At the general meeting of the founders of the National Association of NGOs of Uzbekistan (NANGOUz), held in Tashkent, the results of its work in the past year have been discussed, and priority activities in 2015 have been identified.

Association unites more than 500 NGOs, successfully operating in various areas of society - economic, cultural, humanitarian and social spheres. Its founders are the leading national and regional non-profit organizations. The general meeting of the founders took place in an open format, the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis, representatives of ministries and departments, experts and scholars, and journalists were invited.

The meeting participants reviewed the activities NANGOUz and put forward interesting and constructive suggestions.

It was highlighted that the adopted in the framework of the Concept of further deepening democratic reforms and formation of civil society in the country’s laws ‘On social partnership’, ‘On the openness of public authorities and administration,’ the decision of the President ‘On additional measures to assist the development of civil society’ of December 12, 2013 and other legal acts have become an important factor to further enhance the social, socio-economic activities of NGOs, strengthening their role in the implementation of reforms on democratic renewal and modernization of the country, consistent, gradual implementation of the principle ‘from a strong state to a strong civil society’.

Currently in the country in various spheres of social life there are over 8,200 non-profit organizations, which is 1.6 times more than in 2010. During this period, there has been a two-fold increase in the number of socially significant projects and programs of NGOs, supported by the Public Fund under the Oliy Majlis, and the number of people participating in the implementation of important state programs in education, health, environment, employment, social support for vulnerable populations, public discussion of draft laws affecting the rights and legitimate interests of the population is steadily increasing.

The role of associations in the organization of work on the ground to attract non-profit organizations to meet the challenges of social, economic and social development of the country significantly increased.

For example, in 2014 the association with the participation of more than 1,300 NGOs conducted more than 60 roundtables and seminars to discuss the draft laws ‘On public control in the Republic of Uzbekistan’, ‘On social partnership’, explaining to the public the nature and significance of the adoption laws ‘On the openness of the government and management’, ‘On Environmental Control’ and other legal acts that have great social importance.

In order to strengthen social partnership between NGOs and the government dozens of activities were held aimed at improving the skills of civil society representatives and government officials on effective cooperation in the development and implementation of programs and projects in the areas of health, environment, employment, social support to vulnerable segments of the population, the development of sport and healthy lifestyles, and others.

Much attention is paid to the involvement of NGOs in the implementation of public control over the implementation by state bodies of the requirements of the law. So, with the participation of more than 1,200 NGOs 19 public hearings on the implementation of government programs in various fields have been held.

The association assisted in the development and implementation of more than 400 projects of NGOs, as well as 12 projects implemented jointly with UNDP, UNICEF and the European Union Commission, totaling $1.5 million (currency rates of CB RU from 11.03.2015 1$= 2472.34 soums). They are aimed at solving problems of employment of women and youth, the development of private enterprise family businesses and farmers' movement, the introduction of modern innovation, resource saving technologies in agriculture and households.

It was especially noted that the number of members of the association involved with their own projects in the implementation of the State program ‘Year of the healthy child’ has increased to 340 NGOs (in 2013 it was 260).

Clear evidence of significantly increased social and political activity of representatives of NGOs were the national and regional stages of the National Forum of NGOs carried out in December 2014, in which, with the participation of more than 2 thousand NGOs topical issues of socio-economic and socio-political development of the country, proposals for strengthening social partnership with government agencies, enhancing their participation in the implementation of important state programs in various fields, including the State program ‘Year of attention and care for the older generation’ were discussed.

“NGOs took an active part in the development of this program,” said the chairman of NANGOUz, Abdumajit Karimov. “More than 2,000 representatives of NGOs made proposals for the future program, most of which were reflected in it.”

At the same time, the founders of the Association noted the need for more efficient work on improvement of regional NGOs, providing them with effective legal, methodological and logistical support, as well as strengthening their interaction with public authorities in the field.

In view of the general meeting of the founders, the program of activities NANGOUz for 2015 was reviewed and approved, which provides for the implementation of practical measures to strengthen the activities of information and resource centers in the field of association to provide legal, methodological, organizational and technical support to NGOs in strengthening social partnership with government agencies, representative bodies of local authorities, and the media in solving urgent problems of social, economic and social development of the country.

“The Association will assist NGOs in establishing public control over the activities of the government and management, including the implementation of the State program ‘Year of attention and care for the older generation,” said the chairman of NANGOUz. “It is planned to hold public hearings and discussions that will improve the transparency and efficiency of the measures taken.”

Work will also continue in the direction of attracting people to public dialogues on drafts of legal acts and programs provided by the State program, aimed at creating favorable conditions for the life of the elderly.

“This year we plan to take part in the development and organization of a broad public discussion of the draft law ‘On social services for the elderly, disabled and other categories of the population’ and the state program to further strengthen and develop the social protection system of lone elderly, pensioners and disabled people in the 2015-2020 years, provided in the State program” said Sanjar Hamidullayev, the director of NANGOUz.

“The participants highlighted the practical importance of the activities held in 2014 by the association, their richness, and their importance in strengthening the role of NGOs in the democratic process for the formation of a strong civil society in the country” stated the member of the Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis Dilorom Fayziyeva. “The founders hoped that the activities of the association this year will also help strengthen the contribution of NGOs to further update and modernize the country, and improve the welfare of the population.”

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

The 7th Uzbekistan International Industrial Forum will be held in Tashkent on 17-19 March 2015. The forum will be held at National Exhibition Center “UzExpoCenter”.

The forum bring together six international specialized exhibitions:

- 7th International Exhibition "UzMetalMashExpo - Metallurgy and Machinery"

- 7th International Exhibition "UzSpecTechExpo - Special equipment and accessories"

- 6th International Exhibition "UzMiningExpo - Technologies and equipment for mining industry"

- 5th International Exhibition "UzChemPlastExpo - Chemicals, plastics and rubber"

- 5th International Exhibition "UzSecureExpo - Security Technologies, Fire Safety"

- 3rd International Exhibition "UzAutomationExpo - Industrial automation, electricity, information technology".

The exhibitions are organized by the exhibition company IEG Uzbekistan.

The forum will be attended by over 50 enterprises from Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Great Britain, Canada, Lithuania, Germany, Kazakhstan, China, South Korea, Italy, Turkey, Iran, UAE and Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan Industrial Forum will cover key sectors of the industry. The exhibitions will allow specialists and companies to establish business contacts and exchange experience.

The exhibitions will present leading foreign enterprises on designing and constructing industrial objects, complexes in mining, metallurgy, chemical and other sectors.

The visitors will be able to familiarize with technologies, equipment and tools of local and foreign production.Source

(Source: UzDaily.com)

 

Picturesque nature, comfortable rooms, dietetic service, caring staff, improvement of health with mineral water, therapeutic muds and other natural factors ... Health resorts across the country harmoniously combine all of these recreational facilities. Of late, they have been actively involved in the implementation of nationwide social programs.

It seems too early to talk about treatment and health improvement in winter time. For most of us, the arrangement of recreation is a matter of the summer. Meanwhile, creation of optimal conditions for the recovery is a matter of a year-round concern for the administration of each of the 52 health centers throughout the country, regardless of their status. Approved by the government, regular social programs assign them with additional missions.

The Year of the Healthy Child, Year of Attention and Care for the Senior Generation, the Presidential Decree ‘On intensification of the social support of veterans of war and labor front line of 1941-1945’ have set pivotal missions in the related field. It is worth to mention the responsibility the administration of resorts is attaching to the implementation of the documents. In the process of preparation administrations of resorts improve their infrastructure, logistical capacity, advance skills of the staff to make them more comfortable for various categories of visitors.

Today there is no health resort in the country that would not seek to meet the demands of vacationers that are changing rapidly amid the rising standards of living. Exotics have been gaining a foothold in domestic health resorts in recent years: heated stone massage, procedures in artificial atmosphere of salt mountains, special medical walks with ski poles, cedar barrels, and others. Health resorts have been leading positions in the introduction of modern physiotherapy methods of rehabilitation, including laser, shock wave therapy, and many other technologies.

In the Year of the Healthy Child,

the Council of the Federation of Trade Unions has significantly increased the number of special ‘Mother and Child’ vouchers, which give parents the opportunity to rest with their children. That was highly appreciated by those who are not able to leave their children with grandparents or other relatives.

Last year, almost 3,500 children took rest together with their mothers. The administration of the Federation of Trade Unions promised to continue providing vouchers with discounts for family vacation this year as well. The experience of organization of joint recreation of parents and children in Zomin, Oqtosh, Kosonsoy, Chimyon, Chortoq, Botanika, Buston and Umid Gulshani health resorts is studied and adopted by many other resorts.

It turns out that creation of favorable conditions for joint recreation of mothers and their children is a true art. The rest should be built in a way that everyone had a proper rest, nobody interfered with each other and received their share of positive emotions.

With this in mind, the administrations built special zones similar to nursery schools. In most cases, the specialized rooms with wide range of toys and games are complemented by children's playground with various attractions. Before going to the treatment, mothers leave their kids under the care of a professional educator who looks after children, arranges their leisure time and a variety of recreational activities.

Mothers feel confident that their children are well looked after, so they take the treatment prescribed being free from parental hassle. Children are occupied as well in an interesting and unusual kindergarten. It is arranged in a way that the children are interested in spending their time with maximum benefit for their health and development. Their schedule includes dietary nutrition, physiotherapy exercises, and some health resorts provide access to the pool. Much time is spent walking outdoors. After a ‘busy day’ a family meets in a comfortable room.

The situation has turned quite different in 2015, in line with the Year of Attention and Care for the Senior Generation, and the Presidential Decree, which has enabled war and labor veterans to undergo rehabilitation in the best health resorts of the country once a year.

The program covers 37 out of all 52 health resorts across the country. They currently finalize preparations for receiving war and labor veterans. The first visitors are expected early this March. The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection issues vouchers following a medical examination with en eye to the patients’ wishes.

All 15 health resorts of the Council of the Federation of Trade Unions have been the first to complete preparations. According to experts, this experience has been recognized as the country’s best, and recommended for other resorts to follow.

The work covers almost all services and branches of health resorts. A nurse at an admission department would welcome a veteran and help him reach his room, or would accompany him during the whole course of treatment if needed. People with musculoskeletal diseases are provided with wheelchairs, and the buildings are equipped with ramps.

Veterans will live in specially designated rooms close to the dining room and the medical building for their convenience. The rooms are equipped with special warning systems for calling a nurse or a doctor. Jointly with nutritionists, skilled cooks have worked out a menu taking into account the state of patients’ health.

Medical service has been advanced as well. Health resorts are introducing a position of a gerontologist. Gerontologists undergo training at the Tashkent Institute of Advanced Medical Studies. A doctor would select an optimal treatment scheme for a patient, prevent duplication of drugs and maximally invoke drug-free methods.

People come to health resorts to relax or improve health, but most often they try to combine both objectives. The veterans will be offered an experienced psychologist to ensure the optimal effect from the treatment.

The leisure of veterans is scheduled in advance: there is a selection of movies, melodies and songs that meet the interests of vacationers’ age groups.

A few hundreds of ordinary Uzbekistanis annually go on vacation to health resorts. Their number is constantly growing. Domestic resorts are located in unique climatic zones. The majority of resort facilities offer mineral water springs. Similar waters can be found at the top resorts in Italy, Germany, Spain, Russia, Romania, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Bulgaria and other countries. Mud therapy is getting very popular: healing mud is delivered to health resorts from the Balyqchi Lake of Jizzakh region.

Today’s vacationers are exacting about comfort and living conditions. Health resorts enhance the level and quality of services. Most of them have recently overhauled and reconstructed their sleeping quarters and medical buildings in line with current requirements and demands of the population. The rooms of the best resorts resemble luxury hotel rooms with modern furniture, TV and other household utensils.

The construction of separate campgrounds and cottages has been a relatively new trend for health resorts. They gain popularity due to the promotion of corporate and family vacation.

The holidays with comfort are increasingly getting popular, as evidenced by the dynamics of the construction of new health-resort areas. Currently desolated, but previously popular resorts and recreation areas are trying to remedy the situation, inviting the leading organizers of people’s recreation to help them.

In 2014, the largest network of health resorts of the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan set up two recreation areas, which within short period joint the ranks of exemplary and popular resorts.

Ahmad al-Farghoni recreation zone is located in the Arsiv village of Kuvasay District of Fergana region at an altitude of 600 m above sea level. A picturesque view of green gardens and flower beds, pure air with plenty of sunshine attract vacationers and effectively elevate mood.

Oqtosh-Shaboda recreation zone is situated in Bostanlik District of Tashkent region, 60 km away from the capital. Its territory is surrounded by mountain slopes with broadleaf forests. The Chorvoq reservoir, Chirchiq, Oqtosh and Ayubsay rivers flowing close to the cottages hydroionize the air. The microclimate produces a favorable effect on the treatment of respiratory diseases.

This year, the family of FTU resorts has enlisted another resort. It is currently being established on the base of the former branch of the Republican Specialized Research Medical Center of Therapy and Rehabilitation. More popularly known as the Semashko Health Resort, the Center has set the course for the development of modern high-tech and advanced medicinal therapies. In the light of contemporary public healthcare the branch is likely to become more of a resort rather than a medical institution. That is the reason why these measures are implemented there. After registration procedures it is planned to reconstruct the buildings and carry out landscaping improvement of its territory. Meanwhile, the most important things will remain unchanged: the exotic location of the resort amid the sands on the shore of the artificial warm Uchkyzyl Lake, where salt used to be extracted in the past; hydrogen sulphide and iodine-bromine mineral water springs and sand baths, as well as the profile of the Center. Thus, the south of the country is apparently becoming more attractive for the people who choose local resorts.

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

 

Nowadays, many airlines across the globe have found themselves in a predicament. The crisis has taken its toll on the work of low-cost airlines, while forcing major players to slash ticket prices to lure customers aboard underloaded flights. That said, aircraft giants Boeing and Airbus posted record sales in 2014, having delivered 723 and 629 airliners respectively. Moreover, they have reported orders for 1,432 and 1,456 airplanes, respectively, for the future. The explanation for the disparity is quite simple: the crisis pushes inefficient companies out of the market, thereby presenting unique growth opportunities to other companies. Experts rate Uzbekistan Airlines among the favorites as within a relatively short period the company has managed not just to carve out a niche in a tough and competitive market, but also to outstrip rivals in many respects.

PURSUING ITS OWN PATH

In January 1992, Uzbekistan launched its own airline, which is deemed as a symbol of the country’s independence.

Those days, few people could imagine that some 23 years later the carrier burdened with huge problems in the early 1990s would turn into one of the region’s leaders in terms of freight and passenger traffic, as well as upgrade of aircraft fleet. In the early years the company embraced a mission of establishing direct flights between Uzbek cities and becoming the newly independent republic’s gateway to the world. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan Airways’ fleet was extremely controversial, albeit reliable; the Soviet-made aircraft were extremely inefficient in operation and fell short of international standards.

fateful decision on the transition to new aircraft, unlike many other airlines that emerged in the CIS at the time. That was a big step forward, because it was much easier and cheaper to lease the equipment instead of buying new aircrafts for huge money. Uzbekistan Airways CEO Valeriy Tyan explained the reason of choosing such a vector of development at the traditional year-end press conference in the capital. «A guarantee of flight safety is vital» was the mission the national carrier was entrusted with those early years. The company has successfully fulfilled it.

There are two key safety criteria in today's aviation world. The first one implies continuous work to maintain good operation of aviation equipment, preparation and training of flight crew, cabin crew training for emergency situations, improvement of airport infrastructure, and provision with flight fuel and lubricants. The second criterion envisages prevention of interference with civil aviation by those who may do harm to civil aviation facilities on the ground, or aircrafts and customers - in the air. The national carrier has been successfully implementing both missions.

The national airline has been gradually upgrading its fleet over the past 23 years. In the last three years alone, it has purchased ten new A320 and four Boeing -767- 300ER airplanes.

Six advanced and comfortable domestically produced IL-114-100 aircraft are successfully operated. In 2016, the company expects two Boeing-787-8 Dreamliner newgeneration aircraft. In 2012, as part of a demonstration tour, one of such crafts of the dream landed at the capital's airport, once again expressing the desire of the air carrier towards perfection and new horizons. This year the company is also expecting a ‘novice’ - a new Russian multi-purpose helicopter Mi-8 MTV-1.

The national airline’s own repair and maintenance base at Uzbekistan Airways Technics is an integral element of safety. Today it has the cutting-edge equipment and skilled workforce to provide all kinds of line and basic maintenance, and repair of aircrafts of both national and foreign carriers, as confirmed by international certificates.

Uzbekistan Airways is currently implementing a joint project with the Boeing Company to open a new repair center for large aircraft structures made of composite materials. The construction work will be completed in the near future, and the staff is raring to go.

The constant streamlining of the staff training system is another important aspect of the national carrier’s activities. Training is equally a priority as the continuous advanced training of pilots, flight attendants, and experts in terrestrial aviation safety. The fitness complex of the company’s Training Center has cutting-edge simulators for aircraft Boeing-757/767, A320 and a unique fullflight simulator of the domestic Il-114-100. They help flight crews to train in optimally realistic conditions. The ground-based staff is trained to special software designed by the company’s experts. The purchase of another device, full-flight simulator VS-320, is currently under negotiation.

In 2014, the company carried out 23,811 flights, transported more than 2.6 million passengers, and the freight rate exceeded 42,000 tons. The volumes of freight turnover through the Navoi Logistics Center totaled 30,900 tons last year, a 24-percent increase as compared with 2013.

WINGED FREIGHT

Being a unique phenomenon of civil aviation in the CIS space, the national airline has come up with many unprecedented initiatives, including the creation of an international intermodal logistics center in Navoi. In 2008, Uzbekistan contracted Korean Air as a strategic partner for the project. An advanced cargo terminal station for loading and unloading operations, refrigeration and freezers, a heating camera, storage zones for dangerous cargo, perishable foodstuffs and animals were built there in several years. The Center evolved so rapidly that within a short time it established air cargo traffic to Europe, India, China and Southeast Asia. Since its launch, the Center has transported more than 200,000 tons of cargo. The general air transport turnover totalled 126.3 million ton-kilometers, or 8.5-percent growth against 2013.

The success motivated the carrier for further initiatives and steps toward expansion of its market share and occupation of new niches. To this end, in 2013, Uzbekistan Airways and Korean Air prolonged the terms of the previously signed contract for five years. The shift to the engagement of its own air trucks was the next step to take. According to experts, the reconstruction of two passenger Boeings into upto-date cargo aircraft was an important step in terms of the development of a logistics center and intensification of the freight traffic. The veterans of civil aviation have been given a new lease of life. After retooling, their payload reached 53 tons. Besides, they were certified to the fourth level of noise, allowing for takeoffs and landings at airports with night-flight estrictions.

On December 25, 2014, the re-equipped Boeing 767-300VCF performed its first flight on the route Urumqi-Tashkent and carried 48 tons of cargo. In the near future, both cargo aircrafts will be making flights from the Navoi airport to Dubai, Tianjin, Frankfurt, Aktobe, and New Delhi, an average of 13 flights a week.

The expert community commended the progress of Uzbekistan Airways. Last year, the airline joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which announced its intention to apply the experience of Uzbekistan's civil aviation in flight safety in the CIS, and in enhancement of aviation safety in the region. To do that, IATA is projecting the establishment of its certified training and staff development center in the structure of the NAC Training Center, which would remarkably expand subject areas and make it possible to receive airline staff from neighboring countries.

Last year, Uzbekistan Airways joined the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The Association announced its intention to adopt the experience of Uzbekistan's civil aviation in flight safety in the CIS, as well as in enhancement of aviation safety in the region.

NUMBER ONE IN THE SKY, NUMBER ONE ON THE GROUND

An advanced airline is not just about the latest aircraft models, but primarily an advanced terrestrial infrastructure. All the company’s 11 airports have international status. These facilities are driven by their major vehicle - 14,000 of employees, who work daily to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers. The work is always in progress. Late last year, the company completed an ambitious project on the commissioning of two passenger terminals with a capacity of 300 passengers per hour in the Urgench Airport. Each terminal performs its specific function: the first one serves arriving passengers, while the second one takes care of departures. The design used both modern materials and elements of traditional national art, in particular, Khorezm ceramics for decoration of the facade and interior of the buildings. The airport offers a special room where any foreign tourist may consult on visa or other issues without stopping their travel or leisure.

New passenger terminals successfully operate at Tashkent, Bukhara, Navoi, Samarkand and Fergana airports. The major domestic air harbor of Tashkent annually receives and sends over 2.8 million passengers. In order to advance services the capital's airport, with a capacity of more than 1,300 passengers per hour, commissioned a block for departing passengers, a local flight terminal, and a transit hall that meets international requirements. In the near future, the Namangan airport is expected to launch a new runway following a complete overhaul, which will have no restrictions for aircraft.

The progress of Uzbek airports has been seen in victories at international competitions. Three airports, Bukhara, Samarkand and Urgench, were at the top of various categories of the prestigious competition of Airport Civil Aviation Association ‘The CIS Top Airport’. Bukhara airport is a sixtime winner, Samarkand - a ten-time winner, Urgench - a two-time winner among the airports serving 100,000 to 500,000 passengers a year.

The company’s nearfuture plans include the launch of an international flight reception terminal at Tashkent airport in late 2015 after its reconstruction. In March, the company’s specialists hope to finalize design- and cost-related documents and decide on the general contractor. The terminal’s capacity will make up 300 passengers per hour.

The national airline has been gradually upgrading its fleet over the past 23 years. In the last three years alone, it has purchased ten new A320 and four Boeing -767-300ER planes.

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)

The present day Karakalpakstan ranks among Uzbekistan’s fastest growing regions. Today, it is hundreds of new industrial enterprises, comfortable houses and highways that are surprisingly well for many European countries. They are the outcomes of huge efforts that have been made in the years since independence. Delivering a keynote speech at a cabinet meeting on the outcomes of 2014 and prospects for 2015, the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov mentioned the region’s progress and achievements, as well as key initiatives that have been implemented.

Development vector

The economy of Karakalpakstan showed excellent dynamics last year. For instance, the national program the ‘Year of the Healthy Child’ alone drew more than 254 billion soums (currency rates of CB RU from 29.01.2015 1$= 2436.16 soums). The authorities have done much to improve the living conditions of young families, support small businesses, private enterprises and women. A range of intensive measures helped to strengthen the logistical capacity of medical institutions, advance skills of workers, build and reconstruct children’s sports facilities. The construction of a new bridge and a ring road at the entrance to the city of Nukus has entered its final stage. Fifty apartment homes of standard design will be built along the Doslyk Channel, and another 56 houses will spring up on the central streets of the capital. A Youth Center will be commissioned near the Tashkent Hotel. The construction of a water park, musical fountains, and sports grounds is under way. Ajiniyaz Park and a Children’s Park are in designing stages.

The year 2015 promises to be as eventful. The budget of Karakalpakstan is projected to exceed 1.2 trillion soums. A total of 1.1 trillion soums, the larger part of the budget, will be allocated for the social sector and support of the population. Significant funds will be invested in the establishment of advanced technological industries, the number of which was seriously replenished last year. The establishment of spinning manufacture on the basis of the Mangit enterprise ranks among examples of effective development. After reaching full production capacity, it will be capable of producing up to 5,000 tons of goods annually. Islam Karimov highlighted this successful initiative in his speech at the cabinet meeting.

As noted by the head of state, the programs on integrated development should drastically change the looks of many cities across the country. The most advanced fiber-optic communication lines have been laid even in the most remote areas of Karakalpakstan - Kungrad and Muinak Districts.

All the efforts are aimed at improving people’s welfare and quality of life. “The goals and objectives we set for 2015 and subsequent years in order to continue and enhance the reforms and transformations, to ensure sustainable economic development, successive and continuous improvement of the quality of life of our people are fairly feasible and meet the interests of everybody, who lives in our holy and blessed land,” the President said. He also addressed these words basically to the population of Karakalpakstan, who have felt the support of the state in the years of independence through deeds. Most importantly, the initiatives are going to be implemented on a larger scale.

We remember how, within a generation, a humanitarian catastrophe pulled the plug on the growth of a land, destroying economic and industrial infrastructure, the agricultural sector and, most importantly, people’s fates. Dozens of industrial enterprises had to close down and the famous Muynak Cannery morphed into a defunct and desolate building, while thousands of people lost their jobs and livelihoods. Towns and villages resembled pictures of the post-apocalyptic movies. Abandoned by people and all but consumed by sands, they became the epitome of the irrepressible desire of the authorities to subdue nature at any cost. With this burden, Karakalpakstan entered into a new life in 1991. Today, 24 years later, this region can hardly be recognized. There are new enterprises, a developing agricultural sector, growing towns and cities, and social infrastructure. Most importantly, the mentality of the local people has changed.

At the turn of the ‘90s of the past century, hardly anyone who would believe that some two decades later the devastation and desolation would give way to bustling life. The people do not just see and feel the transformations, but are actively involved in them. A group of Uzbekistan Today reporters has visited Karakalpakstan and saw the growing manufactures, schools and medical facilities, and other evidence of ongoing change. Meanwhile, the new hope in the people’s eyes, which they lost 50 years ago, is perhaps the main factor of the successfully chosen development path.

However, it is too early to say that the region has turned into a developed industrial, cultural and tourist hub. There is still much to be done, as President Islam Karimov emphasized addressing the participants of an international conference on the Aral Sea disaster. Setting priorities is vital. Karakalpakstan has several key advantages, and a strong focus on the development of these advantages may yield fruits in the near future. Seen as a kind of a key to the region’s wealth, the transport infrastructure ranks among the key factors of development.

The Transport Effect

Any logistics expert would say for sure that no industrial production or attractive tourist brand can be created without an appropriate transport infrastructure. It’s not just about building a network of road, railway and air communication, but their effective interaction that makes all means of transportation complement each other, offering a broad range of services to businessmen or travelers, depending on their preferences and paying capacity. The issue is especially relevant for Karakalpakstan due to its vast territory, making up 37.1% of the country’s total area, and harsh natural conditions. The most populated areas are surrounded by Kyzylkum, Aralkum and Karakum deserts. Under such conditions, the accessibility becomes a vital factor in the region’s development, as well as a convenient geographical location. Since ancient times, this area was situated on the crossroads of trade routes connecting Europe, Asia and the Middle East. For many centuries they promoted the development of a unique culture, which still fascinates tourists.

Road transportation proves key in cargo hauling in Karakalpakstan. The developed road network allows industrial companies to deliver their products to other regions of Uzbekistan and neighboring countries. It is envisaged to invest more than 50 billion soums in the construction and reconstruction of sections of the major throughway A-380 Guzar-Bukhara-Nukus-Beynau this year alone. Another 15 billion soums will be allocated for the expansion of the transit capacity of the roads, that is, shifting from 10-ton axle load to 13 tons. The expert community is also discussing the capacity of international transport corridor North-South, which would connect trade spaces of the Baltic States, Russia, Central and South Asia, Iran, Pakistan and India.

Partnership in the Name of the Future

Uzbekistan has invested considerably in the development of all means of communication. Experts anticipate their expansion owing to the rapid development of public and private partnerships. Representatives of domestic business and foreign investors have been increasingly drawing their attention to the northern bastion of Uzbekistan through establishing advanced manufactures there. This is quite reasonable in the light of benefits and preferences provided by the government. For example, the businesses that operate in the food, silk, electrical, light and chemical industries, pharmaceutics and building materials industries, are exempt from paying taxes on income, wealth, social infrastructure and landscaping, single tax for micro and small enterprises, as well as mandatory contributions to the Republican Road Fund. However, the benefits are not a gift, but a motivation, since investors receive them under certain terms, including, for example, investment in the further extension of the production by means of the funds released under benefit-based terms.

The authorities realize that installation of up-to-date equipment at enterprises is insufficient for their active development, so they do their best to pay due regard to new industrial facilities when working out communication projects. There is a respective regulation which envisages state budget funding for the construction of external and off-site engineering and communication networks in regard to the investment projects worth more than $50 million with the foreign investment share not less than 50%. It is vividly exemplified by the synergies on the construction of a unique Ustyurt Gas Chemical Complex.

Natural resources of the region are another driving force for the industrial development. In addition to the diversity of raw materials for the production of a wide range of construction materials, the region, according to experts, is endowed with hydrocarbon reserves. It stands to reason that Ustyurt plateau is being explored by the world’s leading oil and gas concerns like Lukoil (Russia), CNPC (China), PVEP (Vietnam), as well as the Uzbekneftegaz National Holding Company.

Industry and communication rank among the key development areas in Karakalpakstan. Meanwhile, some experts view tourism as an equally important direction. The reason is quite simple: the annual flow of hundreds of thousands of tourists to the region would create several times more jobs than most advanced industrial facilities. They would engage women and young people, the most vulnerable segments of the population in terms of job security. On the other hand, impressed by trips to Karakalpakstan, thousands of travelers are an excellent PR tool, they are human emotions shared with other foreigners, thus promoting the domestic brand in international markets.

This means that the region is likely to get some additional investment. There is much to show - rich customs and traditions of the Karakalpak people, well-known handicrafts made of wood and leather, weaving and embroidery. To boot, Karakalpakstan is an open-air archeological reserve. Destiny has created a unique tourist product, a synthesis of ancient culture, which is represented by over 300 buildings and fortresses, as well as the ecological disaster created by a boundless human will, a ship graveyard and a famous statue of a fisherman. These awe-inspiring ‘attractions’ draw as many tourists as do their famous counterparts in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva.

... A thousand and one opportunities of Karakalpakstan are backed by fates of thousands of people living in tough conditions. Most importantly, there is a light of hope in their eyes, the hope which was instilled by the independent development of the republic.

(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)