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Gold on the Silk Road

ANROTAANNNENKOSTENOT tourism as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. HSASCENEE AN NETT (SLATS LEELEESEL ALS

KA ETHE

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Population: 036,800 34,

Uzbekistan

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et economique International economique et

CD Cercle Diplomatique Cercle CD Position www.observer.at www.observer.at CD Cercle Diplomatique Position et economique International Wilhelmsburg, im Juni 2020, Nr: 2, 4x/Jahr, Seite: _ Druckauflage: 40 000, Größe: 84,57%, easyAPQ: _ Auftr.: 7023, Clip: 12945768, SB: IMC

LE MONDE SRG,SE

t is somehow staggering how little Westerners ars, China has superseded Russia as Uzbekistan’s know about countries in , given the most important trade partner, contributing more fact that for a long timethis region had played a than twenty percent of the states trade turnover. Uz- crucial role in linking Europe with China and India, bekistan is exporting mainly petroleum gas to China, The renowned travel writer Erika Fatland names and is receiving Chinese investments that since 2007 them “Sovjetistan“ in her praised book of the very have reached aroundsix billion US-dollar, according — same name and Uzbekistan is considered the most to estimates by the American Institute of Entrepre-

powerful in demographical and political terms. Like neurship. its ties Russia are neighbours , , , Nevertheless, Uzbekistams with and , also Uzbekistan’s identity as an admi- still strong, given the fact that many Uzbeks work in nistrative division is quite young. Its borders were Russia (and also Kazakhstan), sending their earnings created in the 1920s and 1930s byStalin, the Soviet to their families at home. This creates a certain de- dictator, in an attempt to divide the vast region accor- pendency upon the Russian economy which on the - ding to its ethnical groups which could only result other hand has been struggling with certain challen- - in an approximation rather than to consider its to- ges in recent years. Hence, it seems logical that the pographical conditions. economic development of Uzbekistan has become a The Republic of Uzbekistan declared its indepen- major concern of the current leadership. dence in June 1991, soon after the collapse of the So- In 2017, the government introduced a five-year- viet Union. Under the first Uzbek President Islam plan, commonlycalled the “New Strategy of Deve- Karimov, who had been ruling the country with an lopment“. Among other aspects, it aims to guarantee iron fist for 25 years, the country was de facto cut off a more efficient bureaucracy for businesses and pri- from many parts of the world. Since Karimov'’s death vate individuals, reducing crimes, and strengthening in 2016, his successor, the former Prime Minister the economicstability as well as maintaining high Shavkat Mirziyoyev had taken steps to modernise rates of economic growth. U7BFKISTAN the in order to increase real the The reforms havestarted to bear fruits as country incomes and already, OF purchasing power of households as well as to impro- Uzbekistan currently is one of the fastest growing the states. in the with an enormous ve relationships with the neighbouring economies world, potential FMBASSY Nevertheless, under Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has for the future. The country’s most traditional resour- STOCK, continued to tighten the good relationships with ces are cotton and silk, and with more than two which had been cultivated under his thousand textile businesses China, already employing 365,000 peo- ADOBE predecessor by joining the Shanghai Cooperation ple, they make this industrial branch to an important

Organisation (SCO) as a memberstate. In recent ye- contributor to the GDP. PHOTOS:

Traditional meets modern

architecture in Tashkent

(above). Uzbekistan is a

secular state with a lot of

Muslim treasures (right).

34 Cercle Diplomatique 2/2020

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VE MONDE UZBEKISTAN FISn,

Meat lovers rave about

the local cuisine (right)

Last yeat, the export value of textile products was 1.6 billion US-dollar - which was twice as much as

four years ago. Experts estimate the potential for tex- tile exports at up to 15 billion, which would. create three million additional jobs. Besides petroleum gas and textiles, Uzbekistan possesses considerable gold, uranium and copper mines. Such rich resources bear great chances espe- - cially for the rural areas while the capital Tashkent

is a thriving city, the infrastructure in the rest of the countrystill needs a boost. Particular urgent is the situation in Karakalpakstan, an autonomous repub- lic within Uzbekistan. This region in the northwes- tern part of the country is still suffering from the evaporation of the Aral Sea. The winds that spread the extant salt crystals over large parts of the land will soon be used for green energy: To deal with the growing demandfor electric power, the government recently started an international call for bids in order to erect Uzbekistan’s first wind farm. Ihe project will be financially supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The governmentis very active in bringing Wes- tern knowhow into the country. Last year, the Tashkent State University of Economics started a co- operation with the IMC University of Applied Scien- ces Krems. The Lower Austrian institution currently offers one master and three bachelor courses, giving Uzbek students the opportunity to receive both the Uzbek and the Austrian respectively EU-wide acade- mic degrees with every single study course, For its courses, the IMC University sendsits lecturers to the Uzbek capital Tashkent in order to guarantee the same quality level as in Austria. Students from both universities furthermore have the chance to spend courses abroad at the particular partner university (in pandemic times they have to be realised via inter- net, of course). Karl Ennsfellner, Chief Executive Of-

ficer at the IMC University, praises the eflicient and goal-oriented collaboration with the Uzbek officials: “The process of setting up the courses was realised MANSUROV within one year, whereas such preparations usually

take us two or more years. Besides that, we notice that NASIM the Uzbek students are highly motivated and have remarkable Englishskills? UZBEKISTAN, One the bachelor courses the Austri- of degree by OF an university in Tashkentis called Tourism and Lei- sure and this comes with Management, very good EMBASSY reasons. As soon as the current Corona pandemic

will be overcome, Uzbekistan will without a doubt PHOTOS:

The historic centre of

Samarkand (above). Inside the Bibi-Khanym Mosque(right).

36 Cercle Diplomatique 2/2020

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Although the Aral Sea can still be seen on many

maps, it has mostly disappeared due to Soviet

irrigation technology

continue to welcome a raising number of tourists. It is a secular state, successfully holding Islamic fundamentalism at bay, which makes it a secure place for travellers seeking an exotic experience. Even though Uzbekistan is a young country, the cul- tural history on its lands is very old. Uzbeksstill fly the flag for Timur, the 14th century conqueror, who by officials is considered as the nation’s founding fa- ther. Returning travellers rave about the Uzbek hearti- ness and hospitality, as well as about the hearty food (loved at least by carnivores), and historic towns. Foursites that recollect stories from One Thousand and One Nights are currently listed as UNESCO world heritage: the historic centres of Bukhara, Shakhrisyabz, and Itchan Kala in Khiva (with the historic centre of Shakhrisyabz on the UNESCO World Heritage in Danger List since 2016, due to over-development of tourist infrastructure in the

site). In Khiva, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development commissioned the urbanisation studio Superwien from Vienna to elaborate an urban planning concept which recently advised policyma- kers how to increase the numbers of park areas and the level of walkability. Apart from that, people from all over the world accept the arduous journey to Nukus, a town off the beaten path in Karakalpakstan, in order to visit a museum that by manyis called the Louvre of the Steppes: The Savitsky Museumof Art houses the se- cond largest collection of Russian avant-garde art in the world, henceit is a must see for art lovers.

By comparison, a trip from Tashkent to the im- pressive Tian Shan Mountains near Lake Charvak Uzbekistan’s touristic | feels like a pleasure cruise. The cable car that in sum- potential is enormous: mer visitors for a blow from | delights daytrip going Historic centre of the capital and in winter lifts ski lovers to the top of Bukhara, high-class the the fa- slopes was constructed by Doppelmayr, textile and handicraft

med Austrian company. tradition (above), | From an Austrian point of view, Uzbekistan is the Islam-Khodja Minaret second most important trade partner in Central in Khiva (left). Asia. Austrian exports to Uzbekistan have doubled within the year of 2018, and in 2019 reached a record high of 110 million euro. In February, the members of an Austrian business delegation visiting Tashkent and Samarkand, agreed that it was the ideal moment to explore the chances for an intensification of these economic relations.

The race is on. ®

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