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Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan Agree on Another Border Section

Delegations from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have conducted more work on the definition and designation of the state border, agreeing on the divination of another 11.88 km at a meeting in Buston held between the 17th and 23rd of December. The two parties also agreed to continue determining the remaining sections oat the next meeting to be held in Kyrgyzstan. A long-standing source of conflict between the two nations, it is emblematic of the problem that even the length of the border - sometimes cited as being 975-kilomtres long, and at others times 972-kilomteres - is rarely agreed upon. In January 2023, Tajikistan’s President Rahmon stated that 614-kilometres have been agreed upon, backtracking on a previously stated figure of 664. With its scant natural resources and dwindling water supplies, the border between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan has been the scene of numerous skirmishes for many years. In 2014, all borders between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were closed indefinitely to Kyrgyz and Tajik citizens following clashes over a bypass road in disputed territory; mortars were fired and both armies suffered casualties. In 2021 and 2022, troubles flared up again. Several hundred kilometers of the border have not yet been defined. This situation developed after the collapse of the USSR, leaving the parties unable to agree on dozens of disputed areas. The non-delimited territories become a conflict zone between the local population, and the border guards of the two countries became involved. The last major conflict occurred on September 16th 2022, as a result of which hundreds of people were killed and injured on both sides, and massive damage was caused to the infrastructure in Sughd and Batken. The Presidents of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, Emomali Rahmon and Sadyr Japarov, have repeatedly discussed delimitation of the border. The situation in the disputed areas is also closely monitored by the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). In recent years, the authorities of the two countries have been actively negotiating to resolve this issue. Meetings have been held alternately on the territory of the two republics. Currently, more than 90%, or about 885 km of the border has been mutually recognized by States.

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

EEU Leaders Seek to Strengthen Position of Economic Bloc

A meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council was held in St Petersburg on December 25th. The meeting was attended by leaders of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) member countries - the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan, Sadyr Japarov, and President of Russia, Vladimir Putin. Opening the meeting, Russian President Putin said that the Eurasian Economic Union will soon be ten years old, and over this period, the mutual trade between its member countries has almost doubled and the aggregate GDP of the EEU countries has grown from US$1.6 trillion to US$2.5 trillion. “We have created deep common markets for goods, services, capital, and workforce, which are operating in line with agreed-upon rules. The main point is that the Eurasian Union has become an authoritative international integration association with an efficient structure and a good foundation,” he said. Putin added that the work on aligning integration processes within the EEU and China's Belt and Road Initiative is also yielding results. The Council’s meeting adopted the declaration “Eurasian Economic Path,” which is aligned with China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

Central Asia Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Business & Economy Business & Economy Uzbekistan Life & Culture Uzbekistan Local Politics

Government to Support Projects of Young Investors and Entrepreneurs

On December 25th, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade, Khurram Teshabayev took part in a dialogue between the Ministry and young Uzbek investors and entrepreneurs, the Ministry’s official website reported. The event gathered senior officials of the ministry and more than 500 representatives of the younger generation - successful investors and business people from all regions of the country, in online and offline formats. Opening the meeting, Teshabayev emphasized the importance of involving young people in entrepreneurial and investment activities, saying that a number of opportunities have been created in Uzbekistan to realize the potential of young people, including within the framework of the “Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy”. Today, the task of providing comprehensive support to young entrepreneurs and investors has been elevated to the level of state policy, the Deputy Minister said. Youth industrial-entrepreneurial zones with preferential treatment for manufacturers have been created, a fund to support young entrepreneurs has been established, which provides assistance in the implementation of investment projects and entrepreneurial initiatives, covering the production of products and the provision of services, startup projects and scientific research. Young entrepreneurs can receive support both by obtaining an infrastructurally developed territory for organizing production facilities, and in the form of financial assistance for the implementation of projects for the production of import-substituting products that are in high demand in foreign markets. To date, the Fund for Support of Young Entrepreneurs has allocated funds for the implementation of about 700 youth projects, with about 150 of them located in Youth Industrial Zones.

Central Asia Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund to Finance Projects Worth $140 Million

The Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF) has said it will finance both new and existing projects in Kyrgyzstan totaling more than $140 million in 2024. The Fund will focus on strategic sectors of the economy: industry, infrastructure development in education and healthcare, logistics, agriculture and agro-processing, strengthening food security, and energy independence. Work in the country’s regions will continue and be expanded, for which the Fund’s Council approved financing of $1 million. “The strategic decision to approve the budget will allow the Fund to continue operating as usual. The RKDF has the necessary amount of resources, and we will continue to accept new applications. We hope that the number and quality of interesting, important and necessary projects for the country will grow, and the Fund, by financing them, will continue to contribute to the development of the economy,” stated Artem Novikov, Chairman of the Board of the RKDF. Member of the RKDF Council, and Minister of the Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan, Daniyar Amangeldiev said that compared to the previous year, the Fund’s overall project portfolio in Kyrgyzstan will be increased by 50%.

Central Asia Uzbekistan International Affairs Features Uzbekistan Life & Culture Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbek Foreign Ministry Summons Russian Ambassador over Annexation Comments

According to the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry has called upon the Russian Ambassador, Oleg Malginov, expressing concern over the proposal made by Zakhar Prilepin, co-chairman of the Fair Russia – For Truth Party, regarding the Republic’s potential accession to the Russian Federation. The Uzbek Ministry emphasized that such a proposal is deliberately provocative and could have adverse effects on the relationship between the peoples of both countries. "During the meeting, the representative of Russia was informed in principle that in our country the statement of the co-chairman of the Fair Russia - For Truth Party, Zakhar Prilepin, at a conference at the Rossiya Segodnya press center regarding a proposal to annex the territory of Uzbekistan to Russia was received with a sense of deep concern," the statement says, noting that such thoughtless remarks by party leaders of a friendly country such as the Russian Federation do not correspond to the spirit of comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance between Uzbekistan and Russia. In turn, Malginov "with full responsibility" stated that Prilepin's remarks do not reflect the official position of the leadership of the Russian Federation "in relation to friendly and independent Uzbekistan." The Ambassador emphasized that the “sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of the Republic of Uzbekistan have never been questioned." Malginov also noted that the Russian Foreign Ministry plans to comment on this incident in the near future. Prilepin has previously proposed the annexation of Uzbekistan and other territories of the former USSR to Russia, stating that "Since two million of your citizens are on our territory, we claim your territory. Because most of your people are here… Who will forbid us to do anything useful on the territory of the Eurasian territory after the parade in Kiev? No one," Prilepin has also said that he would continue to promote the topic of "disavowing documentation about the collapse of the Soviet Union." Deputies from Uzbekistan asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to send a letter warning about criminal liability for encroachments on the constitutional system of Uzbekistan.

Central Asia Business & Economy

Mutual Direct Investments Among Central Asian Countries Growing

Mutual Direct Investments Among Central Asian Countries Growing On December 19th, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) said it is continuing its series of EDB Monitoring of Mutual Investments (MMI) publications. The MMI encompasses a database of investment projects, containing detailed information on mutual direct investments in Eurasia, covering Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Ukraine. EDB analysts observe that the Eurasian countries’ FDI stock reached U$48.8 billion in mid-2023, following a 5.4% increase in 2022, and with continued growth in 2023. Kazakhstan reinforced its status as the regional leader in terms of inward mutual direct investment stock, with a share of 27.2% as of June 2023 against 26.6% in 2021, followed by Uzbekistan (19.8%), Belarus (12.0%), Russia (9.8%), and Azerbaijan (8.7%). EDB researchers highlighted that FDI stock within Central Asia totaled U$1.1 billion by the end of 1H 2023, marking a 1.8-fold increase compared to 2016. The key areas of mutual capital investments are extractive industries, manufacturing, and financial services. The leading domestic investors in the region are Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. In the medium term, uncertainties may persist in the dynamics of Eurasia’s mutual investments. EDB analysts note the following factors that will shape medium-term trends in mutual investments: The “neighborhood effect” - the share of Eurasian Economic Union countries in Eurasia’s mutual investments will continue to grow; Dynamic growth in manufacturing. Commencement of production of higher added value products in the countries of the region will be the main driver of growth; and Greater attractiveness of the transport and logistics sector due to shifts in commodity flows and Central Asian countries’ focus on developing dry ports, logistics hubs, and distribution centers.