Kazakhstan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Kazakhstan Could Become Main Transport Link Between Europe And Asia

Addressing the Global Gateway Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity on January 29th in Brussels, Belgium, Kazakhstan’s transport minister Marat Karabaev proposed Kazakhstan as the most sustainable main transport route between Europe and Asia. Mr Karabaev said that in the next five years Kazakhstan intends to attract investments worth €40bn ($43.3bn) in major transport infrastructure projects. During this period Kazakhstan plans to reconstruct transit corridors with a length of 4,700km and repair the roads that form the basis of the Trans Caspian Transport Corridor. “To implement these projects we propose raising funds within the framework of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative and invite European contractors to take part in the construction of roads in Kazakhstan,” Mr Karabaev said. Kazakhstan will construct 1,300km of new railway lines and modernize the existing infrastructure. This work is also aimed at increasing the transport capacity between Asia and the European Union. It is also planned to transfer 22 airports in Kazakhstan to the management of investors. To strengthen Kazakhstan’s Caspian fleet and create a container hub in the port of Aktau, investors are offered 171 hectares for the construction of terminal facilities. It is possible to transfer the seaports of Aktau and Kuryk to trust management on ship-or-pay terms, the minister said.

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.

Waiting for Cubs: How Almaty Zoo is Helping Save the Amur Tiger Population

Almaty Zoo is helping to replenish the Amur tiger population under an international conservation program. The Amur tiger population is still declining, and the main challenge for scientific foundations from different countries is breeding new cubs. Almost 400 species of animals live at the Almaty Zoo. Among them are llamas, chimpanzees, hippopotamus and tigers, with the latter comprising a family of nine individuals. The clan is headed by 13-year-old Urman, who arrived in Kazakhstan at one-year-old from the Perm Zoo in Russia by way of an international conservation program. "The main objective of the program is to preserve the genetic diversity of animals in the northern part of Eurasia and their reproduction, including in captivity. That's why we carefully searched for a mate for Urman, and not so long ago we managed to bring in a tigress, Tasha, from Moscow," said Akzhami Rakhimova of the Almaty Zoo. Now, staff are carefully monitoring the pair's behavior and diet so they can give reproduce. The last time tiger cubs were born at the zoo was three years ago. They were given the names Aya, Zoya, Maya, and Sherkhan. Zookeepers celebrate the birthdays of their charges, and very soon the birthday of Bentley, who arrived from the circus in Astana, is coming up. He will be five-years-old, and since he's already reached puberty, he'll soon need a mate. The staff note that the zoo is home for these animals which don't know life beyond captivity, as they either came from the circus or were born here. The tigers are quite accustomed to the attention of visitors and to eating on schedule.

Kazakhstan Becomes Most Attractive Country for Migrants From Uzbekistan

According to the Statistics Agency under the President of Uzbekistan, 17,336 people emigrated from the country by the end of 2023, with women making up 52.3% of the total. Over 80% of those who left were of working age. This figure almost doubled compared to 2022, when 8,790 people left the country. The most popular destination for migrants from Uzbekistan in 2023 was Kazakhstan, with 81.1% (14,000) choosing this neighboring country. Russia (15.4% or 2,600 people) and South Korea (0.6% or 107 people) were the second and third most popular choices, respectively. In contrast, Uzbekistan saw an influx of 2,955 immigrants in 2023, mostly from Russia (39.8%) and Kazakhstan (24.6%). Others moved from Tajikistan (9.7%), Kyrgyzstan (5.1%), Turkmenistan (2.1%), and other countries (18.7%). Labor migrants constituted the majority of those leaving Uzbekistan. The Agency for External Labor Migration of Uzbekistan reported a sharp increase in the number of citizens employed through organized recruitment in other countries, totaling 38,400 in 2023. Russia was the leading destination for Uzbek workers (29,200), followed by South Korea (4,900), Great Britain (1,900), Kazakhstan (1,300), Germany (477), and Turkey (277). A small number of Uzbeks also found employment in Romania, Bulgaria, Japan, Lithuania, Poland, the UAE, and Latvia. However, these official statistics do not account for the significant number of Uzbeks working abroad illegally. Specialized Uzbek agencies estimate that over 2 million Uzbeks live and work abroad permanently, with over 60% working in the Russian Federation.

Almaty is the Most Expensive City in Central Asia

Almaty has been ranked as the most expensive city in Central Asia according to the "cost of living" index regularly published by the Numbeo service. In terms of goods and services prices, including rent, food, and catering, Almaty has surpassed Central Asian capitals such as Astana, Tashkent, and Bishkek. According to the data, a family of four in Almaty spends approximately $2,157 per month not including rent, while an individual can live for an average of $598.50 excluding housing costs. The city also has the most expensive restaurants in Central Asia. Most Almaty residents spend their money not on high cuisine, however, but on real estate rent, with an average of one-third of the family budget being spent on renting an apartment. However, when compared across Asia, Almaty ranks 40th out of 86 cities, positioned between Turkish Antalya and Chinese Hangzhou. Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, ranks 49th, making it cheaper than Bali, but more expensive than Baku. The most expensive Asian cities for the cost of living are Singapore, Hong Kong, and Tel Aviv, whilst globally, Zurich and Singapore are considered the most expensive places to live.

EU To Simplify Visa Regime For Kazakhstanis

Citizens of Kazakhstan can currently travel to 34 countries without requiring a visa, and it seems the power of the Kazakhstani passport may be set to increase further still. At the end of last week Kazakhstan's deputy minister of foreign affairs, Alibek Bakayev, held a second round of talks with the head of the EU Delegation to Kazakhstan, Kestutis Jankauskas, on the issue of EU visas. The introduction of a visa-free regime with the EU is not currently being discussed. However, the EU Schengen-area visa regime is being improved in the following areas: - introduction of a single list of documents required for a visa application; - a reduction in consular fees; - a shortening of the waiting period for applications; - increasing the validity period for multiple-entry visas. In 2024 citizens of Kazakhstan can visit 34 countries without obtaining a visa from a foreign consulate. These are: Albania, Andorra, Argentina, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belarus, Brazil, China, Colombia, Ecuador, the Republic of Georgia, Haiti, Hong Kong, Iran, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Maldives, Moldova, Mongolia, Nicaragua, Oman, UAE, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, St. Vincent & Grenadines, Serbia, Tajikistan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. There are also several states where one can get a "visa upon arrival" stamp immediately upon entry. These states are Zambia, Indonesia (for 30 days), Mauritius, Namibia, and the Seychelles. However, that list will shrink in the spring of 2024: Kazakhstan's temporary visa-free regime with Thailand end on February 29. According to the Global Passport Power Ranking 2024 by Passport Index, Kazakhstan's passport ranks 56th in the world in terms of freedom of movement bestowed upon its holder.