POLITICS

The President of Uzbekistan visits Azerbaijan

President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid an official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan on October 11-12.

President Islam Karimov’s official visit to Azerbaijan was primarily dedicated to bolstering the friendly bonds between our two countries, to implementing the deals reached earlier, to singling out prospective priorities in the evolution of bilateral cooperation.

The heads of two states concluded that the current state of bilateral trade hardly reflects the economic capacities of Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan. According to them, effective measures are needed to attain higher volumes of trade turnover.

Taking into account Azerbaijan’s potential in hydrocarbon industry, Uzbekistan is willing to procure equipment and components for this sector, import petrochemicals and other goods produced in Azerbaijan. In turn, the enterprises in Uzbekistan are enthusiastic about supplying Azerbaijan with modern cars and trucks as well as passenger buses, agricultural hardware and machinery, a broad range of goods of electrical and chemical industries, textiles, cement and construction materials, mineral fertilizers and other produce.

Thus, at the regular 10th session of Intergovernmental Commission on Cooperation between Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan, the parties expressed mutual interest in making use of the considerable reserves and opportunities for stepping up trade and economic interaction as well as that in transport communications and transit. Also, the two sides called, inter alia, for the expansion of agreement and normative base of bilateral cooperation.

During the negotiations at the highest level, the two sides have gone at great length to address the prospects of boosting transport corridors between Central Asia and the Caucasus with access to European countries via the Black Sea port of Poti and the Mediterranean port of Mersin in Turkey. In this regard, Uzbekistan is interested in cashing in the rail transport corridor Navoi-Turkmenbashi-Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (Turkey) to link the railways of Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan and Georgia with the networks of Turkey and hence facilitate access to the Mediterranean through the port of Mersin.

The two parties stressed that the execution of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project is to generate entirely new conditions for transport and communications schemes, which, in turn, are to help establish novel transportation arteries which could well prove shorter and more efficient from the economic point of view.

In the joint declaration adopted following the talks, a particular significance was attached to the need for the advancement of economic cooperation and the employment of considerable reserves and opportunities for the expansion of trade and economic interaction, mutual turnover and investments, for the unconditional execution of action plan on the implementation of economic cooperation program for 2012-2015 signed during President Islam Karimov’s visit to Azerbaijan, and which epitomizes practical measures dedicated to bolstering the trade and economic cooperation. Foreign Minister A.Kamilov’s talks in Paris

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Kamilov met with the minister of foreign affairs of the French Republic Laurent Fabius in Paris on 16 October 2012.

Pressing issues of bilateral relations, development prospects in political, diplomatic, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian areas were discussed.

It was noted that concurrence and similarity of positions of the two countries on main international and regional problems, growing interparliamentary ties, available potential for enhancing commercial-economic and investment interaction, a huge interest of the public and humanitarian institutions of both countries in mutual exchanges serve as a reliable foundation for further deepening Uzbek-French dialogue.

The parties confirmed mutual interest in widening contacts between the business circles of the two countries, implementation of joint projects in such areas as electronics, chemical and petrochemical industries, pharmaceuticals, perfumery and cosmetics. French enterpreneurs are attracted by priveleges and preferences, given to foreign investors in Navoi and Angren special economic zones.

Heads of foreign ministries also exchanged views on international and regional problems, including on the issues related to the situation in Afghanistan, as well as other topics.

An official invitation to visit Uzbekistan was conveyed to Mr. Fabius, which was received with gratitude.

Negotiations were conducted at several ministries and agencies, a regular round of political consultations between the ministries of foreign affairs were held during the visit of the minister of foreign affairs to France.Practical issues of developing relations were considered during the meetings with the chairman of “France-Central Asia” interparliamentary friendship society, Senator André Dulait, president of the French institute of international relations (IFRI) Thierry de Montbrial.

The Uzbek delegation took part at the business-forum of the Movement of enterprises of France (MEDEF).

An agreement on cooperation between the Academy of state administration under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan and National School of Administration of France (ENA) was signed within the frameworks of the visit. (Source: Press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan)

ECOMOMY

Uzbekistan is completing the implementation of a unique pilot project in alternative energy.

Uzbekenergo plans to complete the construction of a pilot wind power plant at its equity in Yubileyniy village of Bostonliq district of Tashkent region this year. With its technical performance, the capacity of 750 kW, height of 65 meters, swing blades of 50 meters and 3.6 meters diameter of the tower’s foundation, it is going to be the first wind power plant not just in Uzbekistan, but in Central Asia.

Cotton and textile industry of Uzbekistan: new market outlook The Eighth International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair started its work in Tashkent on 17 October. Over 1,000 foreign companies, working in cotton and textile industry, from 38 countries are participating at the event.

Uzbekistan is planning to increase the volume of internal cotton-fiber processing up to 70% in next three years, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyayev said at the opening the Eighth International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair in Tashkent.

Shavkat Mirziyayev said that Uzbekistan produces 3.5 million tonnes of raw cotton in average and 1.1 million tonnes of cotton-fiber, as well as 1.7 million tonnes of cotton seeds. Main buyers of the Uzbek cotton are Bangladesh (39%), China (13%) and South Korea (7%).

He said that over 2,200 enterprises registered in light industry of Uzbekistan. He said that over 280 enterprises on processing cotton fiber with capacity of over 400,000 tonnes work in the country. He said seventeen enterprises were launched in the past period of 2012.

Mirziyayev said that Uzbekistan develops such industries as silk-weaving, carpet production, knitwork and ready-made garments production, ready fabrics, and hosiery along with launching new cotton-fiber processing capacities.

According to him, total sum of attracted foreign investments to development of textile industry of Uzbekistan made up about US$2 billion. This year, foreign investments for US$100 million were attracted. The investment helped to organize production of high quality products, including yarn, fabrics, silk, knitwork, which are highly demanded in the world market.

Shavkat Mirziyayev said Uzbekistan plans annually increase the volume of production of textile products by 20% and exports – by 10%.

He said that in next three years it is planned to increase cotton processing volume up to 70% due to launch of new capacities.

Uzbek Prime Minister noted that the country also pays attention to increasing exports geography along with expanding processing capacities. He said that Uzbekistan plans to increase exports to those countries, where there is high demand for the Uzbek cotton-fiber.

Uzbekistan inks contracts for export of 670,000 tonnes of cotton fiber Uzbekistan signed contracts for supply of over 670,000 tonnes of cotton fiber within the Eighth International Uzbek cotton and textile fair The agreements for US$600 million were signed to export products of textile enterprises of Uzbekistan within the fair.

According to the fair organizers, over 1,000 foreign companies, working in cotton and textile industry, from 38 countries participated at the Eighth International Uzbek cotton and textile fair.

Last year, within the seventh International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair recorded deals on supply of 600,000 tonnes of cotton-fiber. The contracts on supply of textile products worth US$550 million were also inked. (Source: UzDaily.com)

Uzbekistan Airways to launch flights to Pakistan, China

Uzbekistan Havo Yollari, a national airline of Uzbekistan, will open new flights to Islamabad (Pakistan) and Urumqi (China) in the late of October 2012, the press service of the company said.

The company recalled that it will start winter navigation starting from 28 October 2012.

The airline said that it will launch new flights to Islamabad, Pakistan, and Urumqi (China). Uzbekistan Havo Yollari (Uzbekistan Airways) will fly twice a week from Tashkent to Islamabad and once a week to Urumqi. The airline will conduct flights to Islamabad on A320 planes and to Urumqi on Boeing-767 planes.

SOCIETY

\"Student-2012\" international education exhibition

\"Student 2012\" international education exhibition took place in Tashkent.

The event was organized by Neo-Consulting national education company in cooperation with EU delegation to Uzbekistan. It was attended by representatives of higher education institutions and relevant agencies of Uzbekistan and the European Union, the diplomatic corps, accredited in our country, and students.

\"Student 2012\" Educational enhibition is organized to promote greater engagement opportunities in this area. Visitors of the exhibition may get acquainted with the ongoing reforms, innovations in the educational system of our country and the world.

The exhibition was attended by representatives of the European Union \"Tempus” program in Uzbekistan, Erasmus Mundus and Marie Curie education grant and exchange programs, Representative Offices of the British Council and the German Academic Exchange Service in Uzbekistan, universities of the USA, UK, Switzerland, Cyprus and Malaysia.

SPORTS

Uzbekistan judo team wins six medals in Abu Dhabi

Uzbekistan national judo team won six medals at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix (United Arab Emirates).

According to UzA, Uzbekistan claimed three silver and three bronze medals at international tournament.

Rishod Sobirov, Ramziddin Saidov and Sherali Juraev won silver medal at Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

Dilshod Choriev, Utkir Kurbanov and Odiljon Tulandiboev claimed the bronze medals for Uzbekistan. (Source: UzDaily.com) An important victory in Doha

Uzbekistan national football team has beaten Qatar 1-0 in the Asian qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

In the final stage of the qualifiers Mirdjalal Kasimov’s team faced Qatar in a match of the fourth round in Doha.

In spite of early domination by the home side, our compatriots soon took over the initiative. As a result Sanjar Tursunov’s kick found the net in 13th minute after Akmal Shorakhmedov’s wonderful cross. The Qatari team added on pressure in the second half with no result.

After the important win in Doha, Uzbekistan now has 5 points. The next game our team will play against Iran in Tehran on 14 November. (Source: UzA news agency)