During the reporting period Uzbekistan has continued to make efforts on branch development. Noticeable events have been observed in metallurgy, petrochemical, oil & gas, automobile industry.
On June 28 UzDaily.com reported that Uzbekistan increased production of steel by 1.1% year-on-year to 322,400 tonnes in January-March 2010.
In the reporting period, Uzbekistan produced 305,800 tonnes of rolled ferrous metal, which is up 1.2% year-on-year. The production of special iron grew by 0.8% to 231,800 tonnes. Uzbekistan increased production of steel by 1.1% year-on-year to 322,400 tonnes in January-March 2010.
Uzbek Metallurgy Combine joint stock production union (Uzmetcombinat) is main steel producer of Uzbekistan. The enterprise accounts 95% of all steel and 100% of non-ferrous steel production in Uzbekistan.
On June 28 it became known that Ferghanaazot open joint stock company will realize project on modernization of chemical fiber production with the cost of $ 5 million by 2012.
The project implementation will help to increase acetate filament output from 500 tonnes in 2009 to 2,000 tonnes in 2012.
The project will be implemented at the “Ferghana Chemical Fiber Plant” Unitary Enterprise, which has been transferred to the balance of Ferghanaazot, which is located in east of Uzbekistan.
The project will be financed due to loans of the local banks and funds within investment commitments from the sale of 51% stake at Ferghanaazot.
According to UzDaily.com on June 28 Uzbekneftegaz national holding company and Tianjin Ring-Top Petroleum Manufacture Co. ltd (China) established a joint venture on production of oil and gas field equipment.
The sides established constituent documents on creation of UzRT Petroleum Manufacture JV on parity shares in June 2009. The enterprise will organize production of oil and gas field equipment with the cost of $ 10 million in Bukhara region of Uzbekistan.
The enterprise will produce 50,000 tonnes drilling pipes, 200 pumping units and 1,000 cone-rock bits a year.
It is expected that the joint venture will start assembly of equipment in autumn and goods production in the end of 2010.
On June 28-29 US Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees and Migration Eric Schwartz visited Uzbekistan.
During his visit, E.Schwartz met with representatives of governments, international humanitarian organizations and civil society, and discussed the situation with refugees and displaced persons in the Ferghana Valley.
He also said that the Government of Uzbekistan acted quickly and constructively in response to the humanitarian crisis, providing food, water, shelter and medical assistance to some 100,000 refugees. Following negotiations E. Schwartz said that the U.S. provides more than $ 30 million in assistance to resolve the consequences of the emergency, and the U.S. will continue to make every effort to ensure all the necessary people in need.
On July 1 in Tashkent an Uzbek-French intergovernmental commission on trade-economic cooperation held its session in Tashkent.
Representatives of ministries and departments, firms and companies from Uzbekistan and France, representing various sectors of economy, participated at the session.
During the session, the French side received detailed information on priority directions on attracting investments into Uzbekistan, potential of such sectors as fuel-energy, chemistry, automobile, tourism, pharmaceuticals, food industry and construction materials. They also familiarized with opportunities at the Navoi free industrial and economic zone.
At the same day, business circles of Uzbekistan and France participated at the Business Forum. The French side was briefed about privatization processes, economic reforms, development of private and small businesses in Uzbekistan, UzA reported.
The sides discussed issues of expanding bilateral trade, creating joint ventures, potential of two states, strengthening relations in finance sector, and others.
On July 6 Minister for Foreign Affairs of Latvia Aivis Ronis arrived with a three-day working visit to Uzbekistan.
During the visit, A.Ronis met with the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan, Vladimir Norov, and the Minister of Defence, Kabul Berdiev.
The Latvian and Uzbek officials discussed the bilateral political dialogue, economic co-operation, an expanded dialogue between the European Union and Central Asia, and the stability issues in the region, including disbalance in Kirgizstan and security situation in Afghanistan.
The foreign ministers of Latvia and Uzbekistan rated positively the political dialogue of both countries at all levels. The Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan noted the interest in his country about the knowledge and technology base in Latvia, education exchange programmes, and the co-operation potential of the tourism sector. The Foreign Minister of Latvia in his discussions with the Uzbek officials stressed that both Latvia and Uzbekistan are key links to ensure the transit of non-military cargo for the needs of International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.
The Foreign Minister of Latvia and the Minister of Defence of Uzbekistan in their discussion made a conclusion that the involvement of Russia to ensure transit to Afghanistan is important both for NATO and Uzbekistan, and the region as a whole.
On July 7 the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations Investment and Trade of Uzbekistan together with the US Department of State, Department of Commerce, and the Office of The Trade Representative hosted an American-Uzbek Business Forum at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington.
A high-level Uzbek delegation from Tashkent, including senior management from key state organizations, made presentations to American industry and government delegates.
The participants had the opportunity to discuss business opportunities in diverse sectors including oil and gas, energy, the chemical industry, the automotive industry, the pharmaceutical industry, and construction materials. Participants also discussed the issues of investment of American companies in FIEZ "Navoi".
On July 10 UzDaily.com reported that GM Uzbekistan entered to Top 10 bestselling cars in Russia in the first half of 2010, Automobile Manufacturers Committee of the Association of European Businesses said in its press-release.
According to the committee’s data, GM Uzbekistan sold 32,316 automobiles in the first half of 2009, which is up 17% year-on-year (27,642 cars in 1H 2008). The Uzbek carmaker occupied the seventh place on the volume of sold cars in the Russian market.
Gm Uzbekistan sold 7,395 cars in June 2010 in the Russian market compared to 4,178 cars in June 2009 (growth 77%), the committee underlined.
Nexia model, produced at the Uzbek plant, took the eighth place in the list of bestselling automobiles in the Russia and the third among imported cars. The company traded 18,580 cars of this model in Russia in January-June 2010 against 14,712 cars in the same period of 2009 (growth 26%).
Sales of Nexia model doubled in June compared to the same period of 2009 and reached 4,394 cars (2,179 cars in June 2009), the committee said.
The eleventh place in the ranking was occupied by Matiz model. Sales of this model in Russia grew by 6% year-on-year in the first half of 2010 and made up 13,736 cars. In June, sales of Matiz grew by 50% to 3,001 units.
Sources: www.mfa.uz, www.uzreport.com, www.uzdaily.com
Prepared by Jasur Eshniyazov, expert of CPS
