April 15. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated in the extraordinary session of the Samarkand regional People’s deputies council on 15 April.

Speaking at the session, the head of the state said Samarkand was one of the country’s leading regions, producing 6.3% of the GDP, 13% of agricultural produce and 8% of the service sector.

Last year, the gross regional product grew by 10.5%, industrial production by 24.6%, agricultural production by 6.3%, services by 37% and exports by 35%.

May 10. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received the chairman of the Korean Air Yang-Ho Cho on May 10 at the Oqsaroy residence in Tashkent.

During the visit of the President of Uzbekistan to the Republic of Korea this February a memorandum of cooperation between the national air company O‘zbekiston Havo Yo‘llari and Korean Air was signed. The document envisages expansion of practical partnership in the development of new markets, development of logistics infrastructure in Uzbekistan, exchange of experience in the management of civil aviation and personnel training.

June 20-21. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov visited Bukhara and Kashkadarya regions on 20-21 June to familiarize himself with the socioeconomic reforms there.

The head of the state started his trip from the visit to the Husen Bolta Zamini farm in Vobkent district of Bukhara region.

At the meeting with farmers and other representatives of the region, Islam Karimov spoke about the improvement of the living level of the rural residents, protection of rights and interests of the farmers and their support.

July 18. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated in the session of the Cabinet of Ministers, which took place on 18 July in Tashkent. The session participants considered the results of the country’s socioeconomic development in the first half of 2008 and priorities for the rest of the year.

The growth of the gross domestic product in the first six months of the year comprised 9.3%, it was said at the session. Industrial production increased by 12.2%, consumer goods production by 16.6%, agriculture by 5.4%, retail trade by 14.4% and paid services by 18.9%.

July 18. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov received Japanese Finance minister Fukushiro Nukaga on 18 July in Tashkent.

Welcoming the guest, the head of the state said he highly valued the developing Uzbek-Japanese ties.

July 18. President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov participated in the session of the Cabinet of Ministers, which took place on 18 July in Tashkent. The session participants considered the results of the country’s socioeconomic development in the first half of 2008 and priorities for the rest of the year.