INFORMATION DIGEST OF PRESS OF UZBEKISTAN # 82

April 27, 2017

POLITICS
Shavkat Mirziyoyev received foreign minister of Turkey

ECONOMY
Uzbekistan: Services sector developing

EXPORT
In the first quarter of 2017, UzAgroExport increased exports of fruit and vegetable products by 7%

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Uzbek Exports Spread to Afghanistan

SOCIETY
Ministry of Labor of Uzbekistan: 39.8 thousand new jobs created in first quarter

TELEVISION
Channel FUTBOL TV begins broadcasting in test mode

TOURISM
Uzbekistan is initiating several interesting projects to catalyze tourist interest

POLITICS

Shavkat Mirziyoyev received foreign minister of Turkey
On 26 April President of the Republic of Uzbekistan received Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, who is in our country with an official visit.
The dynamic development of Uzbekistan-Turkey relations in line with the agreements, reached during the bilateral meeting at the highest level on 17-18 November in Samarkand was underlined with satisfaction.
A specific attention was paid to the issues of enhancing mutually beneficial trade-economic and investment cooperation, practical implementation of projects in modernizing tourist infrastructure in cooperation with leading Turkish companies, establishing modern high-tech manufacturing facilities in textiles, leather, chemical and pharmaceuticals, manufacturing construction materials, on deep processing of agricultural products and other areas, including with the framework of the Urgut free economic zone.
The parties also exchanged views on regional and international problems.
Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu expressed sincere gratitude to President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev for warm reception. On behalf of the leadership of Turkey, the foreign minister thanked the Uzbek side for supporting projects of Turkish companies in our countries, as well as highlighted the willingness for further developing full-scale bilateral cooperation.
(Source: UzA)

ECONOMY

Uzbekistan: Services sector developing
At the Tashkent institute of finance, a scientific-practical conference has taken place on the subject of “The importance of the services sector in raising the financial potential of regions”. The conference was attended by specialists of this sphere, experts, professors, teachers, young scientific researchers and employees of mass media.
The institute’s pro-rector, N.Haydarov, and others said that in this country reforms directed towards raising the financial potential of regions and heightening the services sector’s role there were being implemented consistently. Projects relating to implementing the Action Strategy on five priority areas of the development of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the years2017-2021 further expand the scope of work in this sphere.
In conditions of economic globalization and the strengthening of countries’ economic integration and international specialization, nations’ economies are faced with the task of the modernization and diversification of their production sectors, the raising of the competitiveness and quality of services being provided for their population and thus the raising of the financial potential of their regions.
In this country, the rapid development of its services sector as an important sphere in extending its economy’s modernization and diversification, ensuring people’s employment, increasing their income and improving their qualify of life is one of the priority tasks.
In the years 2016-2020, the country’s GDP is to be increased through developing the services sector, and its share in the country’s economy is to reach 48.7 per cent.
Free economic zones play an important role in increasing regions’ economic potential, in supplying large quantities of value-added products to the internal market, and most importantly, in opening up new sales markets. And therefore, special attention is paid to creating such economic zones in the country. The “Navoiy”, “Jizzakh” and “Angren” free economic zones created in localities make a substantial contribution to initiating hi-tech production, encouraging the production of modern goods in regions and increasing the attraction of direct foreign investment.
A Presidential decree dated 12 January 2017 on creating “Urgut”, “Ghijduvon”, “Qoqon” and “Hazorasp” free economic zones was an important step towards further raising the economic potential of the country.
At the conference, there was an exchange of opinions on the significance of these free economic zones in the development of the country’s economy, on new jobs to be created and on new economic projects to be implemented.
(Source: «Business partner.uz» newspaper)

EXPORT

In the first quarter of 2017, UzAgroExport increased exports of fruit and vegetable products by 7%
During the reported period, the company exported 101,800 tons of fruit and vegetable products (against 95.1 tons in 2016). A scale up is also observable in exports of certain types of fruit and vegetable products. As of April 1, exports of grapes have grown 21 times (2,600 tons in 2017 against 0.1 thousand tons in 2016), fruits - 3 times (6,400 tons in 2017 against 1,900 tons in 2016).
“$129.3 million of foreign currency inflow was ensured by export contracts in January-March. This indicator grew by $57.1 million or 79% against the same period in 2016. The average price of exported products in the first quarter was $785.1 per ton, which is $127.1 more YOY,” the company reported.
By the end of 2020, it is planned to implement 180 investment projects totaling $596 million in the food industry in order to maintain export volumes in Uzbekistan. Of these, 74 projects will be implemented through foreign investments and $163 million of loans of international financial institutions.
“The food industry development program also envisages the establishment of trade and logistics centers in the regions of the republic to deal with storage, processing and export of fruits and vegetables. To date, such trade and logistics centers have already been put into operation in three regions of the republic - Andijan, Namangan and Ferghana,” reported Uzbekozikovkatholding press service.
As part of implementation of plans on product supplies to Russia, Kazakhstan and several European countries, the company has concluded agreements with agricultural producers for the purchase of more than 1.56 million tons of fruits, vegetables, potatoes, melons and grapes.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Uzbek Exports Spread to Afghanistan
Eco Parranda Company of Kashkadarya and the Afghan Ixlos Ltd have penned a contract for the supply of over seven million eggs to Afghanistan in 2017.
Meanwhile, the partners have some successful experience of cooperation. Early this year, the Afghan side has purchased a batch of eggs for more than $107,000.
The Kashkadarya company was founded five years ago. Today, it keeps 80,000 chickens of the ‘high-line’ breed, disease-resistant and highly productive.
"The entire process at our factory, ranging from feeding chickens to the collection of eggs, is automated," says the Eco Parranda head Muhiddin Umidov. “We get average 10,000 eggs per day. We will soon complete the work on the implementation of an additional $1 million project. As a result, the number of poultry will increase by 120,000, and 30 new jobs will be created.
Last year, the poultry industry of Kashkadarya region carried out a total of over 160 promising projects. Establishment of the new business entities that specialize in the procurement of eggs and chicken meat, expansion and upgrade of capacities of existing enterprises has been contributing to the further increase in productivity, reduction of production costs, and growth of exports. In 2016, the region exported eggs to foreign markets for almost $200,000.
(Source: «Business partner.uz» newspaper)

SOCIETY

Ministry of Labor of Uzbekistan: 39.8 thousand new jobs created in first quarter
The Ministry of Labor held an extended meeting devoted to the results of operations for the first quarter of 2017 and unconditional execution of the Program of employment of the population for 2017.
The meeting participants heard the report on the work done in the reporting period on employment of citizens.
As was noted, 39.8 thousand jobs were created in the period from January to March.
2 thousand unemployed citizens received vocational training, 1,2 thousand people were attracted to paid public work.
247 job fair were organised to create additional conditions for an effective job search. These efforts allowed 11.4 thousand job-seekers to receive referrals for employment, some 30 thousand participants of those fairs received consultations on labor and employment.
Due to shortcomings in the execution of the employment program, 34 managers and officers of the staff of labour bodies were subject to disciplinary sanctions, as well as 8 employees were dismissed.
(Source: UzReport.uz)

TELEVISION

Channel FUTBOL TV begins broadcasting in test mode
Considering the wishes of an audience of millions of football fans of Uzbekistan to the sport, UZREPORT TV has launched a new dedicated TV channel - FUTBOL TV.
We are happy to announce that today, at 22:00 pm, FUTBOL TV will begin broadcasting in test mode!
During the test-mode, FUTBOL TV will be broadcast 12 hours a day, from 14:00 pm until 03:00 am. After successful completion of tests, FUTBOL TV will be broadcast 24 hours a day.
Follow the most spectacular matches of the world and European football on UZREPORT TV and FUTBOL TV!
(Source: UzReport.uz)

TOURISM

Uzbekistan is initiating several interesting projects to catalyze tourist interest
Experts are considering an opportunity of introducing a specific plastic card for tourists, entitled Uzbekistan Pass. As envisioned by the project initiators, it will provide an opportunity for foreign guests to purchase goods and services throughout the country at a discount.
Domestic experts have already studied the successful experience of using such cards in the states that lead in tourism indicators. The cards certainly do not rank among the main motivators for visiting a country, while they are extremely useful for building a general impression and long-term loyalty. A tourist, who felt comfortable and liked the country, will share his impressions with dozens friends.
It is envisaged that the card will be issued to tourists upon receipt of entrance visa to Uzbekistan, as well as sold at airports and hotels. The ways of its large-scale introduction in the republic are discussed with leading tour operators and other interested parties.
The introduction of another loyalty system for tourists - Tourist Friendly - is planned concurrently. It is about a voluntary certification of museums, galleries, catering and other display and infrastructure facilities that will meet high quality standards.
Such facilities should observe sanitary requirements, provide appropriate security, the staff should be proficient in foreign languages, their services can be paid through various international systems and meet many other criteria.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

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