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Afghanistan

Almaty to Host Exhibition of Afghan Products

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Trade and Integration has announced that an exhibition of Afghan carpets, jewelry, construction materials, household and industrial chemicals, vegetables, fruit, and food products will run from October 20 -22, at the Atakent Exhibition Center in Almaty. Afghanistan’s TOLOnews reported that a delegation led by the Taliban Minister of Industry and Commerce and 250 Afghan traders will participate in the exhibition. Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce, further confirmed that 69 companies from Afghanistan will participate in the exhibition, with displays promoting various products, including carpets, dried fruit, saffron, and precious and semi-precious stones. Early in June, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced that his country had removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations, in a move to develop trade and economic ties with Afghanistan. In late August, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry then accredited a chargé d’affaires of Taliban-led Afghanistan to expand trade, financial, and humanitarian cooperation between the two countries.

Environment

Tajikistan to Strengthen Protection of Mulberry Trees

In a move to strengthen its silk industry, Tajikistan's parliament has approved amendments to the Code of Administrative Offences, increasing fines for damaging mulberry trees. Bakhodur Sheralizoda, Chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee, who forwarded initiative, emphasized that the new measures will help protect the environment and restore mulberry plantations, which are vital for silkworms. Under the new rules, individuals damaging mulberry or other crops will face a fine of three to five calculation indexes. In comparison, officials can be fined seven to ten indexes (for 2024, 1 calculation index is 84 somoni, equivalent to $7.50). The final amounts will be approved following the adoption of amendments to the Code. Because the leaves of the trees are the main food base for mulberry silk worms, their preservation is critical for the restoration of an industry which has suffered a sharp decline over the last 30 years. In 1991, the country produced 4,528 tons of silk cocoons but by 2024, this figure had fallen to 361 tons. According to experts, the reason for the decline is a reduction of mulberry plantations, especially on private land on which trees have been felled and sold as firewood. Back in 2021, in an address to parliament , Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, called for special attention to be paid to the development of silk farming, emphasizing its importance in creating jobs, especially for women and girls. To encourage cocoon processing, he also waived land tax for a period of ten years on areas where mulberry trees are grown. Despite such measures, the situation barely improved. In response and to achieve its aim of increasing silk production to 1,867 tons by 2027, the Tajik government has introduced a program to plant over 4.3 million mulberry trees across the country. The total area covered by mulberry trees in Tajikistan is currently about 5,500 hectares. In addition to their economic importance, mulberries play an essential role in environmental conservation. Mulberry trees prevent soil erosion and the spread of dust storms. Also of note, is that rich in vitamins C, K, iron, and potassium, the berries provide an important food source and are widely used in traditional medicines. Additional measures to protect mulberry trees include strengthening local authorities' control over land allocation for new plantations and preventing the felling of existing trees. A comprehensive approach, including economic incentives and administrative measures, is expected to help Tajikistan bring silk production back to its previous level and make it one of the country's leading agricultural sectors.

Agriculture

Chinese Company to Build FMD Vaccine Production Plant in Kyrgyzstan

China’s Yangling Jinhai Biotechnology Co., Ltd. plans to build a plant in Kyrgyzstan to produce foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines, according to the country’s Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry. The announcement followed a meeting between Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, Bakyt Torobaev, and a delegation from the Chinese company. The project includes the entire production cycle, from raising and fattening livestock to vaccination and slaughtering. Yangling Jinhai Biotechnology Co., Ltd. is ready to invest in plant construction, transfer advanced technologies, and train local specialists. The parties agreed to establish a working group to implement the project. According to the World Organization for Animal Health,FMD is a severe and highly contagious viral livestock disease with a significant economic impact. It is a transboundary animal disease that profoundly affects livestock production and disrupts regional and international trade in animals and animal products. The parties emphasized the project's importance for strengthening Kyrgyzstan’s veterinary security, as domestically produced vaccines would significantly reduce the spread of infectious diseases among farm animals. Kyrgyzstan is an agricultural country, and livestock farming is the country's primary source of income for its rural population. In September 2024, the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry reported that Kyrgyzstan had 1,802,299 head of cattle (cows), 542,527 horses, 6,216,125 sheep and goats, 6,988,968 poultry, and 29,676 pigs.

Food Security

Tajikistan’s Acute Hunger Issue

Tajikistan has been recognized as the hungriest country among the former Soviet republics. According to the Global Hunger Index prepared by the International Food Policy Institute, 8.7% of the country's population faces food shortages, and ranked 65th out of 127 countries in the world, is on par with countries such as Nicaragua and Ghana. Lower index scores equal less food problems. Assessments of hunger are based on child mortality, stunting, and wasting and in recent years, Tajikistan has consistently ranked lowest among post-Soviet countries in the Global Hunger Index. Despite attempts to improve the situation, the country remains one of the most vulnerable in the region. Today, 18.4% of children under five are stunted due to malnutrition, 5.1% are wasted, and 3% of children do not survive to the age of five; all indicative of serious food security problems in the country. According to the Global Hunger Index, malnutrition varies widely across the former Soviet Union. The best results are demonstrated by Uzbekistan, which ranks first among countries with minimal hunger issues. In the republic, less than 2.5% of the population faces food shortages. Stunting affects 6.5% of children; wasting ,2.4% of children, and infant mortality does not exceed 3.1%. Uzbekistan was the only Central Asian country to rank highly among the 22 former Soviet republics with the lowest hunger rates, including Belarus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, and Georgia. Belarus and Lithuania consistently demonstrate a high level of food security, making them among the leaders of the former Soviet republics. Armenia and Kazakhstan, in contrast, rank 23rd and 25th, respectively, demonstrating moderate nutritional problems among the population. Moldova, ranked 26th, has a similar situation: malnutrition remains relatively low but requires attention. Kyrgyzstan ranks 36th and Ukraine 46th, indicating average hunger levels. Turkmenistan was ranked 50th. The situation is particularly dire in Africa, which tops the list of countries with the most significant hunger problems. South Sudan, Burundi, Somalia, Yemen, and Chad, recognized as the hungriest countries in the world, experience extremely high rates of child mortality and malnutrition among their populations.

Automobile Industry

Accelerating Growth: Uzbekistan’s Automotive Industry Continues to Expand

Uzbek-Singaporean company Technologies of Real-Time plans to start producing components for such famous brands as BYD, Chery, Changan, Geely, and Dongfeng, it was announced during President Mirziyoyev's visit to the Tashkent region. The project will cost $115 million and is planned to be realized by 2025. As a result, 43 new jobs will be created, and production capacity will increase from 180,000 to 280,000 units annually. The automobile industry is a critical component of the Uzbek economy, with car production growing almost threefold in recent years. By the end of this year, production volume is expected to reach 460,000 units, and by 2030, it is planned to increase this figure to 1 million. Two new private enterprises and international brands have been brought in to eliminate monopolies and promote competition in the industry, with more than 20 plants in the country producing a wide range of cars and trucks. In response to the growing demand for spare parts, more than 300 enterprises have joined a cooperative network, including Technologies of Real-Time in Zangiat. In November 2019, the President familiarized himself with the products of this enterprise at an international industrial fair, and recommended its further expansion. As a result, extensive modernization has been carried out, and new equipment from China, Russia, South Korea, Japan, and the United States has been installed in 12 workshops. Currently, more than 750 types of spare parts for 118 car models are produced here. The enterprise has created 220 jobs. Products are supplied to the domestic market, including to the Uzavto Motors plant in the Khorezm region, where 773,000 spare parts for Damas and Labo were shipped. Spare parts are also in demand abroad: last year, exports amounted to $3 million, including deliveries to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

Energy Infrastructure

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan Determine Operating Mode for Toktogul Reservoir

Following a meeting in Tashkent to coordinate the region's water and energy balance, ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan determined a preliminary operating mode for Kyrgyzstan’s Toktogul reservoir for the autumn-winter period. Kyrgyzstan’s largest Toktogul hydroelectric power plant (HPP) reservoir on the Naryn River releases water downstream to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan providing essential irrigation for fields in Kazakhstan's dry southern regions. In winter, the plant which produces around 40% of Kyrgyzstan’s electricity, releases more water to generate electricity to meet the country’s power shortages. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are now interested in helping Kyrgyzstan maintain a sufficient volume of water in the Toktogul reservoir for use during the 2025 irrigation season; a goal which could be achieved by exporting Kazakh and Uzbek electricity to Kyrgyzstan during the winter months. Commenting on the proposal, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, stated: "An important area of cooperation for our countries is the water and energy sector. This year has become a vivid example of deepening such regional cooperation. We [Kazakhstan] have met our water needs thanks to the joint measures. For a downstream country, this is extremely important. First, it is used to fill the North Aral Sea. We will continue to adhere to the agreements reached for the autumn-winter period to provide farmers with irrigation water next year." The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced on October 14 that the irrigation season had ended in all regions of the country and during the growing season, from April 1, the Ministry supplied Kazakhstan's farmers with about 11.2 billion cubic meters of water. Nurzhigitov also drew attention to the vital role of water diplomacy in preventing a shortage of irrigation water this year, with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan sending more water to Kazakhstan than planned. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia the Toktogul reservoir accumulated more water this year than last.