POLITICS



President resolution to improve foreign language learning

On December 10, 2012 President Karimov signed a decree “On measures to further improve foreign language learning system”. According to the decree, starting from 2013/2014 school year foreign languages, mainly English, will be taught from the first year of schooling in the form of lesson-games and speaking games, continuing to learning the alphabet, reading and spelling in the second year (grade).

The State Testing Center, along with other relevant agencies, is tasked with preparing draft proposals on introducing foreign languages testing to the entrance examinations for all higher educational institutions.

The decree also envisages 30% salary increase for foreign language teachers in rural areas, 15% increase for those in other areas.

The National TV and Radio Company, State Committee for Communications, Informatization and Telecommunication Technologies, Agency for Press and Information of Uzbekistan are tasked to prepare and broadcast language-learning programs, significantly increase access to international educational resources via “Ziyonet” educational network, promote publication of foreign language textbooks, magazines and other materials. (Source: UzA news agency)

President meets with Russia\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s Deputy Prime Minister

President Karimov received Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Kozak at the Oqsaroy on December 13 where the sides exchanged views on prospective strides toward further enlargement of economic interaction.

Dmitry Kozak stressed Russia’s willingness to enhance its relations with Uzbekistan in the trade-economic and investment spheres. During his current visit to Uzbekistan, Dmitry Kozak also attended a regular session of the Uzbek –Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation.

Russia is currently one of Uzbekistan’s major trade and economic partners. A persistent growth in trade has been on the go between our two nations. For instance, the figures on this front reached 6.668 billion US dollars in 2011, while this year they made it 5.580 billion from January through September.

Uzbekistan and Russia have been steadfast in advancing investment cooperation. Currently, 858 enterprises with Russian capital are operating in Uzbekistan, and 106 Russian companies have their representative offices accredited in our country. The hydrocarbon sector has been a crucial component of economic cooperation and the one extensive in scope. In particular, a number of major projects have been in progress with Lukoil and Gazprom aimed at the development of oil and gas deposits across Uzbekistan.



ECONOMY



Uzbekistan among top 20 countries with most promising investment prospects

Uzbekistan is the only country among Central Asian states, which has been included to the top 20 countries of the world with most promising investment potential. This news is distributed by foreign mass media citing the report of the British risk analysis consulting company Maplecroft Maplecroft published its new Growth Markets Index on 5 December 2012, in which Uzbekistan has been placed 20th. China, India, Brazil, South Korea and Malaysia top the ranking.

Growth Markets Index (GMI) evaluates the economic performance, stability and potential of 175 countries. It provides an evaluation of economic performance, investment conduciveness, recent structural reforms and projected future demographic trends, including growth of middle class consumers. (Source: UzA news agency)

Uzbekistan provides preferences to enterprises with foreign capital

The Government of Uzbekistan expanded the base of tax benefits for enterprises with foreign investment (FDI).

Ministry of Finance, State Tax Committee and Ministry of Economy of Uzbekistan adopted a resolution, which introduced changes to regulation on order of use of tax preferences to enterprises, attracting private foreign direct investments. The document came into force on 14 December 2012.

According to the document, the government expanded a list of industries, which can receive tax preferences for attraction of FDI from eight to twenty.

The list now includes such industries as production of packaging materials, construction of stations based on alternative energy sources, petrochemical industry, etc.

The resolution said that now tax preferences are also provided to enterprises, located in all cities and rural areas of Uzbekistan, except Tashkent city and Tashkent region. Earlier, the preferences provided to enterprises in regions with excessive labour forces.

At the same time, the preferences are provided to enterprises with the share of foreign capital at least 33%. Earlier, the figure was 50%. The government also abolished another condition and tax preferences are provide to enterprises, which attracted investments after state registration.

Enterprises, which received tax preferences, also allowed to reinvest 50% of income, received due to tax holidays. Earlier, they should reinvest all sum.

On 1 July 2005, President of Uzbekistan provided tax holidays to enterprises with foreign capital. The enterprises were exempted from payment of income tax, property tax, accommodation and infrastructure development tax, as well as payments to Republican Road Fund.

Tax privileges are provided for three years if the investment volume makes up between US$300,000 to US$3 million, for five years – for investments between US$3 million and US$10 million, as well as for seven years – for investments for over US$10 million.

In line with the legislation of Uzbekistan, the enterprises with charter capital of US$150,000 and share of foreign investors at least 30% are considered as companies with foreign capital.



INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Uzbekistan, Turkey delegations hold talks in Tashkent Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan hosted a meeting with a delegation of Turkey led by Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Fatih Ceylan on 11 December 2012.

During the meeting, the sides considered current state of bilateral cooperation in political-diplomatic, trade-economic, investment, cultural-humanitarian and perspective directions of boosting interaction between two nations.

Currently, Uzbekistan and Turkey signed 81 bilateral documents.

Mutual trade turnover hit US$1.188 billion in 2011. Some 516 enterprises with Turkish capital are operating in Uzbekistan. Turkey invested US$353 million to implement State Investment Program of Uzbekistan in 2011-2012.

On the same, the delegation of Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan and Turkey at the level of the deputy foreign ministries held next round of political consultations. (Source: UzDaily.com)

Intergovernmental commission meeting

The Fourteenth session of intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia was held in Tashkent International Business Centre on 13 December 2012.

The event was attended by representatives of ministries, agencies and companies of the two countries, operating in foreign economic relations, trade, investment, customs, transport and communications, automotive, aviation, agriculture and water resources, textiles, science, education, culture, healthcare, environmental protection, banking and financial system, the oil and gas industry.

Co-Chairman of the Commission, First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Rustam Azimov highlighted the consistent development of cooperation between the two countries in various areas, an important legal basis of which are the agreements reached during meetings of the heads of the two states.

Prospective directions of further development of trade, economic and investment cooperation between the two countries, including further expansion of relations in such areas as trade, investment, fuel and energy, automotive, air transport, environment, increasing the number of joint ventures, the volume of bilateral trade, joint development and implementation of mutuallybeneficial projects. (UzA news agency) Korean delegation in Tashkent

Members of the delegation, headed by the Minister of Employment and Labor of the Republic of Korea Lee Chae-Pil met with the Minister of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan Aktam Khaitov in Tashkent.

The meeting participants discussed issues of further strengthening cooperation between the two countries on social protection and promotion of employment. A Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Republic of Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Employment and Labor of the Republic of Korea, aimed at implementation of these goals, was signed. (Source: UzA news agency)



EMBASSY EVENT



On December 13, the Embassy hosted a group of American diplomats currently taking a language courses at the Foreign Service Institute of the US Department of State as preparation for the long-term assignments at the US diplomatic posts in the countries of Central Asia.

During the visit they met with Ambassador Nematov and were briefed about the current dynamics in Central Asia, regional cooperation, current situation in Uzbekistan as well as the development of the Uzbek –American relations .