BISHKEK (TCA) — The countries of Central Asia, especially Kazakhstan, may significantly benefit from China’s Belt and Road initiative aimed to create transport and transit routes from Asia to Europe. But such benefits may turn out to be not as big as expected. We are republishing this article by Nathan Hutson on the issue, originally published by EurasiaNet.org:
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TASHKENT (TCA) — A number of promising projects aimed at the development of economic and agricultural sectors in the Aral Sea region were planned during a visit of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the northwestern Autonomous Republic of Karakalpakstan late last week, including investment projects that will be implemented in the food industry, programs on development of livestock, poultry, beekeeping, fish farming, and camel breeding, the Jahon information agency reported.
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BISHKEK (TCA) — The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Board of Directors on December 19 approved a $25 million policy-based grant to continue ongoing efforts to improve the investment climate in Kyrgyzstan and encourage the private sector to contribute more effectively to the country’s growth. The grant is being provided under subprogram 3 of the Second Investment Climate Improvement Program (Second ICIP), the Bank’s Country Office said.
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BISHKEK (TCA) — Court officers in Kyrgyzstan have raided the independent television station NTS, which is owned by opposition politician and former presidential candidate Omurbek Babanov, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported.
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BISHKEK (TCA) — The European Union and Kyrgyzstan on December 19 opened negotiations on a new agreement. Negotiations towards a comprehensive framework that will strengthen bilateral relations were launched by Mr Luc Devigne, Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia and OSCE, Chief Negotiator on behalf of the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, and Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Mr Emil Kaikiev.
BISHKEK (TCA) — In the time of the Great Game, Afghanistan was in the center of the struggle between the Russian and British empires for their influence on Central Asia. Nowadays, post-Soviet republics of Central Asia seek to build stronger economic ties with their southern neighbor, as Afghanistan is a promising sales market and transit link for access to the Indian subcontinent and southern sea ports. This cannot be ignored by Russia and other world powers. In the following article, originally published by The National Interest, S. Frederick Starr* says that Afghanistan is part of Central Asia and not simply a problematic neighbor:
