INFORMATION DIGEST OF PRESS OF UZBEKISTAN # 8

January 11, 2017

ECONOMY
Some 83,836 enterprises registered in Uzbekistan in 2016

BUSINESS CLIMATE
Uzbekistan is getting prepared to establish a specialized foreign trade organization, Uztekstileksport

SPORT
2016 Remarkable for Our Chess Players

ECONOMY

Some 83,836 enterprises registered in Uzbekistan in 2016
Last year, 83,836 enterprises and organizations were registered in Uzbekistan, the press service of the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said.
In particular, 7,744 enterprises were registered in Tashkent city, 11,193 in Samarkand region, 19,879 in Tashkent region, 8,120 in Kashkadarya region, 7,384 in Andijan region, 6,668 in Ferghana region, 5,720 in Surkhandarya region, 5,610 in Jizzakh region, 4,539 in Bukhara region, 4,342 in Namangan region, 4,147 in Khorezm region, 2,370 in Syrdarya region, 2,278 in Navoi region and 2,842 in Karakalakstan.
About 54,445 enterprises were registered in agriculture, forestry and fishing, 9,661 – in industry and construction, 8,549 – in trade, 2,840 in the sphere of accommodation and catering services, 1,666 – transportation and storage and 6,675 – in other spheres.
As of 1 January 2017, total number of existing enterprises and organizations (without farms) reached 268,400, of which 218,200 are small businesses.
(Source: UzDaily.com)

BUSINESS CLIMATE

Uzbekistan is getting prepared to establish a specialized foreign trade organization, Uztekstileksport
As part of Uzbekyengilsanoat, the new structure will provide marketing, information and consulting services, promote light industry products for export through promotional campaigns, and broadly represent export potential in exhibitions and publications.
It also will focus on supporting Uzbek light industry enterprises in exporting their products under direct contracts and through trading houses abroad. In addition, it will also assist in supplying industrial enterprises of Uzbekistan with processing equipment, spare parts, components, raw materials, accessories and fittings that are not produced in the republic.
The textile industry enterprises will be also provided with significant benefits and preferences to intensify their development.
For example, the manufacturers of cotton, blended and silk fabrics, garments, knitwear and leather goods, hats, hosiery, textile haberdashery, fittings and accessories, are exempt from income and property taxes, single tax payment for micro and small enterprises, mandatory contributions to the Republican Road Fund by January 1, 2020.
Besides, they were released from customs duties for imported equipment, components and raw materials that are not produced in the country. To be subject to benefits, the share of the company’s revenue from the production of the abovementioned products should be at least 60% per year in the total sales volume.
The release from the mandatory sale of part of export proceeds in foreign currency to the banks as of a January 1, 2017, is perhaps the most important incentive for the industry. However, this right will granted solely to the manufacturers and exporters of cotton, blended and silk fabrics, garments and knitwear, hats, hosiery and textile haberdashery.
The document provides some customs preferences. In particular, the processing equipment, accessories and spare parts that are not produced in Uzbekistan and imported within the framework of investment projects in the light industry, are exempted from customs duties by January 1, 2020.
In addition, business entities are exempt from customs duties for imported spare parts and components for processing equipment for textile, garment and knitwear industry, however, their list should be yet approved by the Cabinet of Ministers.
(Source: IA «Jahon»)

SPORT

2016 Remarkable for Our Chess Players
The year 2016 has already become history. For Uzbekistan chess, which has seen a boom in its development in recent years, it was marked by bright victories of our compatriots in international competitions.
In early spring, the women’s team of the country, which became a double silver medalist in the Cup of Asian Nations 2016 in Abu Dhabi (UAE), cheered their fans.
Nafisa Muminova, Sarvinoz Kurbonboeva, Irina Gevorgyan, Gulruhbegim Tohirjonova and Sevara Baymuratova led by coach Vladimir Yegin took the 2nd place in the tournament for the standard chess and 2nd in the rapid-tournament of the Asian Nations Cup Open.
Last year, our youngest players earned more awards in the international arena than all the other Uzbek teams of different age categories. First, they excelled at the Asian championships in rapid, blitz and standard, winning in Ulaanbaatar nine medals, four of them gold. Among those became champions were Humoyun Begmuratov in standard games among boys under 6, Nodirbek Yakubboev in blitz and standard among boys under 14, Ortik Nigmatov in rapid speeds among youths under 16 years of age.
Then, on 10 July 2016 in Tehran (Iran), at the Asian Championship among schoolchildren in rapid chess, young players from Uzbekistan won two gold, two silver and one bronze medal. The first place went to Humoyun Sindarov (among boys under 7) and Afruza Hamdamova among girls under 7. There, in the blitz, two gold, one silver and one bronze medal were won.
Another children’s team led by captain Akmal Faizullaev participated in August in the international children’s chess tournament named after Mikhail Botvinnik among junior teams and showed the best results among the countries of Central Asia and Sukhrobjon Avalboev got awarded with Botvinnik Cup as one of the best players on their boards.
At the end of the year, young players made a splash in the world championship among schoolchildren in Sochi, Russia. They earned eight medals – two gold, two silver and two bronze at the standard chess, as well as the one gold and one bronze at the blitz. In addition, Uzbekistan’s national team was awarded a Special Team Award for the 1st place in the team standings.
During the year the chess players of Uzbekistan successfully participated in many international tournaments. THus, the first places were occupied by Tahir Vahidov – in the international rapid chess tournament 4th Sabah MRSM International Chess Championship 2016, Islombek Sindarov – in the international ranking tournament in standard chess Motorgas Open held in the Czech Republic, Bobur Sattorov – in the XVI international tournament Maralsay 2016.
Of particular note is the success of Nodirbek Yakubboev, who became not only the champion of Uzbekistan in 2016 among adults, but also won the bronze of the World Chess Championship among juniors under 14 in Khanty-Mansiysk, Russia.
Last year, among those who received the title of International Master was Temur Kuybokarov and Shamsiddin Vohidov, as well as Gulruhbegim Tohirzhonova (the title of Women’s International Grandmaster), Bahora Abdusattorova (Women’s International Master).
But the true development of chess in the country still is less shown in the progress in youth competitions, and more by performances of the leading players of the country in world championships and major international tournaments. In this regard, with regards to the year 2016, we can boast little.
In particular, in September the capital of Azerbaijan, Baku, hosted World Chess Olympiad - the most prestigious team competition in the world, with the participation of 150 male and 140 female teams. Both our teams completed the Olympiad with fails – our men finished 39th, while women 22nd. Yet the women’s team could and should have done better, but their leader Nafisa Muminova in the playoffs at the finish of the tournament lost to the chess players from India and Holland, thereby "ensuring" the defeat in these matches and for the whole team. Apparently, placing Muminova, who was not in her best shape, on the first board, the national team coaches made a serious miscalculation, which brought about the final failure.
For a long time we have not seen bright victories in major tournaments of our "star" compatriot, the former world champion Rustam Kasimjanov. Even at the recent Tashkent international tournament of chess stars, dedicated to the 680th anniversary of Amir Temur, where, apparently, he had to "revive old customs" and demonstrate the one time high-class game, Rustam managed to win a single game and share the third-fourth place among... (!) four participants.
It turns out that it is hardly accidental that in the world ranking Kasimjanov steadily occupies the 45th position, which does not adorn the ex-world champion.
…But all this is in the past, in 2016, and new competitions, tournaments and championships are awaiting us in 2017. Hopefully, the new year will be more successful for our players.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

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