Viewing results 8797 - 8802 of 12376
DUSHANBE (TCA) — The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Russian Social and Industrial Foodservice Institute have opened a greenhouse at secondary school No. 15 in the Proletar village of the Vakhsh district in Tajikistan. Continue reading
TASHKENT (TCA) — Uzbekistan has freed an opposition and human rights activist after imprisoning him for more than four years in a case that watchdogs called politically motivated, RFE/RL's Uzbek Service reported. Continue reading
BISHKEK (TCA) — A quarter of a century ago, on May 10, 1993, Kyrgyzstan was among the first CIS countries to introduce its own currency. The correctness of this historic decision has been confirmed by time. The Kyrgyz som has proved its independence and consistency despite the periodic shocks of the economy, Chairman of the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic (NBKR) Tolkunbek Abdygulov said on May 7 at a meeting commemorating the 25th anniversary of the national currency. A stable national currency is among the most important economic indicators, Abdygulov said. The Kyrgyz som is also the most stable currency providing for a low level of inflation, said Marat Sultanov, who headed the National Bank in 1993. “When we were going to introduce our own currency, no one believed that it would be stable, and many predicted a failure,” Sultanov said. On May 10, Kyrgyzstan annually celebrates the National Currency Day. Best regional banknote A 2000-som commemorative banknote won a prestigious international competition "The Best Regional Banknote of 2018" among the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS. The banknote issued last November was dedicated to the 25th anniversary of Kyrgyzstan’s independence and the 25th anniversary of its National Bank. The banknote was awarded “for outstanding achievements in design, the use of modern protective elements in decoration, technological equipment and security of the banknote”. Developing banking system NBKR Chair Abdygulov spoke about the development of the banking system in the country. For a relatively short period since independence, the domestic banking system has proved its sustainability. The activity of banks is constantly improving, and they introduce innovative technologies and expand the range of services offered. The reserves of the National Bank exceed $2.18 billion, and this allows us to look confidently into the future, Abdygulov said earlier this year at a news conference in Bishkek. International currency reserves of Kyrgyzstan consist of more than ten types of currency, including SDR (special drawing rights of the IMF) and gold. They can be used for international settlements and payments, covering the balance of payments deficit and stabilizing the exchange rate of the national currency. The NBKR uses foreign exchange interventions to smooth sharp fluctuations in the exchange rate. Bank deposits of Kyrgyz citizens amounted to 121.6 billion soms at the end of 2017, the NBKR said. Back in 2012, the population kept 53.2 billion soms in banks, 71.1 billion soms in 2013, 85.9 billion in 2014, 109.4 billion in 2015, and 107 billion in 2016. The population now keeps 63.8 billion soms in the national currency and 57.8 billion soms in foreign currency. Innovative payments The analysis shows the annual growth of both the amount of taxes paid and the number of payments by innovative methods. The amount of payments to the state budget through peripheral devices has almost tripled and the number of payments has doubled over the first three months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. According to the NBKR, taxpayers carried out 65.14...
BISHKEK (TCA) — The Publisher’s note: Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Central Asia was the scene of intense geopolitical struggle and the Great Game between the British and Russian Empires, and later between the Soviet Union and the West, over Afghanistan and neighboring territories. Into the 21st century, Central Asia has become the area of a renewed geopolitical interest, dubbed the New Great Game, largely based on the region’s hydrocarbon and mineral wealth. On top of that, the region now is perhaps the most important node in the implementation of China’s One Belt, One Road initiative through which Beijing aims to get direct access to Western markets. Every week thousands of news appears in the world’s printed and online media and many of them may escape the attention of busy readers. At The Times of Central Asia, we strongly believe that more information can better contribute to peaceful development and better knowledge of this unique region. So we are presenting this Weekly Digest which compiles what other media have reported on Central Asia over the past week. KAZAKHSTAN Kazakhstan is Central Asia’s migration outlier Hundreds of thousands of citizens of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have left their countries in search of work and better life abroad, mainly in Russia. In recent years, however, Kazakhstan has become a new magnet for labor immigrants May 7 — “Central Asian states are collectively known as a wellspring of migrants, most of whom leave in search of work in Russia. But Kazakhstan is an outlier: The country in recent years has gone from a sending to a receiving state, and, in the process, appears to be altering the economic balance in the region.” READ MORE: https://timesca.com/index.php/news/19711-kazakhstan-is-central-asia-s-migration-outlier Fire and oil in western Kazakhstan's “spiritual renovation” Post-independence Kazakhstan has seen a revival in Kazakh genealogies, sub-ethnic lineages and identities May 8 — “As the sun sets on Mangystau, in Western Kazakhstan, hundreds of people ascend to the top of Otpan Tau, the region's highest spot. Above them, the golden-domed mausoleum of Adai Ata, the semi-mythical ancestor of the local clan, the Adai. The electric lights of a museum and temporary yurt encampment stand against the darkness below.” READ MORE: https://www.opendemocracy.net/od-russia/maurizio-totaro/fire-and-oil-in-western-kazakhstan Astana’s new International Financial Centre announces early achievements, targets and goals Kazakhstan has historically attracted foreign investors due to its political stability, strong economy and balanced foreign policy May 8 — “This summer, Kazakhstan will deliver an official presentation of Astana’s International Financial Centre (AIFC). The platform was launched at the beginning of this year. The project is set to become the core element of Central Asian country’s financial infrastructure.” READ MORE: http://www.brusselstimes.com/eu-affairs/11245/astana-s-new-international-financial-centre-announces-early-achievements-targets-and-goals Visiting Kazakhstan Was a Pleasant Surprise A travel essay provides an eye-opener for westerners about Kazakhstan, its people, culture, and tourist attractions May 9 — “IT’S THE NO. 1 COUNTRY in the world for potassium, number two for prostitutes, and the residents drink fermented horse urine? No, but you can thank Borat for everything we know about Kazakhstan, which is nothing. The...
TASHKENT (TCA) — The government of Uzbekistan has issued a decree aimed at completely ending the practice of forced labor in the Central Asian country, RFE/RL reported. Continue reading
DUSHANBE (TCA) — A Tajik man has been sentenced to 9 1/2 years in prison for watching, liking, and sharing videos of a banned Islamic Party’s gatherings abroad, RFE/RL's Tajik Service reports. Continue reading
