Page 131 – The Times Of Central Asia

04 Sep 2025

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Indian Gold Miners Enter Kyrgyz Market for the First Time

September 4, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

Indian mining firm Deccan Gold Mines has launched operations at the Altyn Tor gold deposit in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region, marking the first overseas venture by an Indian gold mining company, according to Indian media reports.

The project is being developed through Deccan’s local subsidiary, Avelum Partners LLC, which holds a 60% stake in the mine. Production of doré bars is scheduled to begin in October 2025.

Geological assessments estimate the Altyn Tor deposit contains approximately 4.6 million tons of gold-bearing ore with an average grade of 1.2 grams per ton, translating to roughly 60 tons of total gold reserves.

Hanuma Prasad Modali, CEO of Deccan Gold Mines, said preparations are progressing on schedule.

“Eleven conveyor systems have been installed at the site, and the crushing complex has been tested. In early September, the ball mill, one of the key components of the processing plant, will go online, enabling us to reach design capacity as planned,” Modali stated.

The company has positioned the project as a model of responsible mining, aiming to strengthen bilateral ties between India and Kyrgyzstan. Despite challenging climatic conditions at the site’s 3,300-meter elevation, year-round production is planned.

Altyn Tor forms part of the larger Solton-Sary gold deposit, originally discovered by Soviet geologists in the 1940s. Mining activity at the site was active through the 1990s and early 2000s but later ceased due to insufficient investment.

Deccan Gold Mines is also evaluating the potential for processing materials in the tailings pond, where residual gold remains.

The company remains the only publicly listed gold mining firm on the Indian stock exchange. News of its overseas expansion triggered a surge in share prices.

Earlier, Kyrgyzaltyn, the state-owned holding company, confirmed that production at the site was expected to commence in the second half of 2024.

04 Sep 2025

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Kazakhstan’s Higher Education Transformation – Minister Sayasat Nurbek on Attracting Global Talent and Driving Innovation

November 13, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

Kazakhstan is moving quickly to reposition its universities for a more competitive, tech-driven future and to become Central Asia’s study destination of choice. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan, Sayasat Nurbek, explained that a flagship target captures this ambition: to attract 150,000 international students by 2029, nearly five times today’s level, while deepening partnerships with global universities, expanding research in critical minerals, and backing student entrepreneurship and AI talent pipelines.

Kazakhstan as an Emerging Education Hub in Eurasia

Government strategies and institutional partnerships frame Kazakhstan not only as Central Asia’s study destination of choice, but as a new nexus for education in Eurasia. The country’s location at the crossroads of Europe and Asia positions it to serve diverse regional markets, while rapidly multiplying branch campuses and partnerships with leading universities demonstrate how this ambition is taking shape.

Inside the system, the reform agenda is anchored in greater university autonomy, modular and English-medium programs, stronger international accreditation, and a shift from rote learning to research-led, industry-connected education. As Sayasat Nurbek, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Science and Higher Education, told The Times of Central Asia: “Kazakhstan is not only Central Asia’s education leader – we are becoming a new Eurasian hub. Our partnerships with global universities and the growth of world-class campuses show that students no longer need to leave the region to access international-quality education.”

Capturing Demographic Shifts and International Demand

Demographics are one reason why this might work. Central Asia and the broader Eurasian neighborhood together have over a billion people under the age of 25 – a cohort that will strain capacity in nearby systems as the demand for higher education surges. Kazakhstan’s bet is to meet that need locally, in English, at global standards, and at a cost point that undercuts Western destinations. In this sense, the country is explicitly targeting an opportunity to capture demographic shifts and attract students from abroad, while positioning itself as a credible, accessible alternative to saturated or costly Western markets. Minister Nurbek emphasized this point: “With more than a billion young people across Central Asia and our neighboring regions, the demand for higher education is exploding. Kazakhstan is seizing this demographic opportunity by offering English-medium programs at global standards, and at a cost that is far more accessible than traditional destinations.”

This change is visible on the ground through a rapid expansion of foreign branch campuses and deep partnerships. In September 2025, Cardiff University officially opened in Astana – the first Russell Group presence in the country. Branches of the British De Montfort and Coventry universities have already opened their doors in Almaty and Astana, whilst a campus of the South Korean university, Woosong, is set to launch in Turkestan this month. Ministerial briefings and project sheets describe a broader pipeline that includes operating collaborations as well as branches at varying stages – from Penn State and the University of Arizona to SeoulTech, TU Berlin, Queen’s University Belfast, New York Film Academy, and others, alongside planned arrivals such as a KAIST-backed university and Grenoble INP – Phelma at Satbayev University. The effect is two-way: global brands gain access to a strategically located market, while Kazakhstani students and faculty get world-standard curricula, laboratories, and degree pathways without leaving home.

Gaining Traction on the Ground

These developments show that Kazakhstan has growing momentum. Dozens of partnerships are already operational, new branch campuses are opening yearly, and enrollment numbers are beginning to reflect strong international interest. Government scholarship quotas, new dormitory builds, and investments in smart campuses and research clusters are reinforcing this growth. Recognition has followed: Kazakhstan posted a record 35 institutions in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025, with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, and Satbayev University all placed in Asia’s Top 100 – a signal of steady gains in academic and employer reputation.

AI Training Becoming Reality

Kazakhstan’s ambitions in artificial intelligence are no longer just a vision. The AI-SANA program is already training tens of thousands of students, seeding hundreds of startups, and embedding AI into national education standards.

Kazakhstan has launched the most powerful supercomputer in Central Asia, a 2-exaflop machine equipped with NVIDIA H200 processors, designed for AI and high-performance computing. Installed at the Ministry of Digital Development’s Tier 3 data center, the system will provide computing-as-a-service for startups, universities, and research institutions across the region. Albeit Kazakhstan’s own academic cluster is in a nascent stage, supercomputing clusters with a combined capacity of 42 PFLOPS are being deployed at major universities. The arrival of this national supercomputing resource is therefore a significant step forward, positioning the country as a regional leader in AI and data-driven innovation.

Partnerships with Huawei, Coursera, and Astana Hub are delivering hands-on courses and industry pathways. In parallel, AI has been introduced as a compulsory element of the higher education curriculum, ensuring that every graduate acquires baseline competencies in the field. Ultimately, this is building a large pool of AI-skilled technicians and specialists to serve industry and research. As Minister Nurbek told The Times of Central Asia, this blend of talent development, infrastructure, and international collaboration is making AI training both tangible and transformative for Kazakhstan’s innovation system.

Strong Government Backing

The country’s ascent as an academic hub is underpinned by strong government support. The Ministry of Science and Higher Education is not only co-signing MOUs with global players such as Huawei on AI and supercomputing clusters, but also financing scholarship quotas, incentivizing private investment, and staging international forums. The upcoming Strategic Partners Forum 2025 in Astana will convene global stakeholders under the theme “Global Partnerships and Digital Transformation: A New Landscape of Higher Education,” signaling Kazakhstan’s intent to anchor itself firmly in the global higher education ecosystem. Minister Nurbek underscored this momentum: “We are not speaking in future tense,” he told TCA, “this transformation is already underway. Dozens of new campuses, record scholarship allocations, and major international rankings gains prove that Kazakhstan’s higher education system is getting traction. And the government is fully committed, with new laws, funding mechanisms, and partnerships to sustain the momentum.”

03 Sep 2025

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Kazakhstan Gifts 1,500 Saiga Antelopes to China

September 3, 2025
By Jonathan Campion

Kazakhstan has gifted 1,500 saiga antelopes to China, stepping in to support China’s own efforts to restore the species beyond Central Asia.

Loved for its handsome, bulbous nose, the saiga is found in large numbers across the Kazakh steppe. Once endangered in Kazakhstan, numbering as few as 40,000 in 2005, the antelope is in fact now overpopulated, as numbers have reached a record 4.1 million in 2025.

As such, Kazakhstan has been looking for ways to reduce its population while nurturing environmental and diplomatic ties with China.

In turn, China has long been interested in reviving the saiga, but previous attempts have not been successful.

Dastan Kusmanov, an ecologist and PhD candidate at the Nazarbayev University Graduate School of Public Policy, told The Times of Central Asia: “I believe that the saiga being gifted to China is an environmental measure. If a new saiga population is established in China, this is an overall benefit for the species’ survival, because if anything happens to the existing saiga population in Kazakhstan, the species still has a chance to survive elsewhere.”

Kusmanov added, “It’s also beneficial for the environment in China. Saigas are an officially extinct species in China, but you need ungulate animals for the benefit of the environment. Ungulates are animals that eat grass and trample soil to make it softer. Through their diet, they then take seeds from one place to another through their excrement. Saigas also serve as a food source for wolves and eagles, so they are a vital part of the ecosystem and food chain.”

The ecologist emphasized that losing 1500 animals from Kazakhstan’s steppe will not harm the species in the country: “As the gift of 1,500 saigas is less than 0.04% of over 4 million saigas in Kazakhstan, it will not have a negative impact on the existing Kazakhstan population.”

Dr. Kanat Baigarin, Chief Officer for Sustainable Development at Nazarbayev University, agreed with Kusmatov that this new herd would help to protect the saiga species as a whole. “The more widely the saiga population is distributed,” Baigarin told The Times of Central Asia, “the more resilient it becomes to epidemics and other threats. This is a unique example of how countries can work together to restore endangered species.”

“It’s important to plan ahead for food resources, animal adaptation, and transboundary protection: this way, the project can serve as a foundation for broader environmental cooperation.”

Meanwhile, neighboring Kyrgyzstan is focusing on species recovery. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that in May this year, Kyrgyzstan launched a conservation initiative to reintroduce another ungulate species, the jayran or goitered gazelle, along the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.

03 Sep 2025

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Opinion: Victory Day Parade Puts China’s Military Might and Alliances on Full Display

September 3, 2025
By Andrei Matveev

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit coincided with China’s lavish commemorations of the “80th anniversary of victory in the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the broader World Anti-Fascist War.” The culminating moment, a grand military parade, was followed by a formal reception hosted by President Xi Jinping for visiting foreign dignitaries. All five Central Asian heads of state attended the parade.

As the summit concluded, Xi seized the opportunity to issue a pointed warning to the West, particularly the United States and President Donald Trump, who had made it clear that he was closely following events in Tianjin and Beijing. In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Please give my warmest regards to Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un as you conspire against the United States of America.”

Kim Jong Un’s high-profile visit to Beijing, including a prolonged meeting with Putin, signaled the emergence of a visible military alignment between North Korea and Russia. This visit served as a strategic complement to China’s Victory Day display of military might.

Image: president.uz

For the first time, China publicly exhibited components of its strategic nuclear triad: the air-launched Jinglei1 missile, submarine-launched Julang3, and land-based ICBMs such as the Dongfeng61 and Dongfeng31 (and reportedly the DF5C). Analysts saw this as a deliberate signal to the U.S., regional powers like India and Russia, and potential international arms buyers, positioning China as a formidable strategic actor.

Also on display were China’s anti-drone “triad”, missile-gun systems, high-energy lasers, and high-power microwave weapons, highlighting advances in counter-drone technology. Additionally, the parade showcased hypersonic and cruise missiles, unmanned aerial and underwater systems, and even robotic dog units, demonstrating China’s futuristic military capabilities.

While noting the parade’s impressive visuals, analysts cautioned that the true readiness of many showcased systems, for example, torpedo drones or laser weapons, remains uncertain.

Image: president.uz

Diplomatically, the summit also reinforced Sino-Russian ties. Putin, who described relations with China as “unprecedentedly” close, and Xi signed over 20 bilateral agreements, including a major energy deal, Power of Siberia 2, a gas pipeline delivering 50 billion cubic metres annually to China via Mongolia.

Meanwhile, China announced a trial visa-free entry policy for ordinary Russian passport holders, effective from September 15, 2025, to September 14, 2026, allowing visits up to 30 days for tourism, business, or family purposes.

Together, the military spectacle and deepening diplomatic and people-to-people ties affirm Xi’s confidence as he prepares for crucial negotiations with President Trump, an unmistakable projection of strength and strategic resolve.

03 Sep 2025

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Kazakhstan’s Rare Earth Exports Under Political Spotlight as Strategic Role Grows

September 4, 2025
By Stephen M. Bland

Kazakhstan’s rare earth metal exports are once again under scrutiny. On September 3, the leader of the Ak Zhol party in Kazakhstan’s parliament, Azat Peruashev, renewed his call for tighter control over rare earth exports. Peruashev formally urged the Minister of Industry and Construction, Ersaiyn Nagaspayev, to investigate and improve oversight after concerns that state control over ore shipments is increasingly being delegated to private labs without adequate verification.

Peruashev’s statement raised the alarm about the possible undervaluation of exports and the concealment of valuable trace metals, a practice that could deprive the state of critical revenues at a time of growing global demand for rare earth elements. “According to the law on precious metals and stones, the state authority is responsible for control over the import and export of ores and concentrates. But based on the official response from the Ministry of Industry, it appears that state control has effectively been delegated to laboratories hired by the subsoil users themselves. The government agency does not verify the accuracy of its data and limits itself to just receiving the documents,” Peruashev said.

The appeal marks the latest development in a controversy that first surfaced earlier this year. On March 7, The Times of Central Asia reported that Peruashev had submitted a formal parliamentary inquiry to Kazakhstan’s Anti-Corruption Service and the Ministry of Industry. That inquiry cited allegations from a former Kazakhmys lab assistant who claimed ore and concentrate exports were leaving the country without undergoing proper chemical analysis. According to the complaint, this practice allowed exporters to underreport the presence of rare earth and precious metals, artificially lowering shipment valuations to the benefit of powerful business interests.

Kazakhmys rejected suggestions of intentional wrongdoing, stressing that any rare metals recovered during processing were incidental and directed to the state enterprise Zhezkazganredmet. The company added that it welcomed greater state scrutiny and dialogue. Peruashev’s renewed demand, however, indicates that concerns remain unresolved, particularly around whether the government has sufficient oversight to prevent leakage or mismanagement in an industry viewed as of increasing strategic and economic importance.

A Geological Windfall

This renewed debate comes as Kazakhstan’s rare earth sector enjoys unprecedented global attention. In April, TCA reported the discovery of a massive new deposit in the Karagandy region, unofficially dubbed “Zhana Kazakhstan,” estimated at 20 million metric tons of ore containing neodymium, cerium, lanthanum, and yttrium. Officials said average concentrations reached 700 grams per ton, a figure that, if validated, would position Kazakhstan among the world’s top three in rare earth deposits.

In total, the government has identified 38 new mineral deposits, including 3.7 million tons of copper and nickel and 19 tons of gold. These discoveries are part of an ambitious exploration program that aims to expand mapped geological territory to 2.2 million square kilometers by 2026. For policymakers, the figures highlight both an opportunity and a dilemma: how to harness world-class reserves without falling into the trap of export dependence.

At Home and Abroad

International interest in Kazakhstan’s deposits is on the rise. A June 2025 opinion piece from the Atlantic Council argued that Kazakhstan could anchor Western efforts to diversify rare earth supply chains away from China, highlighting the country’s geological wealth, infrastructure, and multi-vector diplomacy. In August, a strategic partnership between the state company Tau-Ken Samruk and U.S.-based Cove Capital to explore deposits in the Kostanai region was announced, underscoring Kazakhstan’s role as a sought-after partner for countries eager to secure rare earth supply chains.

Kazakhstan’s exports of rare-earth minerals have nearly quintupled since 2020. Exports, including yttrium, neodymium, and dysprosium, rose sharply again in 2024, with China, which dominates global processing capacity, accounting for the overwhelming majority of purchases.

Domestically, meanwhile, the government is looking to modernize the industry. In August, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov chaired a high-level meeting to review development plans, which included new financing in refining and research. Investment in the rare-earth metals sector since 2018 has exceeded 67 billion tenge ($125 million), and the modernization of Zhezkazganredmet is a key priority.

Yet even as the industry expands, concerns about governance and environmental risks linger. A July investigation by Kursiv Media warned that Kazakhstan could repeat China’s mistakes if it fails to manage waste properly. The article highlighted the risks of toxic runoff, soil degradation, and poorly regulated chemical processing. These issues could undermine both environmental sustainability and social stability, especially in mining regions already burdened by ecological stress.

Oversight vs. Openness

This tension between opportunity and oversight is why Peruashev’s campaign resonates. The leader of Ak Zhol has framed the issue not merely as a matter of accounting, but as a question of national security and sovereignty. Rare earth elements, vital to clean energy systems, semiconductors, and advanced weaponry, are increasingly at the heart of global strategic competition, and mismanagement could weaken Kazakhstan’s position as it seeks to diversify away from overdependence on oil, gas, and traditional metals.

For now, the government’s position remains optimistic. Astana has welcomed foreign investment and scientific collaboration, whilst insisting that sovereign control over critical minerals will not be compromised. The latest parliamentary challenge, however, underscores a core issue: how to maximize the benefits of the nation’s rare earth wealth while maintaining investor confidence and geopolitical balance.

Ak Zhol’s demand for stricter oversight is unlikely to go ignored, but policymakers face a dilemma: too much control could stifle investment, while too little could leave Kazakhstan vulnerable to dependency and revenue leakage. But if reforms take hold and environmental and geopolitical risks are managed, Kazakhstan has the chance to turn its vast reserves into the foundation stone of long-term security and influence in a rapidly expanding global market.

03 Sep 2025

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Tajik Scientists Turn to Mountain Agriculture to Combat Climate Challenges

September 4, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

In Tajikistan’s remote Yagnob Valley, at more than 2,300 meters above sea level, scientists have launched a pioneering agricultural experiment to adapt to the realities of a changing climate. For the first time, experimental fields have been established in this high-altitude region to test the viability of dozens of crop varieties under mountain conditions.

The research, carried out by the Institute of Botany, Physiology, and Plant Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, has yielded promising results. All tested crops took root successfully, and new potato varieties produced harvests of up to 400 centners per hectare.

Testing Crops in the High Mountains

“Climate change forces us to seek unconventional solutions,” said Dr. Kurbonali Partoev, Doctor of Agricultural Sciences. “High-altitude zones with cooler temperatures, clean water, and fertile soils offer unique prospects for agricultural innovation.”

This spring, scientists delivered seeds of potatoes, corn, sunflowers, chickpeas, peas, wheat, pumpkins, sorghum, tomatoes, and cucumbers to a plot maintained by local farmer Nekmakhmad Safarov. The objective was to observe how common lowland crops respond to high-altitude growing conditions.

Following strict agronomic practices, applying fertilizers, watering, weeding, and monitoring plant development, researchers carefully tracked growth patterns and morphological changes.

Potato Yields Surpass Expectations

By August, the experimental site had become a thriving green expanse. Potato trials proved particularly fruitful, with more than 20 varieties from Tajikistan, Russia, and the Netherlands under evaluation.

New Tajik varieties, named Tajikistan, Faizi Istiklol, Akademiya Milli1, Mastcho, Faizobod, Rasht, and Nilufar, achieved yields of 300-400 centners per hectare. “This is a significant indicator confirming their potential,” said agricultural scientist Mavlon Kurbonov.

Russian varieties Sadon, Ariel, and Fasko yielded between 280 and 390 cwt/ha and were notably early-maturing, ripening 10 to 12 days ahead of others. Dutch varieties Picasso and Aladdin also performed well, reaching yields of up to 370 cwt/ha.

Genetic Potential in a Mountain Laboratory

Beyond yield, researchers observed an unusual abundance of flowering and the formation of seed berries among potato plants, traits enhanced by Yagnob’s cool, pest-free environment.

“This is an extremely valuable genetic trait that opens up wide possibilities for breeding,” Partoev explained. “Yagnob offers ideal conditions, clean air, spring water, and fertile soil. It is a natural laboratory.”

A Resource for the Future of Tajik Agriculture

Encouraged by the initial success, researchers plan to expand their trials, introduce new crop varieties, and deepen their scientific studies. They believe the Yagnob Valley could evolve into both a research hub and a model for climate-resilient agriculture.

“All the crops showed positive results. This encourages us to expand and innovate further,” Kurbonov concluded. “Yagnob has the potential to become a true natural laboratory for Tajikistan’s agricultural future.”