Our People > Sadokat Jalolova

Sadokat Jalolova

Journalist

Jalolova has worked as a reporter for some time in local newspapers and websites in Uzbekistan, and has enriched her knowledge in the field of journalism through courses at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Amsterdam on the Coursera platform.

Articles

New Container Transport Route Connects India and Uzbekistan

JSC “Uztemiryulkonteyner” reports on its Telegram channel that container transportation had been launched on a new multimodal route connecting India and Uzbekistan. It was reported that transportation from the Indian ports of Mundra, Nhava Sheva, and Chennai to Uzbekistan was successfully organized using a new multimodal route. The cargo was delivered by sea from India to the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas and then by rail to the Sergeli station in Uzbekistan. The containers are first transported from the Bandar Abbas port to the Sarakhs station on Iranian platforms, reloaded onto JSC “Uzbekistan Railways” platforms, and sent to Uzbekistan via Turkmenistan. According to JSC “Uztemiryulkonteyner”, a freight train consisting of 20 20-foot containers took 20 days to cover the distance. The total length of the railway is 2673 km. In the future, the transportation period is planned to be reduced to 15 days.

5 months ago

Russia Remains Tajikistan’s Largest Trade Partner

Russian news agency TASS is reporting that, according to the Statistics Agency under the President of Tajikistan, trade between Tajikistan and Russia has exceeded $1.1 billion in 2024 so far. During the first seven months of 2024, the trade volume between the two countries was 12.1% more than in the same period of 2023. Russia continues to be Tajikistan’s largest trade partner, and also accounted for 26.7% of all imports entering the country during this period. In terms of bilateral trade, China remains in second place, with turnover to and from Tajikistan of almost $1 billion. Rather surprisingly, Switzerland has now became Tajikistan's leading export partner. In the first seven months of 2024, Tajikistan sent 26.6% of its products to Switzerland. In January-July of this year, the trade volume between the two countries amounted to more than $641 million, and compared to the same period in 2023, it increased almost 110 times.

5 months ago

Economy Strategy Government State Budget poverty eradication taxes

Uzbekistan Targets Economic Growth and Poverty Eradication

According to a report newly published by the US Department of State, titled “2024 Investment Climate Statements: Uzbekistan”, the country aims to develop its economy, work towards eliminating poverty and achieve above-average income status by 2030. The government regards foreign direct investment as key to attaining its goals, and increasing interest has been expressed by American investors. Although challenges remain, Uzbekistan has the potential to become a regional economic leader thanks to its large and growing population, rich natural resources, and developed infrastructure. Bilaterally landlocked, the economy largely depends on trade with regional neighbors and thus, Uzbekistan cannot provide stable employment for its rapidly growing population of 37 million. State policy aims to ensure social stability and stabilize growth rates by directing public and private investments to areas that will create new jobs and strengthen the country’s economic sovereignty. The Government of Uzbekistan (GOU) manages investment flows through annual and mid-term investment programs, mainly concerning developments in infrastructure, industrialization, and natural resource projects. The current National Investment Program for 2023-2025 comprises nearly 800 projects worth $55.4 billion. Medium-term targets for 2030 are eradicating poverty and becoming a high-middle-income country. Foreign ownership and the control of airlines, railways, long-distance telecommunication networks, and other sectors related to national security require special GOU permission. By law, because foreign nationals cannot obtain a license or tax permit for individual entrepreneurship in Uzbekistan, they cannot be self-employed and must be employed by a legally recognized entity. The law in Uzbekistan states that local companies with at least 15% foreign ownership can qualify as having a foreign investment. The minimum fixed charter-funding requirement for a company with foreign investment is 400 million UZS (USD 1 equals 12,500 UZS as of March 2024). Minimum charter funding requirements can differ for business activities subject to licensing. For example, that for banking activities is 100 billion UZS; for microcredit organizations, 2 billion UZS; for pawnshops, 500 million UZS; for production of ethyl alcohol and alcoholic beverages,10,000; for lotteries, 200 million UZS; and for tourism operators, 400 BCRs; Base Calculation Rates (BCR) (one BCR equals 340,000 UZS or about $27, as of March 2024). Foreign investment in media enterprises is limited to 30%. The government closely monitors foreign investment in strategic sectors such as mining, energy, transport, banking, and telecommunications. There is no straightforward screening process, and some laws are designed to protect domestic industry and limit foreign competition, such as banning 529 imported goods in 2021. The ban applies when there are at least two domestic suppliers but no restrictions are imposed on US investors. Uzbekistan has laws to protect entrepreneurs and investors, including “On Competition” and “On Investments.” However, the rules can be complex and sometimes contradictory. In some cases, businesses must comply with government decisions that are unavailable to the public. Foreign investors often seek benefits through Presidential Decrees to avoid such issues, though these can be easily revoked. The regulatory system reform is still in progress. The government’s “Uzbekistan 2030” development strategy includes a range of...

5 months ago

Karakalpakstan UNICEF Climate Change Adaptation Strategy FAO Aral Sea UNDP UN Healthcare

UN Launches Projects to Improve Health and Environment in the Aral Sea Region

The UN has launched two new projects to address environmental and health issues in Karakalpakstan, Uzbekistan. These projects are “Enhancing Climate-Resilient and Safe Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, and Health Services for the Most Affected Communities in Four Districts of Karakalpakstan,” and the joint project between its development programme (UNDP) and its food and agriculture organization (FAO), "Building Knowledge and Skills of Local Partners and Communities to Address Environmental Insecurities through Innovative Air, Land, and Water Management Solutions in the Aral Sea Region.” “The launch of these projects marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to address the Aral Sea Region's profound environmental and health challenges," said Sabine Machl, the UN's Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan. "By fostering resilience through innovative solutions in water management, health services, and community empowerment, we are laying the groundwork for a sustainable future in Karakalpakstan.” The project between the UNDP and FAO aims to increase the knowledge and skills needed by local partners and communities to solve environmental security problems. It also aims to develop practical solutions for managing air, land and water, enabling communities to adapt to and mitigate climate change. In addition, within the project's framework, special attention will be paid to introducing new approaches to water treatment, forest restoration, and soil stabilization in the region. These activities have the potential to directly benefit over 376,000 residents of the three northern districts of Moynaq, Kungrad, and Takhtakupir in Karakalpakstan, particularly women in at-risk communities. The indirect impact will extend to 200,000 more people and build on the results of the previous projects. On 16 August, the UN programme “Laying the Foundations for People-Centered, Climate-Resilient Primary Health Care and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Practices at Healthcare Facilities and Schools” was officially completed. During his visit to Karakalpakstan on August 19, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the establishment of the Aral Sea Region International Innovation Center to improve the ecosystem and create new varieties and seeds in a saline, water-less environment. $80 million will be allocated to mitigate the consequences of climate change in the Aral Sea region. The Times of Central Asia has published several articles about the problems arising from the drying up the Aral Sea and the work being done to combat this.

5 months ago

negotiations Kyrgyz-Tajik Border Border disputes International Cooperation Government

Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan Border Demarcation Completed

Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have completed negotiations to demarcate their common border, which had been disputed for many years. The final meeting of the two countries' topographic-legal working groups was completed in the town of Batken in Kyrgyzstan on August 11-17. This has been reported by the State Committee for National Security of Tajikistan. "During this meeting, the parties continued the discussion and exchanged proposals on the description of the passage of the Tajik-Kyrgyz state border line in the remaining sections," the Committee commented. At the end of June, The Times of Central Asia reported that 94% of the borderline between Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan had been fully delineated. The conflict was caused by uncertainties regarding the exact demarcation of the border between the two republics, which spans some 980 kilometers. With its scant natural resources and dwindling water supplies, the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has been the scene of numerous armed conflicts. This situation arose after the collapse of the USSR – the parties could not agree on the ownership of dozens of disputed territories. The borderless areas have become a zone of conflict between the local population and the border troops of the other country. The last major conflict took place on September 16, 2022, as a result of which hundreds of people were killed and injured on both sides. Huge material damage was caused to the infrastructure of the border areas of the regions of Sogd (Tajikistan) and Batken (Kyrgyzstan).

5 months ago