Our People > Sergey Kwan

Sergey Kwan

Journalist

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.

Articles

Kyrgyzstan Economy National Currency Banknotes Domestic Printing

Kyrgyzstan Begins Domestic Printing of National Currency Banknotes

For the first time since gaining independence, Kyrgyzstan has begun printing its national currency, the som, within the country. Previously, Kyrgyz banknotes were produced in various European countries. The new notes are produced by the Bishkek-based Open Joint Stock Company Uchkun. Starting with Small Denominations Chairman of the National Bank Melis Turgunbayev announced that production has begun with small-denomination bills. This approach will enable a quicker replacement of worn or damaged notes scheduled for withdrawal from circulation. Turgunbayev stressed that the new banknotes adhere to the highest international standards for counterfeit protection. A Modernized National Printing Facility Uchkun has recently undergone a major modernization effort, acquiring state-of-the-art printing equipment. In addition to currency, the facility now produces passports, excise stamps, and educational materials. According to Uchkun's Director Bakytbek Sultanov, the enterprise has already begun printing passports and excise stamps. He stated that in his opinion the security features of Kyrgyz passports rank among the top ten globally for protection against counterfeiting. In 2024 alone, Uchkun produced over 770,000 passports and nearly one million books, marking a significant step forward in Kyrgyzstan’s self-reliance in secure printing technologies.

20 hours ago

Astana Higher Education Cardiff University STEM

Cardiff University to Open New Campus in Kazakhstan

Cardiff University in Wales has announced plans to open a new campus in Astana, Kazakhstan’s capital, later this year. The move represents a major step in the university’s global expansion and underscores its commitment to providing world-class education in Central Asia. According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Cardiff University Kazakhstan will begin offering programs in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and Business in 2025, with undergraduate programs to follow in 2026. The Astana campus is being developed in partnership with the not-for-profit Public Foundation “Qualified Centre of Education” (QCEF). To ensure broad access, the Kazakh government has pledged to provide up to 500 fully funded scholarships over the first three years of the campus's operation. The initiative aims to make high-quality education accessible to talented students across Kazakhstan. Once fully operational, the campus is expected to accommodate more than 2,500 students annually, contributing to the development of a skilled workforce and supporting economic growth in the region. Cardiff University’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner, said: “We are excited about the opportunities that the Cardiff University Kazakhstan campus will create. It is clear from our extensive discussions with the Kazakh government, investors, and other stakeholders that this initiative will be truly reciprocal and mutually beneficial.”

2 days ago

Kyrgyzstan Climate Change FAO Artificial glaciers Global Glacier Melt

Artificial Glaciers Created in Kyrgyzstan for Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change Adaptation

As the international community observed the first-ever World Day for Glaciers on March 21, a project led by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has demonstrated how artificial glaciers can help rural communities in Kyrgyzstan adapt to the effects of climate change. As part of the FAO initiative, seven artificial glaciers were constructed in villages across the Batken region of southern Kyrgyzstan in late autumn 2024. Over the winter, these glaciers accumulated more than 1.5 million cubic meters of ice. As spring temperatures rise, the ice begins to melt, providing essential irrigation water for downstream agricultural lands. According to FAO experts, more than 1,750 hectares of land, equivalent to 2,451 football fields, can be irrigated using furrow irrigation. If modern systems are introduced, this could expand to as much as 15,000 hectares. These artificial glaciers are relatively simple structures designed to collect and freeze water in winter for agricultural use in summer, including for irrigation and livestock. On average, one glacier can support irrigation on 300 to 500 hectares. “The key is to choose the right location,” said Matraim Jusupov, FAO expert on water-saving technologies. “We channel water from a mountain spring through a pipeline ending in a vertical pipe 10-15 meters high. The elevation difference generates pressure, which allows us to spray water into the air. At sub-zero temperatures, it freezes and gradually forms an ice cone.” To build the glaciers, 6,956 meters of pipeline were laid. FAO supplied construction materials and technical guidance, while the work was carried out by local residents. The FAO office in Kyrgyzstan has since developed universal guidelines for building artificial glaciers and distributed them across the country. Based on this experience, new glacier construction is already underway in other regions. Global Glacier Melt According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the World Glacier Monitoring Service (WGMS), five of the past six years have seen the fastest glacier retreat ever recorded. The years 2022–2024 marked the largest three-year loss of glacier mass in history. Once regarded as “eternal ice,” many glaciers are now unlikely to survive the 21st century. There are more than 275,000 glaciers worldwide, covering approximately 700,000 square kilometers. Along with ice sheets, glaciers store about 70% of the planet’s freshwater. Their depletion threatens water supplies for hundreds of millions of people. In response to this growing crisis, the UN General Assembly declared 2025 the International Year of Glaciers’ Preservation and designated March 21 as the annual World Day for Glaciers. The initiative aims to raise awareness of the critical role glaciers play in the global climate and hydrological systems, and their significance to economic and ecological stability. UNESCO and WMO are leading the global coordination effort, supported by over 200 organizations and 35 countries. Kyrgyzstan’s Initiatives A Kyrgyz delegation led by Dinara Kemelova, the President’s Special Representative for the Five Years of Action for Mountain Regions Development, participated in World Day for Glaciers events at UNESCO headquarters in Paris on March 20-21. The meetings focused on...

2 days ago

Investments China Hydrogen Energy Hydrogen Innovation Center

China to Support Hydrogen Innovation Center in Kazakhstan

On March 20 in Beijing, Kazakhstan’s National Nuclear Center, part of the Ministry of Energy, signed a memorandum with China Energy Overseas Investment Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Jiao Tong University to establish a Scientific and Technical Innovation Center for Hydrogen Energy in Central Asia. The facility will be located in the city of Kurchatov, in Kazakhstan’s Abai Region, according to a statement from the Ministry of Energy. The future center is intended to serve as a key scientific and technological platform for research, testing, and the implementation of advanced hydrogen energy solutions. It aims to boost Kazakhstan’s competitiveness in the hydrogen sector, foster international cooperation in green energy, support innovative energy projects, and help train a new generation of highly qualified specialists. “Hydrogen energy is one of the key areas of the global energy transition,” said Deputy Minister of Energy, Bakytzhan Ilyas. “Kazakhstan has significant potential in this area, and the creation of the center in Kurchatov will open up new opportunities for the development of science, technology, and industry.” The initiative is also closely tied to Kazakhstan’s long-term climate goals. The center is expected to support the country’s strategy to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060 and to promote the adoption of environmentally friendly technologies in the energy sector. In September 2024, Kazakhstan approved its Concept for the Development of Hydrogen Energy until 2030. The policy outlines key objectives including: Fulfilling international commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions Advancing the national goal of carbon neutrality Expanding access to modern, sustainable energy sources While the strategy prioritizes hydrogen technologies as a cornerstone of Kazakhstan’s low-carbon transition, the global hydrogen sector remains in its early stages, and significant technical and economic hurdles must still be overcome.

5 days ago

Khorgos EBRD Investment Coffee-Processing Plant

EBRD Finances Coffee-Processing Plant at Kazakh-Chinese Border

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has announced a loan of up to $10 million to Empire Manufacturing Kazakhstan (EMK) to support the construction of a coffee-processing facility in the Khorgos Free Economic Zone, located on Kazakhstan’s border with China. EMK is a subsidiary of Food Empire Holdings, a global food and beverage group listed on the Singapore Exchange. The new plant will enhance the company’s regional production capacity and is expected to set a new standard for food-processing technology and hygiene in Kazakhstan and Central Asia. Once operational, the facility will export up to 50 percent of its coffee products to markets across Central Asia and the South Caucasus, where demand for Food Empire’s instant beverages is on the rise. The investment aligns with the EBRD’s broader strategy to support private sector growth in Kazakhstan. To date, the Bank has invested more than €11 billion in 335 projects across the country, with a strong emphasis on fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.

5 days ago