State-owned PetroVietnam\'s upstream unit, PVEP, aims to complete drilling the first exploration well at the Kossor block in northwestern Uzbekistan in August, Platts reported quoting PetroVietnam on Thursday.

Tashkent was included to the list of the best cities of the world, which was developed by analytical company Economist Intelligence Unit and research firm BuzzData.

Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan held a meeting of the Complex on Education, Health, Social Protection, Information Systems and Telecommunications to review the outcomes of the socio-economic development in the first half of 2012.

White Machine Technology JV LLC launched a production of TV-sets ARTLCD with liquid-crystalline displays under Artel trademark in Tashkent. The project cost is US$4.5 million.

The international artistic gymnastics tournament “Olympic Hopes” was held in the Russian city of Penza, our gymnasts have won one gold and one bronze medal in it.

Factions of political parties and MPs Group of Ecologic Movement of Uzbekistan at the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan held sessions to discuss draft laws, which were included to the plenary session of the lower house of parliament.

In accordance with the Program for development and modernization of water supply and sewerage of the Republic of Uzbekistan, developed by Uzbek agency \"Uzkommunkhizmat\" under the State program to modernize the infrastructure of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a number of major projects is provided for implementation in the country.

The Government of Uzbekistan introduced 12 new projects to its progamme on localization of production of ready products, spare parts and materials, export-oriented and import-replacing products for 2012. The decision was adopted in order to stimulate production of export-oriented and import-replacing localized goods.

Uzbek grandmaster Sergey Kayumov won the silver medal in the international blitz chess tournament “GP Blitz Chess Tournament 2012” held in the United Arab Emirates.

The fifth international children’s open sports competitions in rhythmic gymnastics “Kichkintoy” took place at the sports complex “Uzbekiston”. The competition, organized by the Fund “Forum of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan”, children’s sports complex “Forum Junior Sport”, Children’s Sports Development Fund at the Ministry of Cultural and Sports Affairs as well as the Tashkent city administration, was attended by young the gymnasts of Uzbekistan and athletes from Kazakhstan.

Trustee councils will be created at the educational establishments of the Ministry of Public Education of Uzbekistan. Ministry of Public Education adopted a decree, which approved a regulation on trustee council of educational establishment of educational establishment.

The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA), a member of the World Bank Group, gave investment guarantees for US$120 million to BNP Paribas, which provided loan to Lukoil Oversea to construction of Kandym project and increasing gas production at Khauzak-Shady area, LUKOIL Uzbekistan Operating Company Ltd said.

A training workshop on ‘Aspects of renewable energy sources development in Uzbekistan’ was held in the capital by the Ecology Movement of Uzbekistan jointly with OSCE Project Coordinator in Uzbekistan. The scientific and practical seminar was attended by activists and experts of the Ecology Movement, representatives of specialized international organizations, NGOs, specialists from the enterprises and media workers.

55 km of water supply network will be reconstructed and four waterworks will be repaired in 2012-2015 in Farghona. The joint project with the Asian Development Bank on improvement of water supply systems in underway in Farghona.

A cooperation exchange with participation of business circles of Uzbekistan and Greece was held in Tashkent on 9 July 2012. UzA reported that it was organized by Tashkent regional branch of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

A roundtable titled “Providing additional preferences and benefits to small businesses and private entrepreneurship” was held in Tashkent on 9 July 2012.

Uzdunrobita (MTS Uzbekistan brand) continues to violate legislation of Uzbekistan, the State Communication Inspection (SCI) of Uzbekistan said.

In the special industrial zone \"Angren\" as part of a modern production base, motor oils with complete technological cycle of collection and recycling of waste industrial oils will be organized in two joint ventures - Uz-Ecoprotect and Uz-Prista Recycling, with the participation of Bulgarian investors.

Uzbekneftegaz NHC and General Company for Prospecting and Production of Oil and Gas of Vietnam (Petrovietnam) signed an agreement on geological exploration works on Molabaur investment block of Ustyurt area of Uzbekistan.

A delegation of the Republic of Uzbekistan took part at the international Tokyo Conference, which focused on a sustainable development strategy of Afghanistan.