Our People > Sergey Kwan

Sergey Kwan

Journalist

Sergey Kwan has worked for The Times of Central Asia as a journalist, translator and editor since its foundation in March 1999. Prior to this, from 1996-1997, he worked as a translator at The Kyrgyzstan Chronicle, and from 1997-1999, as a translator at The Central Asian Post.
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Kwan studied at the Bishkek Polytechnic Institute from 1990-1994, before completing his training in print journalism in Denmark.

Articles

Cargo Transport

Kyrgyzstan Logistics Center Aims to Link China and Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan has opened a new international trade and logistics center designed to strengthen transport links between China, Central Asia and wider post-Soviet markets, as Bishkek seeks to expand its role as a regional transit hub. The new facility, Altyn Logistic, officially opened on May 28 in the city of Balykchy, at the western end of Lake Issyk-Kul. The 5.5 hectare logistics center includes warehouses, a railway line with loading and unloading infrastructure, and a large open parking area. According to officials, the complex is capable of handling up to 200 trucks per day and is expected to create around 80 jobs. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev said the country is seeking to grow its transit and logistics potential due to its strategic position along international transport corridors. “The center is located on one of the key routes of the Silk Road, and I am confident that it will effectively function as a major logistics hub linking China, Central Asian countries and CIS states,” Kasymaliev said. The choice of Balykchy is strategically important as the city already serves as a transport junction in northern Kyrgyzstan. Located at the western end of Lake Issyk-Kul, it is the final stop on the railway line from Bishkek and sits on the road corridor running from the capital toward Naryn and the Torugart Pass on the Chinese border. Balykchy is also the starting point for the Balykchy-Kochkor-Kara-Keche railway, a 186-kilometer line under construction since 2022. The route is intended to connect the existing northern rail network with Kochkor and the Kara-Keche coal deposit in Naryn Region, one of the main sources of coal for Bishkek’s thermal power plant. Authorities plan eventually to integrate this line with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which is currently under construction inside Kyrgyzstan. If that happens, Balykchy would become a central node in a wider rail system linking the country’s north with new east-west freight routes through Naryn, Jalal-Abad and onward to Uzbekistan. The city’s road position is also becoming more important. TCA has previously reported that Kyrgyzstan’s alternative North-South highway is designed to link Balykchy with Jalal-Abad, cutting the journey between the two cities from around 13 hours to six once fully operational. That would give Balykchy a stronger role in domestic freight movement, not only in trade with China and Kazakhstan. The new logistics center also fits into Kyrgyzstan’s wider effort to turn its limited rail network into a transit asset. Kyrgyzstan’s railway system still spans only 425 kilometers and remains split between northern and southern sections, but that freight turnover has begun recovering after years of stagnation. For Bishkek, the value of Altyn Logistic will depend on whether those larger rail and road projects are completed. For now, the center strengthens Balykchy’s role as a northern cargo hub; in the longer term, it could become a link between Kyrgyzstan’s existing rail connection to Kazakhstan and the new routes being built toward China and Uzbekistan.

2 months ago

Rail Freight

Kazakhstan and Russia Digitalize Rail Freight Transportation

Kazakhstan’s national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), and Russian Railways have signed a joint action plan to develop the digitalization of bilateral rail freight transportation. The document was signed on May 28 during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Kazakhstan. According to KTZ, the plan aims to create a unified digital space between the railways of Kazakhstan and Russia. The company said the move would improve the efficiency of transportation processes, speed up cargo handling, and introduce modern digital solutions on international routes. Implementation of the plan is expected to support seamless transit, remove digital barriers, expand electronic document exchange, and develop paperless technologies in freight transportation. The parties also agreed to gradually increase the number of trains passing through nine interstate railway crossings on the Kazakhstan-Russia border. KTZ described the signing as an important step in developing transport and logistics cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia, saying it would also strengthen Kazakhstan’s role as a key economic bridge between Russia and the countries of Central Asia. According to KTZ, rail freight between Kazakhstan and Russia totaled 92.1 million tons in 2025, up 3.5% from 2024. The growth was driven primarily by transit operations. Russian cargo exports through Kazakhstan increased by 16.1% to 17.3 million tons, while cargo exports from Kazakhstan transiting through Russia rose by 20.4% to 21.5 million tons. The growth trend has continued this year. In the first four months of 2026, exports from Kazakhstan, including coal, ferrous metals, and fertilizers, transiting by rail through Russia increased by 70,000 tons to 7 million tons. Russian cargo transported to and through Kazakhstan, including oil products, ferrous metals, grain and food products, exceeded 12 million tons, an increase of about 20%.

2 months ago

Taxation

Kyrgyzstan Weighs Higher Sugary Drink Taxes as Child Health Concerns Rise

Kyrgyzstan is considering higher taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages, including a new sugar-content-based excise system, as officials seek to curb rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease among children and adolescents. On May 26, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health organized a high-level policy dialogue on the taxation of sugary drinks as part of the country’s strategy to prevent noncommunicable diseases and promote healthier diets. According to the ministry, noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular illnesses, cancer, and diabetes, remain the leading cause of premature deaths in Kyrgyzstan. Excessive consumption of sugary beverages is increasingly recognized as a major risk factor for obesity and diabetes, especially among younger age groups. The proposal would replace the current flat excise rate with a tiered system in which drinks with higher sugar content are taxed more heavily. The Ministry of Health has also proposed a separate excise tax on energy drinks, citing their sugar and caffeine content and potential risks for adolescents. The policy discussion brought together representatives of the Ministry of Health, parliament, international development organizations, civil society groups, and public health experts to review international experience, economic evidence, and possible approaches to taxing sugary beverages. According to the World Health Organization, more than 115 countries worldwide, including 22 countries in the WHO European Region, have already implemented various forms of taxation on sugar-sweetened beverages as part of efforts to improve public nutrition and reduce the health and economic burden caused by chronic diseases. International studies show that increasing the price of sugary drinks can reduce consumption and encourage healthier dietary habits. “Today, we are facing a significant increase in diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases, and the situation among children and adolescents is particularly alarming,” Deputy Health Minister Gulbara Ishenapysova said during the dialogue. “Sugar-sweetened beverages form unhealthy eating habits from an early age while providing no nutritional value. The state already incurs enormous costs for treating complications of diabetes, including hemodialysis, heart attacks, strokes, amputations, and disability.” According to Ishenapysova, increasing taxes on sugary drinks should be viewed “first and foremost as an investment in public health and the prevention of chronic diseases.” WHO Representative to Kyrgyzstan, Dr. Liviu Vedrasco, said the taxation of sugary beverages is not only a health policy measure but also an investment in the country’s future productivity and economic resilience. “International experience convincingly demonstrates that well-designed fiscal policy helps reduce sugar consumption, encourages producers to manufacture healthier products, and helps prevent noncommunicable diseases, especially among children and adolescents,” Vedrasco said. UNICEF Representative in Kyrgyzstan, Samman Thapa, warned that the situation in the country is becoming increasingly concerning. “According to the 2023 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, 78% of children aged six to 23 months already consume sugary beverages,” Thapa said. “At the same time, the rate of overweight and obesity among children continues to rise.” The World Bank backed the proposal, citing modeling that projected long-term health and fiscal benefits. “Our analysis of the Kyrgyz Republic shows that there are practical measures capable of delivering significant benefits for both public...

2 months ago

Fuel prices

Kyrgyzstan Introduces State Regulation of Fuel Prices

Kyrgyzstan has introduced temporary state regulation of motor fuel prices amid continued increases in the cost of gasoline and diesel, which the country imports largely from Russia. The Cabinet of Ministers adopted a resolution introducing measures to stabilize fuel prices, ensure economic security, maintain uninterrupted fuel supplies, and support businesses. Under the resolution, the government will subsidize imports of gasoline, diesel fuel, and liquefied petroleum gas from May 25 through September 30, 2026. Authorities have established fixed benchmark prices for imported fuel: AI-92 gasoline: $860 per ton; AI-95 gasoline: $940 per ton; diesel fuel: $950 per ton; liquefied petroleum gas: $575 per ton. The difference between market prices and the state-established benchmark prices will be compensated to importers through government subsidies. At the same time, the Ministry of Economy has been instructed to introduce temporary state regulation of retail fuel prices by establishing maximum allowable prices. The Cabinet of Ministers has also temporarily lifted restrictions on fuel imports by road transport, although most fuel deliveries to Kyrgyzstan traditionally arrive by rail from Russia. The decision comes amid mounting pressure on fuel markets across Central Asia. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that by mid-May, Kyrgyzstan’s fuel reserves covered only around one to one and a half months of consumption, while the country’s annual fuel demand is estimated at approximately 1.6 million tons. Analysts link rising fuel prices across the region to higher global oil prices after tensions involving Iran escalated, as well as to lower refining volumes in Russia following Ukrainian drone strikes on refinery infrastructure. Kyrgyzstan consumes around 1.6 million tons of motor fuel annually and imports roughly 1.2 million tons, remaining heavily dependent on external suppliers because of its limited domestic refining capacity.

2 months ago

Compensation Mechanisms

Kyrgyzstan Calls for Compensation Mechanisms to Maintain Regional Water Infrastructure

Kyrgyzstan is calling for compensation mechanisms with neighboring countries to help finance the maintenance of water infrastructure and glacier preservation. Officials warn that shrinking glaciers and declining precipitation already pose serious risks for Central Asia. The issue was raised by Erlist Akunbekov, Kyrgyzstan’s deputy chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and minister of water resources, agriculture, and processing industry, during the opening of the Fourth High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development,” 2018-2028, in Dushanbe on May 26. Akunbekov described the melting of glaciers as a regional challenge, not solely a national problem. “Without glaciers, there will be no water in the rivers, and without water in the rivers, there will be no life in the valleys,” he said. He presented Kyrgyzstan as a critical upstream supplier, saying it is the only country in Central Asia whose water resources are formed entirely within its own territory. On that basis, he called for mutually beneficial and equitable compensation mechanisms in the water and energy sectors. Kyrgyzstan uses only around 30% of its available water resources, while the majority is consumed downstream by neighboring countries, Akunbekov said. At the same time, the country bears substantial costs for maintaining reservoirs, hydraulic infrastructure, and glacier ecosystems that benefit the entire region. “However, we must frankly admit that today our country is not receiving adequate compensation for these efforts,” Akunbekov said. For decades, Kyrgyzstan has also incurred indirect economic losses because land has been used for reservoirs and infrastructure serving regional water needs, he said. “Maintaining hydraulic facilities and preserving glaciers in the mountains of Kyrgyzstan requires enormous expenditures,” he said. Akunbekov added that Kyrgyzstan allocated approximately $80 million to the water sector last year and around $259 million over the past five years. Despite those investments, the resources of a single country are insufficient to fully modernize the aging water infrastructure inherited from the Soviet era. “We need additional consolidated financing to build an effective and modern water management system for all countries in the region,” Akunbekov said, adding that the time has come to introduce compensation mechanisms that would allow upstream countries to maintain water infrastructure for the benefit of all Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan remains one of the principal sources of irrigation water for downstream Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Akunbekov also drew attention to environmental risks facing Lake Issyk-Kul, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most important natural landmarks and a a biosphere territory of regional significance. He noted that over the past decade, the number of rivers flowing into the lake has declined from 100 to 30. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan has also proposed that international donors and development partners jointly develop and implement a comprehensive program to preserve Lake Issyk-Kul and address climate-related risks affecting the wider region.

2 months ago

Aral Sea

Kazakhstan Says Aral Sea Bed Afforestation Has Reached 1.2 Million Hectares

The environmental disaster of the Aral Sea, once the world's fourth-largest lake, remains one of the most serious ecological challenges facing Central Asia. The total area of the dried seabed now covers approximately 6 million hectares, including 2.8 million hectares in Kazakhstan. The Aral Sea once covered about 68,000 square kilometers and supported fishing communities along what is now the Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan border. Its collapse followed decades of Soviet-era irrigation projects that diverted water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya, a history The Times of Central Asia previously reported. As full restoration of the Aral Sea's water level is no longer considered realistic, large-scale afforestation has become Kazakhstan's primary strategy for preventing further environmental degradation, according to the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously ordered the creation of saxaul plantations across 1.1 million hectares of the dried Aral seabed by 2025. The main objective of the vast green shield initiative was to stabilize exposed soil, reduce wind speed, and prevent the spread of toxic salts, dust, and chemical residues into neighboring regions. Kazakhstan has accumulated nearly three decades of experience in combating desertification in the Aral region, having launched afforestation projects in the 1990s. During the first 30 years of the program, from 1990 to 2020, more than 195,000 hectares of protective forest plantations were established in the Kyzylorda Region with support from international donors. Between 2021 and 2025, afforestation efforts expanded to cover an additional 1.117 million hectares. In 2026 alone, forested areas on the former seabed have already increased by another 116,000 hectares. As part of the program, the authorities have sown 3,440 tons of saxaul and halophyte seeds and planted 53.2 million saxaul seedlings. Officials in the Kyzylorda Region have also acknowledged the difficulty of the work. According to Kazinform, scientific assessments put the survival rate of saxaul stands at around 30%, and work is underway to improve seedling adaptation on the dried seabed. Officials say the new plantations are beginning to show ecological results. Saxaul trees develop powerful horizontal root systems extending up to 12 meters, helping to stabilize soil and protect it from wind erosion. A new ecosystem is gradually emerging across the formerly barren seabed, with rodents, reptiles, and birds returning to the area as natural soil formation processes begin to recover. The authorities are also working to increase the economic value of the afforested territories. Seeds of forage plants are now being sown within the saxaul plantations, with the long-term goal of transforming parts of the rehabilitated land into pasture. Kazakhstan also plans to establish the Aral Ormany State Forest Nature Reserve, which would cover more than 1.3 million hectares. The proposed reserve would receive the status of a specially protected natural area, ensuring the long-term preservation of the newly formed ecosystem and supporting continued ecological restoration on the dried seabed of the Aral Sea. Regional environmental cooperation has also become increasingly important. Of particular significance for the Aral region is the Green Shield of Central Asia resolution adopted...

2 months ago

Tourism Development

Kyrgyzstan Looks to Turn Former Uranium Mining Town Into Tourist Destination

The Kyrgyz authorities and international partners are seeking to help transform the village of Min-Kush, one of the country’s former uranium mining centers, into a new tourist destination as part of broader efforts to promote sustainable economic development in remote mountain communities. The issue was the focus of the forum “Development of Min-Kush Village Through Sustainable Tourism: Revival of Forgotten Cities,” held in Min-Kush, in the Jumgal district of the Naryn Region, from May 21 to 23. The forum brought together government officials, international organizations, tourism professionals, civil society groups, and local residents to discuss the tourism, environmental, historical, cultural, and gastronomic potential of Min-Kush and the wider Jumgal district. Founded in 1947 as a uranium mining settlement, Min-Kush became one of the Soviet Union’s major uranium production centers. After the collapse of the USSR and the closure of the mines, the village experienced decades of economic decline. Today, Min-Kush is undergoing environmental rehabilitation efforts supported by the Kyrgyz government and international partners aimed at addressing the legacy of uranium mining. Speaking at the forum, Dinara Kemelova, the Kyrgyz president’s special representative for the mountain agenda, said Min-Kush is now safe for both residents and visitors and has significant potential for the development of a green economy, agriculture, and tourism. An important part of the event was a roundtable discussion devoted to strengthening cooperation among communities located near former uranium legacy sites. Participants emphasized the importance of coordinating the efforts of government institutions, international organizations, businesses, and local communities to transform uranium legacy areas into new centers of green economic growth and sustainable tourism in Kyrgyzstan. The forum was organized by the Kyrgyz government together with the NGO Destination Min-Kush, in cooperation with the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek and the United Nations Development Programme in Kyrgyzstan, with financial support from the European Union. During the event, UNDP highlighted its grant support mechanism for local initiatives in communities located near uranium legacy sites. Through small grant programs, local civil society organizations, women’s groups, youth initiatives, artisans, and entrepreneurs receive support for practical, community-driven projects aimed at improving livelihoods, increasing environmental awareness, preserving local heritage, and encouraging economic activity. Rémi Duflot, ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Kyrgyzstan, said the forum provided Min-Kush with an opportunity to demonstrate its tourism potential while building on both its natural assets and its unique history as a former uranium mining site. “The EU will continue supporting the efforts undertaken by national and local authorities, in partnership with the EBRD, OSCE, and UNDP, to provide better opportunities for populations living near uranium legacy sites in Kyrgyzstan,” Duflot said.

2 months ago

Labor Migration

Center for Legal and Safe Labor Migration Opens in Bishkek

Kyrgyzstan’s second Resource Center for Migrants opened in the capital, Bishkek, on May 22. The new center is intended to expand citizens’ access to reliable information on safe, organized, and legal labor migration, as well as raise public awareness of the risks of illegal migration, human trafficking, and other forms of exploitation. The center was established under the EU-funded PROTECT project, a regional initiative implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development in Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. Migrant resource centers are intended to serve as first points of contact for people considering employment abroad, particularly those who may otherwise rely on informal recruiters or unverified online information. Such centers typically provide advice on legal migration pathways, employment procedures, documentation, workers’ rights, and the risks associated with irregular migration. According to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration, the Resource Center in Bishkek will conduct outreach activities, organize pre-departure orientation sessions for potential migrants, providing training on safe labor migration. The first Resource Center for Migrants in Kyrgyzstan opened in Osh, the country’s second-largest city, in March 2024. Since then, the center has provided assistance to more than 21,000 people through consultations, information events, and job fairs. The opening of the Bishkek center comes as labor migration continues to play a major role in Kyrgyzstan’s economy. Remittances help support household incomes, particularly in regions where local employment opportunities remain limited. However, dependence on foreign labor markets also leaves migrants vulnerable to rule changes, currency fluctuations, and exploitation by intermediaries. In 2025, remittances to Kyrgyzstan totaled $3.49 billion, according to the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic. The vast majority, $3.29 billion, came from the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), while $198 million came from countries outside the CIS. Kyrgyzstan is working to diversify its labor migration destinations. Russia has long been the main destination for Kyrgyz labor migrants, although Bishkek has sought in recent years to expand legal employment channels to other countries, including Turkey, South Korea, Japan, and several European countries.

2 months ago

Fuel prices

Kyrgyz Government Considers Countermeasures as Fuel Prices Rise

In recent months, there has been a gradual but steady increase in motor fuel prices in Kyrgyzstan, driven in part by higher import costs from Russia, the country’s main supplier of gasoline and diesel. Analysts have linked pressure on regional fuel markets to higher global crude prices following the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, as well as reduced Russian refinery output after Ukrainian drone strikes on oil-processing facilities. In Bishkek, AI-92, a widely used lower-octane gasoline grade, cost an average of 78.4 soms (about $0.89) per liter as of May 14, making it more expensive than comparable fuel in both Russia and Kazakhstan. On May 21, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Head of the Presidential Administration Adylbek Kasymaliev met with the heads of the country’s major fuel trading companies to discuss domestic fuel supplies. Kasymaliev said the latest price increases were linked to instability in the Middle East, which has pushed up international petroleum prices. According to him, the government has so far managed to prevent sharp increases at gas stations through the use of accumulated fuel reserves. Officials also reviewed possible financial and tax support measures for the sector if instability in global markets continues. Among the options under consideration is direct state subsidization of fuel imports. Kasymaliev urged fuel traders to work closely with the government to help maintain supplies and limit pressure on consumers. He also instructed authorities to monitor the market for signs of hoarding, artificial fuel shortages or speculative price increases. Despite rising fuel prices in Kyrgyzstan, the country's fuel market remains relatively stable thanks to guaranteed deliveries from Russia. According to the country’s Antimonopoly Regulation Service, current fuel reserves are sufficient for between one and one-and-a-half months. The agency said that if fuel prices continue to rise, the government could introduce additional stabilization measures. These could include temporary tax cuts for importers of Russian fuel, subsidy programs and preferential lending mechanisms. Officials say such measures could help smooth price fluctuations in the domestic market and maintain stability amid the current geopolitical environment. Kyrgyzstan’s annual demand for motor fuel is estimated at approximately 1.6 million tons. According to First Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Daniyar Amangeldiev, the country currently imports around 1.2 million tons of fuel annually. The Junda oil refinery in northern Kyrgyzstan is capable of producing up to 800,000 tons per year. However, the facility is currently undergoing large-scale modernization aimed at reducing harmful emissions. On May 19, Kasymaliev met with the Chinese management of the Junda refinery to discuss the progress of modernization work and the timeline for resuming production. Kasymaliev said bringing the refinery back online would be important for Kyrgyzstan as global energy markets remain volatile.

2 months ago

Border disputes

UN General Assembly Adopts Kyrgyzstan-Led Resolution on Border Disputes

On May 20, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus a Kyrgyzstan-backed resolution titled “Peaceful Settlement of Border Disputes,” Kyrgyzstan’s Foreign Ministry announced. More than 40 countries co-sponsored the document. The resolution was presented by Kyrgyzstan jointly with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. According to the ministry, the main purpose of the resolution is to share with the international community the historic achievement of the three Central Asian countries in resolving border disputes through peaceful means, including dialogue and negotiations, in accordance with the UN Charter and international law. The resolution proposes what Kyrgyz officials described as a simple and universal principle: when states face border disputes, the way forward should be peaceful, lawful, and based on dialogue. According to the ministry, the Central Asian achievements highlighted in the resolution offer the international community an example of good-neighborly relations and peaceful dispute resolution. The adoption of the resolution is another confirmation of the ability of Kyrgyzstan and its neighbors to peacefully resolve complex issues that had remained unsettled for decades, the ministry stated. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan have recently resolved long-standing border delimitation disputes in the Ferghana Valley inherited after the collapse of the Soviet Union. During a summit in Khujand, northern Tajikistan, on March 31, 2025, Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov, Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a historic agreement on the junction point of the three countries’ state borders, effectively ending decades-long territorial disputes. The three leaders also inaugurated the Friendship Stele, marking the exact point where the borders of the three countries meet. The monument symbolizes friendship among the three nations, the resolution of long-standing border issues, and a new stage of regional cooperation. The Times of Central Asia previously reported on Kyrgyzstan’s initiative to establish the Dostuk (Friendship) International Trade and Economic Park jointly with Tajikistan and Uzbekistan in the border area where the three countries meet. The proposed project is expected to increase cross-border trade, attract investment, and create new economic opportunities across the region.

2 months ago

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