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E-Commerce

UNDP Helps Entrepreneurs in Kyrgyzstan Master E-Commerce

More than 50 entrepreneurs from Kyrgyzstan are learning about e-commerce through the "Janyration Sanarip" program, an initiative aimed at supporting micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in the country, jointly implemented by the government of Kyrgyzstan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UNDP Kyrgyzstan reports. According to Nazarbek Malayev, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce, "E-commerce opens up unique opportunities for domestic entrepreneurs to enter international markets, expand their customer base, and improve the competitiveness of their products. The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic is trying to create a favorable ecosystem where digital technologies contribute to business development and improve citizens' quality of life." Since 2019, e-commerce in Kyrgyzstan has been experiencing rapid growth, driven by the development of internet infrastructure and an increase in mobile payment users. However, the sector faces several challenges, such as a lack of consumer trust in online shopping and limited internet access in rural areas, where 60% of the population lives. In response to these challenges, the government launched the E-Commerce Development Program for 2023-2026, aimed at enhancing the competitiveness of local products in international markets and attracting investments. Within this initiative, UNDP provides comprehensive support to entrepreneurs, helping them acquire e-commerce skills and work effectively on global marketplaces. UNDP Resident Representative in Kyrgyzstan, Alexandra Solovieva, commented: "Digitalization is a key factor in bridging the digital divide and accelerating Kyrgyzstan's economic development. E-commerce improves access to services and creates new opportunities for local entrepreneurs. We are confident that the joint efforts of the Government and UNDP will contribute to sustainable and inclusive economic growth, particularly in rural areas where internet access remains limited.” Five hundred forty-two applications were submitted for the program, and entrepreneurs were selected based on several criteria, including having an existing business in Kyrgyzstan and a personal investment of at least 80,000 KGS (almost $1,000). These entrepreneurs, representing key sectors such as garment manufacturing, tourism, honey production, light industry, services, and trade, were selected from all regions of the country. Kyrgyzstan is the world's 96th largest market for e-commerce, with a predicted revenue of more than $359 million in 2024, placing it ahead of Uzbekistan. The country’s e-commerce revenue is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 13.5% from 2024 to 2028, resulting in a projected market volume of $595.7 million by 2028.

Poverty

Pathway to Prosperity: Uzbekistan’s Ambitious Plan to Halve Poverty by 2030

A presidential decree, "On taking measures to reduce poverty and increase the population's well-being to a new level," has been adopted in Uzbekistan. Lifting half a million people out of poverty in the remainder of 2024 and a further million in 2025 was defined as the primary task of the state's socioeconomic policy and state bodies and organizations at all levels. The “From Poverty to Prosperity” program will be implemented based on the positive results of poverty reduction from past national experiences and international practices. The program will be implemented from November 1, 2024, based on the doctrine of “Seven Opportunities and Responsibilities for Poor Families.” Within the framework of this program, systematic work is carried out to achieve stable employment and higher incomes, education and vocational training, access to the use guaranteed state medical services, social services, and an overall improvement in living conditions. The “Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy also includes steps to reduce poverty in the country. It was stated that the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment in Uzbekistan will work with Chinese experts and international organizations to develop a strategy for reducing poverty from 2024 to 2030. This will aim to halve poverty by 2026, raise the income of 4.5 million people at risk of falling into poverty by 2030, and lift three million young people out of poverty by utilizing their labor skills. According to data, at the end of 2020, approximately six million people in Uzbekistan lived below the poverty line. While evaluating the results of the transformation programs aimed at solving the problems of poverty, it was noted that in 2023, the poverty rate in Uzbekistan decreased from 17% to 11%, meaning such programs have already helped lift almost two million people out of poverty. It is planned that the poverty level in Uzbekistan will be reduced to 7% in the next three years. This work to reduce poverty has been lauded at the international level. Dr. Ambar Narayan, Manager of the Global Poverty and Equality practice of the World Bank in Europe and Central Asia, for example, has recognized that large-scale work on poverty reduction has been carried out in Uzbekistan since 2020. Naravan believes that prioritizing investment in economic mobility and developing opportunities for vulnerable sections of the population, including youth, women, and inexperienced workers, will help create more productive jobs and reduce hardship. Geoffrey Ijumba, acting head of the UNICEF office in Uzbekistan, has also praised Uzbekistan’s efforts to develop a nationwide action plan to end child poverty. “Prioritizing the problem of child poverty, as well as the development of appropriate measures and programs, will allow Uzbekistan to achieve its goals of reducing poverty, as stated in the ‘Uzbekistan – 2030’ strategy. It will also help achieve the MDG (Millennium Development Goal) targets of ending child extreme poverty and halving it according to the national definition,” Ijumba stated. Global Finance published a list of the poorest countries in the world in 2024 based on the International Monetary Fund's data. Kazakhstan...

Armed Forces

MP: Kazakhstan’s Army Not Ready to Switch to a Contractual Basis

Kazakh Mazhilis deputy Konstantin Avershin has explained why the authorities do not support the petition to abolish compulsory military service. Avershin opposed the idea, stating that compulsory service trains citizens to handle firearms and live in barracks conditions. According to him, in Soviet times, this was taught in schools through initial military training, but today, there is no such practice besides military service. Avershin stated that Kazakhstanis must be prepared to defend the country, given its vast territory and resources. He also emphasized that the country's population is small, about 20 million people, so it is crucial that as many citizens as possible have the skills to defend the nation. Avershin also criticized the idea of voluntary service on a contract basis, saying that Kazakhstan's budget would not be able to support an entirely professional army. He said the country focuses on social needs, transitioning to a professional army will take time, and that modernizing the military is one of the key tasks set by President Tokayev. “We are working closely with the Armed Forces," Avershin stated. "Every case of a serviceman's deaths is taken under control. I speak as a representative of the specialized committee.” As previously reported, activists in Kazakhstan have demanded that mandatory military service be ended, publishing a petition in support of this demand. One of the the reasons behind this was recent tragic cases among servicemen, which, according to the authors of the petition, revealed severe problems in the army. The petition emphasizes that the main issues are hazing and non-statutory relations, which exert intense pressure on conscripts, causing psychological trauma and even suicide. The authors also voiced concern about inadequate training, stating that modern challenges and technologies can only be effectively tackled by professional soldiers, not conscripts. In recent years, Kazakhstan has witnessed a disturbing trend in the army, with an increase in suicides among soldiers. In 2022, President Tokayev ordered an investigation to identify the causes of these incidents, as the problem of hazing and psychological pressure remains one of the key causes of tragic incidents in the military. Such incidents have not ceased despite the measures taken, causing increasing concern among both the public and the authorities.

UNDP

Project To Support Women and Youth Launched in Turkmenistan

A new project developed by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in cooperation with the British Embassy has been launched in Turkmenistan to support the country's economic diversification and empowerment of women and youth. The project aims to stimulate sustainable economic growth and increase Turkmenistan's global competitiveness by developing a creative and innovative economy. Narine Sahakyan, UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan, emphasized the importance of unlocking the creative sector's potential to achieve economic prosperity. She said stimulating entrepreneurship and innovation will open new economic diversification and growth opportunities. British Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Stephen Conlon also spoke about the importance of the creative economy, noting the UK's experience in this area. Conlon stated that the creative sector contributes to economic growth, strengthens national identity, and supports local communities, especially in rural areas. Within the project framework, the UNDP plans to launch recommendations for the development of the creative economy and support for entrepreneurship and innovation. One of the key events will be a forum on the creative economy, which will bring together representatives of the government, international organizations, and businesses. The forum will be a platform within which to share experiences and discuss legislative measures to support the creative sector. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) is actively cooperating with Turkmenistan on various projects aimed at sustainable development. One of the key projects deals with managing the consequences of the Aral Sea crisis. Together with the Government of Turkmenistan, the UNDP is implementing a project aimed at preserving ecosystems in the Aral Sea basin, improving the use of land and water resources, and increasing the sustainability of local communities. Another important project is Digital Transformation, which aims to help Turkmenistan implement advanced inter-agency data exchange systems to improve the efficiency of public services.

Society

Uzbekistan Leads Central Asia in World Happiness Report

The World Population Review has announced this year's list of the happiest countries in the world. Since 2002 the World Happiness Report has used statistical analysis to determine the probable wellbeing of countries. To determine the happiest country in the world, researchers analyzed Gallup poll data collected from 143 countries over the past three years. The index looks at six categories: gross domestic product per capita, social support, life expectancy, freedom to make life choices, generosity of the general population, and perceptions of internal and external corruption levels. The seven happiest countries in the world for 2024 are all in Europe, with six of them being in Northern Europe. Finland is in first place, followed by Denmark, Iceland, Sweden, Israel, the Netherlands, and Norway. Afghanistan ranked as the least happy country in 2024, placing 143rd. This is due to factors like low life expectancy, low GDP per capita, and the impact of the Taliban takeover. Uzbekistan takes 47th place in the ranking and is the happiest country in Central Asia. Kazakhstan is next, in 49th place overall, falling from 44th last year. Kazakhstan’s relatively slow population growth will allow the country to continue makihttps://timesca.com/uzbekistan-leads-central-asia-in-world-happiness-report/ng economic progress and reduce poverty in the coming decades. Tajikistan ranks 88th on the list. The World Happiness Report says: “Tajikistan’s population boom threatens its economy and resources. The government has implemented laws in the past to encourage contraception, and while this has helped bring down the birth rate, the country still has a long way to go.” The report doesn’t provide information about Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan this year. According to the most recent data for them, Turkmenistan was 78th in 2022, and Kyrgyzstan was 62nd in 2023.

Nature

Restoring Roars: The Historic Return of Amur Tigers to Kazakhstan’s Wilderness

This past weekend, two Amur tigers were brought to the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve in southern Kazakhstan from the Landgoed Hoenderdaell Zoo in the Netherlands. The tigers, one male and one female, will live in a specially-built enclosure in the reserve for breeding and the release of their offspring into the wild. Their offspring are expected to become the first wild tigers to reappear on Kazakhstan's territory in more than 70 years. In 2025, another three or four tigers are planned to arrive in Kazakhstan from Russia. In 2010, Kazakhstan's government announced plans to reintroduce Amur tigers to the country. Seven years later, a tiger reintroduction program was developed, and the southern shore of Lake Balkhash in the delta of the Ili River was chosen as the most suitable place to restore the population in Kazakhstan. The program is being implemented by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources in Kazakhstan, with the support of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). According to the ministry, the Ile-Balkhash Reserve can accommodate a population of up to 100 tigers. The tigers that were once indigenous to Kazakhstan were known as Turan tigers. The Turan tiger was an extinct population once found in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and northern Iran. Biologists suggest that Turan tigers and Amur tigers, native to Russia's Far East, are not distinct subspecies but belong to the same group of big cats. The Ile-Balkhash Reserve was created to restore the ecosystem of the southern Balkhash region, and work is underway to restore the tiger's natural food base. Ile-Balkhash is a critical natural area of the Ile River Delta with the adjacent shore of Lake Balkhash. It is the only preserved river delta in Central Asia, while the others (the deltas of the Syr Darya, Amu Darya, and Chu Rivers) have degraded due to desertification. Improving the tiger's natural food supply and the reserve's remoteness will help avoid conflict between the tiger and humans in the area. Historically, the Turan tigers' habitats in Kazakhstan were reed beds and floodplain forests along the banks of the Ili and Syr Darya rivers. Based on historical records of tiger hunts and the frequency of human encounters with them, the population density of the Turan tiger was considerably higher than that of the Amur tiger, and more comparable to the density of tigers in India. In what is now Kazakhstan, the extermination of tigers, including through military shootings, began in 1891. The destruction of their habitat and primary food sources — such as Tugai red deer, goitered gazelles, saigas, kulans, roe deer, and wild boars — ultimately led to their extinction by 1948. This is not the first project to reintroduce endangered species to Kazakhstan. In June 2024, eight Przewalski’s horses were reintroduced to the Altyn Dala Nature Reserve in the Kostanay region of Kazakhstan. The horses were transported from Prague Zoo. The Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources have said that 40 wild horses will be...