Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko and Director of the Continental Europe Department of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France Brice Roquefeuil on May 24 held the 10th anniversary round of Kazakh-French political consultations in Astana. The diplomats discussed the state of bilateral cooperation, welcoming its active dynamics and
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has challenged Central Asian leaders to put aside concerns of angering Russia, which considers the region part of its sphere of influence, and attend a summit in Switzerland next month aimed at achieving peace in Ukraine, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. Speaking to Central Asian journalists during a visit on May 24 to
The Central Asian Women Leaders’ Caucus Meeting concluded on 23 May in Bishkek. The event, centred on “The role of women in the economies of Central Asia: leadership for promoting digital, social, and environmental innovation,” brought together women leaders from across the region to strategize and commit to enhancing women’s roles in these critical sectors, the
On May 23, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Singapore on a state visit. During his meeting with Singaporean President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Tokayev described Singapore as a time-tested and reliable partner of Astana. Currently, over 140 Singaporean companies and joint ventures operate in Kazakhstan, with total Singaporean investments in the Kazakh economy exceeding $1.7 billion.
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), a consortium of Tez Zhol and Zhagalmai, and DemirBank have signed agreements to build and maintain a bypass road around the town of Uzgen in the Osh region of southern Kyrgyzstan. According to EDB’s press office, the project aims to develop the road sector and improve connectivity in the Osh
Thirty organizations – such as schools, libraries, and universities – in Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Batken regions of Kyrgyzstan on May 22 received a total of over 12,000 English-language books from the United States. These are well-loved books donated from the American people to the Kyrgyz people, the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan reported. This project is
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Kyrgyzstan’s Electric Stations have signed a technical assistance agreement for the purchase of equipment for the Bishkek combined heat and power plant (CHPP). This project, financed by the EDB Technical Assistance Fund (TAF), aims to address the consequences of an accident that occurred at the plant on 2 February
The 20th anniversary meeting of the Kazakh-German Intergovernmental Commission for the Affairs of Ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan was held on May 21 in Astana in order to strengthen cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany and discuss the affairs of the German ethnic group, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry reported. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of
The World Bank Group, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), and the Government of Uzbekistan have signed a financial package to fund a 250-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant with a 63-MW battery energy storage system (BESS). The project aims to expand clean and reliable electricity access to approximately 75,000 households, the World Bank said
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Bishkek Solar have signed a cooperation agreement to finance the construction of a 300 MW photovoltaic power station in Toru-Aigyr village in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul region. The signing ceremony took place on 21 May in Bishkek. The project includes several key agreements, including an agreement with the National Electric Grid
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), the Financial Credit Fund under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic (FCF), the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF) and the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange (KSE) have signed a letter of intent to implement a technical assistance project aimed at modernising the stock exchange in Kyrgyzstan. The modernisation project aims to
On May 20-21, Astana hosted a regular meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu. The meeting began with a minute of silence in honor of the Iranian President and Foreign Minister who died in a plane crash. The
The third meeting of the annual High-level Dialogue on Human Rights and Democratic Reforms between Kazakhstan and the United States took place in Astana on May 20 co-chaired by Assistant to the President of Kazakhstan for International Affairs Erzhan Kazykhan and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya.
From May 17 to 18, an International Conference at the level of ministers of culture of foreign countries, dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great Turkmen poet and thinker of the East Magtymguly Fragi (Pyragy) was held in Ashgabat. The conference was attended by leaders and representatives of authoritative international organizations, including
Following unprecedented mob violence targeting foreign students from South Asia in Kyrgyzstan, around 1,200 Pakistani students at the Bishkek-based Kyrgyzstan International University have left the Central Asian nation, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. University Rector Asylbek Aidaraliev told reporters on May 20 that mainly first-year and second-year students had left the country, though some students remain in Kyrgyzstan
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Kazakhstan are joining forces to support the modernization and development of the national mining sector. They will cooperate on activities that can contribute to better governance, transparency and regulation of the sector in line with best international standards and practices, the EBRD reported. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
On May 24-28, the 6th ECG Film Festival will be held at Premier Cinemas Romford in London. This festival is proudly joining forces with the renowned Romford Film Festival for the 6th consecutive year, promising a diverse and captivating lineup of films. Founded by the Eurasian Creative Guild and serving as a cultural bridge between
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Labor Migration Agency on May 17 called on the Central Asian nation’s citizens who may have broken laws in Russia to avoid travel to neighboring Kazakhstan, citing Kazakh-Russian agreements on joint efforts against crime, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. According to the agency, Uzbeks registered in Russia’s database as violators will be arrested if they cross
The Kyrgyz government said 29 people were injured, including three foreigners, in mob violence in Bishkek on the night of May 17-18 that appeared to be directed against foreign students and migrants, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. The violence prompted diplomatic reactions from Pakistan and India, who warned their students in Bishkek to remain indoors. The
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is supporting inclusive lending in Kazakhstan by providing new funds to the country’s leading microfinancier, KMF. KMF has been an EBRD client for almost two decades. The financial package of up to US$ 25 million (€ 23.2 million) will be disbursed in local currency, the Kazakh tenge (KZT)
