representatives of the media Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Vladimir Putin noted that the talks were conducted in the spirit of openness, mutual trust and constructive dialogue. It was stressed that the agreements reached during the visit, more than 50 signed documents worth $ 16 billion will serve for the advancement of Uzbekistan and Russia, further enhance the welfare of the peoples of the two countries, and boost the level of cooperation between our countries to a new level.
The state visit of the President of our country and events in its framework were widely covered on TV and radio channels, in print and online publications of Russia.
Hereon the state visit of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to Russia was completed. During the negotiations there were outlined essential directions and prospects for development of cooperation between the two states. This visit, having historical significance, will raise the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and Russia to a new level.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

POLITICS

President of Uzbekistan received chairman of the Executive committee- Executive secretary of CIS
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on 6 April received chairman of the Executive committee- Executive secretary of the Commonwealth of Independent States Sergey Lebedev, who arrived in our country to take part in the regular meeting of the CIS Council of foreign ministers.
The Head of our state, welcoming the guest, particularly underlined the important significance, attached to the issues of enhancing and strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation within the framework of the Commonwealth. Nowadays the CIS is a unique arena for exchanging views and discussing topical issues of multilateral interaction, promoting joint programs and projects in different spheres of the economy.
During the talks, a particular attention was attached to the issues of ensuring full-scale functioning of the free trade zone within the frameworks of the CIS, as well as practical implementation of prospective projects, aimed at accelerated development of transport-communications networks and increasing the transit potential of the whole region.
Public and political, economic and legal reforms, carried out in our country, the Action Strategy on five priority directions of the development of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2017-2021, the Virtual reception of the President and local People’s receptions and the works under implementation in the Year of the dialogue with people and human interests help to realize the requests and proposals of citizens and strengthen their trust in the state, it was underlined at the meeting.
Sergey Lebedev expressed to the Head of our state his sincere gratitude for a warm welcome as well as for the active participation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in preparing and conducting the meeting of the Council of foreign ministers of the Commonwealth in Tashkent.
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev conveyed his wishes on successful and productive work to the participants of the upcoming meetings of the Council of foreign ministers.
(Source: UzA)

MEETING OF CIS COUNCIL OF FOREIGN MINISTERS

Meeting with Foreign Minister of Belarus
On April 7, 2017 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei, who arrived in Tashkent at the head of the Belarusian delegation to attend the regular meeting of the Council of heads of foreign political departments of CIS member countries.
During the conversation, topical issues of the bilateral agenda, including the process of implementation of agreements, reached within the framework of the high-level Uzbek-Belarusian meeting in October 2016 in Samarkand, were discussed.
The sides noted with satisfaction that followed exchanges of visits at the high governmental level and other contacts made it possible to put fulfillment of instructions of the heads of two states on further development of cooperation in the political, trade, economic, investment, cultural, humanitarian and other spheres into practice.
The ministers also exchanged views on the state and prospects of the collaboration in the forms of CIS, UN, OSCE and other international and regional structures.
Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus Nikolai Klakevich attend the meeting.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

Meeting with Foreign Minister of Armenia
On April 7, 2017 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Edward Nalbandian, who arrived in Tashkent to attend the regular meeting of the CIS Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.
During the conversation, the sides exchanged views on the current state of the Uzbek-Armenian relations, the priorities of cooperation in various spheres, including within the framework of the CIS and other international and regional organizations.
Special attention was paid to practical issues of development of cooperation in the trade and economic sphere in the context of realizing the existing potential of Uzbekistan and Armenia.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

Meeting of heads of MFAs of the Central Asian nations
On April 7, 2017, a meeting of heads of foreign political agencies of the five Central Asian states has been held in Tashkent.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kayrat Abdrahmanov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Erlan Abdildayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan Sirodjidin Aslov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkmenistan Vepa Khodjiyev exchanged views on the situation in Central Asia, cooperation in topical directions of collaboration, including within the framework of international and regional organizations, and also on joint search for solutions to existing common problems.
The meeting was opened by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov, after who heads of delegations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan made speeches.
Participants of the meeting also listened to the information of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kayrat Abdrahmanov on current work in the UN Security Council.
During the exchange of views, the parties confirmed mutual efficiency of this form of ministerial meetings.
At the end of the meeting, agreement on conducting this kind of forums of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Central Asia on a regular basis was reached.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

INVESTMENTS

A new production site on the production of spare parts for agricultural machinery is to be established in Syrdarya region of Uzbekistan in the near future
Over 2,800 projects totaling $5.5 billion have been carried under the Localization Program in Uzbekistan since 2000. They resulted in the establishment of production of nearly 5,000 types of previously imported products. Thereby, the share of localized products in the total volume of manufactured industrial output has exceeded 20%.
Last December year, the head of state signed a Decree ‘On the further implementation of promising localization projects on the production of finished products, components and materials for 2017-2019’. The act is not just seen as an important guide to the follow-up action, but it opens up new opportunities for many entrepreneurs willing to produce import-substituting and export-oriented products. Erkin Khamroev is among them.
The businessman, who managed to attract $6.5 million investments of Chinese partners, has embarked on the establishment of the Wangda Metal enterprise.
According to Erkin Khamroev, the plant will be able to process 16,250 tons of metal annually, produce components and spare parts for agricultural machinery and industrial enterprises, and construction materials for 21 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 07.04.2017, 1$= 3623.07 soums), 960 million of which will be channeled to the budget.
“There are plans to create 400 new jobs. It was opened on the threshold of the national holiday of Navruz,” said the entrepreneur.
Avtomobil Tamirlash Company, which was idle for a long time, is another successful example. It was sold at zero cost to the Uzbek-British joint venture Guliston Med Texnika. Domestic and foreign investors committed themselves to invest $7.3 million in the development of production in the next two years.
The investments were channeled for the organization of the company’s operation, construction and repair of facilities, purchase of up-to-date equipment. 65 people were employed. The enterprise gradually launched new areas of production, expanding its range. Currently, it manufactures disposable syringes and infusion systems.
Having analyzed the performance of the casting, stencil, assembly and packaging shops, the head of the joint venture Alisher Tuychiboev made an approximate calculation of the volume of daily production. He was pleased. If negotiations on the delivery of syringes and infusion systems to the CIS countries are successful, additionally 150 young men and women will be recruited.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Investment Fairway
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed decree on the establishment of a new government body – the State Committee for Investments.
It is deemed to become an authorized state body responsible for drafting and implementation of a unified state investment policy and channeling of foreign investments.
The function range of the committee includes the further improvement of the investment climate, support for the development of enterprises with foreign capital, development and implementation of measures on further improvement of related regulatory and legal framework.
"The committee will also be entrusted with the development of proposals on building and diversification of investment cooperation of Uzbekistan with other states, international economic and financial institutions, foreign banks, funds, agencies, companies and other entities under international law on a mutually beneficial basis," the document says.
Other functions include the coordination of state bodies, advisers on trade and economic issues at diplomatic offices and permanent representatives of Uzbekistan in international organizations in terms of identifying and implementing major activities on drawing foreign investments, as well as implementing cooperation with international financial institutions and foreign investors.
The new structure will also be responsible for raising effectiveness of application of foreign investments to the country’s economy through system-based monitoring of the progress of projects, analyzing the performance of enterprises with foreign capital, and observance of fulfillment of obligations by investors. At the same time, it should identify factors that impede the timely and effective implementation of projects involving foreign investment, and take prompt action to address them.
According to the Decree of the state’s leader, trade and economic advisers and permanent representatives of Uzbekistan in international and foreign financial institutions are appointed and dismissed by the decision of the Chairman of the State Committee for Investments.
In addition, the functions of the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade on accreditation of representative offices of foreign companies and organizations were transferred to the Committee.
Another important point implies that as of June 1, 2017, the State Committee for Investments will be entrusted with the functions of coordinating, evaluating, control and monitoring the observance of the results of tenders for the supply of technological equipment, components and materials, as well as performance of works and services in the amounts exceeding $100,000 per one contract.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

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