Uzbekistan, China sign agreements on $100 million investment projects
By Aynur Jafarova
Uzbekistan and China has signed agreements on the implementation of 21 investment projects worth over $100 million, Trend news agency reported on Thursday with reference to the Uzbek Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade.
The signing ceremony took place during the Uzbek - Chinese Investment Forum on the topic "Dzizak Special Industrial Zone - a unique investment opportunity for Chinese companies" in Tashkent.
The Uzbek-Chinese investment forum was organized by the Ministry of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade and the Uzinfoinvest agency together with the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The forum was attended by around 300 representatives from Chinese companies.
During the forum, the Uzbekenergo State Joint Stock Company signed an agreement on the implementation of the solar water heating system (collector) production project with Hangzhou Zhongwu Electronic Meters Company Limited and an agreement on the establishment of a joint venture for the production of energy-efficient LED lighting products with Hangzhou Liang Liang Electronic Lighting Co., Ltd.
The Uzbektelecom Joint Stock Company signed an agreement on the joint implementation of project on the production of video and IP-phones with ZTE Corporation. A similar agreement on the project of telecommunications equipment production was signed with Jiangsu Zhongtian Technology Co., Ltd. Furthermore, Uzbektelecom signed an agreement on the project of organization of interactive e-board and telecommunication equipment with Huawei Technologies Co Ltd and an agreement on a project of organization of production of industrial modems for electricity and gas meters and banking terminals with AsiaTelco Technologies Co.
The Uzbeklegprom State Joint Stock Company signed an agreement with Nanyang Red Cotton Angel Textile on the establishment of a textile equipment service centre and an agreement on the implementation of a project on the creation of a textile complex for the dyed yarn and garment production with Nanyang Mulanhua Textile.
The Uzfarmprom State Joint Stock Company and the Kunming Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd signed an agreement on the joint production of pharmaceutical ingredients.
All projects will be implemented in the Dzizak special industrial zone established in March 2012 in accordance with a decree signed by Uzbek President Islam Karimov.
Launching the Dzizak industrial zone, which will have a branch in Syr Darya province, envisages effective utilization of the production and resource potential of Dzizak and Syr Darya provinces, creation of new jobs and increasing the income of population.
The activity of Dzizak special industrial zone mainly aims to attract direct investments for launching high-tech and innovative production in order to produce competitive goods for domestic and foreign markets.
The decree envisages localizing the production of high-tech goods on the basis of domestic raw materials, providing for effective use of transport, engineering, communication and social infrastructure in the Dzizak special industrial zone.
The Dzizak industrial zone is to be in operation for 30 years with a possibility of further extension. During this period special tax regulations and customs benefits will be provided depending on the volume of investment.
Dzizak province is located in the center of Uzbekistan, 200 kilometers from the capital Tashkent. The total area of the province is 20,000 square kilometers. Agriculture is developed in the province. Construction materials are the main goods of the local industrial sector.
Currently, two industrial zones, Navoi free industrial and economic zone, opened in December 2008, and Angren special industrial zone, launched in April 2012, operate in Uzbekistan.