July 21, 2014
President visits construction site of Minor mosque. 2
A Grand Triumph of Grain Farmers. 2
His Excellency Mr. Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 3
Uzbekistan and Japan discuss perspectives of bilateral cooperation. 4
Investments: cotton processing.. 4
Over 543,110 people applied to Uzbek universities. 6
POLICY
President visits construction site of Minor mosque
President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov paid a visit to the construction site of new mosque Minor, which is located in Minor neighborhood in Tashkent, on 18 July 2014.
New mosque is located on the bank of Anhor channel, view of which changed drastically in recent months.
Islam Karimov familiarized with construction works and gave his recommendations on further improving the complex.
Uzbek leader also got acquainted with territory, located near the mosque, where wide-scale improvement works are underway.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
ECONOMY
A Grand Triumph of Grain Farmers
A Grand Triumph of Grain Farmers The grain farmers of Uzbekistan have harvested more than 8 million 50 thousand tons of grain and over-fulfilled the yearly contractual commitments. This remarkable hirman (yield) has come to be a worthwhile gift for the 23rd anniversary of the independence of our Motherland.
From time immemorial, the wellbeing of households has been defined by the harvest of wheat. The abundance of grain is a sign of welfare, confidence in the future days.
As a result of the cardinal reforms spearheaded under the leadership of President Islam Karimov in the agricultural sector, Uzbekistan has joined the ranks of grain exporting nations. Owing to the establishment of market relations in agriculture, perfection of agricultural technologies, extensive opportunities created for the farmer movement, the transformation in the world outlook of dehkans (farmers), the change in their attitude to labor, the grain hirman of our country has been gaining in weight and height from one year to another.
Today, the farmers feel themselves as genuine owners, true landlords. It is exactly they, first and foremost, who are interested in the outcomes of their taxing labor and endeavors and in husbanding a rich harvest. This urges them to work with even more energy and responsibility and steadily uplift the level of crop yield.
On average 55 metric quintals of grain from a hectare has been harvested this year around. In advanced farmer enterprises, this indicator has exceeded 90 centners. Given the fact that in 1991 the average crop capacity used to make 17 quintals and 940 thousand tons of grain crops was gathered in total, it becomes obvious how high the growth has been secured in independence years.
No single season has proved graceful for farmers. This year, as well, our grain cultivators have had to endure and overcome unfavorable weather and climatic conditions. Thanks to the timely adopted measures and the effective modern agricultural technologies, our experienced farmers have grown an abundant yield.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources Management, soil and climatic peculiarities of each region are taken into account when selecting sorts and species, agricultural technologies of nurturing grain crops on irrigated lands are refined, thus resulting in the ever mounting quality and consumer properties of wheat. A particular attention is paid to the creation of high-productivity and disease-proof sorts. Notably, created by our scientists, the more than ten domestic species like Chillaki, Durdona, Andijan-2, Andijan-4, Babur, Asr, Turkistan facilitate even more growth of crop productivity.
All this has been allowing for a comprehensive provision of the population with bread and bakery products in wide range. In addition, it will positively influence the evolution in breeding of livestock poultry and other industries, the increase in the production volumes of such food products as meat, milk, and eggs.
Given the diversity of developments currently taking place around the world, the significance of these figures and indicators becomes even more telling. After all, grave problems in food industry have been emerging in some countries, including in grain growing. Deficit of grain has been an issue of concern, too.
Abundance and affluence have reigned in our nation, and the accessibility of food products has been secured. This is the result of the steadfast reforms undertaken to boost the agricultural sphere, promote the farmer movement, expand the fields of food crops, create quality sorts of wheat, bolster the productivity of grain crops, and introduce cutting-edge agricultural technologies.
Today, our grain farmers interested in the positive outcomes of their labor, have continued their efforts to harvest the yield to the last spikelet and without losses, to clear the fields from straw and ensure their timely tillage.
(Source: UzA)
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
His Excellency Mr. Islam Karimov, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
I am sincerely grateful to the leadership of Uzbekistan for the opportunity offered to me to take part in the international conference “Historical Legacy of Scholars and Thinkers of the Medieval East, Its Role and Significance for the Modern Civilization”.
I congratulate You and the academic community of Uzbekistan on the success of that important event, which took place at the highest level in terms of both organization and substance. The international scientific community had for a long time and eagerly looked forward to such a conference, which came to be one of the most useful and critical initiatives. The forum helped bring the academic circles of the world closer to the goal of disclosing the unexplored pages of the tremendous scientific and historical legacy of the scientists of Central Asia.
In Your profoundly intellectual speech, You kindly cited my scholarly activities. That was a great honor for me. With a sense of deepest gratitude and thankfulness I would like to note that my half-a-century activities devoted to the study of Central Asia and Uzbekistan in particular, has received acknowledgement and deserved a high appraisal of the head of state. This makes me ineffably glad.
Your great country with its resplendent past and bright present has made and continues to make a unique contribution to the glorification of the Asian world, while the outstanding son of the Indian nation Jawaharlal Nehru, speaking of the Eastern Renaissance, always meant Central Asia. A scholar whose activity has been tied to Central Asia and Uzbekistan starting from the distant 1969, I have always been fascinated by the science as much as the culture of this region and tried to the extent possible to make my own humble input into the study and restoration of the invaluable contribution of Central Asia’s academics and other great personalities to the development of world civilization.
I take proud that I have been able to publish some works (230 articles and 15 books about Central Asia, and currently working on a concise encyclopedia on Central Asia due to be finished soon.) I am keeping with my endeavors with a new energy. I feel happy that You are an inspiration to the immense efforts being undertaken in Uzbekistan to enquire into the heritage of great ancestors. Owing to Your consideration and care, our hopes for the further study of Central Asia have received a new wind, since a nation that values its ancestors and scholars will certainly continue to prosper.
With a sense of enormous gratefulness I am honored to send You some of my books related to the history and culture of Uzbekistan, and my feelings can be expressed by the following lines from Muhammad Iqbal:
I have given you everything I have
You are the one to decide on its value.
With the best of wishes,
Professor Mansura Haidar,
Academic Consultant Indira Gandhi National Center for the Arts
New Delhi, India
(Source: UzA)
Uzbekistan and Japan discuss perspectives of bilateral cooperation
A roundtable on perspectives of bilateral cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan was held in Tashkent on 18 July 2014 within the visit of the delegation of Japan led by chairperson of the Uzbek-Japanese Committee of the Council on international exchange Kenichi Matsumoto.
The event was organized by Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan. It was attended by representatives of ministries, departments, associations and companies of Uzbekistan and Japan.
The delegation of Japanese business circles were presented by heads of leading companies, specializing in production of medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, chemical products, ICT, transport, logistics, tourism, insurance and other sectors.
Kenichi Matsumoto said that Uzbekistan and Japan have great potential for cooperation and the sides are interested in further expanding mutual beneficial partnership relations.
He said that the event was result of the Uzbek-Japanese Forum, which was held in Tokyo on 3 March 2014. The visit of the delegation of business circles into Uzbekistan is evidence for interest of the Japanese companies to establish and develop long-term trade, investment and cultural relations with Uzbekistan.
During the roundtable, the presentation of economic and investment potential of Uzbekistan, perspective project proposals in healthcare, ICT, chemical and tourism industries were held.
Japan is one of key economic partners of Uzbekistan. In 2013, trade turnover between two states was US$215 million. The financial-technical aid of Japan Government to Uzbekistan exceeds US$2 billion.
Japanese partners actively participate in implementation of large projects in Uzbekistan, including construction of booster station at Kokdumalak field and Bukhara Refinery, modernization of airports in Samarkand, Bukhara and Urgench.
Currently, the Japanese companies are participating in the projects on electrification of railroad Qarshi-Termez, expansion of Navoi thermal power station, modernization of Talimardjan thermal power station. The large projects in energy, machinery, electrotechnical and other sectors with participation of the Japanese firms are under development.
Currently, some 12 enterprises with Japanese investments operate in Uzbekistan, including one with 100% Japanese capital.. They carry out trade operations, provide transport, tourism and healthcare services, work in machinery and meal processing, as well as light industries.
About 11 Japanese firms and companies have their offices in Uzbekistan.
(Source: UzDaily.com)
Investments: cotton processing
Breaking the Old Practices
Cotton is often, and for good reason, referred to as ‘white gold’. Besides being used as raw material to produce textiles, it is used to make dozens of other products from: plastics, paper, oil, etc. Among the technologies developed recently stand out those of making automotive interior leatherette and tires, which is important for the country’s fast growing automotive industry.
The industrial use of hard cotton plant parts is even more interesting. It is processed almost as widely as cotton fiber: cottonseed oilcake is added to fodder, for it is rich in protein (over 40%); cottonseed oil tar is used as part of road surface substances; cottonseed shells are what ethyl and methyl alcohols are also made from; cotton plant leaves are used to produce malic and citric acids; cotton plant stems go as fuel and a base for some building materials. The range of goods made from cotton is quite wide, and they are all much in demand in domestic and foreign markets. Once production of as many of them as possible is set up in Uzbekistan, the country will significantly diversify its exports. In order to achieve this goal and successfully compete in the cotton and textile markets, Uzbekistan is quickly and dynamically carrying out a comprehensive program of modernization and technological upgrade of its cotton-growing and cotton-processing industry.
Today, the structure of the industry is a vertically integrated complex under the national association Uzpakhtasanoat. It combines 13 regional branches, with 98 cotton gin plants, 34 cottonseed preparation shops, wide supply network and other auxiliary facilities. The association cooperates with dozens of machinery and equipment building businesses and research organizations. It also has its own research center – Pakhtasanoat Ilmiy Markazi. Recently, most Uzbek cotton gin plants have been upgraded. Currently, they use modern energy-efficient machinery.
However, it had been quite difficult to achieve success in this area. Early in the 1990s, while cotton was Uzbekistan’s staple crop covering the largest part of its cultivation area, only ten percent of it was processed in the country. The rest – as raw material – was exported. This situation had to be changed. The number of cotton fields had to be reduced to grow more cereals, fruit and vegetables, and the domestic cotton processing and textile industries had to be developed. However, Uzbekistan did not cut its cotton cultivation area senselessly, for its cotton exports was the country’s main source of foreign exchange. Uzbek plant breeders were assigned the task of developing higher yield and fiber quality cotton cultivars – and they succeeded. Besides, they created one the world’s best cotton genetic bases.
The process of modernization in the republic’s cotton industry is still in progress. In 2012, two Uzbek cotton gin plants purchased and installed modern Chinese equipment, for instance. In 2013, another five were modernized on the money saved under a cost-cutting program, with new Chinese equipment installed in three of them. According to experts, the operation of this equipment allowed the plants to improve the quality of their products, reduce the labor costs, increase the outputs and raise the production efficiency. This year, another four cotton gin plants are to be upgraded: one in Karakalpakstan, two in Surkhodaryo Region, and one in Khorazm Region. Uzbek manufacturers of machinery are going to play a big part in this process: they have started a project of setting up their own production of hydraulic presses and cotton ginning machinery, with around $10 million invested in it. Their new joint venture is going to produce the equipment that is much in demand in the domestic market, result in new jobs offered, and boost the whole cotton machinery sector. According to the plan, the joint venture will have reached its full production capacity by 2018.
This case of the fruitful cooperation with Chinese investors is not just one. Earlier, it was proved by setting up Cotton Packing, a joint venture on the site of Yangiyul cotton gin plant – to manufacture polyester ribbons and containers. In the immediate future, the production of the joint venture is to meet the domestic demand for cotton packaging materials, and is planned to be exported to neighboring cotton-growing countries. Last year, 19 cotton gin plants in the republic already used the new cotton bale polyester ribbons and containers packaging, which allowed for cutting the costs and improving the ready-for-sale appearance. Foreign logistical and transportation companies, cotton traders and consumers commended the quality of the new packaging and confirmed its compliance with the international standards. Another important step taken to advance the country’s cotton industry was recent introduction of the international quality management system ISO 9001 to all the regional branches of the association Pakhtasanoat and a number of cotton gin plants.
The comprehensive stage-by-stage modernization program being implemented in the industry is going to significantly improve it. In the near future, Uzpakhtasanoat is planning to gradually upgrade 224 hydraulic presses for baling cotton fiber and lint, around 300 linters and saw gins, 110 cotton cleaners and other machinery. The program has already resulted in substantial achievements. Today, the capacity of the gin plants is over 3 million tons of raw cotton every year, with the output of over one million tons of cotton fiber, around 1.6 million tons of cottonseeds, 80,000 tons of lint and other cotton commodities. The 2013 crop showed the improvement in the cotton fiber quality from 91.7% to 93.3%, with 90.2% of Oliy (‘High’) and Yakhshi (‘Good’) quality grades of around 75% of Birinchi (‘First’) quality sort of the total cotton fiber produced.
The industry is also going to use information technology facilities, which will allow for gaining certain advantages in the highly-competitive international cotton markets. In the coming years, the country’s cotton gin plants and cottonseed preparation shops are going to set up an integrated information system called ‘Pakhta’ to oversee their production, accounting and human resources management operations.
(Source: “Uzbekistan Today” newspaper)
education
Over 543,110 people applied to Uzbek universities
Over 543,110 people submitted applications to the higher educational institutions, according to the State Center for testing under the Cabinet of Ministers.
On 20 July, universities in Uzbekistan wrapped up work on accepting documents from entrants. According to the center, as of 00:30 of 21 July 2014, Uzbek universities accepted documents from 543,115 entrants, which is record number for last 23 years. The competition makes up 9.36 persons per place.
Termez State University (27,550 applications and competition – 16.3 persons per place), Jizzakh State Pedagogic Institute (22,059 and 13.45) and Andijan State University (20,803 and 14.81) were the most popular educational institutions among entrants this year.
This year, the Uzbek universities will accept 56,907 people to Bachelor degree courses, including 19,120 – on state grants and 37,787 people – on payment-contract base.
The university entry exams will take place in Uzbekistan on 1 August.
(Source: UzDaily.com)