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Regional economic cooperation
The subject of trade and regional security were also raised by SCO secretary-general Zhang Ming, who addressed the meeting by video-conference.
“Despite the unfavourable global economic circumstances, trade and economic interaction and practical co-operation within the SCO have been making strides; co-operation in trade, investment, the manufacturing industry, agriculture, research and technology, energy, transport, connectivity, digital technologies and other fields continued to pick up pace,” he said, according to a SCO statement.
“Today's world is undergoing changes that have not been seen in a century, and the human community is facing serious risks and challenges. Unilateralism and protectionism are on the rise, conventional and non-conventional threats to security are getting intertwined, and international instability and uncertainty are exacerbating,” the secretary-general added.
Among the package of documents adopted during the meeting was the SCO Economic Development Strategy to 2030.
Putin welcomed adoption of the strategy and said Russia intends to continue to deepen ties with members of the SCO.
“Russia’s trade with SCO member states has increased by over one third, or 37%, reaching a record high of $263bn last year. From January to April this year, it went up by another 35%,” the Russian president said.
He also commented on the increased use of national curren- cies for mutual settlements, with over 80% of commercial transactions between Russia and China now being made in rubles and yuan.
Tokayev suggested setting up a joint investment fund for SCO members, pointing out that no economic projects under the SCO's auspices have been realised in over 20 years due to the lack of mechanisms for financial support.
He called for the SCO's economic agenda to be prioritised with a focus on facilitating favourable conditions for increased mutual trade, removing trade barriers and promoting joint ventures.
Modi, meanwhile, called for collective action among SCO members to combat terrorism and assist Afghanistan, which was also raised by Central Asian leaders from Afghanistan’s near neighbourhood.
Uzbek company busted for selling “Snicker” and “Bount” bars
Muzaffar Ismailov in Tashkent
The Department of Intellectual Property of the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan has suspended an illegal use of the Snickers and Bounty brands.
The agency was contacted by a trusted representative of
the American company Mars, Inc. – the owner of the rights to both trademarks. The infringer was an Uzbek company referred to as A.B, which organised the illegal production and sale of ice cream under the brands “Snicker” and “Bount”.
Following the results of the audit, an administrative protocol was drawn up against the company.
At the end of May, another company became the target of the department's audit. It was engaged in the production of counterfeit chocolate bars under the “Strikers”, “Maris” and “Bonti” brands.
bne IntelliNews has previously reported on the suspension of an illegal use of the KFC trademark in Uzbekistan’s Kashkadarya region.
Intellectual property rights remain a big issue in Uzbekistan. The country’s Antimonopoly Committee earlier revealed a list of 30 unscrupulous individuals who had violated intellectual property rights. The impostors imitated brands including Snickers, Mars, Zebra, Hydrolife and Kanefron.
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