INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Uzbekistan and Latvia hold political consultations

The eleventh round of political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and Latvia was held in Riga on 20 November 2012.

The sides considered schedule of upcoming contacts at various levels for short-term perspective and 2013 and discussed issues of expanding bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

The sides expressed readiness to further support of contacts among business circles of Uzbekistan and Latvia, exchange visit of business delegation, hold bilateral forums, presentations on financial-technical and investment potential of two countries. The air communication between Tashkent and Riga is important precondition for development of relations in tourism sector.

The sides noted that it is important to expand contacts among scientific-research institutions, representatives of science, culture and art, as well as ensure participation of representatives of two countries in corresponding events.



ECONOMY

Development of Agricultural Sector

For the first 9 months of this year, Uzbekistan produced 5.4 million tons of vegetables: 1.5 million tons of potatoes, more than 1 million tons of melons, 1.4 million tons of fruits and berries, 0.8 million tons of grapes. The volume of processed fruit and vegetables exceeded 1.1 million tons (105.1% for the same period in 2011).

The commercial banks have issued loans for private and peasant farms in the amount of 60.4 billion soums for the cattle purchase.

There have been 802 livestock farms with 19.6 million cattle, 557 poultry farms with 3.8 million birds, 530 fish farms and 511 bee farms created so far. The total number of cattle has reached 9.97 million with 5.7% increase compared to the same period in 2011. The meat production increased by 7% (1.211.5 thousand tons), diary - 7.2% (5.261.5 thousand tons), and eggs - by 14% (2.920 million).



SPORTS



Chess festivities in Tashkent

The second leg of FIDE (World Chess Federation) Grand Prix series started at the Gallery of Fine Arts of Uzbekistan in Tashkent.

Consisting of six international tournaments, FIDE Grand Prix series are a qualifying competition for the World Cup, to be held in 2014.

18 top players will participate in six tournaments to be held in 2012-2013. 12 players will get to play in each leg. Thus, each of the 18 players will participate in four tournaments of the Grand Prix.

The participants of the Grand Prix will give master classes for talented young players of our country within the frameworks of the tournament.

The victory of an Uzbek chess player

Nodirbek Abdusattorov has won the world championship among boys of eight years+. At the tournament held in the Slovenian city of Maribor, Nodirbek scored 10 points out of 11 possible, winning nine games and with just two draws. This is not the first title for the young chess prodigy from Tashkent.

Uzbek players also demonstrated good results in other age groups as well: Yulia Hegai, 8, and Gulruhbegim Tohirjanova, 14, scored 8 points and took sixth and seventh places respectively.

Altogether, the world championship brought together over a thousand young players, including 13 representatives of Uzbekistan.