Uzbekistan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Air Transport

Boom in Uzbekistan’s International Flights

In the first half of 2024, Uzbekistan's airports processed 53,300 flights of which 16, 300 were domestic and 36,900 international; an increase of 37% compared to the same period last year, according to a report by Uzbekistan Airports' press service. From January to June, Uzbek airports served 6 million 369,384 thousand passengers on domestic flights, 1 million 263,304 thousand passengers on domestic flights, and 5 million 106,80 thousand passengers on international flights; an increase of 36% compared to the first quarter of 2023. In the first half of the year, 40.7 tons of cargo and mail were transported, 18% more than last year. Today, Uzbek airports provide passenger services on 84 routes. The 15% increase is attributed to the addition of new air carriers and the simultaneous launch of several new routes. Uzbekistan Airports currently cooperates with 45 airlines.

New Projects Launched in Uzbekistan’s Fergana Region

On July 11, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended a ceremony to launch several new projects in the country’s Fergana region. The first was the second phase of the construction of a mineral fertilizer plant by Singaporean company Indorama. The president then launched the construction of a solar power plant; a $350 million joint project with the German company Hyper Partners. Located in the Besharyk district of Fergana, the plant has a capacity of 500 megawatts of which 200 megawatts will come online this year . When fully operational in 2025, it will generate 1.6 billion kilowatt-hours of green energy per year, equivalent to the annual consumption of 675 thousand households. This increase in green energy will save 466 million cubic meters of natural gas. In addition, Mirziyoyev celebrated the start of construction on a $144 million electricity storage system by the Chinese Gezhouba Group. With a capacity of 150 megawatts and the means to automatically turn on when electricity demand increases to ensure stable operation of the power grid, the facility should be operational before the end of this year Lastly, the president launched two small hydroelectric power plants; one with a capacity of 2.2 megawatts in the village of Shakhimardan, and the other, with a capacity of 430 kilowatts, in the village of Yukori Vodil. During his speech, President Mirziyoyev noted that the volume of investments in the Fergana region is growing year on year. In 2018, only $90 million was invested in the region, while the figure for last year reached $1.3 billion. The number of enterprises financed with foreign capital currently totals 470. Around one hundred projects worth $370 million have been implemented in the Kokand free economic zone alone, creating 9 thousand new jobs. According to a presidential decree, this economic zone will expand by 210 hectares around the city of Kuvasay, house 185 new projects worth $1 billion, and create 12,000 jobs. In addition, a special Uzbek-Chinese industrial zone spanning 230 hectares will be created in Kokand.

Eurasian Creative Week Held in Uzbekistan

From 22 to 29 June, Uzbekistan hosted the first international World Coaching Championship, as part of the 8th international festival, Eurasian Creative Week. The festival events spanned three cities: Tashkent, Khiva, and Nukus, marking an expansion in scope from previous editions. The festival program commenced in grand fashion at TEAM University in Tashkent with a charity ball hosted by Silk Road Media Ltd. Over a hundred guests from various countries attended, highlighting the festival's role in fostering international connections. The charity ball began with a warm welcome from Andrew Wachtel, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TEAM University, and continued with insights from Marat Akhmedjanov, founder of Silk Road Media Ltd. The event celebrated the festival's 20th anniversary and showcased the charitable projects of the holding. Noteworthy figures such as artist, Alinur Rashidov, and composer, Tolibkhon Shahidi were part of the guest list, demonstrating strong support for promoting creative endeavors in the Eurasian region. The festival also saw the inauguration of the World Coaching Championship, a unique competition organized by Silk Road Media in collaboration with the Elena Bezrukova Center. The championships culminated in an awards ceremony where the winners were recognized for their excellence and innovation in coaching. As the festival unfolded, attendees were immersed in cultural experiences, from poetry lessons to animated video presentations on ecology. The journey through Tashkent, Khiva, and Nukus showcased the artistic talents of the region and underscored the importance of fostering international dialogue and cooperation in the creative industries. Overall, the Eurasian Creative Week served as a testament to the power of art and collaboration in bridging cultural divides and nurturing a sense of unity among diverse communities. Through initiatives like the World Coaching Championship and the immersive exhibitions at the Savitsky Museum, participants were able to exchange ideas, showcase their talents, and celebrate the vibrant heritage of Eurasia.

Uzbekistan Creates Law to Address Excessive Energy Consumption

The law “On saving energy, its rational use and increasing energy efficiency" was approved at the plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis held in Uzbekistan on July 10. The law defines the tasks and rules for ensuring energy security, saving energy, increasing efficiency, and promoting rational use of resources, such as electric and thermal energy, fuel, and non-traditional energy resources in economic and social sectors. The law also establishes the responsibility for excessive energy resource consumption in Uzbekistan. Energy-saving directions and improvements in energy efficiency apply to the fields of construction and transport, buildings and structures, heat supply and utility companies, agriculture, and water management. According to the senators, the adoption of this law will help further optimize the costs of energy resources and create a legal basis for systematic monitoring of energy consumption efficiency.

Chinese Company to Invest in Uzbekistan’s Coal Mines

The Chinese company Henan intends to invest $400 million in developing coal deposits in Uzbekistan. There are also plans by the Turkish company Bab Energy ve Petrol Urunleri A.S. to establish facilities for the production of enriched kaolin. On July 9th, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a report on the work and progress of investment projects in the field of geology. According to the provided data, almost 3 million tons of coal have been extracted in the country over the last six months. There are plans for the production of more than 5 million tons of coal in the second half of the year. Overall, coal production is expected to increase by 1.4 million tons this year compared to last year, while imports are expected to decrease significantly. The coal industry is also implementing a number of investment projects. In particular, the Chinese company Henan plans to directly invest 400 million dollars towards the development of the Nishbash deposit. As a result of this project, up to 8 million tons of coal will be mined from underground and 5 million tons of coal per year will be enriched. In addition, there are plans to produce enriched kaolin from the "Apartak-3" deposit in the Tashkent region jointly with the Turkish company Bab Energy ve Petrol Urunleri A.S. As a result of this joint venture, 40 new jobs will be created, and 70 thousand tons of enriched kaolin will be produced per year.

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan Discuss Railroad Projects and Freight Traffic

During a visit to Tashkent by a delegation from Afghanistan, representatives of the Uzbek and Afghan governments discussed reducing fees and duties for cargo carriers. A transit agreement between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan was also discussed. During the visit, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan extended the contract to reconstruct the Khairaton-Mazar-e-Sharif railroad line for another six months. They also discussed technical studies for the Trans-Afghan railroad project, and scholarships for training Afghan railroaders in Uzbekistan. The reconstruction of the Hairaton-Mazar-e-Sharif railroad started in February this year. In parallel with the work on the branch line, reconstruction works are underway in park "B" of Hairaton station. Uzbekistan's First Deputy Transport Minister, Mamanbiy Omarov, said earlier that freight traffic along the transport corridor between the countries had increased 1.5 times over the past two years. Uzbekistan has provided several privileges for road and rail transportation. Omarov said the Afghan government will soon introduce equal payments for cargoes from Uzbekistan. He emphasized that transit transportation should develop bilaterally and be mutually beneficial.