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Transport

€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.

2 years ago

Economy

Kyrgyzstan’s GDP Reached $13.7bn In 2023

2023 Kyrgyzstan’s GDP grew by 6.2% last year to reach $13.7bn, a record high for the country, the chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Akylbek Japarov announced at a government meeting on January 26th. Mr Japarov said that he believes the 6.2% figure for 2023 will be higher after the economic data for 2023 is updated and finalized. The head of the cabinet commented that to achieve a GDP of $30bn by 2030, Kyrgyzstan needs to ensure an annual growth rate of 9%-11.5%, and to reach the $200bn mark by 2050, the growth rate needs to average 10.3% per year. “It is difficult to maintain this pace, but we can achieve it,” said Japarov, adding that the government’s priority task is to create new jobs.

2 years ago

Access to Clean Water

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.

2 years ago

Germany

German Company To Help Create Medical Cluster In Turkmen City Of Arkadag

On January 27th Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, the chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan, met with the managing director of the German consulting company Goetzpartners Emerging Markets GmbH, Vladimir Mathias. Goetzpartners won an international tender to consult on the creation of a medical cluster in the Turkmen city of Arkadag, the Turkmen Foreign Ministry has reported. Germany is one of Turkmenistan’s key European partners. Several German companies are involved in large-scale projects in the fields of transport, communications and logistics in the country. At the meeting Mr Mathias explained to Mr Berdimuhamedov that the planned medical cluster in Arkadag is designed to produce various types of medical products not only for the domestic market, but also for export. The city of Arkadag was unveiled on June 29th, 2023. The “smart” city, designed to be home for 70,000 people and costing billions of dollars to construct, is located 30km south of the capital, Ashgabat.

2 years ago

Natural disaster

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.

2 years ago