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

Issyk-Kul Sport Ultramarathon

Kyrgyzstan Prepares for First-Ever Ultramarathon Around Lake Issyk-Kul

Kyrgyzstan is set to host its first-ever ultramarathon around Issyk-Kul Lake, one of the world’s largest high-altitude lakes, between May 5 and 10. The event, titled the 1st Issyk Kul Six-Day Challenge, is billed as the world’s longest six-stage foot race, covering a total distance of 460 kilometers. The ultramarathon will take place over six days and six grueling stages: 90 km, 74 km, 87 km, 85 km, 79 km, and 45 km. Participants will race on a mix of asphalt, gravel roads, and dirt trails at elevations reaching up to 2,000 meters above sea level. Participation is capped at 100 runners. The racecourse has been carefully planned not only to circumnavigate the entire lake but also to showcase some of Kyrgyzstan’s most dramatic landscapes, including the otherworldly Fairy Tale Canyon and the striking rock formations of the Seven Bulls. “Issyk-Kul has been a place of power for many great marathoners, including Olympic champion Valentina Egorova and Olympic bronze medalist Satymkul Dzhumanazarov,” said Alex Golowin, Race Director and Head Coach at Running Expert. “We at Running Expert have been coming here for years to train for both marathons and ultras. The working altitude, mild weather, food familiar to Europeans, and the stunning nature make training here not only effective but also inspiring.” Organizers hope the event will help establish Kyrgyzstan as an emerging destination for sports tourism, drawing endurance athletes from around the world to the heart of Central Asia.

19 hours ago

Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) Water Conservation Report

EDB Chief Economist Outlines Central Asia’s Water Challenges and Proposes Solutions

Evgeny Vinokurov, Vice-Chairman and Chief Economist of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), presented a sobering assessment of Central Asia’s water and energy challenges at the Annual Meetings of the Association of Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP) on April 23. The event, held in Muscat, Oman, featured a plenary session dedicated to sustainable water management and practical strategies for addressing mounting environmental pressures in the region. Shrinking Glaciers and Growing Demand Vinokurov unveiled findings from the EDB’s think tank research, which paint a stark picture: Central Asia’s glaciers have shrunk by 30% over the past 50 years, while water demand continues to rise. Despite this, much of the region's water infrastructure remains outdated and inefficient, resulting in a loss of 40-55% of available water. Additionally, 10 million people in Central Asia still lack access to safe drinking water. Without targeted intervention, annual water scarcity could reach 5-12 cubic kilometers by 2028. National Commitments and Regional Coordination The EDB report emphasized water conservation as a critical pillar in the region’s response to these challenges. Several countries are already pursuing large-scale water-saving initiatives: Kazakhstan plans to expand water-saving irrigation technologies to 150,000 hectares per year by 2030. Uzbekistan has committed to saving 15 billion cubic meters of water. Kyrgyzstan aims to construct 106 new reservoirs to secure water supply. “Central Asia’s water crisis cannot be solved in isolation,” said Vinokurov. “Our research provides a roadmap for efficiency, investment, and, most importantly, regional cooperation. This is why the water-energy nexus remains a strategic priority for our Bank, both in terms of investments and research.” Localizing Water Solutions The EDB, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), recently published a report titled Irrigation Equipment Production in Central Asia: Industrialising the Water Sector, calling for localized production of irrigation equipment to enhance water efficiency and reduce dependency on imports. Another key publication from the EDB, The Irtysh River Basin: Transboundary Challenges and Practical Solutions, focuses on the Irtysh River basin shared by China, Kazakhstan, and Russia. The report outlines increasing water demand across the basin and proposes measures for managing cross-border water resources through collaborative frameworks. Uzbekistan Joins the EDB On April 9, Uzbekistan became the seventh member of the Eurasian Development Bank, joining Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. The move is expected to provide new avenues for Uzbekistan to modernize its infrastructure, particularly in the transport, energy, and water sectors, and support its broader industrial and agricultural development goals.

2 days ago

Taliban trans-Afghan railway Railway Development

Uzbekistan and Russia Advance Trans-Afghan Railway Project to Pakistan

Uzbekistan and Russia have taken a significant step toward the practical implementation of the long-envisioned Trans-Afghan railway project, which aims to connect Central Asia to Pakistan via Afghanistan. The transport ministries of both countries, along with Russian Railways and the Uzbek national railway company, Uzbekistan Temir Yollari, have signed documents formalizing the start of the project’s development phase. According to Russia’s Ministry of Transport, the two countries will jointly develop a feasibility study in 2025, assessing freight traffic forecasts and economic viability. Two potential routes have been proposed: Route 1: Mazar-e-Sharif - Herat - Dilaram - Kandahar (Afghanistan) - Chaman (Pakistan) Route 2: Termez (Uzbekistan) - Naibabad (Afghanistan) - Logar (Afghanistan) - Harlachi (Pakistan) Further discussions involving Pakistan Railways and an Afghan delegation are scheduled for the Russia-Islamic World Forum in the Russian city of Kazan on May 15-16. Uzbekistan, which already maintains a direct rail connection to Afghanistan, continues to position itself as a logistics hub for trade between Russia, Central Asia, South Asia, and beyond. In January 2025, Tashkent extended its contract with the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan to operate and maintain the Hairaton to Mazar-e-Sharif railway -- a vital segment of the broader China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan corridor. The corridor’s significance is expected to grow upon completion of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway. Currently, Central Asia’s rail links to China are limited to routes transiting Kazakhstan. In a major development on April 17, Russia’s Supreme Court lifted its 2003 ban on the Taliban, having until then designated the group a terrorist organization. The decision, formally allowing Russian state institutions to engage with the Taliban, opens the door to deeper trade and infrastructure cooperation. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk stated that this policy shift will facilitate the promotion of Russian exports and the realization of Afghanistan’s transport and logistics potential. Uzbekistan has pursued a consistent policy of engagement with Afghanistan, emphasizing economic cooperation over isolation. In October 2024, Abdul Ghafar Terawi began his tenure as the head of the Taliban-led Afghan diplomatic mission in Tashkent. Speaking at the 79th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2024, Uzbek Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to regional stability. “Afghanistan is an integral part of Central Asia,” Saidov told the Assembly. “Addressing the Afghan issue is essential for ensuring sustainable development across the region”. He praised Uzbekistan’s role in implementing the Trans-Afghan railway, which he said would offer landlocked Central Asian economies access to international ports. “This will positively impact the economic development of the entire region,” Saidov noted.

2 days ago

Ecology Memorandum forest restoration

South Korea Backs Forest Restoration in Kazakhstan’s Fire-Ravaged Abay Region

Kazakhstan and South Korea have launched a joint initiative to restore forests in the Abay region of eastern Kazakhstan, which was severely affected by large-scale wildfires. On April 22, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources signed a memorandum of understanding with the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) and South Korea’s KT&G Corporation to implement the project. Scheduled to run through December 31, 2027, with potential for extension, the initiative is part of KT&G’s Green Globe program and focuses on three key components: Reforestation: Pine saplings will be planted in burned areas, with participation from local communities and KT&G staff in Kazakhstan. Technology Transfer: Korean information and communication technology (ICT) tools will be introduced for monitoring and preventing wildfires. Training sessions and seminars for forest service professionals are planned in Almaty. Prevention and Awareness: Public education campaigns will promote fire prevention practices and aim to reduce human-caused fire risks. The project builds on an earlier agreement signed in June 2024 between Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Ecology and the Korea Forest Service. That memorandum covered broader cooperation areas, including forest legislation reform, biodiversity protection, and ecosystem restoration. As part of this growing partnership, Kazakh forest specialists have undergone training in South Korea, learning advanced techniques in reforestation and fire prevention. Officials expect the new project to boost Kazakhstan’s efforts in sustainable forest restoration, enhance environmental resilience, and reduce climate-related and human-induced ecological threats.

3 days ago

Agriculture Export Chicken Eggs

Kyrgyzstan Exports Over 8 Million Eggs to Kazakhstan Amid Shifting Trade Policies

Between January and March 2025, Kyrgyzstan exported 8.8 million chicken eggs to neighboring Kazakhstan, according to Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry. This marks the second consecutive year that Kyrgyzstan has achieved near-total self-sufficiency in egg production, enabling it to maintain consistent exports. In a move to support domestic poultry and egg producers, the Kyrgyz government has exempted feed and feed additives for the industry from value-added tax (VAT). Earlier this month, Kyrgyz authorities announced a temporary ban on egg imports to further protect domestic producers. As a result, the country currently imports no table eggs, though imports of hatching eggs, essential for poultry reproduction, continue. In the first quarter of 2025, Kyrgyzstan imported 2.26 million hatching eggs from five countries: Turkey, Uzbekistan, Russia, France, and Denmark. Meanwhile, in a parallel development, Kazakhstan introduced a six-month ban on chicken egg imports starting April 9. The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture cited the need to protect local poultry farms during a period of seasonally low demand as the reason for the temporary restriction. These shifting trade dynamics highlight the strategic importance of the poultry sector in Central Asia and underscore the balancing act between supporting domestic production and ensuring market stability.

3 days ago