Uzbekistan International Affairs - The Times Of Central Asia

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Central Asian Leaders Offer Support, Condolences to Putin After Dagestan Attack

Several leaders in Central Asia have spoken by telephone with Russian President Vladimir Putin and expressed their condolences after attacks by alleged Islamic militants in the Russian area of Dagestan killed about 20 people. The quick expressions of support on Monday reflect longstanding security ties between Russia and Central Asian countries, as well as growing concerns about extremist attacks in the region, particularly following the March 22 assault on the Crocus City concert hall in the Moscow area that killed more than 140 people. The violence in Russia on Sunday happened in two cities in a mostly Muslim region of the North Caucasus and targeted police and places of worship. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in his conversation with Putin that Uzbekistan was ready “to continue active cooperation between the relevant structures in the fight against common threats in the field of security,” according to a statement by Mirziyoyev. The two leaders also discussed implementation of agreements reached during a visit by Putin to Uzbekistan on May 26-28. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev made similar remarks in a call with Putin, saying Kazakhstan “condemns any assassination and evil attempt on the lives of civilians and regards it as a great threat to international and regional security,” Tokayev’s office reported. It said the two presidents talked about strengthening their “strategic partnership” and discussed the agenda of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit, to be held in the Kazakh capital of Astana on July 3-4. Tajikistan’s leader Emomali Rahmon sent a message expressing “a feeling of deep sadness” and pledges of collaboration on security issues to Putin, saying his country had been fighting terrorism for decades. “Tajikistan, which has been fighting against all forms of terrorism for more than 30 years, strongly condemns this inhuman act of violence in Dagestan and advocates active cooperation in the fight against terrorism,” Rahmon said. Kyrgyzstan’s leader, Sadyr Japarov, who left Bishkek on Monday on an official trip to Belgium, also expressed solidarity with Russia. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the March 22 attack in suburban Moscow and several Tajik suspects were arrested, leading to some harassment and increased scrutiny of many Central Asian migrants who travel to Russia in hopes of finding work. The situation fueled diplomatic tension between Russia and some Central Asian countries, though their leaders have worked to stabilize relations. Putin blamed battlefield adversary Ukraine for the March 22 attack, but he didn’t offer evidence and Kyiv denied the allegation.

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Uzbek Citizens Still Facing Difficulties When Entering Russia

Migrants from Uzbekistan are facing difficulties when entering Russia, due to which Uzbekistan's embassy in Russia has sent an appeal to Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Citizens are complaining about excessive additional checks by airport services. According to the embassy, there has been an increase in complaints by Uzbek citizens to the diplomatic mission's call center about difficulties entering the country, or transiting through Moscow's Sheremetyevo airport. Following the terrorist attack at Moscow's Crocus City Hall on March 22nd, which citizens of Tajikistan stand accused or perpetrating, there has been an increase in reports of Central Asian citizens facing difficulties entering Russia. A Moscow official has explained this is due to increased security measures nationwide.

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Uzbekistan Joins ILO Convention on Equal Opportunities for Working Family Members

Uzbekistan has ratified the International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention No. 156, ensuring equal opportunities and rights for male and female workers with family responsibilities, Gazeta.uz reports. The country's president Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law ratifying this convention, which guarantees equal treatment and opportunities for all workers, regardless of their family obligations. The main objective of ILO Convention No. 156 is to create conditions under which working men and women with family responsibilities can perform paid work without facing discrimination while successfully combining professional and familial obligations. The Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, the upper house of parliament, when considering the law on ratification, emphasized that all the requirements of the Convention have already been fully implemented in the country's national legislation. To date, 45 out of 187 ILO member states, including Norway, Sweden, Spain, France, Japan, South Korea, Azerbaijan, and Kazakhstan, have ratified the Convention.

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Chinese Company to Build Automobile Plant in Uzbekistan for $1.5 bln

China Xiaou Group intends to launch a large automobile manufacturing complex in the Ferghana region of Uzbekistan, the Khokimiyat (regional authority) of the Ferghana press service has reported. The agreement on constructing a large automobile complex with China Xiaou Group for $1.5 billion, at the expense of direct Chinese investments, was signed during a visit by a delegation of officials and businessmen from the Ferghana region to China. It is reported that in the first stage of the project, a $50 million investment is planned to set up production lines for 60,000 electric, hybrid, and special cars per year. In the second phase, $350 million will be invested, and $1.1 billion in the third phase. Most of the components will be localized, and the number of cars produced will be increased to 110,000 per year. The project is planned to be fully completed within five years.

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Central Asian Countries Gather to Share Air Pollution Solutions

On June 19th a political and regional forum was organized in Tashkent under the slogan “Building a Clean Air Future in Central Asia”. The forum was organized in partnership with the Uzbek Ministry of Ecology, the World Bank, and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Participants included senior officials from the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The forum was created to allow the countries of Central Asia to exchange knowledge on how to prevent air pollution. Air quality in both urban and rural areas is affected by transboundary pollution, caused by emissions from burning fossil fuels in industry, the heating sector, and transport. Another source of pollution in cities is sand and dust storms. Most air quality-related illnesses and premature deaths in Central Asia are attributable to delicate particulate matter 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5). Their concentration in large cities is often several times higher than the permissible air quality parameters recommended by the World Health Organization. This is especially noticeable during winter, when the heating sector uses coal and gas for power. According to the IQAir portal, which monitors global air quality, Central Asian cities are often among the most polluted cities in the world. The participants at “Building a Clean Air Future in Central Asia” studied each other's measures and practices in air quality management. They then defined some priority directions for accelerating regional cooperation on these issues. Valerie Hickey, the World Bank's global director for environment, natural resources and the blue economy, commented: “Air quality management is a complex challenge that requires understanding where the pollution comes from and prioritizing actions in those sectors. This will take better data and stronger regulations harmonized across borders, credible institutions, and clean infrastructure. Working together, the countries can clean the air across Central Asia.” Sylvie Motar, deputy director of the European office of the UNEP, added: “Air pollution knows no borders, so cooperation between Central Asian countries in this area is essential. This dialogue will help increase investments in clean air to protect the health of the people of Central Asia.”

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Uzbekistan Seeks to Boost its Jewellery Industry

At a government meeting on June 19, plans to further develop Uzbekistan’s jewellery industry, support production and increase exports were presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Noting the country’s huge potential for increasing the production and export of jewellery, the president said that just 6 percent of the gold mined in Uzbekistan is processed, and exports of finished products from gold amount to only $78 million. He thus emphasized the importance of creating jewellery zones equipped to attract entrepreneurs, a review of supplies of raw materials to the industry, and training specialists in the field. With reference to the above, the head of state issued instructions for a program to be developed to enhance the domestic jewellery industry until 2027. The meeting also discussed piloting special jewellery centres with production, exhibition and trading areas in Tashkent and the Namangan region. The government is considering establishing, until October 1, 2026, a zero rate of customs duty and value added tax on equipment, packaging and labelling materials used, but not produced, in Uzbekistan in the jewellery industry. An additional proposal was mooted to establish a zero-customs duty rate for the export of Uzbek jewellery to the USA. In January-March 2024, Uzbekistan exported gold worth $2.66 billion. In the first quarter of the year, revenues from gold exports comprised 41.7% of the country’s total exports. In 2023, gold exports accounted for 33.4%, or $8.1 billion, of Uzbekistan’s total export volume.