INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit October 11-12 to the Republic of Azerbaijan at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev.

Major events of the visit were projected for October 12. The official ceremony of meeting the President of Uzbekistan took place at the Zugulba Palace of Azerbaijan’s President. The guard of honor lined up to welcome the high-ranking guest. Islam Karimov and Ilham Aliyev paid tribute to state anthems of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan and the guard of honor.

During a tête-a-tête meeting that followed the official ceremony, the heads of our two states discussed a wide range of issues concerning bilateral and multilateral interaction between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. They exchanged views on current regional and global issues of shared interest.

Then, members of official delegations from the two sides joined presidents to continue talks in an extended format.

The parties to negotiations addressed topics in bilateral trade-economic, transport-communications, science-technical, and cultural-humanitarian relations.

Toward the end of the occasion, Islam Karimov and Ilham Aliyev inked a joint declaration. Also, the signed documents included an action plan envisaging the implementation of intergovernmental economic cooperation program for 2012-2015, and a cooperation program between foreign affairs ministries of the two nations.

The heads of our two states then met with the press and said that the talks proved prolific and substantial. The two leaders expressed conviction that the documents penned during the current visit would afford an additional impetus to the development of traditional friendly relations.

Within the framework of this visit, the President of Uzbekistan traveled to the Alley of Honor and laid a wreath on the grave of Azerbaijan national leader Heydar Aliyev. The head of our state also laid a wreath to the monument on the Alley of Shahids. President Islam Karimov was introduced to the Square of the State Flag of Azerbaijan, as well as the Heydar Aliyev Center. (Source: Press service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

E-Visa system

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan initiated development of online system of processing visa applications E-Visa.

The system was developed within the implementation of the presidential decree “On measures on boosting participation of Uzbekistan in revival of the Great Silk Road and development of international tourism in Uzbekistan” and in order to simplify process of filling application and issue of visas.

The system of electronic processing of visa applications of foreign citizens is directed at improving efficiency of consular activities, strengthen relations of Uzbekistan with foreign states, including contact among business circles and diversification of tourism business in Uzbekistan.

Advantage of E-Visa system is that foreign citizens can apply for Uzbekistan visa, providing all personal information. The release said that the system will avoid mistakes in application and increase efficiency of interaction with state structures of Uzbekistan in process of visa issue.

The E-Visa system can be accessed at the website http://evisa.mfa.uz. The application can be filled by applicant or person, who invites applicant to visit Uzbekistan. Special original bar code is assigned after the application.

The system is part of the official website Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and it works in Uzbek, English and Russian. In future, it is planned to launch services in other languages.

The release said that Uzbekistan became the ninth country of the world, which introduced eVisa system after Australia, Armenia, Bahrain, Great Britain, Cambodia, South Korea, United Arab Emirates and the United States. (Source: UzDaily.com)



ECONOMY

International Uzbek cotton and textile fair VIII International Uzbek cotton and textile fair will be held in Tashkent on 17-18 October.

The fair, which has been held since 2005 on the initiative of President Islam Karimov has resulted in growing interest in Uzbek cotton in the world markets. While the first fair welcomed 170 representatives from 30 countries, last year it was visited by 660 representatives of more 330 companies from 38 countries. The number is expected to increase this year.

This event will serve to strengthen commercial and economic relations of our country, to further develop our economy and making it competitive in the world markets. (Source: UzA news agency)

Business of Uzbekistan and South Korea hold talks in Tashkent A delegation of business circles of South Korea led by governor Ulju province Shin Jang-yeol paid visit to Uzbekistan on 3-9 October for further developing relations between Uzbekistan and South Korea. The visit was aimed at developing trade-economic cooperation among business circles of two states, establishing direct mutual beneficial contacts with the Uzbek businesses, discussing possible perspective bilateral relations.

Within the visit, negotiations between business circles of South Korea and Uzbekistan were held in Tashkent on 9 October 2012. Within the meeting, the memorandum between Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan and Ulsan Techno Park of Ulju County was signed.

In order to develop trade-economic and investment cooperation, an Uzbek-South Korean business forum was organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, which was dedicated to discussion of further cooperation. Within the event, the presentations of investment potential of Uzbekistan, Navoi free industrial-economic zone and Angren special industrial zone were held.

During the business meeting, the sides also discussed issues of mutual cooperation in strengthening interaction of business circles of two states.

Bilateral trade turnover of Uzbekistan and South Korea made up US$1.628 billion in 2011. The exports of Uzbekistan made up US$142.4 million and imports – US$1.486 billion.

Currently, there are 359 enterprises with South Korean capital in Uzbekistan, of which 62 are companies with 100% Korean investments. They operate in such areas as trade, light industry, mining, chemistry, food industry, machinery and metal processing, healthcare, tourism, services, etc.

Some 84 South Korean companies accredited their offices at the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan. (Source: UzDaily.com)

SOCIETY

Uzbek masters of karate won World Cup

The national team of Uzbekistan has won the top award of the second tournament which was held for the World Cup in shotokan karate-do.

About 800 athletes from nearly 20 countries took part in the competition organized by the Ministry of Culture and Sports of the Republic of Uzbekistan together with the Martial Arts Development Center, the Republican Association of shotokan karate-do and the World Shotokan Karate-do Federation (WSKF).