The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Ipak Yuli Bank have signed a 625 billion Uzbek sum loan (equivalent to about $50 million) to enhance access to financing for urban micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Uzbekistan. A majority of loan proceeds will be allocated to support financial inclusion for MSMEs, 60% outside the capital
Climate action offers Tajikistan an opportunity to rejuvenate its economy and create jobs while protecting its people from the growing risks of extreme weather events induced by climate change, says the World Bank Group’s Tajikistan Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR), released on November 7. “Tajikistan is in urgent need of an economic reset that can help
Kazakhstan’s Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative has been named the winner of the prestigious Earthshot Prize 2024 in the “Protect and Restore Nature” category, awarded by His Royal Highness Prince William. The Altyn Dala Conservation Initiative has received the prestigious prize in recognition of its vision and results to conserve and restore the steppe ecosystem in
Tajik opposition activist Dilmurod Ergashev attempted to commit suicide before being deported from Germany to Tajikistan, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported with reference to the November 6 report of The Insider investigative group. According to the report, German police officers found Ergashev lying in a pool of blood in a cell in a deportation center. Ergashev
On November 6, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, hosted the 11th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The summit was chaired by Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov and attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Uzbekistan
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a state visit to Kyrgyzstan on November 4-5 and, together with Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, chaired the 6th meeting of the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council. Presidents Japarov and Erdoğan signed a Joint Declaration elevating relations between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership, which Japarov
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made a state visit to France on November 4-5. In Paris, Tokayev held talks with French President Emmanuel Macron on the development of trade and economic cooperation. According to Tokayev, last year, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and France amounted to $4.2 billion, and this year this figure was achieved
A court in Uzbekistan’s Ferghana Province has sentenced 51-year-old Alisher Holiqov to five years in prison for mercenary activities with the Russian armed forces in a landmark case highlighting the growing issue of foreigners enlisting to fight in Ukraine, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. The November 4 court ruling shows the risks faced by Central Asian migrants and
Kazakhstan has signed eight commercial agreements worth $2.5 billion with Chinese companies, significantly enhancing bilateral economic relations between the two countries. The agreements were signed on November 4 during Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s visit to Shanghai, RFE/RL reported. The agreements support a broader strategy of the two countries to double trade turnover, which reached
The 17th “Central Asia – Republic of Korea” Cooperation Forum took place in Seoul on November 4. The forum addressed key areas of partnership between Central Asian countries and the Republic of Korea, focusing on sectors such as transport and logistics cooperation, energy collaboration, digital transformation, and environmental issues, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. In
Late in October, the EU disbursed EUR 7 million as a budget support grant towards the education sector in Kyrgyzstan, the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic said. The EU’s engagement is centred on supporting the Ministry of Education’s work in the field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), alongside a
Climate finance, infrastructure, agriculture, and micro and smaller businesses in Central Asia were just some of the areas that benefited from strong funding from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, over the last fiscal year. The funds, coupled with advisory support, are helping to increase private sector participation, create jobs, boost financial inclusion,
On November 1, the VII Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable (KGIR-2024) was held in Astana under the “Global Investment Trends: A Vision of the Future” agenda. Speaking at the forum, Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov noted that the roundtable is a logical continuation of the meeting of the Foreign Investors’ Council, which was held the day
On October 31, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev chaired the 36th meeting of the Foreign Investors’ Council in Astana. Tokayev noted that the Council has become the most important dialogue platform for discussing issues of improving the investment climate in the country. “We have set ourselves a rather ambitious goal – to attract an additional $150
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is helping Uzbekistan to further decrease its reliance on carbon-intensive thermal-power generation and will facilitate the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy by providing funds to construct a solar plant in the Khorezm region of the country. The EBRD’s financial package of up to US$ 54.6 million
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is helping to introduce a public-private partnership (PPP) model to Kazakhstan’s healthcare-sector by arranging a financing package of €365 million provided by six financial institutions for the construction and operation of a 630-bed multidisciplinary hospital in the city of Kokshetau. The financing, including the EBRD’s own
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a $240 million Islamic Equity Bridge Loan (EBL) financing for ACWA Power to support the development of Uzbekistan’s renewable energy sector. IFC’s financing will support the construction and operation of two projects, with a cumulative capacity of a 1-gigawatt solar PV
The European Union says it is launching a new four-year project to strengthen engagement with civil society organizations (CSOs) in Central Asia, in partnership with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), and in collaboration with the UN Resident Coordinators’ and national governments. The project, which will be coordinated by a regional project team
Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov says he plans to revise the country’s national anthem to adequately represent the “evolving” identity of the nation, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. Japarov said in an interview with the Kabar news outlet on October 30 that he believes the current anthem, adopted 33 years ago, fails to inspire patriotism and unity, and does not
The government of Kyrgyzstan has introduced a visa-free entry for organized tourist groups from China for up to 21 days. This was announced by Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Edil Baisalov at the 11th China-Central Asia Cooperation Forum, which was held in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, China on October 28. The
