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Anton Chipegin

Anton was born and grew up in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He worked as a television correspondent, editor and TV presenter on the main television channels of the republic, such as NTS and MIR 24, and also as an economic observer at international news agencies and other media resources of Kyrgyzstan.

Articles

Banking Housing Insurance Natural Disaster Threat safety householder

By End of Year, Kyrgyz Authorities Want to Insure All Houses in the Country

The Chairman of the Kyrgyzstan Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, instructed specialized government agencies to ensure the safety of all houses in the country, especially those in mudflow-prone areas. At the meeting devoted to natural disaster risk management, Japarov assigned specialized government agencies to ensure the safety of all houses in Kyrgyzstan. Thus, according to the head of the Cabinet of Ministers, the authorities will provide financial protection to citizens in case of natural disasters. This year, powerful mudslides flooded the south of Kyrgyzstan and the Issyk-Kul region. Over 5,000 households, dozens of social facilities, and hundreds of kilometers of roads were damaged. “Insurance will provide financial protection for citizens in such situations and minimize the consequences for families who lost their homes. Insurance will be an important tool to help people recover faster from natural disasters and reduce the burden on the state budget,” Japarov said. The head of the Cabinet emphasized that due to global warming, the number of natural disasters will continue to grow. Compulsory home insurance will ensure protection for citizens. It should be noted that the law on compulsory real estate insurance came into force in Kyrgyzstan on August 26, 2024. According to the law, residents must insure their real estate against fire and natural disasters. The State Insurance Organization (SIO) explained to The Times of Central Asia that legislative changes would be implemented gradually. The law on compulsory home insurance was first adopted in 2016, but the authorities postponed its implementation. There is no system of fines for lack of such insurance, at least not yet. “It is not profitable for private firms to engage in home insurance, as the rate is only 0.12%. That is, the cost of insurance is KGS 600 ($8), while payouts can be multi-million: KGS 500,000 ($6,000) for a village and KGS 1 mln ($12,000) for a city. Today in Kyrgyzstan, 143 thousand residences are insured,” the SIO noted.

3 months ago

Kyrgyzstan Presents its Candidacy for UN Security Council

Speaking at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov called on the global community to reduce arms spending and international tensions. During the general debate, Japarov nominated Kyrgyzstan's candidacy for the Security Council, saying the time has come to address historical injustices. “If elected, Kyrgyzstan will work to improve the efficiency and transparency of the Security Council and to expand it with balanced regional representation. It is time to eliminate the historical injustice of 60 member states, including Kyrgyzstan, who have never been elected to the Security Council, and to correct the under-representation of African countries on the Council,” Japarov said. The Kyrgyz leader said the world is becoming increasingly unpredictable and complex. He urged all states to continue to support the UN in its core mission of ensuring peace and preventing modern risks and threats in this “turbulent period.” “Unfortunately, this is happening in a world where many nations and peoples still lack access to basic clean water, healthcare, and education. We need to ensure that the money that goes to wars, destruction, and death goes to creating or solving global challenges for all,” Japarov said. The council has 15 members, including five permanent members. The next elections to the Council will be held in June 2026.

3 months ago

China Banking Finance International Finance Corporation Foreign trade turnover

Kyrgyzstan Expands Banking Cooperation with China

The Chairman of the People's Bank of China, Zhang Qingsong, has met with the heads of key ministries in Kyrgyzstan. The parties discussed connecting the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic to the Chinese cross-border interbank payment system. Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Finance Almaz Baketaev emphasized the country's interest in using the Chinese payment system and in cooperating with the Bank of China. Currently, only two Kyrgyz commercial banks have correspondent relations with the organization. In addition, the Kyrgyz authorities offered Chinese colleagues the opportunity to invest in securities in Kyrgyzstan, which are placed on the local stock exchange. For this purpose, the country is ready to realize the issue of securities in yuan, but only with guarantees from China. “The Kyrgyz side raised questions about providing guarantees from Chinese financial institutions for the successful placement of securities, as well as the conclusion of an agreement on mutual settlements between the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic and the People's Bank of China,” the Ministry of Finance said. According to the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, trade turnover between the two countries amounted to about $11 billion for the first six months of 2024, increasing by 40% over last year. At the end of 2023, the figure reached $20 billion.

4 months ago

Uranium Environmental Awareness IAEA Nuclear waste radiation safety radioactive waste

Kyrgyzstan Asks IAEA for $45 Million for Nuclear Waste Remediation

Kyrgyzstan's Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations, Azamat Mambetov, has asked for support from Central Asian countries at the International Atomic Energy Agency's General Session in Vienna, Austria. The 68th session of the IAEA General Conference is taking place from September 16 to 20, 2024. An official from the Kyrgyz Republic Ministry of Emergency Situations made a speech that called for attention to be paid to the importance of ensuring environmental safety in the region. “In his speech, Azamat Mambetov emphasized the importance of the problem of radiation safety in Central Asia and called for the intensification of international efforts to reclaim uranium tailings in the region,” the Ministry of Emergency Situations stated. The IAEA adopted a resolution on “The Role of the International Community in Preventing Radiation Threats in Central Asia.” A strategic master plan was developed to reclaim uranium sites in the region and create a special account for environmental remediation in Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. The Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations of Kyrgyzstan informed IAEA members about the process of completing the reclamation of two nuclear waste sites in the country's south. This has allowed about 80,000 people in that area to live safely. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations stressed that it is grateful to all countries and international organizations that have made a significant contribution to the environmental rehabilitation of the tailing dumps left over from Soviet-era uranium mining in Central Asia. However, approximately another $45 million is needed to implement the Strategic Master Plan fully. According to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations, there are currently 92 toxic and radioactive waste dumps in the country. Of these, 23 tailings contain uranium elements, while the rest contain radioactive rock residues, heavy metals, and cyanide.

4 months ago

Economy Migration Employment Bishkek Migrants officials

Kyrgyz Authorities Urge Migrants to Return Home From Russia

Kyrgyzstan's presidential spokesperson Askat Alagozov has urged Kyrgyz citizens who have gone to work in Russia to return and work at home. However, only some people share the government's position on the issue. Alagozov noted that the country desperately needs construction and textile workers. “Of course, the salary you expect will be the same as what you get in Russia. But, most importantly, it is better to work in your homeland and near your family. Come and work in your own country,” Alagozov wrote on social media. Alagozov published the Ministry of Labor and Social Development hotline number, where citizens can get help with employment. In comments to the post, citizens noted that salaries in Russia are higher than in Kyrgyzstan. A migrant in Russia receives an average of 80 to 200 thousand KGS ($950 - 2,350), while in Kyrgyzstan, the average salary is 30 to 50 thousand KGS ($350 - 600). “90% of Kyrgyz migrate to buy an apartment. Working here [in Kyrgyzstan], it is impossible to buy a house. The most important factor is migrants' need for housing,” one of Alagozov's followers said. As of August 1, 57,500 unemployed citizens were registered at the labor exchange. According to the National Statistical Committee, registered unemployment decreased by 21% over the past year. The Ministry of Labor and Social Development also claims that more than 230,000 citizens across the country have been employed over the past few years, while 58,000 have received vocational training. Meanwhile, workers registered at the labor exchange told The Times of Central Asia that the Kyrgyz labor market is not as good as the authorities make it out to be. To earn money, people have to take any job offered. “We are standing here on Lev Tolstoy Street, and everyone in Bishkek knows you can find workers if you come here. People here take on any work: construction and landscaping, concrete work, unloading, and transport work,” said a construction worker named Ulukbek. Permanent work is hard to find in the city, he said. “I can earn 1,500-2,000 KGS (US $18) daily, but not always, and sometimes you don't make any money. There is a mafia here; no one will give you a good job for nothing. There is massive competition in the warm seasons. In summer, people stand on both sides of the road, and there is more business to be had,” Ulukbek explained. Talk of a shortage of qualified construction workers in Kyrgyzstan began during the recent construction boom.

4 months ago