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Central Asia battered by external shocks — IMF

BISHKEK (TCA) — Economic growth has slowed to a two-decade low in the Caucasus and Central Asia (CCA) region, owing to the large and sustained decline in commodity prices, wide-ranging spillovers from Russia’s recession, and the slowdown and rebalancing of China’s economy, says the IMF Regional Economic Outlook April 2016 for Middle East and Central Asia.

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Times of Central Asia

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Real per capita income falls by 24 percent in Tajikistan — survey

DUSHANBE (TCA) — During the period of November 2015-March 2016, average per capita real income in Tajikistan fell across all subgroups (urban, rural, bottom 40 percent, and top 60 percent of the population), resulting primarily from declining remittances, and reduced self-employment and agricultural income over the winter season, according to the World Bank Listening2Tajikistan Survey of Wellbeing. Since November 2015, average real per capita income fell by about 24 percent, but climbed slightly for the bottom 40 percent of the population between January and March.

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Times of Central Asia

Mining blues in Kyrgyzstan: Kumtor, Centerra once more targeted

BISHKEK (TCA) — This time the clash between Kyrgyzstan’s authorities and the operator of the country’s largest gold mine and core moneymaker Kumtor Gold seems to be more serious than previous ones. At stake is close to $200 million in dividends paid by Kumtor to its parent company in Canada back in early 2013 and withheld by the latter to its shareholders citing a “charge” for “de-recognition” of mining assets during the summer of the previous year. Perfectly legal, the mining company argues. A corporate kickback in the eyes of the Kyrgyz prosecutors, though.

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Times of Central Asia

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China will undermine Russia’s military influence in Central Asia

BISHKEK (TCA) — As Russia is facing an economic downturn, it may constrain Moscow’s military aid to Central Asian countries. Here below we are republishing an article originally published by Stratfor, entitled “China will undermine Russia’s military influence in Central Asia”, on Beijing’s expanding military influence in the region.  

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Times of Central Asia