TASHKENT (TCA) — In 2017, the government of Uzbekistan took a number of measures to liberalize foreign trade and increase the country’s export potential. Customs duties for all exported goods and services were abolished and the licensing and export system was simplified. A zero rate of customs duties has been established for more than 60 percent of goods. This was said at a press conference on the results of activities of the Ministry of Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan in 2017, the Jahon information agency reported.

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ASTANA (TCA) — From January 1st to 31st, Kazakhstan, for the first time in its history, assumes the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry said.

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DUSHANBE (TCA) — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is committing new funds to address solid waste treatment issues in Tajikistan. By providing a 15-year sovereign-guaranteed loan of up to US$2 million to the state enterprise “Sanitary Cleaning of Urban Areas of Kulob”, the Bank will bring significant environmental benefits to this Tajik municipality, the EBRD said on December 29.

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ASTANA (TCA) — The first co-financing project in Kazakhstan for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Bank of China (BoC) is to take off following the BoC’s decision to join the transaction, the EBRD said.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan is planning to introduce alternative toll roads. The first pilot project will be the Bishkek—Chaldovar highway, bypassing Uzgen city in the south of the country.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — The Publisher’s note: Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Central Asia was the scene of intense geopolitical struggle and the Great Game between the British and Russian Empires, and later between the Soviet Union and the West, over Afghanistan and neighboring territories. Into the 21st century, Central Asia has become the area of a renewed geopolitical interest, dubbed the New Great Game, largely based on the region’s hydrocarbon and mineral wealth. On top of that, the region now is perhaps the most important node in the implementation of China’s One Belt, One Road initiative through which Beijing aims to get direct access to Western markets. Every week thousands of news appears in the world’s printed and online media and many of them may escape the attention of busy readers. At The Times of Central Asia, we strongly believe that more information can better contribute to peaceful development and better knowledge of this unique region. So we are presenting this Weekly Digest which compiles what other media have reported on Central Asia over the past week.

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