How many of us are living in the Republic now?

As the Bankir.uz/News/Region.uz site informed, the number of permanent population of Uzbekistan made 27 mln as of October 1, 2007 (preliminary data); it has increased at 298,8 thousand (or 1,1%) from the beginning of the current year.
According to the State Statistics Committee, natality growth made 345,5 thousand, where rural population accounted 249,6 thousand or 72,3%. Migration balance for 9 months made minus 46, 6 thousand people, by the preliminary data. Number of new-born children for 9 months made 451,8 thousand and increased at 37,8 thousand or 9,1%; birth-rate went up from  20,9 to 22,4 ppm.  Birth-rate has increased in all the regions of Uzbekistan. 166,3 thousand of marriages and 13,1 divorces were registered for 9 months, i.e. 8,3 marriage and 0,7 divorce per 1000 of population,  whereas in 2006 the figures were 7,3 and 0,6 respectively. 

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Uzbekistan Export Has Increased at 41, 8%, Import  at 9, 1%

In January-September 2007, exports have increased at 41, 8% in the Uzbekistan market, compared to January-September of 2006. According to the State Statistics Committee information, the physical volume in the foodstuff market has increased at 52, 4% (its share in the total export volume makes 12, 4%).  Export of consumer commodities has increased at 57, 8% in the country (their share in the total export volume makes 7, 5%). Export of machinery, equipment and vehicles has grown at 53, 2% (the quantitative change of its share in the total volume makes 0, 8%). 
As UzReport sites informs, export of energy carriers and oil products has increased at 2,1% (its share in the total volume makes 20,6%). According to the general export structure of the nine months of 2007, export of cotton-fiber has grown at 1,9%, if compared to the related period of the last year, (its share in the total volume makes 12,4%, though it has decreased at 4, 9% in comparison with 2006); export volume of chemical products and goods has grown at 37% (reduction of its share in the total volume makes 0,3%).
 At the market of services export this index has increased at 23,7% (reduction in the total volume makes 1,6%). Volume of the other exports has grown at 40,7% (reduction of their share in the total volume makes 0,2%).
In January-September 2007, imports have grown at 9,1%. Import of machinery and equipment has increased at 7,7% and, compared to the related period of 2006, reduction of its share in the total volume makes 0,6% (from 46,7% in 2006 to 46,1% in 2007). Volume of the foodstuffs import shows insignificant increase of 2,2% where the volume of consumer commodities for the production needs has decreased at 16, 9% (the share change in the total volume makes 0,5% and 1% respectively). Real import of ferrous and non-ferrous metals has increased at 36,2%, and the share change in the total volume makes 1,7% (6,6% in 2006 and 8,3% in 2007). Importations of chemical products and goods have grown at 12,8%, and increase of its share in the total volume makes 0,5% from 13,9% to 14,4%. 

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Eximbank Credits

Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan and Eximbank of China has signed the Memorandum of Understanding which envisages reservation of the Chinese bank's credit resource amounting USD 79,3 mln.
In particular, credit flows will be used to purchase electric locomotives for the State Joint-Stock Railway Company “Uzbekiston Temir Yo'llari” (USD 57,9 mln), for the project aimed at reconstruction of the sewage disposal plants in the city of Namangan (USD 19,2 mln) and for improvement of the sanitary system of Samarkand and Bukhara (USD 2,2 mln).
At present, the government of CPR has provided Uzbekistan with the lax and interest-free credits, as well as with the gratis aid totally amounting USD 830 mln; these funds are aimed at implementation of projects in the social sphere, municipal economy, agricultural machine-building, irrigation and chemical industry. In particular, within the SCO credit program, the government of the Republic was provided with USD 50,3 mln to finance three projects in the area of land-improvement and water-supply.

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Uzbekistan-Japan: New Prospects of Cooperation

Japan and Uzbekistan are important strategic partners. Japan renders an active assistance in implementation of the wide-scale reforms in the priority sectors of the economy development in the Republic. 
Japan pays much attention to the financial and economic assistance to Uzbekistan. Thus, it invested more than USD 1, 8 bln to the economy of the Republic during the years of Independence. Under the support of Japan, Uzbekistan has implemented a number of important projects, in particular, in the area of extension of the telecommunications network, reconstruction of airports in Samarkand, Bukhara and Urgench, construction of the Shurtan gas and chemical complex, reconstruction of the Ferghana oil refinery and etc.
Japan is one of active and significant partners of Uzbekistan in the field of trade, economy and investment. In particular, Japan has granted the lax credit amounting USD 150 mln to implement the project of construction of the Tashguzar-Baysun-Kumkurgan railway road.
Uzbekistan and JBIC (Japan Bank of International Cooperation) have signed credit agreements amounting USD 90 mln to finance the construction of textile complexes in Bagata and Kokand aimed at production of exportable finished goods. In the humanitarian sphere, Japan renders support to the National Program for Manpower Training which is being consistently implemented in Uzbekistan.  

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Appointments:

By the Decrees of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan:
- Rustam Sadykovich Azimov is appointed as the First Vice-Premier of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Minister of Finance, Head of Complex of Economy and Foreign Economic Relations.  
- Rustam Kasymov, Vice-Premier of the Government of Uzbekistan and Minister of Higher and Secondary Special Education has resigned from the position of Minister.
- Azimjon Parpiev, former deputy to Rustam Kasymov, is appointed as the Minister of Higher and Secondary Special Education.         

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(Material from published articles compiled by Uzbek A. Rustamov, General Representative, Interconcepts Inc. Translation to English: Lyubov Belokon)