Export promotion staff established at the Transport Ministry of Uzbekistan is studying applications from entrepreneurs on the delivery of quality products to foreign buyers by solving existing problems.

In particular, the applications and activities of such enterprises as RTL logistics, UZ-Segong, XinFergana, engaged in the export of fresh fruits from the Fergana region, were studied in detail by specialists from the Airport Development and Ground Facilities Supply Department of the Transport Ministry.

During the meeting with representatives of exporting companies, the issues of creating conditions for direct air cargo from the Fergana region were discussed. It is noted that it helps to prevent difficulties arising in the process of transporting fresh fruit from the Fergana region to Tashkent International Airport through the Kamchik pass, as well as reducing transportation costs which leads to higher prices for export products.

In order to provide comprehensive support and create favorable conditions for exporters, on June 1, UZ-Segong and XinFergana enterprises were able to send 50 tons of cherries for export directly from Fergana International Airport to Seoul International Airport in Korea.

For the successful implementation of this process, special equipment (Triple) was delivered to the Fergana International Airport from Namangan International Airport. Before the arrival of the aircraft, airport cargo department staff were trained in the use of special equipment and loading cargo onto the plane.

All organizational issues were successfully resolved, and the practice of sending 50 tons of cherries to Seoul was successfully completed. Thus, it became possible to create a wide range of services for entrepreneurs exporting goods from the valley, as well as eliminate their problems with inter-regional cargo transportation, and then send goods directly from Fergana International Airport.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan,  — On 1 June, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting on measures to improve the national statistical system.

Objectivity and transparency of statistics are the key to error-free and effective reforms. Over the past three years, a number of work has been carried out in this direction. In particular, the methodology for calculating inflation has been brought into line with international standards, and the list of statistically observed goods has been expanded. Publicly published financial and economic indicators for the state budget, external debt, gold reserves and natural resources.

The meeting discussed the formation of interlinked statistics by region and industry, its synchronization with a single international statistical system.

It was noted that it is necessary to bring the definition of unemployment in full compliance with the standards of the International Labor Organization, to improve the procedure and expand the scope of surveys.

The implementation in the field of healthcare of an international system for calculating the costs of treating diseases is determined. Without this, health insurance cannot be introduced.

The Cabinet of Ministers, the State Committee on Statistics have been tasked with developing a “road map” for harmonization with international statistical standards in education, agriculture, foreign trade, transport, construction, the environment, tourism and other areas.

It is also indicated to conduct an audit of government departments on the subject of their activity in compiling statistics.

It was noted that in the global databases, the data do not fully reflect the industry indicators of Uzbekistan.

Responsible persons were given instructions to ensure the full reproduction of indicators in our country in international data bases in the field of labor, energy, agriculture, education and other areas.

Another problem is that half of the statistical observation data is collected in paper form. Information analysis is carried out on software twenty years ago. The cost of calculating inflation can be significantly reduced by organizing an automated exchange of data between tax authorities and statistical agencies.

The task was set to strengthen the material and technical base of the system and update the software, introduce an integrated mechanism for collecting and processing statistical data on tax, labor, and financial spheres.

Today, the Central Bank, the Ministry of Finance and law enforcement agencies do not coordinate their activities in the field of statistics. At the same time, 40 percent of statistical indicators are generated precisely by these departments.

In this regard, the need to improve legislation in this area and the activities of the Statistical Council, created 17 years ago, and the formation of an independent statistical system based on international requirements, was noted.

It is known that over the years of independence, a census has never been conducted in our country. By decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated February 5, 2019, a census was determined in 2022. On March 16 this year, the Law on the Census of the Population was adopted.

The head of state stressed that the census is the main source of statistics, it is necessary to carefully prepare for it now.

Goskomstat was instructed to create a special unit and attract foreign experts, improve the activities of the Institute for Advanced Studies of the staff of the committee, and train all specialists who will participate in the census.

The meeting will separately address the issue of personnel. Over the past 5 years, 318 bachelors and 33 masters have been trained, and only 10 percent of them work in statistics departments. Only two percent of system employees have specialized higher education. In addition, over the past 30 years, only 1 doctoral and 11 master’s theses have been defended on statistics.

In this regard, the need for a radical improvement of the training system and the development of statistical science, the revision of the wage system in the sphere is noted.

At the meeting, a presentation of the National Statistics Development Strategy, developed in collaboration with World Bank experts, was held. The head of state gave instructions for its improvement.

Mask wearing, temperature controls, disinfection of aircraft: the International Civil Aviation Organisation on Monday published a series of health recommendations for the pandemic-hit airline industry as it relaunches air travel.

The protocol was drawn up by an international task force formed by the Montreal-based ICAO with the help of other UN agencies like the World Health Organisation and the powerful International Air Transport Association (IATA).

“These guidelines will facilitate convergence, mutual recognition and harmonisation of aviation COVID-19 related measures across the globe,” Philippe Bertoux, France’s representative on ICAO’s board, which led the “task force” debate, said in a statement.

The recommendations, adopted Monday evening by the ICAO’s executive committee, are intended to serve as a “framework” for assuring the safety of passengers and workers on planes and at airports.

On their arrival at airports, travelers should present a health certificate and undergo an initial temperature check. Online check-in before arriving at the airport should be given priority, and passages through security should be re-thought to limit physical contact and waiting in lines.

Mobile tickets are advised, as well as other forms of no-contact technology, such as facial or eye scans. “This will eliminate or greatly reduce the need for contact with travel documents between staff and passengers,” the protocol said.

Passengers are encouraged to travel as light as possible, with just one small piece of hand luggage. Newspapers and magazines will no longer be allowed on board, and duty-free sales will be limited.

The wearing of a mask or face covering should be obligatory inside aircraft and terminals, where physical distancing of at least three feet (one meter) should be respected.

Terminal access will be limited to passengers and their companions, such as those accompanying disabled travelers, and airport personnel.

Aboard planes, passengers should wear masks, move as little as possible within the cabin, and not line up outside toilets to lessen the risk of infecting other passengers. People will be assigned specific toilet stalls on the plane in relation to where they are seated.

Flight attendants will be provided with personal protective equipment that could include visors, gloves and medical masks.

But the ICAO does not advocate leaving every other seat open to assure physical distancing, a restriction that the airline industry sees as a threat to its profitability.

The organisation, nevertheless, asks passengers to remain as far from one another as possible. It also advocates that food on board be pre-packaged and that aircraft be regularly disinfected. Temperature checks should also be taken on a flight’s arrival.

The measures aren’t obligatory but they are the product of a broad consensus that imparts “an authority that will make them a global reference for the first time on this issue since the start of the COVID-19 crisis,” said Bertoux.

“These measures will facilitate a safe and sustainable return of the air travel,” he told AFP.

The changes being suggested are the most important for air travel since security measures put in place after the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States.

To reopen after having been grounded for months and brought to its knees financially, the airline industry is pressing for rules to be harmonised to reassure passengers and states that have closed their borders in an attempt to halt the spread of the virus.

The ICAO estimates that the pandemic will reduce the number of air passengers by 1.5 billion by the end of the year.