Uzbekistan - The Times Of Central Asia

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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.

Female Entrepreneurs

Platform Supporting Female Entrepreneurs Launches In Uzbekistan

An online platform called Coozin has been introduced in Uzbekistan, with the goal of championing female entrepreneurs. Women can use Coozin to learn the fundamentals of business, sell their goods and services, network with other entrepreneurs, and find inspiration. The platform will also help Uzbekistan to achieve the UN's sustainable development goals. The Coozin initiative is the first in Uzbekistan to enable women to independently promote their businesses. It was coordinated with the help of the OSCE, IT-Park, and the Business Women's Association of Uzbekistan, as well as the the Coca-Cola Foundation.

Mirziyoyev Fortifies China-Uzbekistan Relations for Economic and Green Transformation

Ahead of his trip to Beijing, in his article for the People's Daily, Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev poured lavish praise on China. Not only did Mirziyoyev say he admired Chinese President Xi Jinping's global development, security and civilization initiatives as efforts to significantly address global challenges and accelerate the transition to a more sustainable and inclusive future, he also aligned Tashkent's vision of regional and international security with Beijing. Mirziyoyev has paid several visits to China, underscoring Beijing's growing importance in his economic and development agenda. His objective to strengthen "multifaceted" relations with Beijing further expounds the fact that China will be a centerpiece of his foreign and regional policy and ambition for a green transition. During his October's trip to Beijing to attend the third Belt and Road Forum, Mirziyoyev struck a complimentary tone, expressing gratitude to Xi for the invitation, stressed that the number of Chinese companies investing in Uzbekistan had increased fivefold and said that he expected bilateral trade to exceed $10 billion by the end of 2023. Mirziyoyev’s campaign has worked, given that Chinese enterprises are the second-largest investors in the country, China accounts for more than one-fifth of Uzbekistan’s foreign trade (21.3%) and bilateral trade in 2023 has far exceeded expectations, reaching $14 billion. Once Mirziyoyev signaled that China as one of his top foreign policy priorities, it helped Tashkent sign several agreements with Beijing. In his latest visit, Mirziyoyev called for international unity on the "Green Silk Road," which was first proposed by Xi in Uzbekistan back in 2016, and fully supported the green initiative’s potential to shape the agenda for a “common green future.” Construction of a 400-megawatt solar photovoltaic power plant by PowerChina and Mirziyoyev's meetings with Chinese energy companies in October indicated that he was impressed by their ability to deploy modern engineering solutions in electricity transmission networks and to implement solar, wind and hybrid power projects. Just last month, Mirziyoyev praised his strategic partner for completing projects at an “astonishingly” fast pace, and he continues to hail China's progress on large scale joint investments projects which have helped Tashkent make important strides in developing green energy and their endeavor to create 27 gigawatts of renewable energy generation by 2030. While cooperation with the "undisputed global leader" in renewable energy would solidify Tashkent's energy security and environmental sustainability, the first hydrogen plant in the country and region will also save some 33 million cubic meters of gas every year, decarbonize heavy industries, and add a new engine of growth, raising Uzbekistan’s international profile. The two nations are promoting active cooperation on infrastructure, too. The Chinese-built Angren-Pap railway line, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan transport corridor, and the four routes of the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline that pass through Uzbekistan denote a region-wide consensus on developing intra- and inter-regional infrastructure to push trade, enhance connectivity, and bring prosperity. Once finalized, the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project will give Central Asia the shortest and most accessible passage to global markets, bringing billions of dollars of investments into...

€10bn To Be Invested In Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor

The two-day Global Gateway Investors Forum for EU-Central Asia Transport Connectivity opened on January 29th in Brussels, Belgium. The event brings together high-level representatives from the European Commission, countries of the EU, Central Asia and Caucasus, as well as Turkey. At the forum, the European Commission’s executive vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis announced that European and international financial institutions will commit €10bn ($10.8bn) in support and investments towards sustainable transport connectivity in Central Asia. The forum’s agenda includes discussions of the required investments to transform the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor into a cutting-edge, multimodal, and efficient route, connecting Europe and Central Asia within 15 days. The European Commission said that Russia's invasion of Ukraine has underlined the urgency to find alternative reliable efficient trade routes between Europe and Asia. The development of transport connectivity is also a means to strengthen regional integration and economic development in Central Asia. The €10bn commitment is a mixture of ongoing and planned investments which the European Commission foresees to be mobilized for sustainable transport development in Central Asia in the short term. In concrete terms, several significant commitments are being made on the first day of the forum as part of the overall €10bn. The European Investment Bank (EIB), represented by its vice-president Teresa Czerwińska, signed memoranda of understanding totaling €1.47bn ($1.6bn) with the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, as well as with the Development Bank of Kazakhstan. These loans will be made possible by guarantees provided by the European Commission.

EU And AFD Support Uzbekistan’s Drinking Water And Livestock Sectors

The Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan and Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the French Development Agency that implements France’s policy on international development and solidarity, have signed two agreements together. One is to implement the EU’s Drinking Water Program, and the other is for sustainable livestock financing in Uzbekistan. The agreements provide for new European Union grants, namely €7.9m ($8.5m) for the water program and €4.7m ($5m) for livestock. These grants will finance the technical assistance required for each of the projects, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan said. The EU and AFD have confirmed their commitment to continue supporting the government of Uzbekistan in its efforts to create a climate-smart and inclusive livestock sector. Implemented since June 2021 by the Uzbek Committee for Veterinary and Livestock Development, the project for “Inclusive and Climate Friendly Investment Financing in the Livestock Sector of Uzbekistan” aims to make sustainable financing in this sector more efficient. The EU’s contribution focuses on improving access to climate-friendly loans provided by four Uzbek banks — Business Development Bank, HamkorBank, MicrokreditBank, and Xalq Bank. The Drinking Water Program helps to improve drinking water coverage in three regions of Uzbekistan — Tashkent, Fergana, and Kashkadarya. This project centers on water systems in seven districts within these three regions, providing access to a well-managed drinking water service for around 610,000 people. According to data provided by macrotrends, as of 2020, only 58.83% of the population in Uzbekistan had access to clean drinking water, which is defined by UNICEF as a “fundamental need and human right.” This figure has been in decline year-on-year since 2017, meaning that Uzbekistan ranks second worst in the region after Tajikistan for access to water “on premises, available when needed and free from faecal and priority chemical contamination.” According to UNICEF, only 32% of domestic wastewater is safely treated, whilst the impact of climate change, such as droughts and floods, further complicate the delivery of water and sanitation services.

Japan to Assist Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in Seismic Risk Detection

Synspective, a Japanese firm specializing in space monitoring and radar technology, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Uzbekcosmos, the Center for Space Monitoring in Uzbekistan, and the Ғarysh Sapary National Company in Kazakhstan. Synspective is known for its advanced radar satellite interferometry data processing technologies, a key project being the development of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which allows for the processing and interpretation of high-resolution radar images of the Earth's surface under any weather conditions or time of day. This technology enables the identification of displacement or deformation of the earth's surface and objects, aiding in forecasting risk zones for potential destruction, water-logging, or other emergencies caused by natural disasters. The MOU outlines plans for Synspective to work closely with the Center for Space Monitoring and GIS-technologies under Uzbekcosmos. The partnership aims to enhance Uzbekistan's remote sensing capabilities, promote scientific and innovative activities in the space industry, and actively involve the latest technologies. Given Uzbekistan's geographical location in an earthquake-prone zone, the partnership with Synspective is expected to contribute to the creation of sustainable infrastructure and the efficient and safe use of natural resources and energy in Central Asia. In Kazakhstan, Synspective will focus on developing innovative applications for Earth remote sensing and radar data, particularly in disaster management. This includes mitigating landslides, mudslides, floods, and effectively managing infrastructure to reduce the effects of climate change. The collaboration opens up opportunities for joint international commercial projects, allowing Synspective to leverage its satellite data and analytical solutions, while enabling Kazakhstan to expand its technological capabilities. Japan's extensive experience in monitoring deformation and seismic activity, as well as improving the safety of facilities in highly seismic areas makes this cooperation particularly relevant, especially given the recent searthquakes in the region.