Uzbekistan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Uzbekistan and China: Cooperation in Ecology

A meeting was held at the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change to discuss the prospects of cooperation and strategic partnership between China and Uzbekistan in the field of ecology and environmental protection. Important issues, including a number of promising projects based on the idea of constructing buildings that meet the principles of energy efficiency and environmental cleanliness were deliberated upon. In addition, the active introduction of green technologies and the development of strategies to recycle household and solid waste, including the recycling of batteries and the prevention of air pollution were proposed. Such projects are oriented towards the creation of a sustainable and environmentally friendly infrastructure, and reducing the negative impact on the climate. The meeting also focused on the establishment of global environmental standards, the widespread use of digital technologies, and studying China's experience in the field of ecology and creating mechanisms for environmental protection. At the meeting, China's best practices in the greening of barren desert areas was discussed. China is successfully implementing innovative methods, including the creation of specialized farms for planting seedlings. Measures to attract investors to implement the latest technologies in the systematic treatment of urban wastewater was also on the agenda. The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources provided valuable information on the activities the government is actively pursuing to ensure the sustainable development of various sectors, including important work on environmental protection. In addition, the parties discussed the establishment of a national taxonomy of green projects and the establishment of a Green Fund. As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to hold additional negotiations on these issues, emphasizing their intent and commitment to find the best solutions available.

Uzbekistan Life & Culture Uzbekistan Features Uzbekistan Business & Economy Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Markets Should Attract More Foreign Tourists in Uzbekistan, Says President

On January 9th, the President Mirziyoyev attended a presentation of prospective designs for new tourism facilities. Mirziyoyev had earlier spoken about the need to effectively harness the country’s great tourism potential and increase the number of tourist sites and accommodations. At the presentation, the head of state examined projects developed in accordance with these objectives. It was stated that the picturesque mountain landscapes of the Shakhrisabz district of the Kashkadarya region and the Parkent district of the Tashkent region attract numerous tourists, especially in the spring and summer seasons. In order to expand amenities to attract tourists, it is planned to build modern recreation centers in Miraki, Shakhrisabz, Nurobod, and Kumushkon in the Parkent region, and to construct hostels on the Maydanak plateau in the Kashkadarya region. Markets, or bazaars, are one of the nation’s main attractions, but today some lack the national flavor necessary to entice foreign tourists, the President had earlier stated when instructing relevant departments to develop a project of complexes which reflect the national culture. The presentation reviewed draft proposals for transforming the markets of historical cities into complexes attractive to tourists. “Markets should be turned into a ‘calling card’ of the country, preserving their unique features. Food, clothing, jewelry stores, gastronomic and entertainment establishments should harmoniously complement each other and attract buyers and tourists,” Mirziyoyev said, noting the importance of studying the experience of Turkey and Arab countries and attracting foreign specialists to design markets. The presentation also provided information about the markets which are slated for construction in such tourist centers as Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva, with Mirziyoyev emphasizing that each should reflect the colors of its given region.

Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Business & Economy Business & Economy

Uzbekistan Taking Measures to Increase Employment

At a government meeting on January 8th, President Mirziyoyev listened to proposals aimed at increasing levels of employment in the country. According to official statistics, the number of unemployed in now stands at 1.3 million, and this year another 2.4 million people will enter the domestic labor market. Taking this into account, officials said that this year they will create sustainable and well-paid jobs for five million people, including 2.5 million in the services sector, 2.1 million in agriculture, 250,000 in investment projects and industry, and 140,000 in construction. In addition, it is planned to involve two million people in business through the widespread introduction of new financial instruments, including a new microfinance system. At the meeting, the importance of vocational training for those without work experience was emphasized; 2024 has been declared the “Year of Support for Youth and Business,” with a focus on establishing more favorable conditions for doing business in the country.

Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Introduction of Separate Collection of Household Waste to Begin

Starting this year, a system for the separate collection of household waste will begin in Tashkent and several other regions. Residents will be provided with free packaging for the sorting of waste, and a system of rewards will be introduced for recycled materials. In accordance with a decree issued by President Mirziyoyev on January 4th, this will be implemented in stages from 2024 to 2026 at garbage collection sites (SMEs) near multi-story buildings in Tashkent, Angren, Andijan, Bukhara and Termez, as well as in the Tashkent district. According to the decree, by July 1st, sanitary cleaning enterprises must provide residents of these territories with free garbage bags with a QR code of three types: transparent for recyclable solid waste, black for non-recyclable solid waste, and brown for food waste. The decree also states that sanitary cleaning enterprises will purchase recyclable household waste at garbage collection sites. It is expected that this decision will lead to an increase in recycling, and a decrease in waste.

Environment Uzbekistan Environment Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Features Features

Uzbekistan: Successful Reforms in Environmental Protection and Waste Management

Uzbekistan is carrying out consistent and effective reforms in the field of waste management, improving the quality of services provided to the population and combating environmental pollution. The Decree of the President “On measures to improve the waste management system and reduce its negative impact on the environmental situation” is a significant step that will become the starting point for a new stage of development in this area, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov emphasized. “The main goal is to further improve the quality of household waste management services, bringing the level to international standards, increasing the level of waste processing, preventing accumulation in landfills, minimizing the negative impact on the environment, achieving the ‘zero waste’ principle and other tasks. This decree is very important today, when environmental problems associated with climate change are escalating," he stated. According to the decree, a number of measures will be taken to further improve waste management and prevent environmental pollution. In particular, as part of the integrated Safe City system, the detection of environmental violations using cameras will be introduced. Entrepreneurs will be given the right to photograph and video record environmental violations and be able to report this to the state environmental control inspectorate in a manner similar to the right to identify violations of traffic rules. Citizens will have the opportunity to independently install photographic and video recording equipment at the sites of spontaneous landfills at their own expense. Reports of violations will be encouraged with a reward of 20% of any fine levied. From the beginning of 2024, minimum tariffs for waste collection will be regularly reviewed, and services will be combined into a single system. It is expected that there will be a substantial increase in liability for violating the rules on the dumping of waste, with the possibility of confiscation of items and devices used to carry out such violations written into the measures. The document also establishes administrative responsibility for the use of chemical, biological and bacteriological agents during the construction or reconstruction of buildings which leads to damage to the environment. In order to improve sanitary and hygienic conditions for residents, increase the attractiveness of tourist areas and reduce the negative impact on the environment, entrepreneurs will be allowed to install sanitary and hygiene points in public places, social buildings, and specially designated areas. The distribution of permits for the installation of such points will be carried out through electronic auctions. Entrepreneurs who process or dispose of waste in an environmentally friendly way will be allocated “green subsidies.”

Uzbekistan Environment Environment Uzbekistan

New Multi-Story Buildings in Uzbekistan Now Have to Install Solar Panels

According to the law, there is now a requirement to install solar panels on at least 50% of the free part of roofs of new multi-story buildings, the Ministry of Energy of Uzbekistan has stated. The government recently announced a program to encourage the installation of low-power solar panels (up to 50 kW) in households in the regions of the nation. The program provides subsidies to citizens for electrical energy produced by their solar panels. In addition, persons who have installed renewable energy sources are also exempt from land and property tax on plots occupied by such renewable energy devices. In recent years, Uzbekistan has experienced increasing electricity shortages, especially in the cold winter months, against the background of the country’s growing population and depleting natural gas reserves. This has prompted the government to embark on a large-scale program to introduce wind and solar power plants. In 2024, Uzbekistan plans to increase the total capacity of solar power plants to 2.6 gigawatts, wind farms to 900 megawatts, and launch energy storage devices with a capacity of 400 megawatts.