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Kazakhstan’s National Bank returns to currency market interventions

ALMATY (TCA) — Kazakhstan’s currency is in a very bad shape. There are various reasons for that, and although President Nazarbayev advises his citizens not to buy imported goods, people on the street feel the pinch and try to switch to dollars as much as they can. The crash in global prices of oil and other commodities has already brought Russia and Azerbaijan currencies to their lowest level losing more than 50%. Kazakhstan is not doing any better with the tenge moving, in about two years, from about 150 tenges per dollar to the incredible low level of close to 400 and the situation has much to do with the ever shifting National Bank policies.

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Times of Central Asia

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FAO recommends transition to conservation agriculture in Central Asia

BISHKEK (TCA) — A new book by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) calls for a transition across Central Asia to conservation agriculture, a key recommendation of the Organization’s “Save and Grow” model of sustainable crop production. It suggests that governments learn from the example of Kazakhstan, where conservation agriculture practices – zero-tillage, retention of crop residues and crop rotations – have helped wheat farmers achieve high yields even during severe droughts, the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia said.

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Times of Central Asia

EBRD and FT to hold Central Asia Investment Forum in Istanbul

BISHKEK (TCA) — On 18 February 2016, the FT-EBRD Central Asia Investment Forum: Forging relationships for growth will bring together leading investors, policymakers, economists and experts in Central Asia, including Mongolia, to discuss the future of the region and the prospects for investment, the EBRD press office said.

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Times of Central Asia

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Government, civil society, business addressing corruption risks in Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK (TCA) — The Anticorruption Business Council of the Kyrgyz Republic will begin a review of laws that may impact effective protection of property rights of businesses and citizens. The primary goal of the initiative is to reduce the risk of corruption within judicial, fiscal, and law enforcement bodies that affect citizens and business. The project is being implemented with the support of the United States through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), the US Embassy in Bishkek said on February 4.

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Times of Central Asia

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IMF mission visits Kyrgyzstan

BISHKEK (TCA) — An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Mr. Edward Gemayel visited Kyrgyzstan during January 29 to February 4 to discuss recent economic developments, government policies and economic prospects in the context of a challenging regional environment. The discussions also prepared the ground for the second review mission under the Fund supported Extended Credit Facility, tentatively scheduled for April 2016, the IMF said.

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Times of Central Asia