Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture - The Times Of Central Asia

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USAID for Cold Storage Facility in South Kyrgyzstan

The U.S. Embassy in Bishkek has announced that equipment valued at over $78,000 has been provided by the U.S. to Kyrgyz company SFN International LLC to open a modern cold storage facility in Jalal-Abad in southern Kyrgyzstan. Ynakbek Abylkasymov, head of SFN International LLC, reported that the new facility’s 1,100 metric ton storage capacity, will enable the company to purchase more produce from farmers and offer cleaning, sorting, packing, and storage services. Referring to benefits afforded to 700 households in the rural south, through improvements of food security, he stated, “The facility will help farmers to reduce waste, improve agriculture quality, and boost income by around 150%. In addition, we plan to create 200 new jobs and help businesses export high-quality fresh produce and dried fruits.” The equipment was provided by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through its Agro Trade Activity and in tandem with other U.S.-supported cold storage facilities throughout Kyrgyzstan, will help reduce waste, extend the shelf- life of perishables, maintain market stability, and ensure a reliable and consistent supply of food throughout the year. Commenting on the success of projects to date, James Lykos, Director of USAID/Kyrgyzstan Economic Development Office, said, “Since 2018, the U.S. government has been partnering with Kyrgyz firms to establish over 20 new cold storage facilities in the Kyrgyz Republic’s southern regions. These facilities have a total storage capacity of 12,500 tons, more than doubling the storage capacity in the region, decreasing food spoilage by 40% and creating new income-generating activities for over 4,000 farmers.”

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U.S. Helps Decrease Tuberculosis Mortality Rates in Kyrgyzstan

U.S. Embassy Deputy Chief of Mission Liz Zentos and Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Health Alymkadyr Beishenaliev, attended a national conference on 17 April to review the Cure Tuberculosis partnership. Since 2019, the U.S. government has invested more than $20 million in curing tuberculosis in Kyrgyzstan through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). To date, the joint U.S.-Kyrgyz initiative has provided faster and more accurate tuberculosis diagnosis, improved treatment success rates, and increased community awareness and engagement in efforts to control tuberculosis, resulting in a decrease of tuberculosis mortality rates by over 33% and a reduction of cases by 37%. Praising the project’s success, Ms Zentos announced, “It is a collaborative effort that helped modernize tuberculosis diagnostics, improve patient-centred care, and reform the policy environment to improve tuberculosis treatment for all.” In turn, Minister Beishenaliev expressed gratitude to USAID for its ongoing aid, saying, “The Ministry of Health together with partners will continue to fight tuberculosis in Kyrgyzstan, develop a patient-centred model of tuberculosis care, support outpatient treatment in primary health care, introduce new diagnostic and treatment methods, develop and integrate tuberculosis information systems, and strengthen cooperation in tuberculosis prevention and care.”

Central Asia Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture Kyrgyzstan International Affairs Kyrgyzstan

Google to Help Transform Kyrgyzstan’s School Education System

On his recent visit to Washington, Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov signed a memorandum of understanding with the Google Corporation to transform Kyrgyzstan’s school education system. During the meeting with Google Vice President of Government Affairs & Public Policy Mark Isakowitz, Prime Minister Japarov gave a presentation on ‘Altyn Kazyk’ (‘Polar Star’) and acknowledging Google’s support, stated: “We are proud that we have become the first country in the region to cooperate with Google Education and will apply the most advanced developments in schools throughout Kyrgyzstan, which will help our teachers and schoolchildren master the most advanced knowledge.” Scheduled to run for ten years, the project sets ambitious goals for investment in human capital. In outlining its aims, Japarov announced, “Our goal is that the children of Kyrgyzstan, our young men and women, are provided with opportunities to acquire world-class knowledge and skills and to fully realize their potential. The program is called ‘Polar Star’ because investments in human capital are our main guiding star.” The Google school furnished with the company’s educational tools, will first be launched as a pilot project at one of Bishkek’s schools this spring.

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

Low-Income Kyrgyz Citizens Offered Financial Literacy Training

Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration has begun to provide training in financial literacy for low-income citizens from all over the country. Those wishing to participate in the state program known as "Social Contract" were offered free training on the basics of entrepreneurship, marketing and financial literacy. At the first lessons, participants were shown how to create business plans and approach marketing communications. Commented minister Gulnara Baatyrova: "For two years already, a program to support families in difficult economic situations has been implemented. Today, the most successful projects bring start-up entrepreneurs 40,000 som ($500) a month." This year the authorities intend to enter contracts with 20,000 families. Participants will receive $1,100 from the state budget to start their own businesses. Another 3,000 families will be financed using funds from the World Bank. The National Bank of Kyrgyzstan has been promoting a program of financial literacy, especially among children, for many years. Government officials conduct trainings and interactive programs across various media channels. "A person who manages his money manages his life. The family budget is a micro-projection of how things are done in business and the state. Everything should be taken into account, it is necessary to know your expenses and proportion them with income," reads a statement outlining the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan's mission.

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Authorities Find Secret Tunnel Connecting Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan

Another underground passage has been found in the Jalal-Abad region of Kyrgyzstan, which was being used to illegally transport both people and contraband goods into neighboring Uzbekistan. The suspects involved have been arrested. That's according to a report from news outlet, Kaktus, which references information from the press service of the Department of Internal Affairs of Kyrgyzstan's Osh region. On April 5, officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Osh region arrested a female citizen of Uzbekistan who illegally crossed the Kyrgyz border. During the investigation, it turned out that she crossed the international border into Kyrgyzstan through a secret tunnel connecting the two countries. The police opened a criminal case under Article 168 of the Criminal Code of Kyrgyzstan on “Organization of illegal migration, illegal importation of migrants.” On the night of April 12, a local citizen was arrested in the Nooken district suspected of organizing illegal crossings of the Kyrgyz-Uzbek border for payment. According to police, during the arrest, specially marked currency and night vision binoculars were confiscated. In addition, 87 boxes of narcotics with an initial value of about $30,000 dollars were found in his house. This is the third secret underground passageway discovered, with two secret underground tunnels connecting the city of Khanabad, Andijan region (Uzbekistan), with Bekabad village, Suzok district, Jalalabad region (Kyrgyzstan) having previously been identified. Members of a cross-border criminal group consisting of citizens of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan were captured. On March 17 of this year, a Kyrgyz citizen took a total of 813 mobile phone devices in 16 bags to Uzbekistan using an underground tunnel, and tried to take 1.745 kilograms of gold bars and jewelry out of the country. They were apprehended with physical evidence.

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Kyrgyz Climber in Nepal Sets Sights on Three of the World’s Highest Peaks

The head of Kyrgyzstan’s mountaineering federation is in Nepal, preparing to climb three of the world’s highest peaks in the next few months. First up for Eduard Kubatov is the Himalayan mountain of Lhotse. Next is Makalu. Both are more than 8,000 meters high. Three years ago, Kubatov unfurled the Kyrgyz flag on the summit of Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 8,849 meters above sea level. “If everything goes well, I will go to Pakistan in June in the Himalayas and try to climb the great K2 peak (8611 m.),” Kubatov wrote on Facebook. Last week, Kubatov got a send-off in Bishkek from Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, who presented a national flag to the mountaineer and wished him success on his expedition. Kubatov aims to climb all 14 mountains in the world that are 8,000 meters above sea level. All are in the Himalayan and Karakoram ranges. Kubatov´s other feats include climbing the Argentine peak Aconcagua, the highest in the Americas, as well as Mt. Elbrus in Russia, Mt. Kosciuszko in Australia, and Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa. Kyrgyzstan has some formidable mountains, including Jengish Shokusu, Pik Lenin, and Khan Tengri. All are in the 7,000-meter range. Since 1972, 33 Kyrgyz mountaineers have been awarded the title "Snow Leopard" for climbing those peaks – eight of them did so after Kyrgyzstan´s independence in 1991, according to Kubatov. In February, Russian climber Evgeny Glazunov died while descending from another Kyrgyz peak, Aksu. Kubatov wrote that Glazunov was a great friend to Kyrgyzstan’s climbing community. “All the young athletes admired your example and looked up to you!” Kubatov wrote on Facebook. “So many plans and all of them remained at the foot of the cold and great rock! I will always remember you, my brother, and forgive us all for not saving you!” Kubatov is a business consultant and honorary consul for Indonesia in Kyrgyzstan. He has a prominent profile, giving talks to students and meeting with sponsors. He also loves to bury himself in a book. “Books are probably the strongest passion in my life after mountains,” he wrote. “Read and love books, and they will reciprocate like mountains!”