American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce
BUSINESS NEWSLETTER
  
Week in Review:

May 3, 2013 - May 10, 2013
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2013 Marks AUCC 20th Anniversary

Since 1993 the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce has been at the forefront of advancing trade and business relations between the US and the Republic of Uzbekistan. AUCC prides itself in catering to the needs of our members, providing them with a platform to interact with policy makers in the US and the Republic of Uzbekistan and ensuring that bilateral commercial relations continue to be on the governments' top agenda.   

 

For the last twenty years AUCC has been a vigorous advocate of the views of the business community to ensure that private sector positions are considered during the development of policies that impact American businesses and the future of U.S.-Uzbekistan relations.    

 

We are delighted that today AUCC is a well-known organization that is recognized for its strength and ability to work closely with a great number of partner organizations. AUCC enjoys excellent working relations with the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Washington, D.C., the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Uzbek ministries, associations and organizations as well as the executive and legislative branches of the U.S. AUCC also coordinates its efforts with a great number of international financial institutions, business councils and other professional organizations.

If your company is interested in joining AUCC, please contact our office at 202-509-3744 or [email protected].  We invite you to be part of our organization and participate in our activities and events.   

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In This Issue:
AUCC IN BRIEF
Hyatt Regency Hotel to open 2015 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
Uzbek population exceeds 30 million
EBRD calls for urgent structural reforms as growth slumps
Uzbek rural housing program to get $20 million from ADB
Uzbekistan to purchase 100 Mercedes-Benz buses for Euro14 million

Established in 1993, the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (AUCC) is a private, non-profit trade association representing interests of U.S. businesses ranging in size from small private enterprises to large, multinational corporations conducting business in Uzbekistan.

Our Mission: To advocate the views of the business community to ensure that private sector positions are considered during the development of key policies that impact American businesses and the future of U.S.-Uzbekistan relations.

Our Objective: To serve the needs of its members by strengthening commercial relations between the United States and Uzbekistan.

http://www.hotelnewsresource.com  

 

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a management agreement with State Unitary Enterprise (Poytaht Qurilish va Xizmat) for a Hyatt Regency hotel in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

Scheduled to open in January 2015, Hyatt Regency Tashkent will be a significant addition to the brand's presence in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), where Hyatt Regency-branded hotels are currently open in Yekaterinburg, Kiev, Baku, Bishkek, and Dushanbe. In addition to Hyatt Regency Tashkent, there are currently five Hyatt-branded hotels under development in the CIS, including Hyatt Regency Sochi, Hyatt Regency Vladivostok Golden Horn, Hyatt Burny Vladivostok, Hyatt Regency Moscow Petrovsky Park, and Hyatt Regency Rostov on Don.

"We are delighted by the plans for the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Uzbekistan," said Peter Norman, senior vice president, real estate and development, EAME for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. "The CIS is establishing itself as both an international business hub and an attractive tourist destination, and we believe the Hyatt Regency brand and the enviable cosmopolitan location will attract international travelers visiting Tashkent. Today's announcement demonstrates our commitment to growing our brand presence in new markets."

Designed to reflect the rich cultural tradition of Uzbekistan, Hyatt Regency Tashkent will offer 300 spacious guestrooms, including 44 suites, two restaurants, a bar and lounge, more than 1,200 square meters of meeting facilities including a ballroom, and a spa and fitness club. The hotel will be designed to become the preferred venue for the international conferences and festivals for which Tashkent has long become a popular destination. Prominently located next to the National Library on the city's main street, Navoi Street, Hyatt Regency Tashkent will be close to Tashkent's many landmarks, retail outlets and government offices. The hotel will provide an ideal base for business and leisure travelers visiting the city, as well as for those who wish to travel onwards to many of Uzbekistan's famous cultural gems including Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva.

Hyatt's hotel pipeline is larger than it has ever been, and as of December 31, 2012, it included executed management or franchise contracts for approximately 200 hotels across all brands in all of the regions in which Hyatt hotels operate. 

http://en.trend.az  

 

The Uzbek population increased by 82,300 in January-March 2013 and of April 1 it reached 30.76 million, the Uzbek State Statistics Committee said today.

According to the committee, the population of the country has increased by 0.3 per cent since early 2013. In this case, the ratio of men and women remained approximately equal with 15.059 million being male and 15.016 million female.

It was previously reported that in 2012 the Uzbek population increased by 1.5 per cent to 29.994 million.

According to the committee, 15.401 million (51.2 per cent) lived in towns, whilst 14.674 million were in rural areas (48.8 per cent) as of early April.

The fertility rate for the first three months of the year decreased by 0.3 ppm compared to the same period of 2012 amounting to 16.6 ppm. The death rate fell by 0.1 ppm, up to 4.7 ppm.

Some 54,500 marriages and 4900 divorces were registered in Uzbekistan in Jan.-March. Some 7.4 ppm marriages fall to 1000 people (7.5 in the same period of 2012) and 0.7 ppm divorces which correspond to the same period of 2011.

According to the preliminary data, the number of people arriving in the country amounted to 41,900 compared to 30,200 in the first quarter of last year, while the number of people leaving the country reached 47,400 (37,500).

The Uzbek population increased by 82,300 in January-March 2013 and of April 1 it reached 30.76 million, the Uzbek State Statistics Committee said today.

According to the committee, the population of the country has increased by 0.3 per cent since early 2013. In this case, the ratio of men and women remained approximately equal with 15.059 million being male and 15.016 million female.

It was previously reported that in 2012 the Uzbek population increased by 1.5 per cent to 29.994 million.

According to the committee, 15.401 million (51.2 per cent) lived in towns, whilst 14.674 million were in rural areas (48.8 per cent) as of early April.

The fertility rate for the first three months of the year decreased by 0.3 ppm compared to the same period of 2012 amounting to 16.6 ppm. The death rate fell by 0.1 ppm, up to 4.7 ppm.

Some 54,500 marriages and 4900 divorces were registered in Uzbekistan in Jan.-March. Some 7.4 ppm marriages fall to 1000 people (7.5 in the same period of 2012) and 0.7 ppm divorces which correspond to the same period of 2011.

According to the preliminary data, the number of people arriving in the country amounted to 41,900 compared to 30,200 in the first quarter of last year, while the number of people leaving the country reached 47,400 (37,500).

http://www.ebrd.com 

 

[Abstract: Full report is here]

 

"The EBRD has called for urgent structural reforms in emerging Europe after winding back its economic forecasts. The Bank revised down its overall outlook for growth to 2.2 per cent for 2013, well below the 3.1 per cent seen only four months ago.

It said the worsening mood reflected a slowdown particularly in Russia, even as the threat from turmoil in the eurozone appeared to be abating. Weaker activity in other large economies such as Poland and Turkey was also weighing on the outlook.

However, the report said the biggest downside risk to the outlook remained a possible further deterioration of the Eurozone crisis. The recovery might falter in the absence of more growth-friendly economic policies in advanced Europe, it added.

Chief Economist Erik Berglof said the latest slowdown was a "wakeup call across the region to reenergise structural reforms that have been on hold since the start of the crisis".

The EBRD's latest Regional Economic Prospects report expects growth this year to be below the 2.6 per cent seen in 2012. It sees a moderate upturn to 3.2 per cent in 2014.  

The report said the slowdown in Russia partially reflected a decline in global demand for its key energy resources, a reduction in public social spending growth after the 2012 elections and possible dents to investor confidence following setbacks with business environment reforms and the treatment of foreign investors. There was also an impact from supply-side bottlenecks.

...In central Asia, remittances have held up well, providing foreign exchange and household income in many early transition countries. However, lower growth in Russia could have a negative impact on remittance flows to these economies." [Continue reading here].    

http://www.timesca.com 

 

The Uzbek Government has approved the allocation of the first tranche of $20 million from the Asian Development Bank to Uzbekistan's commercial Qishloq Qurilish (Rural Construction) bank to implement the program of individual housing construction in the country's rural areas.
Except Qishloq Qurilish bank, the National Bank and Mortgage Bank will finance the construction of rural houses through the second tranche of the ADB loan in the amount of $100 million.
Besides, a reserve fund will be created which will deal with the consequences of non-compliance by contractors of contract conditions, reimbursement of incidental expenses during construction, and provision of continued funding for the construction of unfinished and poorly constructed housing.
The source of the reserve fund will be income from the banks' deposits.

The Government has also allowed State Joint Stock Company Uzprommashimpeks to enter into contracts for the importation of softwood lumber, particle board and metal roofing sheets for individual housing construction without a tender process, as well as granted the company customs exemptions for metal roofing sheet import until January 1, 2014.   

http://www.timesca.com 

 

Uzbekistan has signed an agreement with Germany for the purchase of 100 Mercedes-Benz Conecto Low Floor buses for €14 million.
The press service of the Toshshahartranshizmat association reported that the Resolution of the Government of Uzbekistan on measures to further update the fleet of buses in Tashkent was approved on May 3.
A contract was concluded with EvoBus GmbH (Germany) for the purchase in 2013 of 100 Mercedes-Benz Conecto Low Floor city buses.
The purchase of the buses and spare parts will be funded through a credit from the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan.
In accordance with the signed agreement, 30 buses will arrive in Tashkent by September 1, 20 buses by October 1, and 50 buses by November 1 this year.

Toshshahartranshizmat also signed a contract for the purchase, in 2013, of 65 ISUZU buses. It has already received 28 buses that run on Tashkent city routes. The remaining buses will arrive in Tashkent before the end of 2013.


CONTACT INFORMATION:aucc logo
The American-Uzbekistan
Chamber of Commerce
 
1300 I Street, N.W.,
Suite 720W
 
Washington, DC 20005
 
phone: 202.509.3744
 
[email protected]

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