• KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01144 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00200 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09163 -0.11%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28571 0%
18 February 2025

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 166

Turkmenistan Ranked Worst in Central Asia in 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index

Turkmenistan has once again ranked among the world's most corrupt countries, placing last in Central Asia in Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index 2024.  According to the index, Turkmenistan ranked 165th out of 180 countries, scoring 17 out of 100 points. This marks a decline from the previous year, when the country scored 18 points and was ranked 170th.  Among other Central Asian nations, Tajikistan ranked 164th with 19 points, while Kyrgyzstan placed 146th with 25 points. Uzbekistan ranked 121st with 32 points, and Kazakhstan was the highest-ranked in the region at 88th place with 40 points. Russia, with 22 points, was ranked 154th.  The report highlights that authoritarianism and weak judicial systems remain key drivers of corruption in Central Asia. Denmark, Finland, Singapore, New Zealand, and Luxembourg topped the index as the least corrupt countries. Meanwhile, Yemen, Syria, Venezuela, Somalia, and South Sudan were ranked among the most corrupt, with South Sudan finishing last at 180th place. Transparency International warns that corruption remains a significant global threat, even in efforts to combat climate change. According to the organization, corrupt practices hinder emissions reductions, slow adaptation to climate change, and severely impact sustainable development. "While 32 countries have significantly reduced corruption since 2012, in 148 nations the situation has either remained unchanged or worsened. The global average remains at 43 points, and more than two-thirds of countries score below 50. As a result, billions of people continue to live in environments where corruption undermines their rights and quality of life," Transparency International stated in its report.

Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania Advance Caspian Sea-Black Sea Transport Corridor

On February 10, representatives from the foreign ministries and transport authorities of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania held a video conference to discuss a draft intergovernmental agreement on the establishment and operation of the Caspian Sea-Black Sea International Transport Route, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry reported. Participants expressed confidence that the quadrilateral agreement, expected to be signed this year, will significantly boost international freight transportation between Central Asia and Europe. They also highlighted the anticipated positive impact on trade relations among the participating countries and emphasized the importance of involving international cargo transportation organizations to enhance connectivity between European and Asian markets. The initiative builds on a joint declaration signed by the foreign ministers of Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Romania in Bucharest in March 2019, which set the foundation for the corridor’s development. The new transport route will link Turkmenistan’s Caspian Sea port of Turkmenbashi with Romania’s Black Sea port of Constanța, passing through the ports of Baku in Azerbaijan and Poti and Batumi in Georgia.

Turkmenistan to Start Natural Gas Shipments to Turkey

Long-discussed shipments of Turkmen natural gas to Turkey could be just weeks away. Several options have been discussed for bringing gas to Turkey, but news since February 10 indicates Turkmenistan and Turkey chose a swap agreement involving Iran. Turkmenistan’s state information agency TDH reported the head of the country’s Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov spoke with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian by phone. During that call, Berdimuhamedov “announced the agreement with (Turkey’s) BOTAS company on the transit of Turkmen natural gas through Iran to the Republic of Turkey..." Since there is no pipeline connecting Turkmenistan to Turkey, the agreement involves a swap deal whereby Turkmenistan ships its gas to Iran and Iran makes a like amount of its gas available to Turkey. However, on February 11, Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Alparslan Bayraktar posted on X (formerly Twitter) confirming an agreement between BOTAS and Turkmengaz. Bayraktar said “… gas flow is planned to start on March 1, 2025.” There were no details about the volume of gas to be delivered, but Turkish officials have previously been mentioning an initial volume of some 2 billion cubic meters (bcm). Turkish officials have been pushing for this deal for more than two years, with the ultimate aim of turning Turkey into a gas hub to shipments to Europe. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev traveled to Turkmenistan in December 2022 to meet with Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov (the son of Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov). Erdogan and Aliyev were hoping for an agreement on construction of a pipeline to carry Turkmen gas to Azerbaijan and from there to Turkey. Those talks were inconclusive, but did lead to a series of other meetings of officials of the three countries to discuss alternative means to ship Turkmen gas to Turkey. The swap arrangement involving Iran was one of the possibilities raised during these meetings. However, Turkey is still clinging to the plan for construction of a pipeline that would eventually boost Turkmen gas supplies to Turkey up to 15 bcm. Turkish Ambassador to Ashgabat Ahmet Demirok said in September 2024 that his country was looking to purchase 300 bcm of Turkmen gas over the next 20 years. The agreement is good news for Turkmenistan, but it also shows again how dependent Turkmenistan is becoming on Iran for gas exports. When Turkmenistan became independent in late 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the only gas pipelines in Turkmenistan led north to Russia. Turkmenistan was exporting gas to Russia for most of the years after independence, but in 2024 the latest agreement between the two countries expired and both countries indicated they would not renew Turkmen gas exports. The first post-Soviet pipeline built in Turkmenistan connected to Iran. That pipeline started operations at the end of 1997.  Another pipeline from Turkmenistan to Iran was launched in 2010. The two pipelines have a combined capacity to carry some 20 bcm, but a pricing dispute between Turkmenistan and Iran in late 2016 led Turkmenistan to...

Central Asia Expands Trade and IT Cooperation with Afghanistan Amid Regional Growth Plans

The Central Asian countries continue to develop their trade relations with Afghanistan, a crucial factor in the region's economic growth and resilience against economic and political challenges. Afghanistan's key trade partners in Central Asia are Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. While Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan play a smaller role, they still contribute by exporting electricity and agricultural products to Afghanistan. Afghanistan is Uzbekistan's fifth largest export market. Over the past five years, trade turnover between the two countries has grown by nearly 1.5 times, reaching $866 million in 2023. Currently, 550 enterprises with Afghan investments operate in Uzbekistan, with 443 being fully Afghan-owned. Joint projects span industries such as food production, construction materials, agriculture, tourism, and textiles. Recently, Uzbekistan and Afghanistan signed business agreements worth $4.5 million between their private sectors. For Turkmenistan, the most significant project involving Afghanistan is the TAPI gas pipeline. President Berdimuhamedov recently directed the government to accelerate the development of the Galkynysh Gas Field and expedite the TAPI pipeline's construction. The state company Turkmengas has already completed a 214-kilometer section on Turkmenistan's territory, fully preparing it for operation. This project is a key component of the country's socioeconomic development and investment program for 2025. Additionally, Turkmenistan is poised to become a transport hub for international corridors passing through Kazakhstan, particularly the North-South and Middle corridors, as well as the Lapis Lazuli corridor, which connects Turkey, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan. Although Kazakhstan does not share a border with Afghanistan like Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, it remains an active trade partner. The Times of Central Asia has previously detailed trade relations between Astana and Kabul, highlighting Kazakhstan’s potential not only for expanding trade but also for entering Afghanistan’s IT market. The Afghan news portal AVA Press notes Kazakhstan’s role in regional stability and economic development. It also mentions Kazakhstan’s humanitarian aid to Afghanistan, including earthquake relief in 2023 and food assistance in 2024. The article touches on Afghanistan’s IT sector challenges and Kazakhstan’s potential role in addressing them. Afghanistan lags in IT development and relies on imported technologies, but Kazakhstan, recognized for digital transformation, could be a valuable partner. Kazakhstan’s e-government model, including the eGov platform, serves as an example of how digital services can improve governance and infrastructure. Choosing Kazakhstan as an IT partner is seen as a strategic decision based on the country’s internationally recognized digital achievements, strong economic ties, and mutual trust.

Rosenberg King Prawns to Be Bred in Turkmenistan

Turkmenistan’s Elin Balyk fish farm is expanding its operations by introducing the breeding of Rosenberg freshwater king prawns. Located in the Ak Bugday district of Ahal province, on the Karakum River, Elin Balyk has been engaged in fish farming for over a decade. The farm operates on a 130-hectare site, granted for free use for 99 years. It features 20 ponds covering a total area of 400 square meters, along with six indoor rearing facilities that house shrimp and fish at various growth stages - from larvae and fry to mature commercial stock and breeding specimens. A newly launched hatchery, equipped with technology from Russia, Iran, and Europe, enhances production capabilities. The facility employs modern aquaculture methods, including a closed water circulation system that limits water loss to just 10%. The intensive fish farming process avoids antibiotics and chemicals while ensuring optimal oxygenation levels. As part of its diversification efforts, Elin Balyk has begun breeding Rosenberg freshwater shrimp, a species native to Thailand. These prawns can grow up to 100 grams in weight, with body lengths comparable to an adult’s palm. Looking ahead, the company plans to introduce Vannamei shrimp, a saltwater species, and has trained its specialists in Iran and Thailand to master the necessary aquaculture techniques. An additional land plot is expected to be allocated for this expansion.

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia, and Iran to Boost Cargo Transport Along North-South Corridor

Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia, and Iran have reaffirmed their commitment to increasing cargo transportation along the North-South transport corridor. Representatives of national railway companies from the four countries met on January 30 in Almaty to discuss ways to enhance the corridor’s attractiveness and establish favorable end-to-end tariffs for shipments passing through Russia, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan to Iran’s Bandar Abbas port. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the country’s national railway company, the meeting also addressed cargo transportation across Kazakhstan, particularly through the Bolashak rail station, located on the border between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. In 2024, 1.6 million tons of cargo was transported via this station. The North-South corridor, linking Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, has an annual capacity of 10 million tons of cargo. In July 2024, Kazakhstan hosted its first international meeting on the North-South transit and trade corridor, bringing together delegations from Azerbaijan, Armenia, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Russia, Belarus, Turkmenistan, the UAE, Iran, Iraq, Oman, and Uzbekistan. During that meeting, Kazakhstan, Iran, Turkmenistan, and Russia signed a roadmap for the eastern route of the corridor. The plan aims to expand the corridor’s capacity to 15 million tons annually by 2027 and 20 million tons by 2030. By connecting Russia and Belarus to Iran’s Persian Gulf ports, with further access to India, the North-South corridor is expected to enhance trade opportunities and further solidify Kazakhstan’s role as a key transit hub in the region.