economy

2016 year, farmers of Uzbekistan are planning to grow more than 1.6 million tons of grapes, which is 25.7% more YOY

"There are currently more than 143,000 hectares of vineyards in the country. Agricultural enterprises and farms have laid 23,500 hectares of new vineyards, and reoriented 17.4 hectares of old and ineffective vineyards over the last three years alone", reported the Uzvinpromholding.

42 specialized agricultural firms have been established this year to create a unified system of procuring and exporting grapes. Supplying farmers with seeds and fertilizers, they are currently signing contracts for the supply of grapes to the domestic and foreign markets as an advance. In particular, agricultural companies have already concluded 5,995 contracts with farmers for 324,000 tons of grapes and other agricultural products.

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

Federation of Trade Unions and ITUC signed Memorandum of understanding

Secretary General of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) Sharon Barrow and Chairman of the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva held a meeting in the framework of 105th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva.

During the meeting, the parties discussed prospective directions for further cooperation.

The negotiations resulted the signing of the Memorandum of understanding between the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan and the International Trade Union Confederation, providing for increased interaction in such areas as employment promotion and labor protection.

(Source: UzReport.uz)

International Fruits and Vegetables Exhibition to be held in Tashkent

President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov signed a resolution “On measures on organization and holding annual International Fruits and Vegetables Exhibition” on 1 June 2016.

According to the resolution, International Fruits and Vegetables Exhibition will be held on 12-14 July 2016 at UzExpoCenter in Tashkent. The exhibition will be organized to familiarize with foreign partners with fruits and vegetables of Uzbekistan.

The resolution said that the fair will be held on annual bases. The Uzbek leader formed an organizational committee. The tasks of the committee are:

- to form efficient mechanism on promotion of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as processed products, in external products;

- to inform foreign companies on potential of produced ecologically clean fresh vegetables, fruits, grapes and melons;

- to analyze trends and perspectives of development of world markets, create of favourable conditions and assist to find new partners;

The resolution said that foreign participants of the fair will receive visas without consular or other fees.

(Source: UzDaily.com)

International cooperation

On upcoming Uzbek-Estonian political consultations

On June 8-9, 2016, Tallinn will host the next round of Uzbek-Estonian political consultations between the Foreign Ministries.

The agenda of the talks between the delegations of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and Estonia includes issues of bilateral relations in political, trade-economic, cultural-humanitarian and other spheres, exchanging views on international and regional problems.

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

Tourism

Bukhara: Silk & Spices Fest Makes a Splash

‘Twas that time of the year in Bukhara again as the city with a history that spans thousands of years hosted the eagerly-awaited, fifteenth Silk and Spices Festival. A celebration of folk arts, it kicked off as a procession of musicians, dancers, actors and craftsmen, and stretched from the Ark Citadel to the Labi Hovuz architectural complex.

This year, the festival that gains momentum with each passing year brought together representatives of twenty-one countries and over a dozen media outlets as well as hundreds of masters from various parts of Uzbekistan and beyond.

Wrapped into three days, the festivities included a sprawling fair of unique handmade items that presented exquisite Bukharian pottery, jewelry, embroidered garments, tapestries, atlas, adras, headwear, porcelain, items made of Surkhan wool and silk, woodcarving implements, beadwork by Jizzakh craftswomen, silks by local and foreign masters, spices and medicinal herbs. All this treasure trove of aromas, colors, glitter and beauty was complemented by rows of engaging activities such as workshops and master classes by craftspeople, performances by folk and ethnographic music teams from all Uzbek regions, national sporting competitions, folk games and the most delicious and awaited event – the pilaf cooking competition.

“Folk crafts have existed and thrived in Uzbekistan since ancient times,” says Madan Lal, an artisan from India. “Here, you can feast your eyes on unusual and original creations by local masters that testify to their remarkable artistic skills and tastes. These artisans have taken craftsmanship to new heights. The national traditions and customs as well as dances and folk songs make a lasting impression on visitors.”

The annual festival seeks to nurture and develop national craftsmanship, promote it internationally, forge ties with master craftspeople, and transform Bukhara into of the world’s key tourism hubs.

“I had always dreamt of visiting Bukhara and I am delighted that my trip coincides with such an amazing and colorful festival,” says Maxim Wilson, a tourist from Australia. “I’ve had a great time viewing diverse handmade items, and today I see with my own eyes that art nurtured by national values is able to unite various nations irrespective of their language and religions. By the way, I got to taste pilaf for the first time here. It was incredibly delicious!”

The festival was also used as a platform to discuss issues related to the attraction of foreign investments to tourism in Bukhara. The conference held as part of the festival included presentations of business projects and grants while also giving those gathered an opportunity to learn about the investment climate in the ancient city as a whole.

The annual Silk and Spices Festival has turned into the city’s signature event that draws an increasing number of tourists to the region, which is chock-full of magnificent architectural monuments and other landmarks.

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)