The Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan Yerzhan Kistafin held a meeting last week with the Secretary of the Ministry of Communications of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Ali Sher Mehsud. During the meeting, the parties discussed the prospects for cooperation in the transport and logistics sector taking into account the North-South corridor being established, for
Turkey has cancelled visa-free travel for Tajik nationals, the office of the Turkish president said on April 6, without giving any reason behind the decision, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported. Tajikistan’s Foreign Ministry later said that Ankara had not officially notified Dushanbe about its plan to scrap the visa-exemption rule, which had been in place since
The Tajik Foreign Ministry on April 6 rejected a statement by the director of Russia’s Security Council that Ukraine has recruited mercenaries in Tajikistan, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reported. Nikolai Patrushev earlier last week accused officials of the Ukrainian Embassy in Dushanbe of recruiting mercenaries to participate in military operations, including against Russia. He made the
The Embassy of Kazakhstan in Egypt and KAZAKH INVEST National Company on April 4 in Cairo held a round table with major Egyptian companies that are part of the Business Council for International Cooperation. During the event, participants discussed investment, trade and economic opportunities between Kazakhstan and Egypt, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. Kairat Lama
The Uzbek Culture Ministry said on April 5 that the Artdocfest/Asia film festival was blocked because its organizers “did not obtain permission” to hold a public event and failed to comply with regulations, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. The international documentary film festival began on April 2 in the capital, Tashkent, but was suddenly stopped by
The French Alliance in Bishkek announced the holding of the 2024 edition of the Week of the Francophonie from 5 to 13 April. The week of events is organized jointly with the Embassies of France, Switzerland, Belgium, Canada, Morocco, and the Delegation of the European Union. The program includes educational, cultural and entertainment events. This
With its ancient architectural monuments and beautiful natural landscapes, Central Asia is a magnet for travelers from around the world. The British publishing house Silk Road Media, through its publications such as Open Central Asia Magazine and travel guides to the countries of the region, has been promoting Central Asia as an attractive tourism destination,
The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akylbek Japarov on April 4 announced that Kyrgyzstan will provide humanitarian aid to neighboring Kazakhstan in response to unprecedented floods caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations has reported that almost 19 thousand people have been evacuated
Yerzhan Yelekeyev, Chairman of the Management Board of JSC National Company Kazakh Invest, and Sultangali Kinzhakulov, Deputy Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, on April 3 met with the leadership of the Chinese company Zhejiang Sunny Group Co., Ltd. to discuss the possibility of building a plant for the
Kyrgyzstan’s Elkart Interbank Processing Center said that the Central Asian country’s banks will stop processing transactions with Russian Mir payment cards as of April 5 due to Western sanctions imposed on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine, RFE/RL reported. Last week, another former Soviet republic, Armenia, announced a similar move. In September 2022, the U.S.
One of Kyrgyzstan’s first online news websites, 24.kg, reported on April 3 that the State Committee for National Security has suspended a criminal case against it. RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported that the State Committee for National Security launched the case — which came amid a government crackdown on civil society and free media — against
Kazakhstan intends to sign an agreement with Kyrgyzstan on deepening and expanding allied relations. The draft decree of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev “On the signing of an agreement on deepening and expanding allied relations between the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic” was published on the Open Regulatory Legal Acts portal. The
National experts from the Government of Kazakhstan convened at the Law Enforcement Academy under the Prosecutor General’s Office near Astana on 27 and 28 March for an interactive national workshop on the protection of vulnerable targets from terrorist attacks. The event marked the second activity under the OSCE’s new initiative – Project PROTECT, which is aimed
Kazakhstan’s Deputy Emergency Minister Bauyrzhan Syzdyqov said on April 2 that more than 15,700 people, including almost 6,200 children, have been evacuated across the nation amid unprecedented floods caused by abrupt warm weather that led to a mass snowmelt, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. Syzdyqov said the situation remains “complicated” in several regions, where flood waters continue to
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has signed into law a controversial bill that allows authorities to register organizations as “foreign representatives,” legislation critics say mirrors a repressive Russian law on “foreign agents,” RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. Japarov said in an April 2 post on Facebook that the law will “regulate” the activities of nongovernmental organizations receiving financial support from abroad
Dauren Rakhimzhanov, Managing Director of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Directorate of Digital Initiatives, participated in the United Nations International Telecommunication Union’s (ITU) Regional Development Forum for CIS, organized in Astana late in March with support from Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry. During the forum, the EDB Fund for Digital Initiatives,
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan Kongratbay Sharipov and Chairman of the Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China Erkin Tuniyaz have signed an agreement on granting scholarships to Uzbek citizens to study in higher educational institutions in the western Chinese region, the government portal of Uzbekistan reported. The two sides
According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce, the country’s GDP per capita in 2023 reached $1,969.2, compared to $1,350.7 in 2021. Kyrgyzstan’s economic growth over the past three years averaged 6.9% (in 2021 – 5.5%, in 2022 – 9%, and in 2023 – 6.2%). Since 2021, the country has recorded an acceleration in GDP
During his official visit to China, Deputy Prime Minister–Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu on March 30 held meetings with the leadership of major Chinese companies, and discussed plans for the implementation of joint investment projects in Kazakhstan, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. Chinese businessmen were acquainted with the economic reforms being implemented
Late in March, the Qoshkopir College of Water Resources and Melioration in Khorezm region in partnership with the UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan held the launching ceremony of the newly renovated college. The event marked a crucial advancement in the Skills Development for Employability in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan project, funded by the European Union, the Delegation of
