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Dear Users of the Central Asian Gateway Portal,

Our team is pleased to present E-Newsletter for January. This month e-newsletter was developed in updated format in order to make this product more useful and suitable for you. Starting from the next month the E-newsletter will be developed and distributed on a bimonthly basis. We are striving to inform you on all significant events on the issues of Central Asian regional development and integration, provide access to announcements on new opportunities for personal and institutional growth, as well as to acquaint you with the most interesting publications added to the portal.

In this issue:

EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

- REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP

1. Uzbek, German scientists to cooperate in use of solar energy
2. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have not yet delimitated borders
3. United States provides US$3 million to assist Tajik Border Guards
4. Russia will open trade representations in the Central Asian and other NIS countries
5. Kazakhstan's OSCE presidency to be known in December 2006
6. Uzbekistan has joined Eurasian Economic Community
7. Accession of Uzbekistan to the EurAsEC to advance integration processes

1. Tajik capital to host International conference on investments and privatizations this autumn
2. Turkmenistan produced 9, 522 mln tons of oil last year
3. 36.2 million euro were allocated by European Commission to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 2005
4. Construction of underground is planned in the Kyrgyz capital
5. Russian "Siloviye Mashiny" company supplier of main equipment for Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant in Tajikistan
6. Ukraine, Tajikistan to coordinate directions of cooperation in enhancement of Tajikistan's energy sector
7. New trade center with European style shops and bazaar to be constructed in Ashgabat

1. China supports SME development in Uzbekistan
2. EBRD promotes small and medium enterprises in Kazakhstan

1. European Commission allocates 66 million euros to the Central Asian countries

1. Scientific conference participants discuss ecological education

1. 692 unemployed placed in jobs in Konibodom last year

1. UN to hold consultation on creation of new Internet governing body

1. Training Course for MFIs' Loan Officers. Clients' Business and Loan Analysis. Almaty, Kazakhstan
2. International Exhibition "2006 Mini Agricultural Machines"
3. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award for libraries
4. Conference on Higher Education Management: International Trends & Local Sustainability
5. Call for Papers. WIDER Conference on Aid: Principles, Policies and Performance, Helsinki, Finland, 16-17 June 2006
6. Turkmenistan to host two international scientific conferences in May and November 2006
7. Distance learning course on "Development of project and writing project proposals"
8. UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre and Central European University organize summer course on Human Development and the Millenium Development Goals.

1. Global Governance Initiative 2006
2. Tajikistan's Dynamic Telecommunications Market
3. Linking Macroeconomic Policy to Poverty Reduction
4. Freedom of Association in Central Asia
5. Actual problems of the world politics
6. Tajikistan Business Consulting and Services Overview
7. Uzbekistan's Accession to the WTO: Challenges and Opportunities for the Food Processing Industry
8. Regional Economic Outlook. Middle East and Central Asia
9. Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) by Country
10. The Millennium Development Goals Report 2005
11. Cashmere Marketing: A New Income Source for Central Asian Livestock Farmers
12. Harnessing trade for development. Benefiting from market access opportunities
13. Reducing Poverty on a Global Scale
14. Business Environment in Uzbekistan as Seen by Small and Medium Enterprises, 2004
15. Spatial inequality and development in Central Asia
16. The concept of gender policy and the Millennium Development Goals in Kazakhstan
17. Main stages of economic reforms in Uzbekistan
18. The State-Civil Society Relationship in Kazakhstan: Mechanisms of Cooperation and Support

EVENTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

- REGIONAL PARTNERSHIP

1. January 5, 2006. Uzbek, German scientists to cooperate in use of solar energy. Uzbek and German scientists agreed to cooperate in use of solar energy during the annual meeting of German-Uzbek Scientific Society (DUGW). The meeting was held in Freiburg in the end of December 2005. In particular, the sides will cooperate in preparation to introduce solar equipment, based on modern know-how technologies, developed by German scientists, develop training to install equipment and discuss effective use of solar energy within creation of joint venture in Samarkand. The cooperation in this sphere was laid during last year meeting of Samarkand city governor Suhrob Rafikov and Vice President of DUWG Gabriele Keller. It should be noted that Gabriele Keller was awarded Honourable Citizen of Samarkand in autumn 2005 for contribution in development of cultural relations and cooperation between Uzbekistan and Germany. During the visit to Freiburg, the Uzbek delegation acquainted with use of alternative energy in Germany. The delegation visited Solar Plant in Freiburg and Solar Village and met specialists of the Centre on protection of environment and Paradigma, which specialises on production of solar equipment for heating of water and premises. Freiburg is one of the leaders in use of solar and ecologic equipment in the world and local Solar Plant is the largest independent company on production of solar modules. On invitation of head of plant Georg Salvamoser, the Uzbek partners will attend in the work of the World Fair on new solar technologies, which will be held in Freiburg in June 2006. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

January 5, 2006. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have not yet delimitated borders. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan continue negotiations on delimitation of borders for the fourth year and have not yet delimitated them. Kyrgyz and Tajik parties are engaged now in searching mutual acceptable ways to conduct delimitation of borders. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed mutually beneficial agreement on allotment of land in Batken Oblast. According to the document, Kyrgyzstan gives Tajikistan a land for construction of electricity transmission line; Tajikistan gives a land for construction of road and bridge in the region of Chorku, Batken Oblast. This agreement allows Kyrgyzstan to build road, connecting two parts of the country. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

3. January 5, 2006. United States provides US$3 million to assist Tajik Border Guards. The United States began a $3 million airlift of winter supplies and equipment to assist the Tajik Border Guards. Food, winter clothing, medical supplies, tents, and other needed supplies will be delivered over the new few weeks. The first shipments, flown in by U.S. Air Force C-130 aircraft from Afghanistan, consist of 100,000 halal ready-to-eat meals for the border guards. At the request of the Tajik government, the winter supplies and equipment will be delivered directly to the frontier posts to immediately assist units this winter. U.S. Charge de Affairs Thomas Armbruster and Head of the Tajik Border Guard International Relations Department, Erkin Tojibaev, helped unload the first shipment at Dushanbe International Airport. Charge Armbruster noted that Tajikistan recently supplied Pakistan with emergency food assistance, following the devastating earthquake, and the international community responded to assist the people of New Orleans to rebuild and recover from the destructive hurricane Katrina. This airlift is in the same spirit of friends helping friends in need. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

4. January 6, 2006. Russia will open trade representations in the Central Asian and other NIS countries. New trade representations will be opened in Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Moldova, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. "We pay a lot of attention to our relationships with other countries of CIS and seek to develop trade-economic cooperation with them", - stated in Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). The number of trade representations will depend on the country. "The approximate size of each representation will be one to five people. These people will be from Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Russian Federation", - MFA states. The work of opening trade representations was started in 2005, and will be intensively continued in 2006. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

5. January 12, 2006. Kazakhstan's OSCE presidency to be known in December 2006. The decision concerning the OSCE presidency by Kazakhstan will be taken in December this year in Brussels, said Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe Secretary General Marc Perrin de Brichambautb after the meeting with Kazakhstan's FM Kassymzhomart Tokayev. Today's speech of Nursultan Nazarbaev agrees in many ways with the obligations within the OSCE, and it positively influences the solution of Kazakhstan's OSCE presidency in 2009, emphasized the OSCE Secretary General. The consideration of this matter will continue. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

6. January 26, 2006. Uzbekistan has joined Eurasian Economic Community. A Protocol on Uzbekistan's accession to the Agreement on Foundation of the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) signed on 10 October 2000, and a Protocol on introduction of corresponding amendments and additions to the Agreement was signed at the special meeting of the EurAsEC Interstate Council. The political part of the procedure of Uzbekistan's accession to the EurAsEC has thus been completed granting Uzbekistan the right to act as a full-righted member of the community. Uzbekistan submitted an application on joining the organization in October 2005. However, it will take about one more year to fully solve all the technical issues related to the country's inclusion in all international regulatory documents of the EurAsEC. There are currently more than 80 such documents. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?AdvancedSearch=1IdCountryLocation=177&lng=1

7. January 26, 2006. Accession of Uzbekistan to the EurAsEC to advance integration processes. The decision regarding the accession of Uzbekistan to the Eurasian Economic Community (EurAsEC) has been taken with due regard for the changing situation within the post-Soviet space and serious threats to the security and stability, said President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov at the meeting of the EurAsEC Intergovernmental Council on 25 January 2006. "The merging of the Central Asian Co-operation Organisation and the EurAsEC is a result of their joint development. I am sure that this step will allow to avoid the duplication of functions and will give a powerful impulse to the integration processes within the frames of the community," the President stressed. "Uzbekistan sees its future in close cooperation with its neighbours and, first of all, with Russia, a state with which we have a common centuries-long history and a common vision of our prospects", pointed out the Uzbek leader. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?AdvancedSearch=1IdCountryLocation=177&lng=1

- ECONOMIC REFORMS

1. Tajik capital to host International conference on investments and privatization this autumn. International conference on investments and privatization is supposed to be held in Dushanbe this autumn. Tajikistan's Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) will organize the conference under support of the President's Office and Government of the country. The conference aims to discuss issues related to implementation of strategic investment projects in Tajikistan, strengthening of economic and scientific-technical ties both in bilateral format and within regional and international organizations. The conference is dedicated to promote development of trade, economic and investment cooperation, creation of favorable environment for foreign investments promotion, development of trade and banking&finance system, launch of joint ventures and development of natural resources in the republic. It is supposed that senior representatives of chambers of commerce from Asian, African, European and CIS countries, as well as representatives from the Islamic financial institutions, including the Islamic Development Bank (IDB), 1st Islamic Investment Bank and others, will take part in the conference's work. The similar conference was held in Bahrain in February 2005. Representatives from more than 50 countries participated at that conference. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

2. January 12, 2006. Turkmenistan produced 9, 522 mln tons of oil last year. In 2005 Turkmenistan produced 9.522 mln tons of oil, down 0,8% year-on-year. According to the National Institute for State Statistics and Information, Turkmenistan refined 6,874,5 mln tons of oil that is 2% more than in 2004 (6,718 mln tons). In 2005 production of liquefied gas increased by 10% from 359 thousand to 395,6 thousand tons, production of diesel fuel increased by 2% from 1,803,1 mln tons to 1,842,6 mln tons, and of lubricates - by 1% from 50,8 thousand tons to 51,2 thousand tons year-on-year. Output of gasoline remained practically at the level of 2004 totaling 1,677,6 mln tons in 2005 (up 0,3%). Production of polypropylene fell by 5% from 86 thousand tons to 81,4 thousand tons year-on-year. According to the government estimates, production of oil will grow to 10,300 mln tons in 2006. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

3. January 12, 2006. 36.2 million euro were allocated by European Commission to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in 2005. In 2005 the European Union strengthened its cooperation with the countries of Central Asia, in particular with Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. A clear indicator of this was the accelerated implementation of its various assistance programs in the region. The aim of these programs is to assist the countries in promoting democratic and economic reform. A raft of regional program addressed the fight against drug trafficking, border controls, environmental cooperation and support to economic and social reforms. National program focused on specific needs for each country. In Kazakhstan, the key areas were economic and institutional reform, human rights, agriculture and transport. In Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, the primary focus was on food security, which totaled 14.8m euro, as well as 10.7m euro for social programs and poverty reduction. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

4. January 13, 2006. Construction of underground is planned in the Kyrgyz capital. Construction of an elevated underground is planned in the capital of Kyrgyzstan. General extent of underground will make 14,8 km. For construction of the underground which will be carried out till 2025 in two stages, 444 million $ US are required. Construction of the underground in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, population of which is more than 1 million people is the compelled necessity, in connection with growth of the population of capital and congestion of streets of capital with transport. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

5. January 13, 2006. Russian "Siloviye Mashiny" company supplier of main equipment for Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant in Tajikistan. Russian open joint-stock company "Siloviye Mashiny" is to supply hydro generators and other equipment for three energy blocks of Sangtuda-1 station in Tajikistan. Russian open joint-stock company (OJSC) "Siloviye Mashiny" (power-machines) should manufacture and supply hydro generators and other equipment for the first three energy block with capacity of 167.5 megawatt of Sangtuda-1 hydropower plant being constructed in Tajikistan. The "Siloviye Mashiny" won a tender for supply of the main energy equipment for Sangtuda-1 power plant. A total cost of the contract is US$80 million. Besides "Siloviye Mashiny", "Alstom" (France-Poland) and Elsib (Russian city of Novosibirsk) participated in this tender announced by the Tajik Energy Ministry in the autumn last year. Bids made by the "Siloviye Mashiny" company proved to be the most optimal. Production of the first bulk f the equipment is scheduled for 2007 and the first energy block of the Santuda-1 station is supposed to be put into operation in mid-2008. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

6. January 25, 2006. Ukraine, Tajikistan to coordinate directions of cooperation in enhancement of Tajikistan's energy sector. Ukraine and Tajikistan intend to coordinate the main directions of cooperation in rehabilitation and modernization of the Norak, Golovanya and Qairoqqum hydropower plants in Tajikistan. The parties are supposed to determine concrete projects, on which they will cooperate, and consider issues related to supply of the equipment and spare parts during the first quarter of the year. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

7. January 26, 2006. New trade center with European style shops and bazaar to be constructed in Ashgabat. A new large trade center will be commissioned in the southern part of Ashgabat next year. Occupying an area of 2,1 hectares, it will feature not only European style boutiques but also a bazaar. For this purpose there will be built an "inner yard" occupying over 3 thousand square meters with counters for 400 places. Greens, vegetables and fruits will be sold there. The inner space of the bazaar will be overlapped by structural plates made of hardware and plastic with lights in the form of semicircle. A two-storey rectangular-shaped building will delineate the trade area along its perimeter. It will accommodate 36 food and goods shops and over a dozen of customer service workshops. Freezers, stores, rooms and cloakrooms with showers for staff, laundry, technical rooms and a garage for 40 cars will be located on the ground floor. In addition to stairs, four freight elevators will shuttle in the building. The total area of the trade center will exceed 17 thousand square meters. For the last two-years several new markets have been also built in Ashgabat, and existing bazaars have been reconstructed and enlarged. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?AdvancedSearch=1IdCountryLocation=177&lng=1

- SME

1. January 6, 2006. China supports SME development in Uzbekistan. Chinese Bank of Development (CBD) allocates $20 million to support small business and private enterprises in Uzbekistan. This agreement was made during the visit of the CBD delegation led by its Vice President Van I. Credit is for 9 years including two years of preferential period. The project on supporting small business and private enterprises is among the other investment projects, which will be implemented within the framework of Agreement on interbank cooperation of the member-states of Shanghai Organization of Cooperation (SOC). This Agreement was signed in October of 2005. In June 2006, it is planned to hold a meeting of Agreement participants- members of SOC. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

2. January 25, 2006. EBRD promotes small and medium enterprises in Kazakhstan The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is going to allot USD 2 million for Kazakhstan's Crediting Fund. The money will be spent for the development of the small and medium enterprises and farms. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

- POVERTY REDUCTION

1. January 6, 2006. European Commission allocates 66 million euros to the Central Asian countries. European Commission (EC) allocates 66 million euros to assist Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to fight poverty, to support them in conducting institutional, administrative and legal reforms. This assistance is a part of long-term European Union's program to support stability, security and economic progress in the Central Asian countries. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

- ENVIRONMENT

1. January 6, 2006. Scientific conference participants discuss ecological education. Scientific methodological conference on "Ecological education - the pledge of healthy environment and healthy generation" was held with the aim of discussing the improvement of uninterrupted teaching of ecological concepts in the public education institutions in Uzbekistan. The teachers and scientists of Tashkent Institute of Railroad Transportation Engineers in partnership with the colleagues from a number of other higher educational institutions developed the Concept of Uninterrupted Ecological Education. The concept identifies the strategic directions and priorities of the ecological education in Uzbekistan for the period up to 2010. It covers pre-school, general secondary, secondary specialized, professional, undergraduate and post-graduate education, including training and improvement of professional skills of the specialists in different areas. The concept complies with the Laws "On protection of nature", "On education", National Programme for Training of Specialists, as well as the government resolution "On plan of actions on protection of environment in the Republic of Uzbekistan". The document represents a programme of uninterrupted actions, brought to compliance with the needs of producers and allowing receiving full information on such concepts, as management, transportation, and monitoring of ecological condition of the industrial giants of Uzbekistan. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

- CIVIL SOCIETY

1. January 16, 2006. 692 unemployed placed in jobs in Konibodom last year. In 2005, 692 unemployed were placed in jobs in the northern district of Konibodom (Sughd Province). Last year, 1,167 people were registered with their center as job seekers. 539 are women, and 674 are people under 30. 692 people were placed in jobs, 146 others took vocational training courses and 360 people were drawn into public works. Besides, the center organized five fairs of vacancies. Due to these fairs 83 people were placed in jobs, 30 people were sent to training courses and 95 others were drawn into public works. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

- ICT FOR DEVELOPMENT

1. January 16-17, 2006. UN to hold consultation on creation of new Internet governing body. The United Nations will launch the first round of consultations next month on creating a new Internet governance body, as agreed by delegates who attended a global Net summit in Tunis, Tunisia, last year. The UN, which hosted the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in November, is welcoming all stakeholders to attend the consultations, which will take place in Geneva on 16-17 February. The consultations will focus on developing "a common understanding among all stakeholders on the nature and character" of the proposed Internet Governance Forum and to prepare for the first meeting of the new body, to take place in Athens before the end of this year, the statement said. Internet governance was arguably the most controversial issue at the WSIS, threatening to undermine the entire summit. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?lng=1

ANNOUNCEMENTS

1. February 7-10, 2006. Training Course for MFIs' Loan Officers. Clients' Business and Loan Analysis. Almaty, Kazakhstan. The Microfinance Centre is very proud to invite you to participate in the "Training Course for MFIs' Loan Officers. Clients' Business and Loan Analysis" in Russian! The course will be held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on February 7-10, 2006. This four-day training course is specially designed for organizations, which focus on improving their efficiency through enhanced loan officer productivity. This is a generic course suitable for both individual and group lending methodologies which places an emphasis on understanding the client, her/his financial needs and business cycles, streamlined procedures and detailed loan analysis for delinquency prevention. The course is strongly recommended for managers (credit portfolio managers, operations managers, senior loan officers) who wish to train their field staff to improve their loan analysis skills. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?AdvancedSearch=1IdCountryLocation=177&lng=1

2. February 20-23, 2006. International Exhibition "2006 Mini Agricultural Machines". International Exhibition "2006 Mini Agricultural Machines" is supposed to be held in Dushanbe on February 20-23. The main objective of the exhibition organized by the Tajik Ministry of Agriculture is in presenting the world's best samples of mini agricultural machines and providing dehqan (peasant) farms in the republic with advanced machines and technologies. Companies from Germany, India, China, Iran, Japan and Turkey as well as from the CIS countries, including, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan, are expected to expose their achievements in producing mini agricultural machines in the fair. Heads and members of farming units, researchers and specialists from the agrarian sector, entrepreneurs as well as students of Tajikistan's Agricultural and Technical Universities have been invited to attend the exhibition A scientific-practical conference "Mini Agricultural Machines - Foundation for Development of Dehqan Farms" will be held on sidelines of the exhibition. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?AdvancedSearch=1IdCountryLocation=168&lng=1

3. February 28, 2006. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award for libraries. The Council on Library and Information Resources (CLIR) welcomes applications for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Access to Learning Award for 2006. This award is for libraries that give all members of the public free access to digital information. Each year an award of up to US $1 million is given to a public library or similar organization outside the United States that has an innovative program offering the public free access to information technology. Public libraries or similar organizations outside the United States are invited to apply. Preference will be given to institutions that the foundation has not funded in the past. U.S. libraries are not eligible to apply. Complete applications should be sent to CLIR and postmarked by February 28, 2006. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?AdvancedSearch=1IdCountryLocation=177&lng=1

4. May 4-5, 2006. Conference on Higher Education Management: International Trends & Local Sustainability. Westminster International University in Tashkent with the support of British Council, Uzbekistan and United Nations Development Program invites all interested practitioners and scholars to submit paper proposals for a two-day conference on the issues of governance and reform in higher education. Although there is a broad consensus on the need for countries of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe to move towards the adoption of international standards and systems in Higher Education there is an ongoing debate about the nature and pace of such reform and what needs to be done to develop the capacity to cope with change and to ensure sustainability. The goal of the Conference, which is supported by the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Special Education, is to provide a forum for the discussion of key issues relating to the reform of governance, management and delivery of Higher Education in this region the countries of which are at different stages of political, social and economic transition and nation building. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?AdvancedSearch=1IdCountryLocation=177&lng=1

5. June 16-17, 2006. Call for Papers. WIDER Conference on Aid: Principles, Policies and Performance, Helsinki, Finland. Aid is one of the most challenging development issues facing the international Community. There is now a pressing need to evaluate performance to date, and the Future for aid in light of recent events such as the post-Monterrey consensus to substantially increase aid to meet the Millennium Development Goals, recent initiatives from donors, and an ongoing focus on Africa. The conference aims to bring together policymakers and academics from both the donor and recipient communities to review the progress achieved so far, identify the challenges ahead, and discuss the emerging new policy agenda in development aid. The conference is intended for policymakers and for researchers from the academic, government, and development communities. The majority of participants attending WIDER development conferences has an academic background (either a position at a university or research institute, or are undertaking a PhD in economics or another social science discipline) or are from government or international organizations. The conference is not suitable for students undertaking an undergraduate or Masters degree. All applications to participate must be received by 28 February 2006 by email to aid-1@wider.unu.edu or by fax to +358-9-615-99-333. These details are also posted on our Web site www.wider.unu.edu. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?AdvancedSearch=1IdCountryLocation=177&lng=1

6. Turkmenistan to host two international scientific conferences in May and November 2006. "With a view to studying the historic and cultural heritage of the Turkmen people and presenting more comprehensive information about it to the world community" the Turkmen leader, Saparmurat Niyazov, signed two decrees. According to one of the documents, the international scientific conference "Permanent neutrality of Turkmenistan - UNESCO: evaluation of the historic-cultural values and establishing ways of preserving the monuments of world heritage" will be held in the city of Ashgabat and Dashoguz province on May 25-27, 2006. According to another decree, the international scientific conference "Ancient Margiana - new center of world civilization" will take place in the cities of Ashgabat and Mary on November 14-16, 2006. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php?AdvancedSearch=1IdCountryLocation=177&lng=1

7. Distance learning course on "Development of project and writing project proposals". The Public association of trainers and consultants "TajikTraining" calls for applications to participate in the distance learning course: "Development of the project and writing projects proposals". Participants will learn basic principles of project development and preparing grant proposal; they will write own project proposal and get the feedback from consultant on improvement of the proposals. The course will be conducted during February 20 - March 20, 2006. For more information please write to itsvetkov@rambler.ru or itsvetkov@list.ru.

8. UNDP Bratislava Regional Centre and Central European University organize summer course on Human Development and the Millenium Development Goals. This summer course will be a policy and practice-based course for approximately 15-20 civil servants/decision makers as well as graduate students from Central and Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, as well as interested graduate students from other regions. The aims of the course are to customize the Millennium Development goals to the target regions and develop policy proposals for realizing them. The course will provide a platform for cross-policy and cross-national dialogue, transfer of practices and experience, and development of integrated responses to some of the most pressing problems of today - sustainable human development and poverty alleviation and its associated implications. In addition to developing expertise in the MDGs and their implementation, participants will engage in intensive discussions and debates on the cutting edge of issues in the area of human development, sustainability, and policy development. Topics and workshops will be taught and facilitated by experienced staff from the United Nations Development Programme and faculty from Central European University and other universities. For more information on the CEU Summer University, please visit: http://www.ceu.hu/sun/.

There are more than 2300 events relevant to socio-economic development of the Central Asian region in the portal's Calendar. For more events please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/calendar.php

1. Global Governance Initiative 2006. The World Economic Forum's Global Initiative released the final version of its report on the state of progress towards key international development, security, and environmental goals on 17 January 2006. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&page=179&topic=subtopic=0&country=265

2. Tajikistan's Dynamic Telecommunications Market. The report is a brief review of operating condition and development dynamics of the telecommunications market in Tajikistan. Prepared by Jamshed Rahmonberdiev and Chris Christov, January 2006. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=48&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=168

3. Linking Macroeconomic Policy to Poverty Reduction. The report presents the results of an extensive enquiry conducted by a team of international experts with support of UNDP. The paper presents macroeconomic performance of Uzbekistan over 1991-2002 and articulates suggestions in this area for the years ahead, analyzes the main trends and causes of poverty and inequality over 1991-2002 and attempts to link these trends to changes in economic and social policies. Prepared by the Center for Economic Research, 2005. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=127&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=184

4. Freedom of Association in Central Asia. The document presents the collection of analytical papers on various aspects of strengthening the right to freedom to amalgamate in legislations of former soviet republics of Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Published: "LEM", Almaty 2005. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=180&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=265

5. Actual problems of the world politics. The document includes experts' researches of the Institute of economic and policy, devoted to actual problems of world politics and the international security. The role of the nuclear weapon in the modern world, international terrorism problems, transformation of the international security system, situation in the Near East, world weapon market development and formation of the regional security organization in the Central Asia are presented in this collection. Prepared by M.Ashimbaeva, IWEP, Almaty, 2005. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&page=180&topic=subtopic=0&country=265

6. Tajikistan Business Consulting and Services Overview. The report provides an overview of the business sector, and its distribution by region, sector, and size. It also assesses market trends that create an enabling environment for competition and describes the needs of potential end-users of consulting services. Prepared by Jamshed Rahmonberdiev, BISNIS November 2005. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=48&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=168

7. Uzbekistan's Accession to the WTO: Challenges and Opportunities for the Food Processing Industry. USAID's 'Economic Policy Reform Project in Uzbekistan' has completed the first draft of the research 'Uzbekistan's Accession to the WTO: Challenges and Opportunities for the Food Processing Industry'. Bearing Point/Barents Group, 2005. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=126&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=184

8. Regional Economic Outlook. Middle East and Central Asia. The document provides a broad synopsis of recent economic developments in the countries in the Middle East and Central Asia, highlighting common macroeconomic trends and policies. The document was prepared by the Middle East and Central Asia Department (MCD), IMF, September 2005. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=178&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=265

9. Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) by Country. These documents, which are updated annually, describe the country's plan for macroeconomic, structural, and social policies for three-year economic adjustment programs to foster growth and reduce poverty, as well as associated external financing needs and major sources of financing. The documents are placed at the IMF web site. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=178&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=265

10. The Millennium Development Goals Report 2005. The document presents the report on progress towards MDGs. Published by the United Nations Department of Public Information. May 2005. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=179&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=265

11. Cashmere Marketing: A New Income Source for Central Asian Livestock Farmers. The publication presents cashmere manufacture and sale as the tool of poverty reduction in the Central Asian region. The comparative analysis of the cashmere manufactures development in Mongolia, China and implementation of the gathered experience to the Central Asian region. Prepared by UNDP WOOL Project, April, 2005. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=181&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=265

12. Harnessing trade for development. Benefiting from market access opportunities. Developing countries cannot achieve sustainable growth and poverty reduction unless they integrate into the world economy. Trade reforms are necessary, but not enough to maximize the potential benefits of trade. Bernard Hoekman, Development Research Group. The World Bank. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=176&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=265

13. Reducing Poverty on a Global Scale. A new World Bank book concludes that reducing poverty at a global scale depends on a large set of factors. These include leadership and commitment, institutional innovation, learning and experimentation, external catalysts such as donor assistance, and sometimes even being responsive to exogenous shocks. The World Bank. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=176&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=265

14. Business Environment in Uzbekistan as Seen by Small and Medium Enterprises, 2004. International Finance Corporation office in Uzbekistan launched online version of its survey Business Environment in Uzbekistan as Seen by Small and Medium Enterprises for 2004. The survey is the fourth annual research conducted by IFC with financial support from the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs of Switzerland (seco). IFC -International Finance Corporation 2004. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=124&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=184

15. Spatial inequality and development in Central Asia. This paper focused on inequality in living standards across oblast and regions within Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. It examines Living Standards Measurement data from these countries and finds that variations in expenditures per capita in the region can be explained in terms of household location, household composition, and education. Authors: Kathryn Anderson and Richard Pomfret. Prepared by World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU/WIDER), 2004. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=181&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=265

16. The concept of gender policy and the Millennium Development Goals in Kazakhstan. The paper is a progress report for Kazakhstan to meet the gender focused Millennium Development Goals. The brochure contains the Concept of Gender Policy in the Republic of Kazakhstan approved by a Government Resolution and the analysis of the state-planned measures and perspectives on implementation of the MDGs in the country; details the discrimination that many women still face in Kazakhstan, and outlines measures to achieve gender equality in Kazakhstan, at an institutional/organizational level and at a policy level, dealing specifically with the issues of economy and labor, health improvement, elimination of violence against women and children. Prepared by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), 2004. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=82&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=86

17. Main stages of economic reforms in Uzbekistan. The presented paper discusses and evaluates past economic reforms in Uzbekistan, summarizes the lessons learnt and identifies the main challenges the country faces in the future. Author: Nishanbay Sirajiddinov, Center for Economic Research, Tashkent, Uzbekistan. May 2004. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=127&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=184

18. The State-Civil Society Relationship in Kazakhstan: Mechanisms of Cooperation and Support. The publication describes mechanisms of cooperation and support in the state-civil society relationships in Kazakhstan. Author: Vsevolod Ovcharenko. Issued by Social Economy and Law (SEAL) Journal. Published by the European Foundation Centre 2003 - 2004. For more information please visit: http://www.cagateway.org/index.php?search=&lng=1&page=81&topic=0&subtopic=0&country=86

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В этом выпуске:

СОБЫТИЯ И АНОНСЫ

- РЕГИОНАЛЬНОЕ СОТРУДНИЧЕСТВО

1. Узбекистан и ФРГ будут сотрудничать в сфере использования солнечной энергии
2. Кыргызстан и Таджикистан еще не приступили к делимитации общей границы
3. В РТ начала поступать помощь США таджикским пограничникам на $3 млн.
4. В странах Центральной Азии открываются торговые представительства России
5. Решение о председательствовании Казахстана в ОБСЕ будет принято в Брюсселе в декабре 2006 года
6. Узбекистан принят в Евразийское Экономическое Сообщество
7. Вступление Узбекистана в ЕврАзЭС придаст импульс интеграционным процессам

1. В Душанбе состоится Международная конференция по инвестициям и приватизации
2. За прошлый год в Туркменистане добыли 9 млн. 522 тыс. тонны "черного золота"
3. ЕС выделил в 2005 году трем Центрально-азиатским странам 36,2 млн. Евро на проведение различных реформ
4. В столице Кыргызстана планируется строительство легкого метрополитена
5. ОАО "Силовые машины" - поставщик основного энергетического оборудования для Сангтудинской ГЭС-1
6. Украина и Таджикистан намерены согласовать направления сотрудничества в области модернизации и ремонта трех ГЭС РТ
7. В Ашхабаде появится новый торговый комплекс, включающий в себя европейские магазины и восточный базар

1. Китай выделяет 20 миллионов долларов на поддержку МСБ в Узбекистане
2. ЕБРР способствует развитию предприятий малого и среднего бизнеса в РК

1. Еврокомиссия выделяет странам Центральной Азии 66 млн. евро

1. Прошла конференция по экологическому образованию и воспитанию

1. В прошлом году нашли постоянную работу 692 безработных жителя Канибадама

1. ООН создаст новую структуру по вопросам управления Интернетом

1. Обучение кредитных сотрудников: анализ займа и оценка клиентов, Алматы (Казахстан)
2. Международная выставка-ярмарка "Мини Сельхозтехника - 2006"
3. Конкурс среди библиотек "Награды за доступ к обучению"
4. Конференция "Менеджмент в высшем образовании: международные тенденции, местная устойчивость"
5. Конференция Всемирного Института Исследований Экономического Развития (ВИИЭР) по Помощи: "Принципы, Политика и Осуществление", Хельсинки, Финляндия, 16-17 июня 2006
6. В мае и ноябре 2006 года в Туркменистане пройдут две международные научные конференции
7. Дистанционный курс "Разработка проекта и написание проектных заявок"
8. Летние курсы "Человеческое развитие и Цели развития тысячелетия" будут организованы Региональным Центром ПРООН и Центрально-европейским Университетом

НОВЫЕ ПУБЛИКАЦИИ

1. Глобальные инициативы управления 2006.
2. Динамика рынка телекоммуникаций Таджикистана.
3. Макроэкономическая политика и бедность в Узбекистане.
4. Обзор законодательства, регулирующего реализацию права на свободу объединения.
5. Актуальные проблемы мировой политики: сборник научных трудов.
6. Обзор рынка бизнес консультирования в Таджикистане.
7. Вступление Узбекистана во Всемирную Торговую Организацию: угрозы и вызовы для пищевой промышленности.
8. Ближний Восток и Центральная Азия. Региональный экономический обзор.a>
9. Стратегии Сокращения Бедности (PRSP) по странам.
10. Доклад о Целях Развития Тысячелетия 2005.
11. Кашемировый маркетинг: Новый источник доходов для фермеров в Центральной Азии.
12. Использование торговли в целях развития. Выгоды доступа к рынку.
13. Сокращение бедности в мировом масштабе
14. "Деловая среда в Узбекистане глазами представителей малого и среднего бизнеса". Онлайн версия исследования деловой среды в Узбекистане за 2004 год.