The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a subscription of up to $10 million in a landmark local currency green bond issued by Tajikistan’s Eskhata Bank. The first in the country, the bond aims to boost access to climate finance for smaller businesses amid a challenging macro-economic environment.
The recent summoning of the Uzbek ambassador to Russia over remarks made by the rector of the University of Journalism in Tashkent highlights the escalating tensions surrounding language politics in the region. Sherzod Qudratxoja’s statement labeling Uzbek citizens who speak Russian but not Uzbek as “occupiers or idiots” has sparked a diplomatic outcry from Russia,
U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Manuel Micaller and the Aga Khan Development Network Resident Representative Qozidavlat Qoimdodov on February 15 joined Tajik Minister of Science and Education Saidzoda Rahim Hamro in an official handover ceremony of 242,000 English language textbooks for secondary schools in Tajikistan, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe reported. The U.S. Embassy, in cooperation
The World Bank Board of Executive Directors on February 15 endorsed an adjusted approach to support the people of Afghanistan. “Approach 3.0” will deploy funds from the International Development Association (IDA) through grants to United Nations agencies and other public international organizations. These funds will continue supporting basic services nationwide, particularly those benefiting women, and
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on February 14 said it has invested $41.99 million into shares of Kazakhstan’s flagship carrier, Air Astana, supporting the country’s first partial privatisation through an initial public offering (IPO). The EBRD’s investment represents a 5 per cent shareholding in Air Astana. The shares will be listed on both the London
Russia’s Foreign Ministry said on February 14 that it summoned the Uzbek ambassador to Russia, Botirjon Asadov, over a recent statement by Sherzod Qudratxoja, the rector of the University of Journalism in Tashkent, who called Uzbek citizens who speak Russian but do not know Uzbek “either occupiers or idiots,” RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. The Russian
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and subsequent economic sanctions imposed by the west have underlined the urgency of finding alternative trade routes between Europe and Asia that do not pass through Russia. In the new geopolitical realities, Kazakhstan has a good chance to become the main and most sustainable transit route between Europe and Asia. In
During his official visit to Qatar on February 14, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani and participated in the Kazakhstan–Qatar Investment Roundtable in Doha. During his talks with the Amir of Qatar, Tokayev expressed his firm belief that in the near future Qatar will become one
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
On February 13, comprehensive presentation on democratic reforms was delivered to the diplomatic community accredited in Kazakhstan, on the eve of the regular session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. During a briefing on the topic “Promotion of human rights: a comprehensive dialogue on transformational reforms in
The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), and in collaboration with the Tajikistan Ministry of Health, the National TB Program, healthcare professionals, international donors, and the community, successfully completed its Eliminating TB in Central Asia Activity (ETICA) in Tajikistan. Over four years, the activity has made remarkable achievements in the fight
Kazakhstan’s Culture and Information Ministry said it has blocked the Selftanu.kz website, which focuses on LGBT relations, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. The ministry said the move was made “to protect children’s rights” while taking into account “the culture and traditions of Kazakhstan’s society and culture.” Although homosexual relations were decriminalized in Kazakhstan in the 1990s,
On February 12, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) signed the Letter of Intent during the high-level plenary session, “Nature Knows No Borders: Working Together for Migratory Species and Sustainable Development
On February 12, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Nikolai Podguzov, the chairman of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Management Board. Podguzov informed President Tokayev about the Bank’s plans and said that the EDB’s annual investment in Kazakhstan’s economy has exceeded $1 billion for the second consecutive year, the EDB’s press service reported. The EDB
The opening ceremony of the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies (Green University) took place in Uzbekistan’s Tashkent region on February 10 with the participation of the Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Grethel Aguilar, the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, Aziz
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
The upcoming ECG World Coaching Championship is set to take place in the breath-taking landscapes of Kyrgyzstan from 22nd to 29th June. Organized by the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG) in collaboration with the Elena Bezrukova Centre and Ak-sai Travel, this championship promises to be a celebration of art, nature, and nurturing positive energy. The genesis
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
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
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
