The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has contributed US$7 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to bolster assistance for vulnerable households facing rising food insecurity in Tajikistan, the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan said on March 12. The funding will enable WFP to support vulnerable communities to better meet their food
March 11 marked a significant milestone in disaster monitoring and forecasting with the introduction of a cutting-edge IT module designed for Glacier Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) monitoring, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kyrgyzstan reported. The unveiling took place within the framework of the “Reducing Risks and Vulnerabilities from Glacier Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF)
The Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Italy, Taalai Bazarbayev took part in a recent event organized by the Italian Senate jointly with the Italian Institute for Cooperation with Asia (ISIA) on the topic “Middle Corridor: A secure transit route between Italy, Azerbaijan and Central Asia.” The event was attended by deputies of the Italian
The U.S. ambassador to Tajikistan, Manuel Micaller, called on Tajik authorities on March 11 — the Day of Press in the Central Asian nation — “to support the rights of journalists and to respect their freedom of expression,” stressing that “an independent press is a key element of building democracy.” The ambassador said that free, independent media
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
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
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
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
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing more resources to increase the reliability and sustainability of electricity supply in Tajikistan by organising a financial facility of up to €31 million for national transmission network operator Shabaqahoi Intiqoli Barq (SIB). The facility consists of two EBRD sovereign loans totalling up to €23 million
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Committee of Veterinary and Livestock Development of Uzbekistan have launched a new project, implemented by the FAO Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases, under USAID’s Global Health Security program. The goal of the
Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister during his visit to Turkmenistan said that Afghanistan can now use the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, which would connect Afghan trade to Europe, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported. Amir Khan Muttaqi discussed a number of trade and diplomatic issues with Turkmenistan officials, including the TAPI gas pipeline project and the railway from Turkmenistan
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on February 27 approved a $45 million financing package for the Kyrgyz Republic Resilient Landscape Restoration Project, which is a part of the regional umbrella RESILAND CA+ Program. The project will be complemented by a $5 million grant from the Global Partnership for Sustainable and Resilient Landscapes (PROGREEN) and a $2.4 million
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) will help Kyrgyzstan’s government bodies replace their motor transport with electric vehicles. The project, to be implemented through KOICA grant funds, was discussed during a recent meeting between the Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, Daniyar Amangeldiev and the Director of the KOICA office in the Kyrgyz
Deputy Prime Minister–Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu, during his visit to Geneva on February 26, held a number of bilateral meetings with the heads of international organizations. At the meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the current global challenges, deepening regional cooperation between the countries of Central Asia, as well as the
The Tashkent City Court sentenced 23 people — including an Indian national — to prisons terms of up to 20 years after a cough syrup imported into Uzbekistan from India killed 68 children in 2022, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. In reading out the court’s verdict on February 26, the judge said Indian national Ragvendra Pradar, who is
European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Vice President of Policy and Partnerships Mark Bowman will visit the Kyrgyz Republic from 27 February to 1 March for meetings with senior government officials, the diplomatic community and Bank clients, the EBRD said. During his three-day programme, Mr Bowman will meet with Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov, Minister
