17 May 2024

photo: akorda.kz

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan and Malaysia Set to Expand Cooperation

On May 16, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim made an official visit to Kazakhstan to engage in talks with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

The meeting focused on expanding cooperation in political, trade, economic, investment, and humanitarian spheres.

In his opening speech, Tokayev hailed Malaysia one of Kazakhstan’s most important and reliable partners in Southeast Asia, and continued:  “Kazakhstan and Malaysia have a history of long-standing ties of friendship and cooperation – so I believe your visit will provide a very strong impetus to the further development of ties between our countries. We are ready to make additional efforts to advance our interaction and cooperation in many important areas.”

The Kazakh president welcomed the participation of Malaysian companies in the implementation of new projects and promised necessary support from the Government of Kazakhstan.

In addition, he commended the 30-day visa-free regime which benefits citizens and in particular, business men and women, travelling and working between the two countries, and noted the convenience of direct flights. Regarding cooperation in education, attention was drawn to the fact that more than 500 Kazakh students are currently studying at Malaysian universities.

In turn, Anwar Ibrahim stressed the importance of strengthening Malaysia’s trade and economic cooperation with Kazakhstan, and stated: “We can make the most of growing economic relations. We have created a huge commodity market in Malaysia. Our country has now become a regional hub for the production of computer chips with significant investments from the USA, Europe, especially Germany, and China. I think we can share this experience and at the same time, learn from your successful transformations of various fields.”

 

 

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Times of Central Asia

17 May 2024

photo: Kyrgyzstan Ministry of Economy & Commerce

Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Home

Russian Online Retailer Wildberries to Build Logistics Center in Kyrgyzstan

Wildberries, Russia’s largest online marketplace, is set to build a logistics center spanning 300,000 square meters in the Chui region of northern Kyrgyzstan to service cross-border e-commerce.

The initiative was confirmed on 16 May in Kazan, Russia, in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation by Wildberries, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce, and the Office of the Plenipotentiary Representative of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Chui region.

The large-scale infrastructure project represents an important milestone in trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

As part of its positive impact on the Kyrgyz economy, the ministry says the initiative will help raise employment, and increase the volume of the economically active population through the development and emergence of new small and medium-sized enterprises, contractors, and buyers.

Kyrgyzstan is currently home to two other Wildberries centres in Bishkek and Osh servicing some 130 order delivery points across the country.

E-commerce is rapidly growing in Kyrgyzstan and to date, over 17,000 Kyrgyz sellers are registered on the Russian marketplace, compared to about 7,000 in 2022.

 

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Times of Central Asia

16 May 2024
Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Local Politics, Features, Uzbekistan International Affairs, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Uzbek Politician Decries Dominance of Russian Language in Country

Alisher Kadyrov, leader of the Milliy Tiklanish Party and Vice-Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, has proposed a ban on the provision of public services to persons who don’t speak the Uzbek language. He expressed this opinion in response to a statement by the chairman of the Russian State Duma, Vyacheslav Volodin.

Kadyrov said that the Uzbek language should be defined in legislation as a mandatory language.

“In our laws, in addition to creating conditions for citizens of other nationalities to study their native language and values in kindergarten and at school, the Uzbek language should be defined as compulsory,” he wrote in his Telegram channel. The politician stated that he believes it should be impossible for a person who doesn’t know Uzbek to be employed in the civil service or use state services.

Earlier, Kadyrov suggested limiting the use of Russian on Uzbek television and in education. The party leader stated that a norm on teaching primary education in Uzbek should be introduced into legislation.

“We have not been able to teach Russian compatriots the Uzbek language for 100 years. On the contrary, it has become customary that Uzbeks send their children to be educated in Russian. In Tashkent, the number of schools where education is not in Uzbek has grown. Unfortunately, more than 90% of pupils at such schools are Uzbeks,” the Vice-Speaker wrote.

Kadyrov’s statements run counter to Article 19 of the Uzbek Constitution, which states that “all citizens have the same rights and freedoms and are equal before the law regardless of sex, race, nationality, language, religion, beliefs, social origin, or social status.”

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Times of Central Asia

16 May 2024

Image Anar Burusheva IG

Central Asia, Home, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

First Kazakh Woman Reaches the Summit of Everest

Anar Burasheva, the first woman from Kazakhstan to climb Mount Everest, did a little dance on her descent.

“My heart is on this mountain,” Burasheva said on Instagram after reaching the peak.

She and two other Kazakh climbers, along with a support team of four Sherpas, made it to the top on Sunday after a five-day trip from base camp in Nepal. The other Kazakh mountaineers are Maksut Zhumayev, a mountain training instructor in the Kazakh military who was making his third Everest ascent, and Almir Kymbatbaiuly.

“Congratulations to Anar Burasheva, the first Kazakh woman to conquer the highest mountain peak in the world. Scaling 8,848 meters above sea level, Mount Everest – an incredible achievement,” Erzhan Kazykhan, a Kazakh presidential adviser on foreign affairs, said on X.

Kazakhstan’s defense ministry also congratulated the Kazakh climbers, whose ascent was organized by Seven Summit Treks, a Nepali expedition company that specializes in Himalayan climbs.

Burasheva has climbed peaks in Kazakhstan and abroad, and is also a long-distance runner.

Lucia Janičová also summited Everest on Sunday, becoming the first Slovakian woman to do so. Seven Summit Treks assisted her, as well. The company’s senior guide for the ascent was Kami Rita Sherpa, who logged his 29th trip to the summit.

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Times of Central Asia

16 May 2024

UNDP - British Embassy Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Home, Turkmenistan Justice

UNDP and British Embassy to Help Increase the Capacity of Turkmenistan’s Boards of Lawyers

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the British Embassy in Turkmenistan have signed a Contribution Agreement in support of “Increasing the Capacity of the Boards of Lawyers in Turkmenistan.”

The initiative to be implemented jointly by the UNDP and Boards of Lawyers in Turkmenistan, aims to enhance the latter’s capacity to provide legal aid in accordance with international standards including:  UN Principles and Guidelines on Access to Legal Aid in Criminal Justice Systems, Basic Principles Concerning the Role of Lawyers, and Standards of Independence of the Legal Community adopted by the International Bar Association.

The project will also assist the Boards of Lawyers in the establishment of a National Chamber of Lawyers in Turkmenistan. The new body will represent and safeguard the interests of lawyers, coordinate the Boards of Lawyers’ activities in Ashgabat and across the country’s regions, ensure high-quality legal assistance, and address issues which impact the legal community’s interests.

UNDP will also assist in digitizing the Boards of Lawyers’ operations in Turkmenistan.

 

 

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Times of Central Asia

16 May 2024

photo: Akorda.kz

Central Asia, Home, Kazakhstan Local Politics, International Affairs, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan’s President Commends Growing Cooperation Between Central Asian States

On May 16, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev hosted the first meeting in Astana of Security Council secretaries from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, and the military attaché of the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Kazakhstan.

In his opening address, Tokayev announced that the aim of the meeting was to provide an effective platform for the collaborative prevention of external and internal challenges and threats, and to develop necessary response measures.

The Kazakh leader began by noting the steady growth of trade and economic cooperation between the Central Asian countries and stated that over the past five years, intraregional trade  had risen by 80 percent to exceed $10 billion.  He explained that large regional projects not only bring tangible mutual benefits, but also change the entire configuration of the Central Asian economy. The development of transport and logistics potential is becoming a new reference point for the rapid development of the region. Cultural and humanitarian ties have also intensified, contributing to the further rapprochement of the Central Asian states.

Returning to the pressing issue of the need to join forces in countering transboundary challenges and threats, he announced: “First of all, we are talking about the fight against international extremism and terrorism, drug trafficking, and arms trafficking. In this regard, Afghanistan must be the focus of our common attention. Complex multidirectional processes are now evident in this country. Whilst signs point to a stabilization and revival of the economic situation, there remain high risks associated with the activity of international terrorist organizations, as evidenced by the bloody terrorist attack in the Moscow region [in March]. In our opinion, one of the strategic tasks at present is the active involvement of Afghanistan in regional ties. And for this, much depends on the coordinated position of our countries. We consider it urgent to create a UN Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in our country.”

Tokayev expressed his satisfaction with the growing regional cooperation and mutual trust and concluded:  “-Some 10 years ago, there was no such situation in the Central Asian region. Now heads of state, heads of government, secretaries of the Security Councils, heads of law enforcement agencies, not to mention heads of economic departments, closely interact with each other. And this is a very good sign that the situation in the Central Asian region is moving towards sustainable development.”

 

 

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