Tashkent, Uzbekistan, JUNE 6  — Representatives of the Central Bank took part in the Conference of the Regional Initiative of the Countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia (ECAPI) of the Alliance for Financial Accessibility (AFI), held in an online format on 1-3 June 2020, the press service said Central Bank.

During the conference, initiatives and innovations in the practice of countries in the field of financial accessibility, protecting the rights of consumers of financial services and improving financial literacy were discussed. Particular emphasis was placed on products related to financial technology and their increasing role in these areas of activity.

Presentations and studies were carried out on the ECAPI online platform, which are carried out with the participation of representatives of all member countries, including practical recommendations and conclusions to improve the effectiveness of regulatory policies in the field of improving financial affordability.

In addition, taking into account the current situation in the world, measures taken by central banks to mitigate the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economies of countries, to maintain the financial stability of enterprises and the well-being of citizens were also discussed.

Representatives of the ECB and the Central Bank of Finland made a presentation at the conference, sharing their experience in organizing processes in the areas of ensuring cybersecurity and improving digital financial literacy.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan , JUNE 6 — The Head of the state got acquainted with the activities of Uz-Segang joint venture in Tashlak district of Ferghana region.

About 20 fruit, vegetable and viticulture clusters were created in 6 specialized districts of Fergana region. This year they plan to produce 288 thousand tons of products and export 120 thousand tons. For this, there are refrigerated warehouses with a capacity of more than 330 thousand tons, 25 logistics centers and 90 processing enterprises.

Uz-Segang is capable of processing and exporting 16 thousand tons of agricultural products per year. A modern logistics center worth 100 billion UZS has been created here, which is equipped with advanced technologies from Italy, Turkey, South Korea and China.

So, according to Italian ICEOL technology, cherries are sorted and packaged by color and size. The line is capable of detecting and isolating defective fruits with a laser.

The South Korean SNP line sorts pomegranates in the same way, showing which fruits have not ripened or started to rot. This contributes to gaining customer confidence and supplying only selected products to the market. The company’s products have Global G.A.P. international certificate.

This year, products worth US$20 million will be exported to China, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Poland, Russia and Kazakhstan. 250 young men and women work here.

The President paid special attention to the issue of a constant supply of raw materials to the enterprise. He gave instructions on cooperation with local gardens and organization of new gardens and laboratories.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan , JUNE 6  — Localization, development of competition, job creation and sources of income are the essence of the economic policy of Uzbekistan. These components are taken into account when creating enterprises.

Ecokerama, established in Fergana region, is among them.

During a visit to this company, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that Uzbekistan is rich in minerals, but a large number of materials that could be produced on their basis are imported from abroad.

For example, there are deposits of calcite in Andijan region, in Samarkand – quartz, in Tashkent region – kaolin, in Kashkadarya – feldspars, and in Fergana – dolomite. Nevertheless, about 650 thousand units of sanitary products are imported to Uzbekistan annually.

The President has a fair question: we have so many opportunities, but whom do we feed? Isn’t it better to feed our people? Every inch of land, every wealth of our country should serve to increase per capita income, the Head of the state emphasized.

Ecokerama is capable of producing 500 thousand units of sanitary products a year and replacing a significant portion of imports. Moreover, the Central Asian market of sanitary ware is estimated at US$50 million. It is planned to increase the capacity of the enterprise and export 60 percent of its products. Thanks to the use of entirely local raw materials and energy-saving technologies, Ecokerama products will be cheaper than their foreign counterparts.

The estimated cost of the enterprise is US$15 million, including US$11 million of direct investment. Currently, 500 people are working here, a test batch of products has been released.

The President emphasized the need for turning the enterprise into a cluster, allocation of quarries and providing it with at least a 30-year supply of raw materials. Instructions were given on assisting the enterprise in the sale of products, in particular, opening branded stores in the building materials markets, using Ecokerama plumbing products at government-built facilities. In turn, the company is recommended to expand the range of products, open similar enterprises in other regions and employ more youth.

Presentation of investment projects planned for the implementation in Fergana region was also held here. So, as a result of those outlined in the light industry, the volume of processing cotton fiber will increase sharply. This year, the yarn processing level will reach 56 percent, and next year – 71 percent. The US$80 million cotton fiber previously harvested by the region was sold as ordinary raw materials, but this year it is planned to export finished products worth about US$314 million. It is supposed to increase this figure to 540 million in 2021 and up to US$1 billion in the future.

ISLAMABAD, JUNE 6 (DNA) –  Eighty-seven Pakistani staff of SK Hydropower Station project participated in a grid management system to ensure the safe project production during the spread of COVID-19.

SK Hydropower Station project is one of the priority projects under CPEC, with a large occupied area in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.

According Gwadar Pro, considering the severe situation of COVID-19 pandemic, the project adopted a grid management system which separates the whole station area into several apartments so that staff can manage safe production.

Whole SK Hydropower Station occupied area is separated into 40 independent management units, 401 grid cells, and arranged a total of 407 grid managers, including 87 Pakistani staff.

Each grid manager is responsible to take prevention measure of their own grid cell. Therefore such a huge project can be supervised so that whole station remain safe amidst COVID-19 outbreak.

According to Akhbab Sharif, a leader of epidemic prevention who works as a bridge between Chinese staff and Pakistani staff, ever day since grid management system implemented, staff’s temperatures is taken and staff’s physical situations recorded and sorted into archives.

He often teaches both Pakistani and Chinese staff how to prevent epidemic and reminds them washing hands. “China has achieved great success in COVID-19 pandemic control.

“ I believe that as long as our two brothers cooperate, the dawn of success will come soon,” he said.=DNA

===========

ISLAMABAD, JUN 5 (DNA) – Advisor to the Prime Minister on Climate Change, Malik Amin Aslam, has said that the year 2020 has brought shocking surprises to the entire world and the most pertinent lesson that need to learn from the crisis posed by COVID-19 is that healthy human life is not possible without keeping our biodiversity and natural habitats intact.

He was speaking at an online dialogue ‘World Environment Day Time for Nature’ organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), here on the occasion of World Environment Day on Friday.

He said that the government has taken a number of initiatives, including the Green Stimulus Package to encourage environment-friendly development.

During the time of restricted human activities due to the pandemic, the adviser said, nature has shown remarkable ability to bounce back, therefore, we need to carry out the development activities in a sustainable manner.

“The economic situation has resulted in slowing down of institutional structures development and a lot of resources are required to get these materialized,” Mr Aslam said and added that his ministry is pursuing these goals despite challenges and using alternate mechanisms to achieve the desired results.

Mr Shafqat Kakakhel, the former ambassador and Chairperson of SDPI Board of Governors, presenting an overview of the situation regarding conservation of nature and biodiversity, said the basic purpose of the World Environment Day is to enable the international community, member states, international organizations, business sector and all other stakeholders to reflect on the theme chosen for celebration with this year’s theme being biodiversity. He said that the governments in South Asia have the weakest record of conserving the nature, which is an institutional failure. The Climate Change Bill 2017 is a comprehensive policy document and progress should be made on the actions that it suggests, he added.

Ms Aisha Khan, Executive Director, Mountain & Glacier Protection Organization (MGPO) and Civil Society Coalition for Climate Change (CSCCC), was of view that communities at the grass roots level need to be made the part of decision-making, especially on the local level policy implementations concerning their lives and livelihoods. She said that inclusion of women in the consultation and decision-making is equally important.

Mr Hammad Naqi Khan, Director General, World Wildlife Foundation (WWF), said that Covid19 has given us an opportunity to look at nature, biodiversity and all environmental issues in a holistic manner. He said that the cooperation between Centre and provinces need to be strengthened to improve the implementation on the National Conservation Policy.  “We need to bridge the gaps where the government lacks the capacity and skills,” he said, adding that there are a few things that can be implemented with just a stroke of a pen and do not need any resources such as the categorization of water bodies in terms of quality.

Mr Mahmood Cheema, the Country Representative, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), while highlighting the issues pertaining to conservation of biodiversity and natural habitats, said that we have good policies but the implementation is the area where we actually are lacking. He said many of the departments with good mandate are resourceless and thus ineffective.

He stressed the need for a collaborated effort to start working on management plans for protected areas with the help of provincial departments, local communities and all other stakeholders followed by a strategy for effective implementation.

Earlier, SDPI Research Fellow Dr Imran Khalid highlighted the importance of marking World Environment Day and said that the theme for the current year has a special significance at the time when the people across the world are going through the unprecedented challenge posed by the pandemic.