Uzbekistan is to host an international conference on April 16-17, “Modern housing construction as a driving force of comprehensive development and transformation of rural areas, enhancing the living standards of population”, organized at the initiative of President Islam Karimov. The forum is anticipated to be attended by around 300 prominent academics, specialists and experts from nearly fifty countries of the world. Reporters of the UzA National Information Agency of Uzbekistan have interviewed some of the foreign guests to inquire into their initial impressions of their stay in our country.

Ms. Caroline Bastiaens, Member of the Flemish Parliament, city councillor of the city of Antwerp, Belgium:

It is worth noting that the construction of modern housing in rural areas, as well as of social infrastructure facilities, that can compete with urban indicators in quality terms, the endeavors aimed at improving welfare and creating broader opportunities for small business and private entrepreneurship, enhancing population employment are all important factors in raising the incomes and wellbeing of people. This, in turn, has helped boost the development in villages in paces equivalent to those in cities. In this sense, the international conference “Modern housing construction as a driving force of comprehensive development and transformation of rural areas, enhancing the living standards of population” is quite well-timed and important.

Chen Changming, Vice President of Shanghai Tongshe Architectural Design Institute Co. Ltd, Tongji University in Shanghai, China:

Remarkable results have been manifest in Uzbekistan in manufacturing industry, construction sector and agriculture, in the evolution of small business and private entrepreneurship, social sphere, construction of modern housing in rural areas, securing population employment. The complex measures directed at building homes for the population and further improving the living conditions and employment are instrumental in the development of rural areas. The wide-ranging creative endeavors in this country are cardinally changing the appearance of remote villages and auls. Thus it draws our interest to an enormous extent.

We are glad to have an opportunity within the international conference to familiarize ourselves in more detail with the inventive works undertaken in remote areas of the country, with reforms which are in progress to elevate the affluence of people and further improve the living conditions of population. This forum grants a fine opportunity for experts and scholars from many nations to exchange expertise in the effective implementation of socio-economic reforms in rural areas.

Salah Sultan,Secretary of the Committee of Muslims of Asia, Kuwait:

Enormous attention has been paid in Uzbekistan to not only perfect the appearance of towns, but also of villages, to improve their infrastructure and create all the conveniences for the rural population to live a happy, high-quality and affluent life. This is confirmed also by the works embarked on in your country to construct wide-scale modern housing in rural areas built on standard design. Not all nations enjoy so tremendous and consistent an attention to uplifting the wellbeing in the village. It is delighting to know that thousands of cutting-edge houses are erected and commissioned across all regions of Uzbekistan within a brief period of time. Especially noteworthy is the fact that these homes boast all the essential everyday conditions and comfort, and this is a major factor of welfare of the rural population. Uzbekistan’s prowess can serve as a model for other countries. Its examination and spread is the principal goal pursued by the international conference.

Javier Salcedo Cabello, Director og Department of Agriculture of PROES Consultors S.A, Spain:

The international conference in Uzbekistan on so important a subject matter as this one is very well-timed.

After all, the wide-scale reforms pursued in this country in order to boost socio-economic development in rural areas can serve as a model for all the nations throughout the world. Worthy of the highest appreciation is that Uzbekistan has created organizational and normative mechanisms covering the issues of modern housing construction and its funding, the choice of quarters for the erection of homes, the ways of drawing up development plans of populated clusters, of providing with construction materials. It is noteworthy that the transformation in Uzbekistan designed to secure integrated development of rural areas will indisputably facilitate the further dynamic development of the country in general. (Source: UzA)