26 Jul 2024
Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan International Affairs, International Affairs, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Business Economy, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Responsible AI Rankings: Uzbekistan Leads in Central Asia

The Global Center on AI Governance has published a report titled “Results of the Global Index on Responsible AI in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.” Among Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan has been judged to use artificial intelligence in the most responsible way.

Recent AI initiatives in Uzbekistan cover fields including cultural and linguistic diversity, international cooperation, public sector skills development, and transparency.

Kazakhstan ranks second in the region. Among Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan ranks first for the number of government initiatives related to responsible AI.

Kyrgyzstan ranks third in the region, demonstrating significant non-governmental sector participation in responsible AI. However, the need for a comprehensive government system affects its overall outcome. The report states that the country has received a high rating for responsible AI governance, second only to Uzbekistan in the region. However, due to the scarcity of government frameworks, which, along with government initiatives, had the most weight in the index score, Kyrgyzstan scored lower in the Responsible AI Index.

Tajikistan is the only Central Asian country with an AI national strategy aimed at development until 2040. It ranks fourth in the region. However, this strategy covers only 5 out of 19 thematic directions. Tajikistan’s scores are relatively high regarding responsible AI governance; however, the country has the most passive non-state sector among the pillars assessed.

Turkmenistan has the lowest indicator in the region. Government structures related to the responsible use of artificial intelligence have not been identified in the country.

Sadokat Jalolova

Sadokat Jalolova

Sadokat was in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, currently lives in Tashkent. She worked as a correspondent, editor in local newspapers and websites, as well as a copywriter in international companies. 

 Sadokat studied journalism course at Michigan, John Hopkins and Amsterdam universities. She can communicate fluently in English and Chinese.

View more articles fromSadokat Jalolova
26 Jul 2024

@gov.kg

Central Asia, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan International Affairs, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan to Increase Trade and Economic Cooperation

On July 25, Kyrgyzstan hosted the 6th meeting of the Kyrgyz-Turkmen intergovernmental commission on trade, economic, scientific, technical, and humanitarian cooperation, chaired by Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers—Bakyt Torobaev, Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, and Annageldi Saparov, Minister of Energy of Turkmenistan.

The parties noted the sevenfold increase in trade turnover between Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan over the past four years and discussed means for further improvement.  In 2023, bilateral trade totalled $64 million.

Torobaev proposed opening a joint bonded zone in Turkmenistan to develop trade infrastructure and postal operations in e-commerce. He also noted that providing preferential tariffs for Kyrgyz cargo trucks through Turkmenistan’s territory and simplifying the visa procedure for Kyrgyz drivers will significantly expand bilateral trade exchange.

Due to their geographical locations, the parties emphasized that Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan have significant potential in the transport and logistics sector. In particular, the planned launch of a transport corridor from China through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to Turkmenistan, utilizing the Turkmenbashi seaport, will provide access to the Caspian Sea and the Russian Federation, opening up new economic opportunities for both countries.

The meeting addressed the need to continue working on creating a Kyrgyz-Turkmen Development Fund as a mechanism for uniting the two countries’ business sectors and stimulating the creation of joint ventures.

The parties also discussed a project to build a Turkmen resort in Cholpon-Ata at Lake Issyk-Kul.

The Kyrgyz government’s press service stated that the parties signed documents on Kyrgyzstan’s import of Turkmen electricity in 2025 but did not disclose details.

Sergey Kwan

Sergey Kwan

Sergey Kwan has worked for The Times of Central Asia as a journalist, translator and editor since its foundation in March 1999. Prior to this, from 1996-1997, he worked as a translator at The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, and from 1997-1999, as a translator at The Central Asian Post.
divider
Kwan studied at the Bishkek Polytechnic Institute from 1990-1994, before completing his training in print journalism in Denmark.

View more articles fromSergey Kwan
26 Jul 2024

@gov.kz

Central Asia, International Affairs, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

China the Largest Market for Kazakhstan’s Agricultural Products

The Kazakh minister for agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov, has named China the largest market for Kazakhstani agricultural products.

Kazakhstan mainly exports grain and oilseeds to China, and imports Chinese vegetables and nuts.

In 2023 Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to China doubled and reached $1 billion. In the first five months of this year, bilateral agricultural trade increased by 14%. It reached $540 million, including Kazakhstan’s exports at $380 million.

Kazakhstan has signed protocols with China on the export of 27 types of agricultural products to the Chinese market, including 18 types of crop products and nine types of livestock products. Currently, nine Kazakh companies export livestock products, and 728 companies export crop products. They are waiting to be included in China’s importers register.

Kazakhstan’s agriculture ministry has signed a protocol with China’s customs service to harmonise veterinary requirements for the export of various types of animals and livestock products, including cattle skins, dry mare’s milk, frozen poultry products, horse meat, offal obtained from slaughtering animals, meat products that have undergone high heat treatment, as well as chilled beef and lamb.

Saparov noted that Kazakhstan is among the world’s top 25 food exporters, exporting Kazakh agricultural products to 80 countries. Over the past five years its agricultural exports have doubled, reaching $5.4 billion.

“We intend to continue increasing these figures. In the context of a growing food deficit [in the world], our country seeks to double agricultural exports by 2029,” he said, adding that Kazakhstan is changing the structure of agricultural exports, giving preference to deeply processed products, the exports of which have doubled over the past five years, reaching $2.3 billion.

Sergey Kwan

Sergey Kwan

Sergey Kwan has worked for The Times of Central Asia as a journalist, translator and editor since its foundation in March 1999. Prior to this, from 1996-1997, he worked as a translator at The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, and from 1997-1999, as a translator at The Central Asian Post.
divider
Kwan studied at the Bishkek Polytechnic Institute from 1990-1994, before completing his training in print journalism in Denmark.

View more articles fromSergey Kwan
26 Jul 2024

Image: @tmhelsinki.org

Central Asia, Turkmenistan Justice, Justice, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan International Affairs, International Affairs, Turkmenistan Local Politics, Local Politics, Turkmenistan Features

Daughter of Civil Activist in Turkmenistan Not Allowed to Leave Country

Sadokat Nurimbetova, the daughter of prominent civil activist Hamida Babajanova, was removed from a Turkmenistan Airlines flight to Istanbul at Ashgabat International Airport, it has been reported. Nurimbetova, an ethnic Uzbek, is a second-year student at Istanbul Medical University, and accordingly she has a valid Turkish residence permit, a “kimlik.”

On June 5, Nurimbetova went to her home country to apply for a new passport, which she duly received on July 10, and bought a plane ticket to Istanbul. At passport control, two immigration officials intercepted Nurimbetova and took her to a separate room. There, she was fingerprinted and interrogated, after which the Migration Service officers told the student that she was banned from leaving Turkmenistan.  “This is a directive from above,” Nurimbetova was told, and was advised not to go anywhere and not to complain to anyone. It was also emphasized to her that her mother should not entertain thoughts of going anywhere.

Nurimbetova is the daughter of well-known Turkmen civil activist Hamida Babajanova, who last year defended the right of her elderly mother, Yakujan, to make a pilgrimage to Mecca. Recently, cases of Turkmen citizens being removed from flights abroad without explanation have become more frequent. The same thing is happening when attempting to cross the border by land.

Avatar

Vagit Ismailov

Vagit Ismailov is a journalist from Kazakhstan

26 Jul 2024

Image: @24.kg

healthcare, Central Asia, Home, Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Dangerous Afghan Sodas Seized in Kyrgyz Stores

An unscheduled inspection to detect and seize from circulation the non-alcoholic carbonated pomegranate drink, “Golden Life” produced in Afghanistan was conducted in Bishkek. Earlier, the Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic reported that the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance ordered that this drink be withdrawn from sale everywhere. Afghan-made sodas contain the dye azorubin E 122, which can negatively impact children’s activity and attention spans.

According to the Center for State Epidemiological Surveillance, 58 retail outlets, trading and market complexes were checked. The heads of enterprises were handed 65 sanitary prescriptions requiring them to withdraw these products from sale and return them to suppliers and resellers. In total, 7,356 cans of the drink were withdrawn. The heads of trade networks were instructed to prohibit the sale of this product in the future.

Avatar

Vagit Ismailov

Vagit Ismailov is a journalist from Kazakhstan

26 Jul 2024

@iStock

Education, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs

Cardiff University to Open Branch in Astana

A branch of Cardiff University will open in Astana next year.

Cardiff University, in Wales, founded in 1883. It is one of the leading research universities in the UK, and is part of the prestigious Russell Group.

Kazakhstan’s ministry of science and higher education has reported that 14 branches of global universities have been opened in the country since 2021. Preparatory work is underway on eight other educational projects.

Avatar

Times of Central Asia

View more articles fromTimes of Central Asia