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70% Of Kazakhstanis Happy With Their Life, World Bank Survey Finds

According to the World Bank’s latest ‘Listening to Kazakhstan’ survey, around 70% of people in the country are happy with their life – a figure that has remained constant since its first survey in 2021. The survey for 2023, conducted in partnership with the United Kingdom’s department for international development, monitors the economic and social wellbeing of Kazakhstan’s population, and provides insights into the impact of policy changes on households. The survey reaches 1,400 households in urban and rural areas. It revealed that public perceptions of economic conditions significantly improved last year. It found that a higher percentage of respondents in 2023 believed it was a good time to start a business compared to 2021 and 2022. However, this opinion dipped in the final quarter of 2023. Around three-quarters of respondents expressed optimism about the country’s long-term economic outlook. This optimism was especially strong in respondents aged 18-24 and in high-income families. The survey showed that support for the government’s reforms increased to 67% last year and was particularly high among young people, the elderly, and people in rural areas. Metin Nebiler, head of the World Bank in Kazakhstan’s poverty and equity team, commented: “We found it very encouraging to see that the overall wellbeing of Kazakhstanis has been improving. The views on the [economic] outlook and the government’s performance are stable or trending positive.” However, citizens also registered several concerns. Inflation remains a significant issue for 94% of respondents, although the annual inflation rate declined in 2023. The survey also found that challenges such as income inequality (92%) and worries about job losses (over 50%) still need to be addressed. Additionally, perceptions of government openness and anti-corruption efforts only showed only slight improvement.

Central Asia Life & Culture Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy Kyrgyzstan Features

Kyrgyz Gold Mines Produce Over 20 Tons Annually, But Local Jewelers Pay Above Global Price

Jewelers in Kyrgyzstan produced goods worth $1.6 million in 2023, five times more than in 2022, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan has stated. The ministry said the jewelry industry is important for the republic, not only because of its income, but also because of its importance in the country's culture, history, and tourism, and the government will support it in every way possible. "As part of the state support to date, jewelry manufacturers pay VAT with an 80% reduction. The leadership of the ministry highly appreciates the contribution of manufacturers to the preservation and development of this beautiful art," Deputy Minister of the Economy and Commerce, Ainura Usenbekova said at a meeting with jewelers. Meanwhile, the jewelers noted that despite the fact that more than 20 tons of gold is mined annually in Kyrgyzstan, the main problem for their industry is the supply of this precious metal. "The situation in this area has not changed for many years. We do not have physical access to metal, and if we do, it is at an inflated price. Gold bars sold to us by the National Bank between 5 and 20% more expensive than the global gold price. Plus, another 5% is added by Kyrgyzaltyn," said Stalbek Akmatov, president of the Kyrgyz Jewellers Union. Kyrgyzaltyn a Kyrgyz state company which controls gold circulation in the country Jewelers believe that until issues with the price of gold are settled so it's sold on the domestic market at prices comparable to those on the London Mercantile Exchange, serious development of the industry is out of the question. The Ministry of the Economy stated that they are aware of the problem, and the authorities are ready to discuss and work on creating competitive conditions for the continued development of the industry.

Central Asia Life & Culture Kazakhstan Life & Culture Kazakhstan

Model From Kazakhstan Receives Top Award From U.S. Social Media Firm

Kristina Menisova from Almaty has been named the Model of the Year at the U.S.'s National Social Media Awards, an event that honors the best online brands, influencers, models and artists. The National Social Media Awards are held annually in major cities around the world, including Dubai, Los Angeles and London. Menisova took first place in the Best Model category. The 29-year-old has already achieved success in the modeling business; for the last six years she has appeared at fashion shows for famous global brands. Her face has also graced the covers of magazines such as Vogue, Marie Claire and Elle. Kristina works with Chopard, Cartier, Michael Costello, Balmain, Roberto Cavalli and Yves Saint Laurent, among others. The National Social Media Awards is her third major win; she has previously won the Model of the Year category for Glamour Bulgaria and FashionTV Russia's Model of the Year 2023. In 2022 Kristina took home the title of Miss Universe World International.

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

Pilot Public-Private Partnership Project to Modernize Power Distribution System

The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will help launch a project to rehabilitate, modernize and operate the outdated electricity distribution system in Samarkand using a public-private partnership. A local distribution system operator has been selected as the platform for the pilot project. Expansion of the project across the entire country is being considered in the future. The Uzbek economy is one of the most energy-intensive economies in the world. On average, it consumes three times more energy for the same unit of GDP than other European and Central Asian countries. Uzbekistan's outdated electricity transmission and distribution infrastructure leads to high losses across the power grid. Modernization and digitization of transmission and distribution systems will also enable the introduction of more green energy-generation capacity. This is especially relevant for renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, as flexible smart systems can more easily adapt to their variable output. Public-private partnership projects have in recent years become increasingly in demand in Uzbekistan. The plan is to implement such initiatives worth $14 billion by 2026. This will cover half of the country's investment needs. With the help of foreign investment, Uzbekistan intends to develop its transportation, energy, agriculture, and social-services infrastructure.

Central Asia Kazakhstan Environment Life & Culture Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan Improves Its Water Infrastructure

The government of Kazakhstan has approved the development of a water resources management system for 2024-2030. Speaking at a meeting on January 30th, the minister for water resources and irrigation, Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, said that his department plans to build 20 new and reconstruct 15 existing reservoirs, as well as modernize over 14,000km of irrigation canals and hydraulic structures. Mr Nurzhigitov added that irrigation water losses during transportation should be reduced from the current 50% to 25%, which will make it possible to increase the area of irrigated land in the country to 2.5 million hectares by 2030. To encourage farmers to use water-saving technologies, subsidies for creating irrigation systems and buying drip and sprinkler irrigation equipment will be increased from 50% to 80% of their costs respectively. Prime minister Alikhan Smailov, who chaired the meeting, emphasized the importance of the rational use of water. He pointed out that the Big Almaty Canal, for instance, had not been repaired in the 40 years of its existence. In the country’s Turkestan, Kyzylorda and Zhambyl regions most of the main and inter-farm canals are in a worn-out condition, with water losses reaching 40%. Mr Smailov also pointed out that water-saving systems in the country are currently being introduced only slowly. Drip irrigation is currently used on as little as 84,000 hectares out of the planned 312,000. Kazakhstan, especially its dry southern and eastern regions, is largely dependent on irrigation water coming from its upstream neighbors, Kyrgyzstan and China.

Central Asia Life & Culture Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan Local Politics Features

Why Do People in Kyrgyzstan Refuse Seasonal Vaccinations?

In Kyrgyzstan more than 22,000 refusals of seasonal vaccinations were registered last year, according to the director of the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis, Gulbara Ishenapysova. She told journalists at a press conference that 40% of those who refuse doubt that vaccines against flu, measles and other seasonal diseases are of good quality -- while almost half do not want to be vaccinated for religious reasons. The Ministry of Health fears that an influx of infections from abroad could occur at any moment. For example, diphtheria cases are now being registered in Europe, and polio has not yet been defeated in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Doctors in Kyrgyzstan, said Ishenasypova, must be prepared for these diseases. Last year, nine children died of complications from measles in the Republic. Doctors emphasize that all of them had not been vaccinated. Meanwhile, parents refusal to vaccinate their children is punishable. Unvaccinated children may not be admitted to kindergarten or school. Furthermore, an article enshrined in the constitution assigns criminal liability to parents who deliberately fail to seek medical help in cases where a disease harmed a child. "In 2022, we lost a child to tetanus, and in 2023, we lost nine children to measles. If an unjustified refusal led to a fatal outcome, then it is intentional harm to the child's health, and liability under the law is provided for," the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis stressed. The rate of refusal of seasonal vaccinations has decreased over the past five years. The Center cited statistics which indicate that the largest group to refuse vaccinations -- those who do so for religious reasons -- is decreasing. Seven or eight years ago, 78% of the total number to refuse did so on religious grounds; today, that figure is down to 48%. "The Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan urges parents not to refuse vaccination for allegedly religious reasons. The question of benefits and harms of vaccination belongs to medicine. Therefore, in this situation, the decision on Shariah will be made taking into account the opinion of medicine. Islam is not against vaccinations if there is a conclusion from the Ministry of Health on the safety of the drug," said the head of the information department of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of Kyrgyzstan.