INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

Islam Karimov arrives in Ashgabat

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrived in Turkmenistan’s capital of Ashgabat on October 1. The head of Uzbek state is here with an official visit on the invitation of President Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov.

State flags of the two countries were raised high and the guard of honor lined up at Ashgabat’s international airport. Young men and women in colorful national costumes brought the traditional bread, salt and flowers for the President of Uzbekistan.

The streets in Ashgabat are decorated with flags and banners with cordial welcoming greetings in Uzbek and Turkmen.

The current visit is considered in both countries as a logical extension of regular meetings at the highest level, dedicated to consolidating the Uzbek-Turkmen interstate ties.

The summit of the leaders of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is expected to serve as a venue for detailed discussion of the current state and prospects of the multifaceted bilateral cooperation, exchange views on pressing regional issues and key topics in contemporary international affairs.

As reported earlier, the heads of state are anticipated to adopt a joint declaration following the negotiations. The two sides are to sign also a range of documents envisaging further enhancement of interaction in political and diplomatic, trade and economic, cultural and humanitarian areas. (Source: Press service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)



ECONOMY

Some 47.72 bank branches fell to share of 100,000 population Uzbekistan is a leader in Central Asia on number of branches of commercial banks for 100,000 adult population. The report of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) “Financial Access Survey” said. According to the report, currently 47.72 branches of the bank fell to 100,000 population in Uzbekistan and the country leads in the Central Asian region on this figure.

At the same time, Uzbekistan is ahead of the United States (35.43), Russia (37.09) and France (41.58%).

On number of ATMs, Uzbekistan remains behind other states of Central Asian region. According to the IMF, number of ATMs per 100,000 persons makes up 4.54 in Uzbekistan.

The figure makes up 65.8 in Kazakhstan, 12.07 in Kyrgyzstan, and 7.68 in Tajikistan, the survey f the IMF said.

To compare, number of ATPs per 100,00 persons make up 152.94 in Russia and 109.8 in France, the IMF said. (Source: UzDaily.com)

SOCIETY

FoodWeek/AgriTek Uzbekistan exhibition launched in Tashkent The Seventeenth international food and agriculture exhibition FoodWeek/AgriTek Uzbekistan started its work in Uzbekistan’s UzExpoCenter on 3 October 2012.

Three day event is organized by TNT Expo. The exhibition is organized at the support of the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources of Uzbekistan.

The exhibition comprises of four sections: food and drinks – Food Expo, equipment and technology for food industry – Food Tek, packaging technology and equipment – Pack Tek and agriculture technologies and equipment – Agri Tek.

Some 70 companies from 14 countries are participating at the exhibition. Among participants are companies from Hungary, the Netherland, Germany, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, Liechtenstein, Poland, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. TNT Expo said that the exhibition is attended by 40 local companies and 29 foreign firms.

The exhibition is aimed at demonstrating achievements in consumer, food and processing industries, exchanging opinion, assisting to development of cooperation, etc. (Source: UzDaily.com)

The festival of arts and culture

Long-awaited Art Week Style.uz – 2012 has started at the Youth Creativity Palace in Tashkent

The week, organized by the Forum of culture and arts of Uzbekistan Foundation, started with the sixth Tashkent International Photo Biennale. Representative of different ministries and agencies, creative and public organisations, diplomatic corps, accredited in our country, culture and art workers, photographers, designers and artists, film workers were invited to the event, held in cooperation with Arts Academy of Uzbekistan.