Aleksandr Lukashenko pays a tribute of respect to the memory of Islam Karimov

Meeting with the President of Afghanistan

Special Industrial Zone Jizzakh

The 22nd Tashkent International Tourism Fair “Tourism on the Silk Road” opened at the UzExpoCentre on October 5

As a prominent statesman and a world-class leader, the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, earned the great respect of the Uzbek people and the world community. Islam Karimov’s place of burial is a sacred place of deference today.

The President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, arrived in Samarqand on 6 October in order to pay a tribute of respect to the memory of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov.

The Acting President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, met the high-profile visitor at Samarqand international airport.

The President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, and the Acting President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, laid flowers at the grave of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, and paid a tribute of respect to his memory.

The high-profile guest visited the Forums Complex in Samarqand and expressed deep condolences to Islam Karimov’s spouse, Tatyana Karimova.

In the Forums Complex, a meeting took place between the Acting President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and the President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko.

Belarus sees Uzbekistan as its main economic partner in Central Asia. Cooperation between the two countries is developing on the basis of principles of friendship and mutual interest. The treaty on economic cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Republic of Belarus for 2008-2017 and a programme directed towards its implementation is consistently being carried out.

The Acting President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, expressed gratitude to the President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, for the visit to Uzbekistan with the aim of paying a tribute of respect to the memory of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov.

It was noted that friendly relations between the two nations would continue to develop steadily and that cooperation between the two counties needed to be raised to a new level.

The President of the Republic of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, emphasized that the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, devoted all his life to service to his people and the prosperity of his Homeland and that today Uzbekistan is a state with a developed economy where peace and stability reign. At this difficult time following Islam Karimov’s passing away, the nation of Uzbekistan again displayed their wisdom, high culture and unity. The high-profile visitor noted that it was a great honour for him to visit this sacred land.

At the recent 71st session of the UN General Assembly, participants observed a minute of silence to honour the memory of Islam Karimov, which is also clear evidence of the international prestige of Uzbekistan’s First President.

During the meeting, there was an exchange of views on issues of the further development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Belarus in various spheres.

With this, the visit of the President of Belarus, Aleksandr Lukashenko, to Uzbekistan concluded.

 (Source: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

DECEMBER 4 - the Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The programme of events to be held for raising voters’ legal culture

On 7 October this year, a scheduled session of the Central Electoral Commission took place at the republican press centre for coverage of the elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The session was attended by representatives of the district electoral commissions, political parties taking part in the elections and mass media.

The session conducted by the chairman of the Central Electoral Commission, M.Abdusalomov, looked at issues relating to preparations for the elections. During the session held in the form of a video conference, there was discussion about a programme of events to be held for raising voters’ legal culture in this pre-election period. The programme was worked out on the basis of proposals from public organizations, mass media and other institutions of civil society.

The programme envisages the further raising of public awareness about the national electoral system created in the years of independence, the law “On elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan”, changes and addenda made to it in recent years, the essence of the Central Electoral Commission’s resolutions regulating election-related issues and voters’ rights and freedoms enshrined in laws.

Events envisaged in the programme are for wide sections of the population, specifically women and girls, young people going to vote for the first time, veterans, people with disabilities, military servicemen, citizens’ self-governing bodies, workers, representatives of educational institutions as well as compatriots abroad.

The Kamolot public youth movement, the Women’s Committee, the Mahalla public charity foundation, the republican international cultural centre and other institutions of civil society in cooperation with bodies of state administration and government are to conduct the following campaigns: “My vote - my Motherland’s future”, “I will vote personally”, “We have the right to choose”, “Are you on the electoral register?” and “In a single family”, which are directed towards further raising voters’ legal culture and electoral activeness.

Campaign events are to be held in the form of round-table conversations, training seminars, direct dialogue and conferences as well as announcements, radio and television programmes and articles on mass media and flyers and other campaign adverts.

At the session, the chairmen of Samarqand district electoral commission No 7, Surkhondaryo district electoral commission No 9 and Farghona district electoral commission No 11 read out reports on election-related work in territories.

To date, 9 thousand 376 electoral precincts have been formed, including polling stations abroad. District electoral commissions have began working on the composition of precinct electoral commissions.

During the event, other issues within the remit of the Central Electoral Commission were also discussed, and appropriate resolutions were adopted on the discussed issues.

(Source: Republican Press Center on Covering the Elections of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

International cooperation

Meeting with Ambassador of Chile

On October 7, 2016 the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Chile (with residence in Moscow) Juan Eduardo Eguiguren.

 During the meeting, Memorandum on political consultations between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Chile was signed. The document, which comes into force from the date of signature, provides holding regular political consultations on bilateral and international issues of mutual interest.

The sides noted the mutual interest and existing potential for further development of Uzbek-Chilean relations in various spheres, including in the framework of the UN and other multilateral organizations.

(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

Meeting with the President of Afghanistan

On October 4, 2016, in Brussels, in the framework of participation of the delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan in the international conference on Afghanistan, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulaziz Kamilov held a bilateral meeting with the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan Mohammad Ashraf Ghani.

At the beginning of the meeting the Minister on behalf of the leadership of Uzbekistan conveyed to the President of Afghanistan a gratitude for his personal participation at the funeral ceremonies in Samarkand and his sincere words of condolences to the Uzbek people on the passing away of the First President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov.

During the conversation topical issues of Uzbek-Afghan agenda, including the state and prospects of cooperation in political, trade-economic, transport and communications and other fields were discussed.

The sides supported the activation of contacts at different levels in order to strengthen the relations of friendship and neighborhood relations between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan.

(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

The 22nd Tashkent International Tourism Fair

The 22nd Tashkent International Tourism Fair “Tourism on the Silk Road” opened at the UzExpoCentre on October 5

In the opening of the event, organized by the National Company “Uzbektourism”, the ministries of Culture and Sport Affairs, Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tashkent city khokimiyat (administration) and “Great Silk Road” advertising agency with the assistance of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), was attended by the representatives of domestic and foreign tourism companies, hotels, tourism professionals and representatives of the diplomatic corps accredited in our country.

Chairman of the National Company “Uzbektourism” Farrukh Rizaev, Executive Director for Technical Cooperation and Services at the UN World Tourism Organization Zhu Shanzhong and others noted that as a result of the basic reforms for socio-economic development of the country, implemented under the leadership of the First President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov, modern infrastructure of tourism is consistently developed, and the conditions for the travelers’ exciting and meaningful leisure have been created.

The resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan "On measures to further support and development of tourism in the Republic of Uzbekistan" dated October 10, 2012, serves as an important guide to action in the tourism infrastructure development, active promotion of national tourism services on the international tourism markets.

Our country attracts tourists from all around the world with its ancient cities, combining history and modernity, unique cultural and spiritual heritage, traditions and customs of our people, emphasizing its uniqueness, natural potential. Peace and stability in our country, kindness and harmony atmosphere, the Uzbek hospitality, modern hotels and recreation areas, high quality services create good opportunities for meaningful leisure time.

From year to year, the number of tourists visiting our country continues to grow. In particular, in 2015, more than 2 million tourists visited Uzbekistan.

In our country constant attention is paid to the further development of the tourism industry, the scale of the expansion of services offered to tourists. Thus, were modernized Fleet of the National Air Company “Uzbekistan Airways” and airports, the geography of flights was expanded. Running from the capital to Samarkand, Bukhara and Karshi modern high-speed train “Afrosiyob” have created conveniences and comfort for tourists. As a result of the construction of the electrified railway “Angren – Pap” was established modern movement of trains from Tashkent to Fergana valley.

Along with the development of road infrastructure, service system of foreign and local tourists is also developed. Today in Uzbekistan there are 1282 tourism organizations, in particular, more than 660 hotels, tourist centers and campsites, over 600 travel agencies.

Many projects are realized in our country in cooperation with the UN World Tourism Organization. Uzbekistan joined the organization in 1993. Since 2004, Regional Center “On the Silk Road” under the UNWTO operates in Samarkand. Co-organized international tourist fairs, conferences and seminars.

One of the prospective directions of the tourism industry is ecological tourism. The network of natural areas, covering reserves, natural parks, ecocentres, and biosphere reserves – is being extended. Large-scale measures to assess the capacity of these facilities of ecotourism, for the creation of its inventory, preparation of qualified sphere professionals, showcasing a wide eco-tourism potential of our country are implemented.

Traditionally carried out since 1995, the Tashkent International Tourism Fair TITF is an important factor in the further expansion of work in this direction, familiarization of the world community with a huge potential of our country in the field of tourism, strengthening and expansion of cooperation with leading foreign tourism companies.

The current fair is attended by representatives of more than twenty companies from Japan, Portugal, Chile, Russia, Turkey, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and other countries.

The Tashkent International Tourism Fair covered all modern trends in the tourism industry. It represents tour operators, travel agencies, major industry-hotel complexes and private hotels, motels, resorts, transport companies, airline operators, global ordering system, software of tourist industry and tourist services, museums, as well as the services of the companies of cultural leisure and recreation industry, concerning the scope of modern technologies. At the fair, there are sections such as environmental, sporting, educational, gastronomic, health tourism, sightseeing, cruises, hotel and restaurant business, industrial real estate and insurance.

The national pavilion “Travel in Uzbekistan” presented travel agencies and companies from all regions of our country. It offers services of educational and health centers, theaters, museums, tourist agencies, regional offices of the “Uzbektourism” National Company, association of private tourism organizations.

Presentations on the preparation of national dishes are conducted. In addition with becoming familiar with the information relating to the tourist potential of the regions of our country has been created the opportunity to try the generous gifts of our land.

At the fair is also organized a separate section on educational tourism. In the Tashkent State Economic University, the Management Development Institute of Singapore in Tashkent, in a number of professional colleges has been established the training of specialists for the directions: tourism marketing and management, the provision of services of international tourism, hospitality industry and restaurant business.

In the “Medical Tourism in Uzbekistan” are widely represented a kind of potential of national medicine, its scientific achievements, specialized medical centers, the possibilities of modern diagnostic and treatment, created in the leading clinics.

During the “Hosted Buyers” program heads and managers of foreign companies have the opportunity to get acquainted with the tourist routes in our country, to establish contacts and make mutually beneficial contracts.

Within the event, was held the international conference on the theme “Ecological tourism - protection factor of environment and sustainable development: the experience of Uzbekistan and international practice”. At the conference, organized by the State Committee for Nature Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Company “Uzbektourism” and the UNWTO it was noted that measures for nature protection implemented in our country, the rational use of surface-based and underground resources, contribute to the sustainable development of society. It were heard heard the reports on the tourism potential of our country, implemented programs and projects in this area, were identified long-term objectives, directions of international cooperation.

In the framework of the fair also was organized scientific-practical conference, dedicated to the development of domestic tourism, the current state and perspectives of public services, providing in this area.

The event will allow the opportunity to exchange of views with foreign partners and experts for the further attraction of tourists to our country, and to sign a cooperation agreement.

The Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan A.Ikromov took a part at the opening of the fair.

(Source: UzA)

Special Industrial Zone Jizzakh

Warm Glass

A manufacturer of heat-insulating fiberglass materials has been commissioned in the Special Industrial Zone Jizzakh.

The project totals $7 million, and is implemented by the domestic company Ekoklimat. It is estimated to produce about 10,000 tons of finished products annually, and create over a hundred of new jobs.

The plant will produce glass wool in the form of sheets and rolls that are currently very marketable in the construction industry. Along with such obvious advantages as elasticity and durability against, for example, plastic foam, glass wool is easily transported and conveniently laid in even the most hard-to-reach areas. It is also a good sound insulator, and does not emit toxic substances during combustion.

The list of competitive advantages of the new domestic product includes a more affordable price range unlike foreign counterparts and equally good quality, since the plant was equipped by the leading manufacturers.

The company is primarily aimed at taking on neighboring markets, which presently import products from Chinese manufacturers. Uzbekistan has a vast space to be occupied, as a significant part of the market also belongs to manufacturers from China.

Several private investors from China are major donors of the enterprise with a total of $3.6 million of investment. The investors from China are obviously drawn by preferential tax and customs policy in the Jizzakh SIZ, providing significant advantages against other producers.

Thirteen companies with a total project cost of $44.1 million have been commissioned on the territory of Jizzakh SIZ since its establishment. As of the current year; the industrial output they have produced amounted to 133 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 10.10.2016, 1$= 3028.47 soums), the export volume reached US $750,000, and over 770 new jobs were created.

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)