Central Asia

Industrial production has decreased by 2.1 % and has been 4432.4 billion KZT in Kazakhstan in January - July, 2009 in comparison with the similar period of the last year, Statistics Agency of Kazakhstan reports.

Establishment of enterprises with foreign investments on production of construction and special cement for needs of gas and oil producers of the republic is planned in Uzbekistan.

One more patient hospitalized in the Jalalabad oblast on suspicion of carrying the anthrax, the Emergency Situations Ministry reported.

A ceremony of awarding the winners of the traditional competition "Golden Melon of the Golden Age" was held in Turkmenistan. It was timed to the national holiday - Turkmen Melon Day, which is celebrated in the country on the second Sunday of August.

Transport and crossing of borders issues will be discussed at the OSCE XVIII Economic-Ecological Forum, which will be held under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan in 2010.

Russia is the main foreign trade partner of Uzbekistan following the results of the first half of the year. Its share in republic's commodity turnover constitutes 19.6% and has increased 106.5% in comparison with that of analogous period in 2008.

In the capital, it is continuing the second international business forum of the Central Asian Seed-Growers Association and the Pacific Region.

The gross international reserves of Kazakhstan are reported up 7.41% in July compared to the previous month and totaled US$19,975,000,000, the National Bank of Kazakhstan said.

“The prices for grain and flour will not go up this year”, - Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Processing Industry Iskenderbek Aidaraliev said during a meeting with journalist.

Central Asian international textile machinery exhibition CAITME 2009 will take place in Tashkent on September 15-17, press release of ITE Uzbekistan, forum organizer, states.