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NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), Kazakhstan’s regional financial services hub, says it is keen to attract Chinese investment in the Belt and Road Initiative projects and medium-sized enterprises in central Eurasia countries, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.
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DUSHANBE (TCA) — Two projects that aim to address fragility risks and increase social resilience in Tajikistan’s vulnerable regions were approved on June 20 by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors. The grant financing of $30 million for the Rural Economy Development Project and $37 million for the Socio-Economic Resilience Strengthening Project were allocated from the International Development Association’s (IDA) Risk Mitigation Regime. The projects will be implemented in Tajikistan’s southern Khatlon region and eastern Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), which both border Afghanistan.
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BISHKEK (TCA) — The Kyrgyz parliament on June 20 voted to strip former President Almazbek Atambayev of immunity from prosecution amid a growing power struggle in the Central Asian nation.
The lawmakers approved the resolution 100-to-5 amid claims Atambayev abused his powers while in office. The vote follows a rash of arrests of former officials close to Atambayev as his successor seeks to consolidate power, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported.
Atambayev ruled Kyrgyzstan for a six-year term that ended in 2017, helping pass the reigns of power to his former prime minister, Sooronbai Jeenbekov.
While Atambayev expected Jeenbekov would continue his policies, his successor quickly turned against him.
A parliamentary commission this week accused Atambayev of six counts of misconduct, including corruption, prompting the June 20 vote to strip him of immunity.
The process of removing the former president’s immunity could take two weeks, lawmaker Kanybek Imanaliev said.
The June 20 decision comes as Jeenbekov’s government pursues officials close to the former president.
Kyrgyz authorities earlier this month arrested Manasbek Arabaev, the ex-chief of the presidential office’s department for judicial system reform, on corruption charges.
Sapar Isakov and Jantoro Satybaldiev, both of whom served as prime minister under Atambayev, have also been charged with corruption.
Earlier, Kyrgyz authorities arrested Adamkul Junusov, the former customs chief, and Ikramjan Ilmiyanov, a former adviser, on similar charges.
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BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyz authorities have launched an investigation into a heroin-smuggling case after customs officials at the German-Polish border discovered 670 kilograms of heroin in a truck that was meant to be transporting sweets to Belgium from a Bishkek-based company, RFE/RL reported.
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TASHKENT (TCA) — A U.S. Department of Commerce Certified Trade Mission featuring 13 major US companies is visiting Tashkent this week to learn more about the business and investment climate in Uzbekistan, and to meet with top Uzbek government officials, American Chamber of Commerce members, state enterprises and other Uzbek companies, the US Embassy in Uzbekistan said on June 18. The certified trade mission fulfills a pledge made by US Commerce Department Secretary Wilbur Ross to Uzbek President Mirziyoyev during his visit to Tashkent last fall.
The group, which includes representatives from globally recognized U.S. firms GE, Bechtel, Procter & Gamble, and John Deere, hopes to identify possible trade and investment opportunities.
“While U.S.-Uzbekistan trade has more than doubled from approximately $150 million in 2017 to over $300 million in 2018, significant opportunities exist to strengthen commercial and economic ties,” Commerce Secretary Ross stated.
“Uzbekistan’s economic landscape is changing rapidly, thanks to ambitious reform efforts by the Government of Uzbekistan. More and more American businesses are exploring opportunities in the Uzbek market. We encourage deeper and broader contacts between the U.S. and Uzbek private sectors,” said U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan, Daniel Rosenblum. “The many business sectors represented by the trade mission participants reflect the growing trade and investment opportunities in Uzbekistan as this country seeks to diversify its economy and leverage its strategic geography in the heart of Central Asia,” he added.
The trade mission kicked off with a briefing from U.S. Ambassador Rosenblum and senior Uzbek government officials, led by the Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Sardor Umurzakov. Ministers from Energy, Transportation, and Health presented investment opportunities in their sectors and answered questions asked by the delegation of the trade mission.
“The United States of America is a strategic partner of the Republic of Uzbekistan. Further expansion of mutually beneficial trade and economic, investment, financial and scientific and technical cooperation between our countries is one of the key aspects to strengthen bilateral ties. I am convinced that events like this serve to strengthen contacts and trust between the business communities of our countries and helps find new areas of cooperation,” said Sardor Umurzakov, Uzbek Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade.
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NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — Kazakhstan is keen to work closely with Norway and the Norwegian business, Roman Vassilenko, Deputy Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, said at the Business Seminar “Kazakhstan: New Economic Opportunities for cooperation with Norway,” held in Oslo on June 18, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported.
Vassilenko said that the annual trade turnover between the two countries is just over $60 million, which signifies that there’s a huge unutilized potential for business-to-business interaction.
He singled out major areas for economic cooperation between Kazakhstan and Norway.
The first is transports and logistics. “In order to boost trade we need to improve connectivity. We have already set up very efficient railroad communication connecting Eastern China with Western Europe. Container shipments going through Kazakhstan reach their destination in just two weeks, which is much faster than the maritime route and much cheaper than air cargo transportation. With Finland already connected, we believe that the whole of Scandinavia, especially Norwegian seaports, can benefit from this route,” Vassilenko said.
“We would like to encourage all Norwegian transport and logistics companies, and those who trade with Asian and Central Asian countries, to participate in this initiative. We are ready to put you in touch with the relevant partners in Kazakhstan and along the whole route.”
Agriculture is another area with huge potential for cooperation.
Today, Kazakhstan is among the top ten countries exporting grain and flour, Vassilenko said. “We know that Norwegian companies are interested in our grains. By the end of last year, over 43,000 tonnes of grain were exported from Kazakhstan to Norway. According to our estimates, this figure can be significantly increased.”
Kazakh businesses are also interested in exporting natural juices, dried fruits and many other products, Vassilenko said, adding that “in this context, there are great opportunities for organizing joint processing industries with Norwegian partners”.
It looks promising to establish joint projects with the Norwegian partners in the production of agricultural products for export, primarily to China, the Kazakh deputy foreign minister said.
