First quarter sees establishment of 8480 new small businesses. 1
Germany’s Knauf is planning to launch a new major project in Uzbekistan’s Bukhara Region. 1
Uzbekistan, UNICEF Sign Country Program Action Plan. 2
Uzbek-Indian political consultations. 2
economy
First quarter sees establishment of 8480 new small businesses
According to the State Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, 8480 new small businesses were established in January-March of current year. As a result, the number of operating small businesses as on 1 April reached 211350 units or 9.4% more than the same period last year.
The share of small business in total industrial production made up 37.3% (in January-March 2015 – 32,6%), retail trade – 88.8% (85,2%) service sector – 57.1% (56.5%), carriage of goods – 41.5% (39.4%), passengers – 89.5% (87.4%) and employment – 77.1% (76.7%).
In January-March, small businesses and private entrepreneurship entities utilized 3235,9 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 27.04.2016, 1$= 2899.25 soums) of investments into the economy, which is 40.2% of the total volume of investments in the Republic. In addition, they performed construction work worth 4072,6 billion soums (68.4% of total construction works), which is 17.6% less than in the corresponding period last year.
(Source: UzReport.uz)
investments
Germany’s Knauf is planning to launch a new major project in Uzbekistan’s Bukhara Region
The idea is to build a new plant producing dry mixes and increase the capacity of current plasterboard production over the next five years.
The project will be divided into three phases. The first phase, which has already started, envisages the purchase of modern equipment for expanding the existing production line of gypsum boards. The construction of a new building is currently underway. The new dry mixes plant will be built on the second phase, and the third phase envisages the launch of the gypsum calcination line.
The renovated company will double the annual production of dry mixes, and the upgraded plasterboard plant will increase its capacity by 30%.
“Our company has been supplying the construction market with domestically produced modern high-quality construction and finishing materials like gypsum plasterboard and dry construction mixtures that meet all regulatory requirements, convenient and safe to use. In the short term, we will launch new import-substituting capacities, as well as the production of floor plasterboard,” shared the Director of the Tashkent branch of Knauf Gypsum Bukhara Shukhrat Abdujamilov.
It is worth noting that the company intends to make big investments despite the ongoing crisis on the world market and the devaluation of national currencies of in the countries that import its products. Last year, the company exported products to the neighboring countries at $7 million.
“We are confident in the success of our new initiatives, because Uzbekistan has established an effective system of support for foreign investors. Moreover, big infrastructure projects are in progress: the stuff we produce is widely used in the construction of standard design housing and new production facilities. Last year, we produced 24 million square meters of plasterboard and 50,000 tons of dry mixes, and most of them have been used in the domestic market,” said the Director General of Knauf Gypsum Bukhara Dmitry Deripalko.
The company’s management believes that their initiatives will be supported by the Government of Uzbekistan in promoting the reinvestment of funds so that the project could be completed in a shorter time.
The availability of raw material resources is another important advantage of the enterprise. The company produces about 40,000 tons of gypsum per month and sells nearly 25,000 tons to other enterprises like cement plants, and even to its competitors – producers of plasterboard, dry mixes and plaster.
Import substitution of raw materials remains a relevant priority, while maintaining the famous German quality, noted Dmitry Deripalko. This process depends directly on the localization of raw materials by local suppliers. There is certain progress in this direction – one of the companies has launched the development of the production of dry mix packaging.
The story of Knauf in Uzbekistan started in 2005, when the company purchased the shares of the Bukharagips company with investment commitments for the development and modernization of production. The production of dry mixes was launched in 2009, after a big overhaul. A gypsum board plant was commissioned in 2011 in the Bukhara region. The total investment of German companies in the establishment of modern production facilities in Uzbekistan has exceeded $63 million.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
International cooperation
Uzbekistan, UNICEF Sign Country Program Action Plan
The Government of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have signed a new 2016-2020 Country Program Action Plan (CPAP) at the Receptions Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The document was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Adham Ikramov and UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan Robert Fuderich, with Health Minister Anvar Alimov and Public Education Minister Ulugbek Inoyatov in attendance.
The goal of the CPAP is to boost the wellbeing of children and women in Uzbekistan and to help achieve Sustainable Development Goals, especially those related to child health, education and protection. UNICEF has committed to invest USD 33 million in the implementation of the new Action Plan in Uzbekistan over the next five years. “Over the last two decades, UNICEF has worked in close coordination with the Government of Uzbekistan, and we have made significant progress in realizing the rights of the children and women in the country,” said Fuderich He added that “the signing of the CPAP for 2016-2020 will accelerate action towards delivering on the promises made to children.”
The Country Program Action Plan was designed through an intensive consultative process involving UNICEF and a number of ministries, other governmental and non-governmental organizations. It is aligned with key national policies and strategies concerning children’s welfare, and is in line with the UN Development Assistance Framework for 2016-2020 and the Convention on the Rights of the Child ratified by Uzbekistan in 1994.
During the next five years, UNICEF-supported programs will focus on shaping policies for children and capacity building for national partners to design and implement interventions, especially for vulnerable families. These efforts focus on health, education and child protection. Data collection and analysis for children’s rights monitoring will also be strengthened to support cross-sector linkages.
Fact: UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child. It works in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children across the world.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
Uzbek-Indian political consultations
On April 26, 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan held the 12th round of Uzbek-Indian political consultations. The delegation of the Republic of India was headed by the Secretary of Ministry of External Affairs Sujata Mehta.
Two sides discussed the current state and priorities of bilateral cooperation and exchanged views on some international and regional issues.
The parties marked positive trends in the Uzbek-Indian dialogue, which got a new phase due to the official visit of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to Uzbekistan in July 2015 and fruitful outcome of the negotiations at the highest level
The Ambassador of India Vinod Kumar attended the meeting.
(Source: Press Service of the MFA of the Republic of Uzbekistan)
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