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Central Asian Glaciers Shrinking Irreversibly, Expert Warns

Glaciers in Central Asia are melting at an alarming rate with no signs of recovery, according to Tohir Majitov, head of the Uzbek public organization "Suvchi," in an interview with Kazinform. Majitov highlighted the escalating pressure on water supplies due to population growth and agricultural expansion across the region. "In 1991, Central Asia had nearly 6 million hectares of irrigated land. By 2024, this figure has grown to over 10 million hectares. The population has also increased from around 45 million to more than 80 million. Water supply for this growing population is now a serious issue," he explained. He noted that Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan heavily depend on the Syr Darya and Amu Darya rivers, which originate in the mountainous regions of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. A critical challenge arises from the differing water needs: upstream countries store water during summer for hydropower generation in autumn and winter, while downstream nations like Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan require substantial water primarily during the summer growing season. Majitov issued a stark warning about the region's largest glacier, Tajikistan's Fedchenko Glacier, which has reportedly lost over 40% of its mass. "Between 1990 and 2005, the glacier shrank by 50 meters," he stated. "Its length is 77 kilometers, width 2.4 kilometers, and depth reaches one kilometer. Glaciers in Kyrgyzstan have also lost over 30% of their mass." To tackle these pressing water challenges, Majitov proposed the formation of a regional body. "We suggest creating an Aral Sea Committee to improve water management and ensure food security. It may take several years, but all Central Asian countries should take part," he urged. He believes that efficient water use could enable the region to expand irrigated land by 2-3 million hectares, potentially feeding up to 100 million people. Previously, The Times of Central Asia reported concerns from other experts on the region's water crisis. A fundamental conflict exists between upstream countries, like Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which have water but need to release it in winter for electricity generation, and downstream countries, such as Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, that require that water in summer for agricultural purposes. What was once primarily a technical concern has now evolved into a complex regional problem, exacerbated by climate change. Nations are increasingly constructing dams, engaging in disputes over water allocation, and experiencing a decline in mutual trust. The future stability of Central Asia may hinge on its capacity to effectively manage this escalating water crisis.

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Investors Push Back Against New Renewable Energy Bill in Kyrgyzstan

A new draft law proposed by Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy has sparked concern among renewable energy investors. The legislation, currently under public review until June 20, 2025, imposes new financial and technical obligations on owners of small hydropower plants as well as solar and wind power installations. Following the review period, the bill will be submitted to the president for approval. Key Provisions and Investor Backlash Under the proposed law, operators of small hydroelectric and other renewable energy facilities would be required to pay 1% of their electricity sales revenue to local authorities. Additionally, they must maintain the ability to accumulate at least 30% of the station’s installed capacity. The draft also stipulates that electricity generated from renewable energy sources (RES), which is neither consumed by the producer nor sold under contract, will be priced at the average tariff of the previous year. Lawmakers claim the bill ensures transmission support for RES providers, mandating that distribution companies and relevant organizations enable the smooth delivery of electricity from private generators to consumers, provided the infrastructure allows. However, industry representatives argue that the legislation could stall growth in the sector. A letter from a consortium of small hydropower companies in the Chui and Issyk-Kul regions warns that the proposed changes create unnecessary obstacles and risk deterring both domestic and foreign investment. “No domestic, let alone foreign, investor will be interested in implementing renewable energy projects if the payback period at a tariff of 1.71 KGS ($0.020) per kWh is extended to 20-25 years,” said Rakhatbek Irsaliyev, director of the consortium. “This is especially true given that such projects are not implemented for personal use or resale, but to cover the country’s growing electricity deficit.” The consortium is urging the government to revisit its tariff policy. Specifically, they are calling for a system that allows energy producers to sell at updated, higher rates, rather than last year’s average. In Kyrgyzstan, electricity tariffs are typically adjusted annually on May 1. Broader Energy Context Kyrgyzstan has long touted its substantial energy potential, particularly in hydropower. With abundant rivers and glaciers, it ranks third in hydropower resources among CIS countries, following Russia and Tajikistan. Yet, less than 10% of this potential is currently being utilized. Government efforts to address the energy shortfall include the commissioning of 18 small hydropower plants in 2025 and the expansion of wind and solar infrastructure nationwide. A major project, Kambarata HPP-1 on the Naryn River, is also in development, involving cooperation with neighboring countries. Meanwhile, the CASA-1000 initiative is nearing completion. This project aims to export summer surplus electricity from Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan. Despite this progress, international organizations like the World Bank have urged Kyrgyzstan to raise electricity tariffs for both residential and commercial users. Since 2024, the government has begun implementing gradual tariff hikes, but experts argue that the pace is insufficient. “The tariffs set for industrial and commercial consumers allow costs to be recouped. These categories pay a fair price,” said Katarina Gassner, a World...

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Opinion: Strengthening the Silk Bonds — India’s Renewed Push Towards Central Asia

The velvet-draped tables of New Delhi’s 4th India-Central Asia Dialogue convened under the stewardship of External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on June 6, 2025, radiated congeniality, with history and strategy converging. This high-level engagement, attended by foreign ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, marked more than a diplomatic ritual — it signaled India's deepening resolve to recalibrate its strategic posture in a region too long shaped by other powers. Yet beneath pledges of shared civilizational futures and energy corridors, an uncomfortable truth lingered as India remains a guest, not a player, in Central Asia’s great power theatre. Further, India’s internal socio-political landscape presents notable challenges that inadvertently shape its foreign policy credibility, particularly in the eyes of Central Asian nations. Persistent communal tensions — most visibly manifested in the Hindu-Muslim divide, the controversial demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, and the politically charged construction of the Ram Mandir — have deepened perceptions of religious polarization. Such domestic developments, while largely internal, resonate beyond India’s borders, especially in the Muslim-majority Central Asian republics, raising concerns about inclusivity and pluralism in India’s governance model. Simultaneously, India’s strained relations with key neighbors — Pakistan, and China, and increasingly volatile dynamics with Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka — have reinforced a regional image of discord and inconsistency. These internal and regional complexities contribute to a trust deficit, making Central Asian countries cautious in placing long-term strategic confidence in India. For New Delhi to emerge as a dependable partner in the region, addressing internal fissures and presenting a coherent, inclusive national vision is as vital as economic or diplomatic outreach. Central Asia sits at the center of ancient trade routes and modern geopolitical competition. For India, its importance is twofold: the region is a bridge to Eurasia and a repository of energy resources critical to India’s growing economy. But India’s historical connectivity to Central Asia — through the Silk Road, shared cultural legacies, and spiritual exchanges — has, for decades, been overshadowed by geographic and political barriers, notably the lack of direct overland access due to Pakistan. Recognizing these constraints, the dialogue showcased a strategic pivot. India reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing regional connectivity through the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) and the Chabahar Port in Iran. While geopolitical instability in Iran and Afghanistan poses challenges, India's emphasis on multimodal routes demonstrates pragmatic flexibility. In an era defined by supply chain resilience and multipolar geopolitics, connectivity is no longer just an infrastructure question — it is a currency of influence. The dialogue also addressed the evolving regional security architecture. India’s proposal for counter-terrorism cooperation, capacity building, and intelligence sharing was timely and necessary. However, the dialogue echoed with familiar refrains, viz. civilizational bonds, shared destiny, and multipolar cooperation. Yet beneath the diplomatic choreography lies a haunting question. Can India transcend its historical role as Central Asia’s cultural cousin to become its strategic confidant? History whispers caution. The Burden of History: From Silk Roads to Shadow Roads For centuries, the Silk Road...

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Kyrgyzstan Takes the Lead in Global Snow Leopard Conservation Efforts

On June 5-6, the Kyrgyz resort city of Cholpon-Ata is hosting the 9th Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Snow Leopard and Ecosystem Protection Program (GSLEP). The meeting brings together environment ministers from all 12 snow leopard range countries, Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, along with representatives from conservation organizations and international financial institutions. Their goal is to advance conservation and climate action efforts in Asia’s high mountain regions through GSLEP, an intergovernmental alliance founded in Bishkek in 2013. The snow leopard, classified as endangered, serves as a potent symbol of the ecological and cultural importance of Asia’s mountainous landscapes. Kyrgyzstan has long been at the forefront of international conservation efforts. At the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, the country spearheaded a resolution, supported by other range nations, designating October 23 as International Snow Leopard Day. The GSLEP Steering Committee convened in Cholpon-Ata to assess ongoing conservation initiatives and define future priorities to protect snow leopards and mountain ecosystems. [caption id="attachment_32684" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] Image: mnr.gov.kg[/caption] In his opening remarks, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Meder Mashiev, said: “For us, the snow leopard is not just a species, it is part of our culture and identity. Its preservation is our common responsibility.” Mashiev highlighted the country's recent achievements in conservation, including the initiation of a national snow leopard census, the adoption of SMART monitoring tools, the creation of new protected areas, and the establishment of the Ak Ilbirs (Snow Leopard) Ecological Corridor, an approximately one million-hectare expanse in the northeastern Issyk-Kul region. This corridor connects the Khan-Tengri State Nature Park, the Sarychat-Eertash Nature Reserve, and the Naryn Nature Reserve, providing secure habitats for snow leopards and other endangered species while promoting sustainable resource management. In December 2023, President Sadyr Japarov signed a decree formally recognizing the snow leopard as a national symbol of Kyrgyzstan. In a welcome address to participants, President Japarov highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s pivotal role as a mountainous nation (over 90% of its territory consists of highlands) in safeguarding high-altitude ecosystems. He stressed that mountains are not only repositories of natural wealth but also engines for economic growth through green investments. However, he cautioned that these regions face growing threats from overgrazing, forest degradation, and climate change, especially in snow leopard habitats. President Japarov also called for strengthening GSLEP’s institutional capacity and expanding cross-border conservation initiatives with the support of global environmental funds.

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The Kyrgyz AI Startup Making U.S. Immigration Simpler

These days, public debate is dominated by the issues of immigration and AI. But until the emergence of the new startup Alma, they had existed as entirely separate discussions. Alma's co-founder Aizada Marat, raised in Kyrgyzstan, has been one of the first to ask: can AI be used to simplify immigration? Marat first came to the U.S. as a FLEX (Future Leaders Exchange) student when she was 17, before graduating from Harvard Law School in 2015. It was then that her own immigration problems began. Due to visa issues, Marat had to move to London, before coming back to America three years later. “Since relocating to the Bay Area in 2018 [for family reasons] the seed of becoming a founder was planted in my head.” Marat has said on her social media. “When I moved back to the U.S., that's when the immigration nightmare began. As I would with any other service provider, I used Google to find lawyers who could help me with my immigration process. I found a firm. I hired them. I was given the wrong advice. That advice led me to almost miss out on a job offer that, thankfully, I later secured. I also couldn't travel and see my family during that time. With that frustration in mind, I realized I had to start a company to solve the problem professionals were facing.” [caption id="attachment_32658" align="aligncenter" width="2048"] Image: Aizada Marat/Alma[/caption] Before Marat could become an entrepreneur, she needed to learn more about business. This is how she ended up at McKinsey, one of the leading global consulting firms. Soon after, Alma was born. Alma is a legal-tech startup, which uses AI to simplify the immigration process. The company was founded in October 2023 by Marat and Assel Tuleubayeva, a former product manager at Step. A month later the startup secured $500,000 of investments from Village Global, John Hale, and other angel investors. In March 2024 Marat and Tuleubayeva found Shuo Chen, who was previously a manager with Uber. In July 2024 Alma raised $5.1 million in combined seed and pre-seed rounds from leading venture capital funds..Last month it was selected for Google Cloud’s AI Accelerator. Alma was founded as a company offering solutions for law firms, but in 2024 it took the decision to help professionals directly, without any intermediaries. Marat, Tuleubayeva and Chen are immigrants themselves, who combined have had to apply for around 15 separate visas to allow them to work in the U.S. This month Alma reached over 300 clients, including both B2C and B2B. “I'm an immigrant who went through the immigration maze myself, so this is deeply personal", Marat tells The Times of Central Asia. "With my legal and business background, starting Alma made perfect sense. Immigrants drive the U.S. economy, and to stay competitive in the AI race, we need to help the best talent achieve their American dream." She adds: “Alma disrupts the immigration in the US and forever streamlines it for the better. Small and big companies...

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Kyrgyzstan Prepares for Rapid Growth in E-Commerce

Speaking at the 11th Bishkek International Finance Forum (BIFF 2025), Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliyev stated that Kyrgyzstan is open to cooperation in digital finance, welcomes investment in the banking sector, and seeks to exchange expertise with international partners. Kasymaliyev emphasized that digital transformation is integral to the global sustainable development agenda and that Kyrgyzstan is steadily implementing digital solutions to build a modern, trust-based financial ecosystem. “Today, we stand at the threshold of a new digital era, where data processing technologies are transforming not only the financial system but also the foundations of public administration and socio-economic development. That is why digitalization is a strategic priority of the Kyrgyz Republic’s state policy,” said the head of the Cabinet. Since 2023, Kyrgyzstan has actively promoted a cashless payment system using QR codes integrated with bank cards, e-wallets, and mobile applications. QR code payments have become routine for many citizens. The government is also developing digital platforms to support small and medium-sized businesses and expanding infrastructure for fintech startups. Kasymaliyev noted that the introduction of the digital som will mark a key milestone in the country's digital transformation. “After President Sadyr Japarov signed the law introducing the digital som, the implementation of this strategic initiative began. It will affect virtually all sectors of the economy and represents a significant step in developing the national digital economy,” he said. Banking sector representatives stressed that forums like BIFF are essential not only for advancing electronic finance but also for addressing cybersecurity challenges. The forum has emerged as a platform for discussing innovative strategies to combat digital fraud. Anna Kulashova of the Russian cybersecurity company, Kaspersky Lab, highlighted that the widespread adoption of digital financial technologies also increases exposure to cyber threats. “We are ready to share our knowledge and experience in the field of cybersecurity. We are open to developing cooperation in this area,” she said. Visa representatives praised Kyrgyzstan’s pace of digitalization. According to Visa’s Evgeny Lesnyak, the country is frequently used as a testbed for innovative financial solutions. “In many countries, paying for public transport with contactless methods is still difficult. In Kyrgyzstan, this service has been available for four years via QR codes using Visa cards. That’s rare even in developed markets. We see Kyrgyzstan as a platform for testing innovations. Your solutions are exportable and help launch new services in other countries,” he said. Aibek Kurenkeev, President of the E-Commerce Association and moderator of the forum, told The Times of Central Asia that Kyrgyzstan has gained valuable experience in modernizing its financial system. However, he stressed that rapid technological development requires greater openness and regional knowledge exchange. “We heard engaging presentations on the stock market, Kyrgyzstan’s entry into international capital markets, protection against cyber threats, new payment solutions, and mechanisms such as the self-prohibition system for issuing loans. The forum brought together diverse experts, and I believe we’ve laid a solid foundation for a sustainable, transparent, and inclusive digital future,” he said. Kurenkeev noted that fintech is one of Kyrgyzstan’s...