President Islam Karimov arrived in Moscow.. 1
The Government of Uzbekistan spotlight strategic objectives for the future. 1
College Graduates Seal Deals with Employers. 2
POLItiCs
President Islam Karimov arrived in Moscow
President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov arrived in Moscow on 25 April at the invitation of President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin.
A ceremonial honor guard was arranged for the high-level guest at the Vnukovo-2 airport, decorated with national flags of the two countries. After a ceremonial meeting, the delegation of Uzbekistan left for the designated residence.
On the same day an informal meeting of Islam Karimov and Vladimir Putin took place.
Main events of the visit are planned for 26 April.
The heads of two countries will discuss the issues of further development of Uzbek-Russian relations, exchange views on specific regional and international problems.
As reported earlier, following the negotiations a number of bilateral documents, aimed at further development of cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russian in various areas are expected to be signed.
(Source: UzA)
economy
The Government of Uzbekistan spotlight strategic objectives for the future
In the first quarter of 2016, gross domestic product grew by 7.5%. The numbers were presented at a session of the Government of Uzbekistan to sum up the outcomes of socio-economic development in January-March, and assess the implementation of major directions and priorities of economic program for 2016.
The session reviewed and analyzed the key indicators of macroeconomic development, and the outcomes of medium-term programs on further reformation, structural reforms and modernization of the economy and its sectors, accelerated development and upgrade of engineering, communication and road infrastructure, ensuring of reliable protection of private property, entrepreneurship and small business, as well as improving employment and living standards of the population.
Despite the ongoing crisis in the global economy, Uzbekistan has maintained the sustainable economic growth and macroeconomic balance. In the first quarter of the current year, the industrial production increased by 7%, agriculture production – by 6.7%, retail turnover – by 12.8%. The state budget was executed with a surplus of 0.1% of GDP. Inflation has not exceeded the estimated parameters.
The measures taken to provide the advanced development of modern types of services, which are primarily based on information and communication technologies, have ensured the growth of the volume of services by 12.1%, and increased their share in GDP to 59.5%, against 59.3% in the first quarter of 2015.
The continued measures on stimulation of small business development, the further improvement of conditions for establishment and doing business have contributed to the creation of 8,400 new small businesses, which is 5.5% more YOY. Since the beginning of the current year, small businesses have obtained bank loans totaling 3.6 trillion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 26.04.2016, 1$= 2899.25 soums), with the 1.3 time increase.
Upwards of 167,000 new jobs, including 57.7% of jobs in rural areas, have been created under the Job Creation and Employment Program for 2016.
Members of the government attached importance to the detailed analysis of the progress and effectiveness of implementation of the priority tasks on further enhnancement of structural reforms, modernization and diversification of industrial production, including successive intensification of processing of domestic raw material resources, expansion of volumes and range of high added value products, and accelerated development of industrial capacity of regions. Currently, nearly 80% of the growth of industrial production is provided by manufacturing industries.
The intensive investment policy on continuous technological and technical upgrade of industrial production, rapid expansion of the industrial production, advanced development of social and production infrastructure has provided 8.5-percent growth of investments, including 14.4% of foreign investment growth. 368 new investment projects have been launched under the Investment Program for 2016. Construction and reconstruction contracts were signed under the established procedure. The production of 37 new kinds of localized products is underway.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
Society
College Graduates Seal Deals with Employers
Over half a million young and promising Uzbek specialists, poised to graduate from colleges across the country in several weeks’ time, will be trawling the jobs market.
According to the Ministry of Labor, 49,200 new jobs were created in Uzbekistan within three months, with upwards of 167,000 people securing employment. For the past period, 1,800 citizens have been taught vocations in demand in the market, while 252 people acquired skills of work in handicrafts.
In private entrepreneurship, 32,700 people were provided with jobs, 29,500 individuals joined small enterprises and micro firms, and 25,800 people, including women and people with disabilities, got home-based jobs.
Currently, the Ministry of Labor has been cooperating closely with the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, since in a few months time a whole army of specialists, including the more than 477,700 graduates of professional colleges and academic lyceums, is going to obtain graduation diplomas.
The government bodies are wasting no time to undertake efforts to facilitate employment for graduates. The system of arranging production internships and eventual employment has been perfected. Starting from this year, agreements concluded are no longer trilateral; they are inked on four-party basis. The documents are signed by the administration of a vocational college, enterprises, the graduate as well as the hokim (mayor or governor). Thus, 466,400 (97.6%) graduates are assigned to 220,500 enterprises and organizations.
There are plans afoot to engage graduates in entrepreneurship. According to data of the Center for Secondary Special and Professional Education, soft loans worth 305 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 26.04.2016, 1$= 2899.25 soums) are projected to be allocated for 33,100 graduates of colleges and create more than 40,000 new jobs.
The employment of graduates has been facilitated by Education and Career Fairs that have taken place across the country. They were attended by over 286,100 young men and women, while 6,028 enterprises and organizations presented information on vacancies.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
(currency rates of CB RU from 26.04.2016, 1$= 2899.25 soums)
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