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Russia Deports Thousands of Tajik Citizens

During a press conference, director of the Civil Aviation Agency, Habibullo Nazarzoda, announced that over the past six months, Russia expelled or deported some 3,400 Tajikistan citizens. Nazarzoda emphasized that the action was spurred by errors in the Tajik citizens' documents as opposed to being politically motivated and stated, “The reason for denied entry into Russian territory was sometimes a lack of necessary documents. 95% of people who travel to the country know where they are going and why they are going, but cannot answer questions when asked. Many become confused. That’s why it’s not political.” Conditions for migrants heading for Russia and for those already in the country, have become stricter following the recent terrorist attack at Moscow's Crocus City Hall and the suspected involvement of Tajik citizens. Complaints about difficulties in entering the country are increasing and dozens of migrants report being detained at Russian airports and land border crossings under various pretexts. Since neither the Tajik nor Russian sides have commented on the situation, the official reasons for the above remain unclear.

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

Turkish Company to Build Vegetable Storage Facility in Kazakhstan

On July 24, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Ermek Kenzhekhanuly met managers of the Turkish company Saraylim Tarim to discuss plans for a new vegetable storage facility. A leader in Turkey’s fruit and vegetable storage industry, the company plans to build a 5,000-ton vegetable storage facility in Kazakhstan costing around $15 million. In addition, Saraylim Tarim plans to invest a further $15 million in establishing a vinegar and canned vegetable production facility in the country's Almaty region. According to the Turkish company, the project would be implemented in cooperation with a Kazakh partner and Deputy Minister Kenzhekhanuly has promised maximum assistance from the Ministry of Agriculture.

Central Asia Uzbekistan International Affairs Business & Economy Uzbekistan Business & Economy Uzbekistan International Affairs

Rise in Uzbekistan’s Foreign Trade Turnover

According to a report published by the Statistics Agency of Uzbekistan on the country's socio-economic situation for the first half of 2024, the gross domestic product amounted to 567.4 trillion UZS ($44.93 billion), an increase of 6.4% compared to the same period last year. The industrial network grew by 7.8%; agriculture, forestry, and fisheries by 3.8%, and construction by 10.1%. Local enterprises produced industrial products worth 370.0 trillion UZS ($29.30 billion) and the volume of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products totalled 170,297.3 billion UZS ($13.49 billion). The rate of inflation in Uzbekistan's consumer sector was 5.2%. Foreign trade turnover amounted to $31,828.2 million, an increase of $2,486.7 million or 8.5% compared to 2023. Exports reached $12,992.7 million, an increase of 5.5%, and imports, reached $18,835.5 million, an increase of 10.6% compared to the previous year. In July 1, 2024, 455,600 enterprises (excluding farms and peasant farms) were operating in the country, of which 387,100 are small enterprises and micro firms. Between January and June, 42,400 new enterprises and organizations were established, of which 41,000 were small enterprises and micro firms, and by July, of the 13,880 enterprises operating with foreign capital, 4,221 were joint ventures, and 9,659, solely international.

Central Asia Environment Kazakhstan Environment Kazakhstan Local Politics Kazakhstan Business & Economy Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan to Increase Municipal Waste Processing

On July 24, Kazakhstan launched its first project to build a technological eco-park for processing solid municipal waste and producing electricity from biogas. According to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, the new facility will be equipped to sort 120 thousand tons of solid municipal waste and 120 thousand tons of large-sized waste, and process 80 thousand tons of organic waste per year. In response to an instruction by the head of state in February to secure investment for the construction of waste processing plants in Kazakhstan, the government has secured a pool of 94 investment projects to increase municipal waste processing from 1 million to 2.2 million tons annually. In March, the government announced plans to build 37 new municipal solid waste processing plants and modernize eight existing plants. To support the initiative aimed to improve the country's environment, the government has given approval for an Industrial Development Fund, with an interest rate of 3 percent and loan terms from 3 to 15 years, for projects related to waste management, including the purchase of rubbish trucks and the launch of sorting lines and processing facilities. Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov reported that recycling solid waste is profitable worldwide and Kazakhstan too, must exploit its potential in this field.

Central Asia Education International Affairs Local Politics Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan International Affairs Business & Economy Kyrgyzstan Local Politics Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Kyrgyz Labor Migrants Now Welcome in Sardinia

The Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad has signed a partnership agreement with the Italian association of farmers, Coldiretti Sardegna, which stipulates that labor migrants from Kyrgyzstan can work in Sardinia. The Italian association is interested in attracting Kyrgyz citizens to work in agriculture, with preference being given to married couples. A representative from the Center for Employment of Citizens Abroad stated that “social packages were discussed, including housing, legal presence, and health insurance. Moreover, after moving to Italy, employers expressed that training in the Italian language will be provided.” Baktybek Kudaberdiyev, director of the Center, said this is the first agreement with Italian companies on hiring Kyrgyz people. “We are confident that this agreement will become the basis for successful and long-term cooperation, benefiting both sides,” Kudaberdiyev stated. The cooperation agreement was organized by the Kyrgyz ambassador to Italy, Taalai Bazarbayev. Coldiretti Sardegna is a trade union representing Italian enterprises working in Sardinia's agriculture and agri-food sectors.

Central Asia Turkmenistan Turkmenistan International Affairs International Affairs Turkmenistan Business & Economy Business & Economy

Turkey Seeks Deal on Turkmen Gas

Turkey is at the final stage of negotiations on an agreement to transit Turkmen gas, Turkish Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Alparslan Bayraktar has announced in an interview with Bloomberg. Bayraktar said that “Turkey is studying the possibility of importing gas from Turkmenistan through a gas swap via neighboring Iran,” adding that a final agreement could be reached during an upcoming visit to Turkmenistan. It is expected that gas supplies from Turkmenistan will be carried through Iran in the amount of 1.5-2 billion cubic meters per year. In addition, the Minister did not rule out the possibility of using the Iran-Azerbaijan gas pipeline to deliver “blue fuel” to Turkey, from where it will be pumped into the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline (TANAP). In March of this year, Ashgabat and Ankara signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of natural. In early June, the state oil company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) and the Turkish state gas company, Botas signed a cooperation agreement to supply Turkmen gas through Azerbaijan and third countries to Turkey.