Uzbekistan International Affairs - The Times Of Central Asia

Viewing results 7 - 12 of 93

EU to Allocate €600,000 to Uzbekistan for Green Budgeting

An agreement on financing a new project in support of green development in Uzbekistan was signed on May 6 by representatives of the French Development Agency (AFD), the European Union, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). According to the UNDP's press service, the project aims to assist the Uzbek government in financing green development across the country through the effective use of public finance, integrating green priorities into the budgeting process (green budgeting), and introducing innovative financial instruments to attract investments in green projects. The Ministry of Economy and Finance is expected to act as the cabinet-level partner in this project. Under the agreement, grant funds in the amount of €600,000 provided by the EU will be directed by AFD and the UNDP to provide technical assistance to the government under the project "Supporting Green Development Financing in Uzbekistan" for the period 2024-2026. The new project will build on the results and achievements of the previous joint initiative by AFD and the UNDP to introduce budgeting methodologies and practices based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which were successfully implemented in 2022-2023. At that time, the Ministry of Economy and Finance was supported in designing and developing methodologies based on international best practices, conducting research and capacity building of national partners in the field of SDGs and green budgeting. Key results of that project included climate budget labeling -- implemented for the first time in Uzbekistan -- and the presentation of its results in the "Budget for Citizens" publication.

Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Features Uzbekistan Justice Features Uzbekistan Life & Culture Uzbekistan International Affairs

Reporters Without Borders Downgrades State Of Press Freedom in Uzbekistan To “Very Serious”

The international agency Reporters Without Borders (RSF) published its annual Press Freedom Index on May 3, World Press Freedom Day. The report draws attention to the dire state that reporting in Uzbekistan is in. Uzbekistan fell by 11 places in the global ranking, relegated to 148th out of 180 countries. RSF staff downgraded their rating of the state of freedom of speech in Uzbekistan from "severe" to "very serious”. “Following the 2016 death of President Islam Karimov, circumstances have only barely improved for the media, and criticizing those in power remains very complicated,” reads RSF's introduction to the Uzbekistan section of the report. To compile the index, RSF graded the state of media freedom in 180 countries around the world using five different indicators: political, legal, economic, social and security. Uzbekistan ranked 157th on the political indicator, which is 20 places lower than last year. For the legal indicator the result is similarly disappointing, a fall of 17 places. The country ranked 143rd in the economic indicator, which is 9 places lower than last year. The security indicator also worsened by 9 places. Only in the social indicator did Uzbekistan's position rise, by two places to a still-lowly 145th. RSF describes the political context in Uzbekistan as one where the authorities wield a great deal of control over the media -- and also over a large group of bloggers with close ties to the government. RSF also mentions in the report that officials don’t hesitate to exert economic pressure or attempt to corrupt or influence journalists. “The growth of independent media is also largely hampered by laws and regulations that restrict their funding, especially by foreign-based organizations that support a free press,” reads an assessment from the economic section. In its socio-cultural section, RSF notes that topics that aren't covered in official mass media are highlighted on social media, including on platforms like Russia’s Odnoklassniki, Facebook and Telegram. Some groups are said to share information about government corruption on these platforms. The report also points out that the last of the journalists who have been imprisoned, some for as long as 20 years, have now been released, but they have not been cleared of wrongdoing. Bloggers are still being threatened or arrested -- as was the case with Otabek Sattoryi, the founder of the YouTube channel “Xalq Fikri” (People’s Opinion). He was sentenced to six and a half years in prison in May 2021 on false charges of defamation and extortion. Journalists who tried to cover his trial were physically assaulted or unjustly persecuted. The crackdown on reporters covering demonstrations to support the republic of Karakalpakstan remaining autonomous shows the government's determination to silence all dissent. A report by Amnesty International published in April stated that the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Otabek Sattoryi’s detention was unjustified, and called for his release. Of Uzbekistan's fall in the Press Freedom Index, a journalist from the BBC Uzbek Service, Ibrat Safo, wrote on his Facebook page: "[A] sharp drop... I’m...

Uzbekistan Kyrgyzstan Kyrgyzstan International Affairs Kazakhstan Uzbekistan Business & Economy Kazakhstan International Affairs Kazakhstan Business & Economy Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy Uzbekistan International Affairs

Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan Favor EEU Economic Integration

On May 8, Russian President Vladimir Putin, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan convened in Moscow for a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council - the governing body of the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). The event, which marked the tenth anniversary of the establishment of the Russian-led economic integration bloc, was also attended by heads of the EEU observer states, President of Cuba Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. In his address, Kazakhstan President Tokayev remarked that in the relatively short period since the Treaty on the Eurasian Economic Union was signed in Astana ten years ago, cooperation between the parties has contributed greatly to the development of Kazakhstan’s economy, and stated: “The correctness of the chosen vector of development of our association has been confirmed by the macroeconomic results of the past decade. Thus, Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with the EEU member countries has increased 1.7-fold and reached $28.5 billion.” Referencing the positive potential for EEU cooperation with rapidly developing countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, he urged EEU member states to join the Ashgabat Agreement on the creation of an International Transport Corridor to engage with markets in the Persian Gulf. The Kazakh president also emphasized the need for improvements to trade links between Europe and Asia, North and South, and warned that unless renewed, the existing infrastructure in the Eurasian region will continue to deteriorate. Citing the modernization and expansion of transport and logistics infrastructure as a key priority, he stated, “In Kazakhstan, we plan to repair 11,000 and build over 5,000 kilometers of new railways by 2030. As part of the Belt and Road initiative, a Kazakh terminal, built in the Chinese city of Xi’an, accounts for up to 40% of all container traffic on the China-Europe route. There are also plans to launch 5 cross-border transport and logistics hubs on Kazakhstan’s borders with Russia, China, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, and on the Caspian Sea.” Kyrgyz President Japarov announced that further development of Eurasian economic integration, including the creation of a single market for goods and services without barriers, a common energy market, and freedom of movement of labor resources, remains a priority for Kyrgyzstan. Regarding benefits afforded by Kyrgyzstan’s membership of the EEU, Japarov said that the country’s trade with EEU member states has grown by 76%, from $2.5 billion to $4.4 billion, its exports to EEU countries have tripled from $410 million to $1.23 billion, and its imports increased by more than 50%, from $2 billion to $3 billion. Apart from gold, 80% of Kyrgyzstan’s exports go to the EEU countries. The Kyrgyz president also emphasized the importance of linking the EEU and the Chinese Belt and Road initiative. Despite the current observer status of his country and the EEU, Uzbek President Mirziyoyev reported that over the past three years, trade between Uzbekistan and the EEU has grown by 60 percent. Looking ahead, he announced, “Uzbekistan is interested in expanding practical partnership and...

Central Asia Uzbekistan International Affairs Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan and the EU Celebrate 30 Years of Mutually Beneficial Cooperation

A festival to celebrate the 30th anniversary of cooperation between Uzbekistan and the European Union (EU) will be held on 18 May at Tashkent's Botanical Garden. Welcoming the event, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan Charlotte Adrian, stated, "The partnership between the European Union and Uzbekistan remains strong, from the signing of the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) to the strengthening of GSP+ [Generalized Scheme of Preference Plus] trade relations and joint commitments to improve human rights." The festival will feature an exhibition of EU-funded projects including an interactive platform for young people, students and other visitors. The 'Climate Change and Resilience in Central Asia' project will be highlighted through an interactive game, quizzes and question-and-answer sessions, whilst 'Made in Uzbekistan' will showcase goods from EU-AGRIN (Uzbek Agriculture Knowledge and Innovation System) in tasting sessions of local produce. Celebrations will close with a grand gala concert dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the partnership. Interaction with the EU , one of the main priorities of Uzbekistan's foreign policy, is evidenced by the country's accession in 2021 to the GSP+ system of preferences, which enables 6,200 categories of goods to be exported to Europe duty-free. In this regard, General Director of BMB Trade Group Mirgulom Usmanov noted that agri-food companies in Uzbekistan are now growing and processing varieties of fruit and vegetables to meet the demands of the European market. In the first 10 months of 2023 alone, the volume of mutual trade between Uzbekistan and the EU grew by 36 percent year-on-year to $4.8 billion. An important step towards revitalizing the partnership was taken in the adoption of a resolution that calls for a review of the EU's strategy towards Central Asian countries and as stressed by the report, "The EU is extremely interested in deploying efficient trade and energy corridors between Europe and Asia, bypassing Russia."

Uzbekistan Uzbekistan Business & Economy Uzbekistan Life & Culture Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan and Hungary Expand Economic Cooperation

On May 7, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Peter Szijjártó at the 9th meeting of the Uzbek-Hungarian Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation in Taskent. Focus was placed on cooperation on projects in industry, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, fish farming, logistics, and real estate construction, with added emphasis on the importance of accelerating the launch of a special economic zone for projects conducted by Hungarian and European companies in the Tashkent region. Co-chaired by Peter Szijjártó and the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Laziz Kudratov, the meeting also addressed the further development of cooperation in investment, industrial, trade and economic, banking, cultural and humanitarian sectors. It was stated that over the past 5 years, Uzbek-Hungarian trade turnover has doubled and in the first quarter of 2024 alone, bilateral trade grew six-fold compared to the same period in 2023. Measures to increase bilateral trade include the launch of “Meet Uzbekistan” programs to promote Uzbek products in Budapest’s large retail chains, as well as the organization of roadshows for Uzbek manufacturers in Hungary’s largest cities. Both sides stressed the importance of diversifying transport routes, liberalizing permits for bilateral and transit transportation, resuming direct flights between Tashkent and Budapest, and organizing a logistics hub for Uzbek products in Hungary. Note was made of Hungarian companies’ implementation of projects worth almost $500 million in Uzbekistan, and thanks expressed for Hungary’s provision of a state scholarship ‘Stipendium Hungaricum’ which enables some 300 Uzbek students to study at its universities.

Central Asia Uzbekistan International Affairs Business & Economy Uzbekistan Business & Economy Uzbekistan International Affairs

Saudi and Emirati Companies to Build Two Wind Farms in Uzbekistan

Saudi and Emirati companies are to invest $7 billion in the construction of two windfarms in the Kungrad district of Uzbekistan's autonomous Karakalpakstan republic. The announcement followed the signing of two contracts during the third Tashkent Investment Forum. The commission of the facilities will save almost 7 billion cubic meters of natural gas and prevent the emission of more than 2 billion tons of harmful gases into the atmosphere. Welcoming the initiative, the Uzbek Energy Ministry said, "Saudi company ACWA Power is implementing a megaproject to build a wind farm with a total capacity of 5 gigawatts in the Kungrad district of Karakalpakstan. The project is estimated at $6.2 billion. The station will generate 17.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. A wind power plant with a total capacity of 1 gigawatt and a cost of $1.1 billion will be built in the same area by Amea Power from the UAE. It will generate 3.5 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity a year," . During the third Tashkent International Investment Forum, agreements signed by several government and private-sector counterparties, totalled $26.6 billion .