Central Asia reviving old cooperation schemes with Iran

LONDON (TCA) — With the recent removal of the sanctions on Iran, Europe and the former Soviet republics have jumped on the platform to announce “breakthrough” deals on the occasion. Today most of those “new” deals are in fact a lot older, and it will take several years before a concrete benefit will be achieved both for Central Asia and Iran. Today Iran needs every bit of cash to cope with its huge socioeconomic problems while Central Asia access to the sea and alternative export routes has always been of high priority.

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Times of Central Asia

Turkmenistan’s gas sales: the choice between cash and ash

ASHGABAT (TCA) — Turkmenistan’s dream to become a world energy player seems to have gone up in smoke just when it could have grasped a glimpse of reality. A trade conflict with Russia’s gas giant Gazprom has prematurely locked its gas outlet to the north, leaving only China as its customer. Ashgabat’s lack of market insight in the midst of a continental price slump appears to be the main cause of Turkmenistan’s inability to cash in on its monoculture.

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Times of Central Asia

The 7th OIC Ministerial Conference on Food Security in Astana on April 28 (primeminister.kz)

Astana hosts OIC Ministerial Conference on Food Security

ASTANA (TCA) — On April 28, Kazakhstan’s capital Astana hosted the 7th Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development and the inaugural session of the General Assembly of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.

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Times of Central Asia