Kazakhstan on March 9 confirmed that two of its citizens were shot dead in Russia in what the Kremlin said was an antiterrorism operation that prevented an attack against a synagogue in the Moscow area, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. “The media published reports about the killing of two Kazakh citizens by Russian law-enforcement agencies during an attempt
Feminist activists and domestic violence survivors marched in the Kyrgyz capital, Bishkek, on March 8 to mark International Women’s Day and to demand that women’s rights be defended and respected, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. The demonstrators gathered near the monument of Urkia Salieva, a figure of female emancipation in the Central Asian nation, and marched to Gorky
Reports about the existence of Pentagon biological laboratories in Kazakhstan are untrue, says Zauresh Zhumadilova, director general of the National Scientific Center of Especially Dangerous Infections under the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan, as reported by KazTAG information agency. “There are no American biological laboratories in Kazakhstan. All our laboratories are Kazakhstan’s own. They are
The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced the launch of the Business Support Project, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth in Uzbekistan. The launch event on March 5 marked the beginning of a five-year journey towards enhancing the competitiveness of small and medium enterprises across four key sectors: information
On March 6, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan, launched the “Roadmap for Sustainable Investment Policy Reforms (RSIPR)” Project funded by the EU and ADB. The project will provide a comprehensive assessment of the investment framework currently
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing fresh funds and creating new growth opportunities for women-owned and managed businesses in Uzbekistan by offering a loan of up to US$ 6 million (€ 5.5 million equivalent) to Uzbek Leasing International (Uzbek Leasing). The loan to Uzbek Leasing is extended under the EBRD’s Central Asian Women in
Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to the mountain agenda, environmental conservation and climate action took center stage as stakeholders gathered in Bishkek to discuss the establishment of a Conservation Trust Fund (CTF) at a UNDP-hosted round table on March 5 aimed to explore innovative financing mechanisms to safeguard the country’s rich biodiversity and fragile ecosystems, the United Nations
As part of his working trip to Pavlodar region on March 6, the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov inspected the construction of a new Palace of Children’s Creativity in Ekibastuz, his press service reported. The modern centre with an area of 7.2 thousand square metres is being built to expand the coverage of children
On March 5, the European Union (EU) and the UNDP held the handover ceremony of equipment to the Research Institute of Fisheries to support more sustainable fish farming practices in Uzbekistan. The provided equipment will help to reduce water consumption, improve water quality and energy efficiency in the fish farms, and, in turn, support the welfare of fish, the Delegation of the European Union
On March 4, a high-level meeting was held in the Turkmen capital with the participation of the Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Helga Schmid and the environmental ministers of the Central Asian countries. Particular attention of the meeting participants was paid to the issues of climate change in order
On March 3, as part of the #ForOurPlanet European Union Global Campaign, the European Union (EU) Delegation to Turkmenistan jointly with the Nature Protection Society of Turkmenistan and Agama Mountain Climbing Club, organised the Green Games of Volunteers. The event took place on the shores of Geokdepe Lake and brought together over 100 participants. EU
The World Bank on March 4 released its flagship annual report, Women, Business and the Law (the 2024 WBL), which assesses progress toward legal gender equality worldwide. The 2024 edition features an index that evaluates 190 countries, including Uzbekistan, against 10 indicators: Safety, Mobility, Workplace, Pay, Marriage, Parenthood, Childcare, Entrepreneurship, Assets, and Pension. The latest Women, Business, and the
The World Bank and the IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, on March 1 organized the first Conference on Elevating Global Access through E-Commerce (E-GATE) in Tajikistan. In Central Asia, e-commerce is emerging as a powerful tool to tap into global markets for locally made products, modernize traditional supply chains, and foster
American movie director Frank Chi led a four-day workshop for 20 emerging filmmakers from across the Kyrgyz Republic from February 26-29 in Bishkek. Participants learned documentary techniques to create captivating social media content about ecological changes within their communities, the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan reported. Frank Chi’s workshop was organized by Public Foundation Jandan, with funding
In a recent announcement by Roman Vassilenko, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs in Kazakhstan, the nation revealed plans for an extraordinary international endeavor: the reintroduction of Przhevalsky horses into its national nature reserve in the Kostanay region, “Altyn Dala.” This initiative aims to bring 40 Przhevalsky horses from Europe to Kazakhstan within five years, bolstered
In a significant move to bolster regional collaboration, representatives from Central Asian nations convened at a workshop in Almaty on March 1 to forge a roadmap and action plan for a proposed second phase of the World Bank-supported Central Asia Hydrometeorology Modernization Project (CAHMP II). This gathering underscored an advancement in regional cooperation and modernization efforts in
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Secretary General Helga Maria Schmid will visit Turkmenistan from 4 to 6 March for meetings with the Ministers of Environment from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, and with the Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan. In Ashgabat, the OSCE secretary general will engage with the
On behalf of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, 2,000 tons of diesel fuel have been allocated by the government of Kazakhstan to help Kyrgyzstan overcome the consequences of the recent accident at the Bishkek thermal electric power plant. The first batch of diesel fuel in the amount of 1,000 tons was shipped by 17
On February 29, in the Chinese city of Chongqing, Kazakhstan’s national railways company KTZ and the logistics platform Yuxinou (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd signed an agreement on the organization and dispatch of 200 container trains through Kazakhstan, including along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, with a cargo volume of more than 20 thousand 20-foot equivalent
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is promoting green lending in the Kyrgyz Republic by adding three partner banks to its US$ 50 million Green Economy Financing Facility III (KyrSEFF III). Demir Kyrgyz International Bank, FINCA Bank Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank have agreed to engage in lending to small and medium-sized businesses and households across the country.
