BISNIS - Uzbekistan Report

JULY 95

NOTE: Corrections to Eurasia Foundation info. in Uzbekistan contact list (previous report): U.S. contact is now Shawna Wilson at the contact numbers/addresses provided. The Uzbekistan office also has additional phone/fax lines: Tel. 011-7-3712-79-44-92/ Fax 011-7-3712-79-44-91. Finally, the Sprint Mail address provided for Uzbekistan is no longer active.

IMI: GOVERNMENT OF UZBEKISTAN ESTABLISHES A NEW DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS

1. THE CABINET OF MINISTERS, THE UPPER LEVEL EXECUTIVE GOVERNMENT AGENCY OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN HAS ESTABLISHED A NEW DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL ACTIVITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN. THE NEW DEPARTMENT, TO BE CONSIDERED AS A MINISTRY LEVEL AGENCY WILL BE DIVIDED INTO THREE DIVISIONS. THE DEPARTMENT WILL BE THE OVERALL POLICY MAKER FOR FOREIGN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND FOREIGN TRADE, AS WELL AS CONTROLLER OF GOVERNMENT FOREIGN TRADE ISSUES OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN.

2. MR. ALISHER SHAIKHOV, FORMERLY FIRST DEPUTY MINISTER OF FOREIGN ECONOMIC RELATIONS HAS BEEN ASSIGNED AS CHIEF OF THE DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL ACTIVITY OF THE CABINET OF MINISTERS, ACCORDING TO MANY EXPERTS OFFICIALLY PROMOTED TO THE MINISTERIAL LEVEL BY THE GOVERNMENT OF UZBEKISTAN. AT THE SAME TIME, MR. SHAIKHOV BRIEFED AN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS GROUP ABOUT THE NEW DEPARTMENT, IN THEIR REGULAR MEETING ON JUNE 19TH, AND ASSURED THEM THAT THE MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE ESTABLISHMENT IS TO ACCELERATE ECONOMIC REFORMS REGARDING OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT AND TO ELIMINATE LEGAL CONTRADICTIONS IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A MORE FAVORABLE INVESTMENT CLIMATE.

3. THE NEWLY ESTABLISHED DEPARTMENT WITH A STAFF OF SEVENTEEN SPECIALISTS, WILL BE SPLIT INTO THREE DIVISIONS:

  1. DIVISION OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION. THIS DIVISION WILL BE WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANKING INSTITUTIONS SUCH AS THE WORLD BANK, EBRD AND IFC, AS WELL AS THE UNITED NATIONS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN UZBEKISTAN.
  2. DIVISION OF PRIORITY INVESTMENT PROJECTS. THIS DIVISION WILL IDENTIFY THE HIGHEST PRIORITY INVESTMENT PROJECTS AND FACILITATE THEIR FINANCING THROUGH BANKING INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT RESOURCES.
  3. DIVISION OF FOREIGN TRADE POLICY. THE DIVISION WILL BE THE MAIN FOREIGN-ECONOMIC- POLICY-MAKING ENTITY OF THE CABINET OF MINISTERS AND WOULD BE MAKING RECOMMENDATION IN ORDER TO ESTABLISH A MORE FAVORABLE FOREIGN INVESTMENT CLIMATE, AND COORDINATING WITH ALL MINISTRIES THE ACTUAL IMPLEMENTATION OF ALL REGULATIONS IN THIS MATTER.
4. CURRENTLY THE DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL ACTIVITY IS STILL BE ORGANIZED, AND IT IS TOO EARLY TO JUDGE ITS EFFECTIVENESS. CS TASHKENT WILL CONTINUE TO RESEARCH THE MORE USEFUL INFORMATION FOR U.S. BUSINESSES AND WILL PROVIDE UPDATES ON THIS ISSUE.