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ALMATY (TCA) — Kazakhstan’s currency is in a very bad shape. There are various reasons for that, and although President Nazarbayev advises his citizens not to buy imported goods, people on the street feel the pinch and try to switch to dollars as much as they can. The crash in global prices of oil and other commodities has already brought Russia and Azerbaijan currencies to their lowest level losing more than 50%. Kazakhstan is not doing any better with the tenge moving, in about two years, from about 150 tenges per dollar to the incredible low level of close to 400 and the situation has much to do with the ever shifting National Bank policies. Continue reading
LONDON (TCA) — Amidst the wildest speculations that predominantly Shiite Iran might emerge as a powerful buffer to keep Sunnite extremism at bay for Central Asia and take the shape of a regional power broker, realities speak a different language. For the moment, Iran needs everybody else’s help a lot more than anybody else needs Iran’s. But where politics face a long haul, trade might have a unique and immediate opportunity – especially where the landlocked Central Asian former Soviet republics are concerned. Continue reading
BISHKEK (TCA) — Editor’s note: We are glad to publish an essay of a young Indian journalist, from the South Asian University of New Delhi. The essay shows how modern infrastructure is trying to resolve old problems in an integrated effort of several countries while requiring worldwide attention for a balanced and peaceful development of Central Asia, the “heartland” between Europe, Russia and China. Continue reading
BISHKEK (TCA) — As the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus celebrate the 25th anniversary of their independence, structural reform has become critical. The key to meeting many of the challenges, and seizing the opportunities of the changing global environment is closer regional economic integration with the rest of Asia and the Pacific. Continue reading
LONDON (TCA) — China, and to lesser extents Russia, have been unloading coffers full of billions to spread their wings over Central Asia. The par value of the assets which have been taken by the generous-looking fund providers has changed dramatically and regretfully for the worse. That there can be no investments without returns is something the Chinese have known from the start, the Russians are realising that right now, and Central Asian states would realise that soon. Continue reading
ALMATY (TCA) — State officials in oil crisis-hit Kazakhstan have discovered a $20 billion hole on the balance sheet of the National Wealth Fund. Should the state funds be spent this way on, the state coffers will be empty before the end of this decade. A political crisis is looming. In a move to avoid it, the Parliament has applied for snap elections to be held as early as March this year. Continue reading
