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Politics Election Afghanistan Central Asia US Russia

Trump triumph and Central Asia connections: a chorus of congratulations from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan

LONDON (TCA) — Does the average citizen of a former Soviet republic of Central Asia have to worry about his country’s future prospect in relation to the election of a new President of the United States? One thing looks certain: Donald Trump’s arrival may deepen the gap between intervention-minded and isolationist groups within the America’s higher political and administrative echelons. Which side will gain the upper hand – Trump or no Trump – is an issue just one election does not determine, but it is crucial regarding the expectations of Central Asia and the world powers surrounding it. Continue reading

10 years ago

Parliament Government Referendum Constitution Economy Kyrgyzstan

Politics in Kyrgyzstan: overlooking the economic issues

LONDON (TCA) — Politicians letting their personal interests prevail over ideological and public issues is a global phenomenon. Kyrgyzstan’s democratic parliament excels in it, and threatens what the system is meant for. A party with a perhaps controversial but daring and radical formula to get the country out of its economic deadlock would beyond doubt harvest success, on condition that once in power it decidedly proceeds. But such a party lacks ground in Kyrgyzstan’s current political life. Continue reading

10 years ago

Central Asia Taliban Military Afghanistan Islamic State Security Terrorism

Afghanistan: war and peace with Taliban negotiations

OSH, Kyrgyzstan (TCA) — All unite against ISIS/Daesh, and after that, business as usual. That seems to be the bottom line where it comes to the eventuality of “negotiations” between the struggling government of Afghanistan and the Taliban terrorist movement, now widely described as “insurgents”. For the population, the result will be more terror in any case. Continue reading

10 years ago

Grain Food Agriculture China Central Asia Tajikistan Turkmenistan Investments

Turkmenistan and Tajikistan agro sectors: investor opportunities

BISHKEK (TCA) — How attractive is Central Asia’s agro-sector for investors looking at long-term, sustainable opportunities? Now that hydrocarbons are out of vogue, investors in the region, led by China, are looking seriously at farming as an alternative to make more money out of money. And the best places to do it seem to be the most unlikely looking countries, namely Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. With China expected to cool down on its frantic capital-spending abroad, there is room for other players to join in. Continue reading

10 years ago

Food Grain Agriculture China Central Asia Kazakhstan Investments Kyrgyzstan

China’s agro sector strategy and impacts on Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan

LONDON (TCA) — Many sideliners have remained in the dark over what China had in mind on launching its “One Belt, One Road” scheme on the Eurasian mega-continent back in 2013. Especially China’s entry into agro-sectors in neighbouring Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan made people in those countries restless. It is now becoming clear that as developments in China’s food-related commitments are concerned, the plan is part of a much broader master-scheme. Continue reading

10 years ago

Power succession Uzbekistan Economy Election Investments

Uzbekistan ready for presidential poll but economy comes first

LONDON (TCA) — Upcoming December 4, the Uzbeks will go to the polls to elect a new president, following the death of their quarter-century-ruling leader Islam Karimov. Investors can take a break while those dreaming of a velvet revolution are in for a wake-up call: the issue of “succession” in Uzbekistan appears to have been well-precooked in a most timely and almost elegant manner. As in surrounding former Soviet republics except Kyrgyzstan, the Uzbeks do not like surprises, especially those considered prepared elsewhere. Continue reading

10 years ago

Government Referendum Constitution Parliament Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyzstan: the President and critics of constitutional amendments

LONDON (TCA) — Who is in charge in Kyrgyzstan, and who in case of differences between the “pillars of power” is to have the last word? The Kyrgyz Parliament has recently approved a draft law to hold a nationwide referendum aimed to approve constitutional amendments. Critics inside and outside Parliament accuse the head of state of trying to push for fresh changes in the Constitution in order to shift more powers from Parliament and the Government towards himself. Most surprising is that reading the Constitution leads to the inevitable conclusion that in case he would want to do so he does not need any changes, since the present ambiguity of the Constitution would perfectly allow him to do so within it. Continue reading

10 years ago

Tajikistan Turkmenistan Kyrgyzstan Transport Kazakhstan Railway Transit Uzbekistan Afghanistan China Central Asia

Railway: Kyrgyzstan and the southern corridor of Eurasia (part 3)

BISHKEK (TCA) — Today, east-west rail links are considered at least as important as maritime power. The various branches included in China’s ambitious plan to install a hardware network, in which rail and road links are crucial, face various problems, though. The problems include the failure of different players in the complex game, in particular Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, to come to a joint agreement to eliminate border hubs for transit traffic – not to speak of battlefield Afghanistan. This, as well as other factors, makes land routes more complicated and thereby more expensive than wished for. Continue reading

10 years ago

Transit Khorgos Trade Railway China Central Asia Kazakhstan Transport Russia

Railway: the Kazakhstan corridor (part 2)

ALMATY (TCA) — China’s ambitious plan to install a hardware network, in which rail and road links are crucial, to get its economic clout stretch all across the mega-continent straight to western Europe looks at three main strings: across Siberia in the north, Central Asia in the middle, and the Indian Ocean’s coastal states in the south. Most of the headaches encountered in the process concern the middle route. Continue reading

10 years ago

Railway AIIB BRICS China Russia Transport Central Asia Transit

Railway: Trans-Eurasia corridor (part 1)

BISHKEK (TCA) — Today, east-west rail links are considered at least as important as maritime power. And though at varying speed according to working area, spades are being put into the ground as construction work proceeds, thereby increasing investors’ trust that something is actually being done with their money except paperwork. Continue reading

10 years ago

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