Recently three international exhibitions have ended in Tashkent – Transport and Logistics - TransUzbekistan - 2011; Automobiles, Components, Service Equipment -Auto & Parts Uzbekistan-2011; Protection, Security and Fire Safety - CAIPS-2011. All three have demonstrated existing interest among local companies to attract modern technologies and investments to road construction and to the transportation and transit infrastructures, their desire to establish joint high-tech manufactures. By tradition, these exhibitions are held simultaneously at the same floor. During the show different companies and enterprises engaged in transport, manufactures of equipment for infrastructure and road construction are presented side by side with the manufacturers of automobiles and auto-components, logistics and transport companies. It is a great chance for experts from allied industries to discuss a number of issues regarding enhancement of cooperation between them and to assess level of the industries’ development in the expiring year. In tote, the combined exposure of the exhibitions has presented 70 companies from 15 countries.

According to experts’ estimates, in the coming years the growth of international traffic will exceed domestic growth leading to an increased competition not only among domestic transport enterprises, but also among non-resident carriers of cargo who generally are more arranged both technically and technologically. Therefore, mounting of TransUzbekistan 2011, Auto & Parts Uzbekistan 2011, CAIPS 2011 allows all market participants to explore the prospects of development and to identify new strategies of cooperation.

The future of Uzbekistan’s transportation industry is in the creation of modern multi-logistic centers, which can handle hundred thousand tons of cargo yearly. Among the examples of effectively operating centers are International intermodal hub Navoi and Angren Logistics Center.

In 2008, the NAC Uzbekistan Airways and Korean Air have signed an Agreement on providing consulting services to the airport Navoi, covering various forms of bilateral cooperation. This event became the basis for implementation of the program aimed at transforming the airport Navoi into international logistics center. In August, last year, new cargo terminal was put into operation there, it can handle up to 300 tons of cargo per day. The terminal’s equipment was rigged by Korean Kyung Sang Machinery Co. Ltd., which has experience of similar work at Incheon airport. The new building possess six workstations for handling, refrigeration chamber, freezer, warming room, the storage areas for hazardous goods, perishable foodstuffs and animals. Also at the airport Navoi was opened a joint venture with Hanzhing Group engaged in ground transportation.

International Logistics Center Angren was put into operation in January 2010 on the basis of the railway station Abliq. Its main task has become receiving and handling cargoes from three regions of Farghona Valley. Last year the center transported more than 4 million tons of cargo and provided regions of the Farghona Valley with a year-round road transport connection with other regions of the republic. To expand its capacity the center plans to purchase 190 haulers and special motor vehicles, 95 of which will be purchased this year and another 95 in 2012.

The dynamic development of the industry most clearly seen in annually increasing rates of freight and mounting volume of investments allocated to the construction of facilities. In Uzbekistan during the first 9 months of this year more than $176.4 millions have been drawn, 54 km of railway lines were rehabilitated, 192 goods vans and 7 passenger carriages were produced. 37.8 tons of cargo was transported through intermodal logistics center Navoi. In logistics center Angren the flow of traffic from the Farghona Valley and back through the pass Kamchik amounted to 4.2 million tons of cargo; this is 1.34 times more than in the corresponding period of last year.

The development of transport systems and infrastructure has always been one of the main areas in the economy of Uzbekistan. At the end of the last year the sphere received the new guidelines approved by the Program of accelerated development of infrastructure, transport and communications construction in 2011-2015. It was adopted to ensure outstrip development of the industrial, transport and engineering-communication industries in close coordination with the implemented programs of perspective development of the economy and the regions of the country.

In the next five years in Uzbekistan will be carried out a comprehensive and outstrip development of transport communications, advanced telecommunications systems and engineering infrastructure. This will be achieved through additional foreign investments, use of modern technologies, upgrading of construction and industrial complexes. First of all, it concerns the projects regarding the creation of a unified national automobile transportation system, ensuring the linkage of all regions of the country. Today Uzbekistan construct and reconstruct sections of four-lane roads of the Uzbek national highway, applying advanced cement concrete and asphalt-concrete pavements, meeting the highest international standards. Important highway through the Kamchik pass is under reconstruction.

In general, under the Program, in the country 2306 km of roads will be constructed and reconstructed; more than $3.3 billion are directed at the development of the road transport system. Approximately $120 million of these investments are planned to be drawn on purchase of road-building and road-repairing machineries. In particular, the Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan spends more than $68 million on the purchase of 6 specialized mobile asphalt-concrete facilities, which will be received until the end of 2012. In addition, next year the National Road Fund will start to finance two projects for the purchase of special equipment for the units of Uzavtoyul State Joint Stock Company.

Another key project is being implemented together with the Asian Development Bank (ADB). This international financial institution will provide $500 million for reconstruction of 230 km of Uzbek National highway. The first $130 million worth tranche will be used to restore 74-kilometers of A-373 highway, passing through the Farghona Valley, where a third of the country’s population lives and where the largest share of agricultural products produced. According to ADB experts, improvement of the roads will allow Uzbekistan to gain a key role in Central Asia. “Uzbekistan has an unprecedented opportunity to become the center of trade and commerce in the region and to achieve rapid and sustainable economic growth,” stressed Hong Wang, head of ADB’s Central and West Asia Department.

An important point, now, modern energy-efficient and energy saving technologies, that ensure economic use of raw materials and energy, will be introduced in the construction and operation of transport infrastructure objects. It is planned that this will reduce production and building costs.

Another key area of area’s ​​development is the strengthening of material-technical base of air transportation at the expense of a radical renewal of aircraft fleet with modern, comfortable and efficient airplanes from the world's leading companies, such as Boeing and Airbus; organization of their after-sales service; construction and reconstruction of airports in Tashkent and in regional centers. All this will rapidly increase the volume of freight traffic, will improve standard and quality, and most importantly will ensure safety of passenger air traffic.

Today, the airline fleet of National Air Company Uzbekistan Airways has about 200 planes and helicopters. Old Soviet planes IL-62, IL-86, Tu-154, Yak-40 have been replaced by modern, comfortable and economical planes from the world’s leading aviation companies. The first A-310 embellished with the symbol of Uzbekistan Airways began its flights in June 1993. Today, this airline operates modern liners 767-300ER, B-757-200, A310, RJ85, and locally produced IL-114-100. Operation of a new type of aircraft - the A320 – began in July 2010. This year, the total number of this type of aircraft in the airline's fleet will reach ten units. In the plans for the future is the completion of the fleet by four Boeing-767s and two Boeing-787 Dreamliners.

The second half of this year was particularly successful for the airline. Within a few months three large objects were launched - new passenger terminals in Tashkent and Bukhoro, and the reconstructed runway in Nukus.

The new airport terminal in Tashkent is capable to serve 400 passengers an hour. The terminal has arrival and departure halls, service for official delegations, mother and child room, health center, pharmacy, currency exchange, restaurant, help desk. New terminal at Bukhoro International Airport, built on the latest international standards does not yield to Tashkent’s one. Works on the runway in Nukus started in 20 June, 2011. Just within 110 days a modern asphalt-concrete runaway on the stretch of 3000 meters was paved. Now the new landing strip keeps the first category from International Civil Aviation Organization, it allows receive in the most adverse weather conditions all types of the aircrafts operated by Uzbekistan Airways.

Today, the railway industry of Uzbekistan is a successful example of introduction the technologies that are just being developed by many developed countries in the world. In September 2011, the first high-speed Central Asian railway Tashkent-Samarqand was commissioned in the country. The new Spanish train Talgo - which has a symbolic name Afrasiyob in honor of the famous ancient city, located in Samarqand region - runs between the two cities at speeds up to 250 km/h. In order to ensure efficient operation of the acquired electric trains, railway infrastructure of Tashkent-Samarqand line has undergone wide upgrading works in accordance with international requirements and standards. In two years national railways managed to do unique work in the region - to build infrastructure necessary to operate the most modern locomotives, including the work on building and reconstructing the lines and stations, erecting bilateral fences, upgrading the contact systems. Further plans contain extension of high-speed traffic to Bukhoro and Khiva.

In general, the railroaders plan to use approximately $2 billion over 5 years, and to modernize nearly 1,000 km of railway lines. This lines will be constructed using sleepers with modern flexible fasteners, which have greater economic efficiency and longer operation life. To do this, with the assistance of the Asian Development Bank, the country has set up a joint production of such sleepers.

Integrated approach to development

Ikbola Karimova,leading specialist of marketing operations and property relations department at national railroad company Uzbekistan Railways:

The railway industry of Uzbekistan in the years of independence has successfully created single national rail network. Today, the total length of country’s railway lines exceeds 6020 km. However, modern realities require development and introduction of new routes linking the major international markets, as well as rational use of existing ones. Through expanding the contacts in this direction, the railway sector’s enterprises of Uzbekistan have established effective cooperation with colleagues from other countries and international organizations. Another important point is good skills of Uzbek railways in ​​road construction, the fact widely recognized in the world; their performance in the construction of the railway line in Afghanistan is an example of this.

What is also, today, SJSRC is one of the few companies in the CIS who are involved in machine building. For several years it has serial production of tank cars, boxcars, covered and open wagons, as well as the most modern passenger cars. All this work makes it possible to increase each year the number of passengers and cargoes.

Andrey Grebenschikov, head of service and guarantee department at JV Kamaz Autoprom:

Motor vehicles are an integral part of transportation and transit systems of any country. This is especially true for trucks. Currently, the JV Kamaz Autoprom is the only official certified dealer of KAMAZ in Uzbekistan. The company was established to develop partnership with the republic’s industries, ministries and departments. All cars sold in Uzbekistan pass through a free inspection and presales operations. Also the cars have warranty for one year or 50,000 kilometers. Among our largest customers are Uzbekneftegaz, Uzavtoyul, Buharaneftegazremont, the LUKOIL Uzbekistan Operating Company and many others.

Our company is very interested in the freight market of Uzbekistan, because it grows steadily the past few years. This means that local and foreign carrier companies need to enlarge their fleets and to expand their capacity in cargo transportation.

Dmitry Volkovsky, chief engineer at WUA Technology (Russia):

Our company is engaged in the development and implementation of automated control systems for railways. In this respect Uzbekistan has done great job. I know that all train traffic in your country is managed through Single control center. A traffic controller, located in Tashkent, knows the speed of the moving trains, the type of their wagons, current location and time of arrival. Sitting on his chair in the center the controller can close or open any rail shooter.

The controllers have at their disposal modern information system Siemens, which makes it possible to ensure the safety of millions of passengers and the safety of hundreds of thousands of goods. However, technology is not standing still and we are ready to offer a number of modern technological solutions to Uzbek railroad. I think that these exhibitions will allow to enhance inter-regional and interstate communications, to share the experiences and will contribute to the development of the transport sector in Uzbekistan.

Yaroslav Gora, head of the exporting department at ERA S.P.A. (Italy):

It is difficult to imagine everyday life without cars and special motor vehicles. The current market conditions with intense competition, and the growing needs of the population and the economy stimulate constantly the product designers and production engineers to create not only new models of cars, but also meet consumers’ needs for maintenance, high-quality components and spare parts. For many years, our company has internationally renowned brand in the electrics. We have brought to Uzbekistan our technological achievements and we are confident that we will find buyers, as we see an increasing demand from Uzbek companies on high-quality and modern equipments, spare parts.

In general, I should note that active participation of foreign companies in these exhibitions proves the openness of the Uzbek market, not only for direct sales of cars, but also for long-term investment projects, creating new productions and service centers.

Umid Matniyazov, manager at Avto Oynalar Dunyosi:

Automobile industry of Uzbekistan is developing dynamically, each year increasing its production volumes. Today the country produces not only passenger cars, but also trucks, various machineries, buses. All this is done in partnership with leading car manufacturers. It is important that the domestic producers managed to start production of a large number of automotive components, reducing thereby the cost of the final product. Avto Oynalar Dunyosi specializes in assembling and manufacturing of auto glasses and their accessories. Therefore, we participate in these exhibitions, which contribute to addressing critical issues in the national transportation system.

In addition, the exhibitions have become not only a ground for showcases of the latest achievements of leading Uzbek and foreign producers, but also have become a place for professional networking of transport workers and research institutions with representatives of industries from Uzbekistan and abroad. That’s crucial, because only through discussion with potential customers it is possible to examine the demand and to identify ways for products improving. We, for example, in the near future plan to install new equipment for bending and toughening car’s side and rear glasses.

Active player on transport market

Sergey Baranovsky, commercial director at Kakhovka Plant of Electric Welding Equipment (Ukraine):

Through efficient logistics freight and public conveyance, developed transport sector of Uzbekistan makes significant contribution to the integration of different regions and sectors of the economy. This allows your country to be an active player in transport and transit relations in the region. At the same time it is gratifying that when acquiring technology and equipment the Uzbek side always stakes on the quality and effectiveness. KZESO is a production engineering company that specializes in the design and manufacture of electric welding and track equipments. The plant's products are sold in U.S., Austria, China, Korea and in other countries of Europe, America and Asia. More than 95% of world’s overhead and 60% of the stationary rail welding machines are the products of our manufacture. Today Uzbekistan realizes an ambitious program to develop the railway network, using the latest technologies. That is why our company works on Uzbek market.

Raimundas Nivinskas, senior marketing manager at auto-compressor factory Aurida (Latvia):

Active development of Uzbekistan's economy in recent years attracts an ever-increasing number of foreign investments to your country. Export of Uzbek goods is rapidly growing. In this connection an active and meaningful dialogue on all aspects of transport is required. This explains genuine interest toward the ongoing events in this sphere, and in particular to these exhibition projects which have drawn attention of a wide range of specialists from around the world. These exhibitions allow not only for expanding cooperation in the transport sector, but also promote the widening of international and interregional partnership of companies working in the field of transport logistics. Our company plans to find new partners in Uzbekistan because the republic has a developed automobile industry and mechanical engineering.