Tuesday 24 May 2011

Tri-Tech wins $1m natural gas analysis and monitoring project in Uzbekistan

Beijing Satellite Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (BSST), an affiliate of Tri-Tech Holding Inc., has won a public bid to provide analysis and monitoring equipment to the Uzbekistan Branch of China Petroleum Engineering Construction Corporation (CPECC).

The total contract amount for BSST's portion of the project is $1.02 million. Tri-Tech is a premier Chinese company that provides leading turn-key solutions for the water resources, water and wastewater treatment, industrial safety and pollution control markets.

According to the contract, BSST will provide on-site analysis systems and natural gas quality analysis and monitoring equipment to two stations of CPECC's Branch in Uzbekistan.

The equipment includes a chromatographic analyzer, a water dew point analyzer, a hydrocarbon dew point analysis analyzer, a hydrogen sulfide analyzer, a combustible gas alarm apparatus, sound and light alarms, explosion-proof axial fans, explosion-proof air conditioner and other technical equipment.

BSST will provide procurement of all equipment and components, system integration, installation, commissioning, etc. Completion of the project is slated for the end of October 2011.

"Our new project will help CPECC monitor gas conditions during the gas production process to maximize the rate of qualified products and minimize the impact of gas leak on the environment, said President of Tri-Tech Gavin Cheng.

"The project's closed system for on-site analysis is designed for safety at the industrial site. We have also promoted safety by making the project explosion-proof and preventing environment pollution and interference from other site activities. BSST will continue developing safety production process capabilities, enriching product and service lines for domestic and overseas safety and pollution control markets," Cheng said.

Tri-Tech Holding CEO Warren Zhao added: "We are pleased with BSST's first overseas production safety project after affiliating with Tri-Tech. BSST has a strong customer base in the oil, gas and petrochemical industries. We closely track our customers' business opportunities domestically and, as this project demonstrates, internationally."

"We will continue to seek safety and pollution control related business opportunities with our customers in China and abroad. We believe the CPECC project in Uzbekistan provides a strong opportunity to implement our international market development strategy," he noted.

Tri-Tech designs customized sewage treatment and odor control systems for China's municipalities and its larger cities. These systems combine software, information management systems, resource planning and local and distant networking hardware that includes sensors, control systems, programmable logic controllers, supervisory control and data acquisition systems.

The company also designs systems that track natural waterway levels for drought control, monitor groundwater quality and assist the government in managing its water resources. The company is also providing comprehensive solutions in the industrial pollution control market. Tri-Tech owns 23 software copyrights and two technological patents and employs 260 people.

India moved a step closer in quest for oil and gas from Uzbekistan

India moved a step closer in its quest for energy from Central Asia with the signing of pacts to prospect for oil and gas in Uzbekistan.

India has already bagged a share in the Caspian Sea basin portion of Kazakhstan, Central Asia's largest country, and inked a gas pipeline deal with the region's third major repository of hydrocarbons, Turkmenistan.

Following closed door and delegation level talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and visiting Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov, the two sides signed 34 pacts. Many of them involving the private sector on the economic side, especially in IT & telecom, pharma, textiles, leather and chemicals flowed from inter-governmental agreements signed earlier in the day.

The two sides discussed connectivity problems that have stymied better trade ties. With Pakistan unwilling to give transit rights to India and areas of Afghanistan next to it still restive, the two proposed spurs of the Trans-Afghan corridor and the Central Asia –Persian Gulf corridor were examined.

While economics appeared to dominate, the two leaders also exchanged notes on the security situation especially in Af- Pak. Uzbekistan, like India, has old ties with the Afghan Northern Alliance and supports New Delhi's formulation of making a distinction between the good and the bad Taliban.

Tashkent clarified that it had not held talks with the Quetta Shura (bad Taliban in India's lexis) but only with some former field commanders who had no link with this outfit of Taliban leaders.

In Afghanistan, both countries have joined hands in supplying electricity to Kabul – India erected the transmission network and Uzbekistan supplies the power. Tashkent is also constructing a railway line in Afghanistan, its first, that could eventually help it overcome its landlocked limitations.

Dr. Singh and Mr. Karimov condemned terrorism in “all its forms” but stopped short of demanding an end to sanctuaries to terrorists. Uzbekistan had emasculated the dreaded Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) through military action and supported a similar course in neighbouring Tajikistan whose quarter of population is of Uzbek origin. Post-2001, IMU found sanctuary in the Af-Pak region and caused several deadly attacks on security forces of both countries till the killing of its leader Tahir Yuldashev last year.

Significantly, India welcomed the entry into force of the Nuclear Weapon-Free Zone in Central Asia and “was prepared to extend the necessary security assurances.” So far such assurances have been offered by recognised nuclear weapon States. Analysts consider it significant that India made the offer and also that a nuclear weapon-free zone accepted it.

Explaining the quest for hydrocarbons, an official said one of the advantages of Central Asia was that despite having the third highest gas reserves in the world after the Persian Gulf countries and Russia, many parts have not been explored. One such is Uzbekistan's Karakal-Pakistan which is estimated to contain 70 billion cubic meters of gas reserves.

Uzbekistan also offered shale gas technology to India for prospecting in Assam, Rajasthan, Gujarat and some coastal areas.

The two sides touched on the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) of which Uzbekistan is a member and India an observer. Dr. Singh informed about India's readiness to join SCO for maintaining its energy security as also give a fillip to cooperation in transportation, agriculture and education. The SCO has always been very positive about India's contribution in Afghanistan.

South Korean firm to set up textile mill in Uzbekistan

South Korea’s Textile Technologies Group has announced setting up of a modern textile mill to produce yarn, fabric and garments in Yukori Chirchik district of Tashkent region in Uzbekistan.

Textile Technologies will invest US$ 50 million in 2011-12 to set up the textile mill. This amount is in addition to the cost of 683 million sums (1,711 Uzbekistani sums equals one US dollar) payable to the Uzbek Government for acquiring land.

The Uzbekistan Government has already given permission to Textile Technologies Group for setting up of a modern textile mill with a capacity to process up to 8,000 tons of cotton fibre a year.

The investment of US$ 50 million is going to be made in two parts. US$ 30 million will be invested in 2011 itself, while the remaining US$ 20 million will be invested in 2012. This includes funds needed for installation of latest technological equipments sourced from across the world.

By 2013, the new mill is expected to produce 6,000 tons of cotton yarn, 7.5 million sq. m. of finished fabric and 5 million garments a year. Textile Technologies expects to export around 80 percent of this output.

This project is being undertaken as a part of the Uzbekistan Government’s textile industry development programme for 2010-15, under which over 100 projects are to be implemented at a total cost of US$ 1.6 billion to triple the export potential of the Uzbek textile industry.

Thursday 19 May 2011

South Korea enjoys sole presence in Uzbekistan, what others waiting for

South Korea will pursue "country-specific" cooperation programs with Central Asian countries to better secure natural resources and help build industrial infrastructure for the rapidly emerging economies, the government said Tuesday.

The finance ministry said that a comprehensive cooperation package strategy will be followed for large, resource-rich countries such as Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with deal-by-deal tie-ups being sought for smaller countries like Tajikistan.

"Cooperation will be tailor-made to meet each country's needs and development levels, with every effort being made to ensure all parties benefit," the ministry said.

It said tie-ups will make full use of overseas assistance funds and local investments with South Korea moving to co-develop natural resources, and build industrial and social infrastructure for the rapidly emerging economies.

Seoul can also help countries lay the foundation for sustainable growth by building a foundation for manufacturing business, setting up information technology industries, and modernizing the agriculture and forestry sectors.

"Central Asia represents the Eurasian heartland and poses tremendous growth potential," the ministry in charge of Seoul's overall economic policy said.

South Korea will seek to expand the exchange of expert personnel, move forward on free trade pacts, and take steps to streamline legal and administrative guidelines to facilitate cooperation, the ministry said.

Uzbekistan launches 2 new South Korean joint ventures

Uzbekistan has launched two new gas-related joint ventures with South Korea, the Uzbekistan Daily news web site UzDaily.com reported on Monday.

The first venture will design and build stations for compressed natural gas, while the other venture will create automobile gas containers.

Korean firms EngineTech, Kwangshin, Korea Gas Corporation (Kogas) and Kolon are part of the venture to create 50 compressed natural gas stations. Uzbekistan plans to install 352 gas compressor stations throughout the country between 2011 and 2014, UzDaily.com reported.

The second venture is expected to produce 120,000 units of the containers on an annual basis. The company is a joint creation between Kogas, South Korea’s Kolon Industries Inc. and Korean firm NK. Uzbek firm Zavod Uzbekkhimmash, which is a subsidiary of state-owned gas firm Uzbekneftegaz, is also a partner in the venture.

The company was established in central Navoi, to take advantage of the country’s free industrial and economic zone (FIEZ) that provides tax incentives for foreign investors.

South Korea invested $21.4 million in the projects, which overall cost $42.8 million to create.

Uzbekistan can offer electricity to Pakistan

Delegation of Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) recently had a meeting with Ambassador of Uzbekistan, Oybek Arif Usmanov.

During the meeting, the ambassador said that Uzbekistan is willing to provide electricity to Pakistan via Peshawar on very reasonable rates, Uzreport.com reported.

This will help Pakistan in seeking access to surplus Central Asian electricity to overcome energy shortages, the report said. Uzbekistan also called on Pakistan to further enhance exchange of business delegation and increased cooperation in sectors like textiles, leather, cotton, pharmaceutical and agriculture.

At the same meeting, head of FPCCI delegation Raza Khan hailed the Uzbek reform process and said that the country should offer electricity on most affordable rates so that the economy can be bailed out without burdening other sectors.

He said that policy makers of both countries should pay emphasis on cargo transportation, transit, telecom, IT and public health engineering sectors.

Tethys Petroleum company talks on progress at Tashkent Conference


Tethys Petroleum Limited ("Tethys" or the "Company" (TSX:TPL)) today provided information on progress at the 15th Uzbekistan International Oil and Gas Conference ("OGU") in Tashkent and in parallel with this signed a contract with the Institute of Geology and Prospecting for Oil and Gas Deposits (the "Institute") of NHC Uzbekneftegaz ("UNG"), the State oil and gas company, to review materials on exploration areas in the Ustyurt region and the Bukhara-Khiva region.
Dr. David Robson, Chief Executive Officer of Tethys, today gave a presentation on the "Doris oil discovery (in Kazakhstan) and the potential of the Ustyurt basin". The Ustyurt basin covers large areas both in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. To date there has not been a commercial oil discovery in the Uzbek portion of the basin though the geology is similar to the area where Tethys has made a commercial oil discovery (Doris) in the Kazakh portion, some 35 km from the border of the two countries. Tethys believes that, by applying the same geological model and techniques used in the discovery of Doris to the Uzbekistan portion of the basin, there is very good potential for finding oil there too.
In conjunction with OGU, Tethys announced it has signed a contract with the Institute to study the potential of two separate prospective areas in Uzbekistan with a view to Tethys applying for suitable projects in these areas. The study will involve the assessment of existing data and the oil and gas bearing prospectivity of the areas on the basis to prepare proposals for the Government of Uzbekistan for further exploration activities. Tethys views both areas as having very good oil and gas potential.
This press release contains "forward-looking information" which may include, but is not limited to, statements with respect to our operations. Such forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. See our Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2010 for a description of risks and uncertainties relevant to our business, including our exploration and development activities.

India Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership and talks about Afghanistan

Within a week of entering into a strategic partnership with Afghanistan, PM Manmohan Singh on Wednesday exchanged notes with visiting President of Uzbekistan Islam Abduganievich Karimov on the “unstable situation” in Afghanistan.

New Delhi also entered into a “strategic partnership” with Uzbekistan, one of Afghanistan’s neighbours.

An official statement, after the talks between Singh and Karimov, said, “The leaders had a detailed discussion on the continuing unstable situation in Afghanistan and underlined the importance of early establishment of peace and stability in the country. Prime Minister shared his perspectives on Afghanistan, based on his recent visit to Kabul.”

The statement said both sides discussed the challenges emanating from the region, including drug trafficking. A senior South Block official explained that since Uzbekistan is in India’s extended neighbourhood, it has a lot of interest in the situation in Afghanistan. “Both India and Uzbekistan are interested in stability being achieved in Afghanistan,” Ajay Bisaria, joint secretary (Eurasia), said.

Monday 16 May 2011

India and Uzbekistan Sign Action plan on Tourism Cooperation

An Action plan on Tourism cooperation between India and Uzbekistan was signed in New Delhi today in the presence of the First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Mr. Rustom Azimov and Union Tourism Minister Sh. Subodh Kant Sahai. The action plan was signed by Dr. Lalit K. Panwar, CMD, Indian Tourism Development Cooperation and Mr. Rustam Mirzaev, Chairman of the Uzbektourism

Welcoming the visiting dignitary, Sh. Subodh Kant said that India and Uzbekistan have age old ties and even in the past people used to visit each other country. The Minister said there is huge potential for developing cooperation in the tourism sector. He also stressed the need for cooperation in developing tourism infrastructure in both the countries. Shri Sahai said the institutes of hotel management and food craft institute under the Ministry of Tourism can be utilized by Uzbekistan for human resource development of their tourism requirements. He said road shows and visit by the delegation of Indian tour operators to Uzbekistan will be explored. Sh. Sahai also gave the assurance that his Ministry will explore the possibility of opening a tourism office in Uzbekistan. 

Mr. Rustom Azimov First Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan said that his country looks forward for more cooperation with India in tourism sector. He said India is a very popular country amongst Uzbeks and they look towards India as a growing global power. Mr. Azimov said tourist locations such as Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara are some of the well known destinations in his country which can be of attraction and interest to Indian tourists. He also sought more flight connections between India and his country. Mr. Azimov also invited Sh. Sahai to visit Uzbekistan. 

The action plan envisages Exchange of tourists/media who would highlight the tourism potential of each other’s country, setting up of joint ventures in an effort to promote the business of tourism and travel and establishing of the Representative offices in each other’s country for easy and convenient accessibility of information and updates. It also includes construction and/or utilization of each other tourist facilities, creation of tourism infrastructure to promote tourist friendly destinations, education and re-training of personnel, production of goods, souvenirs, equipment and stock for promotion of tourism wherever the viability exists and organization of advertising and other promotional activity. 

Both the sides will also consider exchange visits of Tour operators and travel media to promote tourism between the two countries. 

An agreement on cooperation in the field of Tourism between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan was signed on 29.7.1993 in New Delhi. In 2005, Uzbek tourism signed a Protocol of Intention for Cooperation in Tourism with ITDC. Indiatourism, Frankfurt has been participating in the Tashkent Fair for promotion for India in Uzbekistan. 

2562, 2756 and 3642 tourists arrived in India from Uzbekistan during the year 2007, 2008 and 2009 respectively. 

Saturday 14 May 2011

Sustainable tree-planting helps to restored degraded land in Uzbekistan

From guardian.co.uk

By Komila Nabiyeva
...

The project is funded by the German ministry of education and research (BMBF) and is being implemented jointly by the Centre for Development Research (ZEF) at Bonn University in Germany, Unesco and the Uzbek ministry of agriculture and water resources. It has been developing sustainable land and water use methods in part by planting trees on degraded, marginal cropland inside the irrigated farming areas.

The project findings could be of use not only for Khorezm, but for similar regions in the irrigated lowlands within Central Asia and the Caucasus drylands. According to local estimates, up to 20% of land in Khorezm is now unsuitable for cropping. Project photographs of a two-hectare research site in Yangibazar district from six years ago show a field apparently covered in snow.

Read more...

Ethnic Koreans in Uzbekistan visit South Korea

A group of 121 ethnic Koreans in Uzbekistan will begin touring South Korea this week to revisit their ancestral roots and bear witness to their modern homeland after being forcibly moved to the Central Asian nation by the Soviet Union during the last century, officials said Thursday.

More than 300,000 ethnic Koreans, known as "Koryoin," reside in Central Asia as a legacy of the mass immigration of Koreans to the region during the declining years of Korea's Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), Yonhap News Agency reported.

Many families initially moved to Siberia, looking for economic opportunities, but were later forcibly moved to Central Asian states under Joseph Stalin's rule of the Soviet Union in the late 1930s.

Hoping that the weeklong trip that begins Friday will allow the visiting group a chance to renew their pride in their ethnic homeland, the foreign ministry in Seoul said its itinerary includes a series of trips to industrial and cultural sites.

Many of the immigrants were born in the 1930s or 1920s, according to a statement released by the ministry. They will meet with several senior government officials while traveling across South Korea, it added.

The trip comes as South Korea and Uzbekistan have been accelerating their economic and political cooperation over the years. Uzbekistan is one of the most resource-rich nations in its region and is looking for joint economic cooperation with nations abroad.

Korea was divided into South and North Korea a few years after its liberation from Japan's decades-long colonial rule during the first half of the 20th century.

NATO Rep visits Uzbekistan

NATO Secretary General’s Special Representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia James Appathurai paid a short visit to Uzbekistan on May 11, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported.
During the visit, Appathurai held meetings at the Legislative Chamber and Senate of Oliy Majlis in Uzbekistan, the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry.
"The delegations exchanged their opinions on the current state and prospective of developing relations between Uzbekistan and NATO, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest," the report reads.
The meetings noted that Uzbek President Islam Karimov’s visit to Brussels in January and meeting with the NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen gave new impetus to Uzbekistan’s interaction with the alliance.
The sides also expressed their interest in continued development and cooperation within the Individual Partnership Program and the process of planning and analysis of adopted decisions.
Appathurai visited the World Economy and Diplomacy University and held a lecture for the students.

Boxer Barriga gets gold in Uzbekistan, gold medal

Light flyweight Mark Anthony Barriga stunned the Sydney Jackson Memorial Tournament in Tashkent, Uzbekistan by upsetting hometown bet Shahobiddin Zoirov, 4-1, to capture the gold medal. 

The Uzbekistan fighter’s corner had earlier predicted Barriga's downfall since Zoirov had competed for Russia during an earlier world class tournament. 

But the 17-year-old Barriga, fast on his feet and even faster with his fists, silenced them all, running rings around his more seasoned foe and leaving the judges no choice but to concede to the inevitable. 

Mark utterly frustrated him and forced him to commit mistakes," said Ed Picson, the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines executive director. 

Former Asian Games gold medalist Joan Tipon, back after recovering from a shoulder injury that forced him into a sabbatical, settled for the silver medal after dropping a close 3-2 decision to Shohruh Hujabekov of Uzbekistan. 

Tipon, 29, from Bacolod City, led 2-0 after the first round, but lost steam in the next two rounds. The bell quickly rang after the Uzbek picked up his third point. 

“We’re happy with their performance," said Picson. “We know now where we need to step up and make adjustments. That’s the important thing. The medals are bonuses."

Italian textile machinery manufacturers eye Uzbekistan

Following the institutional mission in Uzbekistan, organized by the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), in October 2010 in partnership with the Italian Trade Commission, an Uzbek delegation comprising Government authorities and textile manufacturers recently visited Italy to meet with ACIMIT's top management. 

This meeting provided an opportunity to sign a memorandum of understanding and cooperation between ACIMIT and the Uzbek Textile Association. The agreement, which benefits from the approval of the Italian Trade Commission, sets up a framework for cooperation between Italy's textile technology providers and Uzbek textile manufacturers. 

"Uzbekistan has a centuries-old tradition in the processing of raw materials," explains Sandro Salmoiraghi, President of ACIMIT, "and it is the world's sixth largest producer of cotton. The country is currently undergoing a strong phase of industrialization, and in recent years its textile industry has begun a profound restructuring process for the transformation of raw materials domestically. Many current projects regard the building of industrial complexes requiring technologically advanced machinery." 

Italian textile machinery exports to Uzbekistan for 2010 amounted to an overall value of 2.4 million euros, with sales focused mostly on knitting machinery (66% of the total), other machinery (17%), spinning machinery (9%) and accessories (8%). 

The attention currently being paid by Italy's textile machinery sector to this market was apparent in the high number of Italian machinery manufacturers eager to meet with the Uzbek delegation over the two-day visit at ACIMIT's headquarters, which led to the signing of various sales agreements. 

"ACIMIT aims to support Italian businesses in emerging markets, including those with real potential such as Uzbekistan," stated Salmoiraghi. "In our encounters with our Uzbek counterparts, we have thus sought to present ourselves with structured offers, for instance with the involvement of the engineering firm Endeco, since the demand for turnkey production installations requires that bids be structured through businesses with specific expertise in this field."