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International Affairs KG

World Bank supports Kyrgyzstan in sustainable landscape management, climate mitigation

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

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International Affairs KG

Korea to provide electric vehicles for Kyrgyzstan’s government agencies

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

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International Affairs KG

EBRD vice president to visit Kyrgyzstan

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

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Geo Politics KG KZ RU TJK UZB

Central Asian states against their citizens’ participation in Ukraine conflict

Earlier this month, Tajik migrant workers in the Russian city of Samara were scared after Sunatullo Nazriev, the leader of the local Tajik diaspora, called on Tajiks who have Russian citizenship and those who want to get Russian passports in an expedited way to join Russia’s armed forces fighting in Ukraine. According to the migrant

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International Affairs KG

Kyrgyz parliament approves second reading of controversial bill on ‘foreign representatives’

The Kyrgyz parliament on February 22 approved on second reading a controversial bill that would allow authorities to register organizations as “foreign representatives” in a way that critics say mirrors repressive Russian legislation on so-called foreign agents, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. Dozens of nongovernmental organizations in Kyrgyzstan have called on lawmakers to reject the bill,

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Geo Politics KG

Brother, associate of fugitive ex-customs deputy chief give up seats in Kyrgyz parliament

The Kyrgyz Central Election Commission on February 22 annulled the mandates of lawmakers Iskender Matraimov and Nurlan Rajabaliev at their own requests, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. The former is a brother and the latter a close associate of the former deputy chief of the Customs Service, Raimbek Matraimov, who was added to the wanted list

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Business & Economy KG KZ TJK

EDB reports economic growth in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan in 2023

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has released the latest Macroeconomic Review for its six member states — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. In the face of a challenging external economic environment, the Review says, the EDB region saw a strong recovery in 2023, with the aggregate GDP of the Bank’s member states increasing

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Eurasia International Affairs KG KZ TJK

OSCE helps improve digital skills of women entrepreneurs in Central Asia

On February 19, the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) launched the Central Asian Women’s Entrepreneurship Programme titled “Strengthening the Digital Skills of Women Entrepreneurs”. The programme will serve as an online platform for exchange, learning, and dialogue for 21 women-led businesses from Central Asia. Through a series of workshops,

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Geo Politics KG KZ

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan destined for cooperation

Being close neighbors with centuries-long ties and common roots, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan continue to deepen their relationship, setting a good example for regional cooperation. Both countries are close trade and economic partners as part of the Eurasian Economic Union, which also includes Armenia, Belarus, and Russia. From January-November 2023, bilateral trade grew by 12% and reached

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International Affairs KG

UN, EU diplomats discuss Afghanistan with Central Asian officials

The UN secretary-general’s envoy for Afghanistan met on February 14 in Bishkek with EU and Central Asian officials to discuss joint efforts to assist people in Taliban-led Afghanistan ahead of a more formal international meeting scheduled to take place on February 18-19 in Doha, Qatar, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. UN Special Representative for Afghanistan Roza

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International Affairs KG

China’s Xinjiang provides $100 thousand to Kyrgyzstan to help recover from heating plant accident

The government of China’s Xinjiang will provide humanitarian financial assistance in the amount of 100 thousand US dollars to help Kyrgyzstan overcome the consequences of the recent accident at the Bishkek thermal electric power plant. This was announced during a February 12 meeting between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Aibek Moldogaziev

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Geo Politics KG

President Japarov accuses US of interfering in Kyrgyzstan’s internal affairs

Kyrgyzstan has published the text of a letter by President Sadyr Japarov to U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, in which the Central Asian nation’s leader accused the United States of interfering in his country’s internal affairs, RFE/RL reported. On February 9, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry said minister Jeenbek Kulubaev met with the U.S. Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan

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Business & Economy KG

Kyrgyzstan to export 400 tons of walnuts to Turkey

Kyrgyzstan and Turkey have signed a contract for the export of 400 tons of walnuts from the Kyrgyz Republic. The first batch of walnuts will be exported to Turkey on February 15, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce said. The contract comes as a result of the Kyrgyz-Turkish business forum held in the Turkish

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International Affairs KG

Bishkek to host EU-Central Asia meeting on Afghanistan

The European Union’s special representative for Afghanistan said that Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek will host a meeting on Afghanistan in the near future, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported. Speaking at a press conference in Kabul, Tomas Niklasson said the meeting will be held between the EU and Central Asian countries. “Next week I look forward to meeting

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Art & Culture KG

Bishkek court shuts down leading independent media foundation in Kyrgyzstan

The Oktyabr (October) district court in Bishkek on February 9 issued a ruling to liquidate the Kloop Media Public Foundation, the main owner of the Kloop news agency, one of the leading independent media outlets in the country, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. The decision, which also affects the foundation’s journalism school, was made at the request

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Geo Politics KG KZ

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan prove their friendly ties  

In the wake of the recent accident at the Bishkek thermal power plant, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have once again showcased their strong and amicable relationship. Following the explosion at the power plant on February 2, which resulted in significant damage and disruption to the supply of hot water and heat in parts of the capital

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International Affairs KG KZ

Kazakhstan increases electricity supply to Kyrgyzstan after Bishkek heating plant breakdown

Kazakhstan increased the supply of electricity from its Zhambyl power plant to neighboring Kyrgyzstan following an explosion at the Bishkek thermal power plant on February 2. Three workers of the power plant were seriously injured in the explosion, which caused the plant’s breakdown and left parts of the capital city without hot water and heat.

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Business & Economy KG

Bishkek thermal power plant to be modernized following accident

Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov has ordered to fully modernize the Bishkek thermal power plant after an explosion at the old plant on February 2 left parts of the capital city without hot water and heat. Three workers of the power plant were seriously injured in the explosion. President Japarov visited the plant as its staff

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Geo Politics KG KZ

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan confirm strategic partnership

Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have agreed to speed up the issue of opening an additional checkpoint for freight vehicles on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border, as well as to strengthen cooperation in the water and energy sector. This was the result of the meeting between the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Alikhan Smailov and the Chairman of the Cabinet

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International Affairs KG

World Bank to help Kyrgyzstan boost the quality of higher education

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on January 31 approved $25 million for the Higher Education Quality and Innovation Project for the Kyrgyz Republic to help improve the quality of research and strengthen labor market alignment of higher education programs.  “The Higher Education Quality and Innovation Project is fully aligned with the National Development Strategy of

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