BISHKEK (TCA) — New fruit drying and cold storage facilities have begun purchasing produce from farmers in and around Osh in south Kyrgyzstan. Together, the two fruit drying facilities will process over 1,000 tons of produce per year, while the storage facility can store up to 40 tons of apples. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) partnered with several farmers to set up the processing lines, whose high quality products meet the international standards needed to export agricultural good. These new facilities are expected to benefit over 2,000 local households who can sell their fruit harvest for storage or further processing, the US Embassy in Bishkek said on November 13.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyzstan’s opposition politician Omurbek Babanov, who finished second in the October 15 presidential election and is being investigated for alleged calls for disturbances, has stepped down as the leader of the Respublika—Ata-Jurt (Republic-Homeland) parliamentary faction, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reports.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — Authorities in Kyrgyzstan’s northern Chui region say they have arrested the leader of a banned Islamic group, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported.

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ASTANA (TCA) — On November 12, in Dubai (the UAE), within the framework of the XV International Aerospace Exhibition Dubai Air Show–2017, an official trilateral meeting with the participation of the First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan, Askar Mamin, the UAE Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Affairs of the UAE President, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Deputy Prime Minister of Russia, Dmitry Rogozin took place to discuss opportunities for the improvement of joint investment projects in the space industry with application of high-tech innovation developments, the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.

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TASHKENT (TCA) — During his visit to Uzbekistan late last week, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice-President Wencai Zhang witnessed the signing of an $80 million loan agreement for Pap-Namangan-Andijan railway electrification project. The project will electrify 145.1 kilometers of non-electrified track linking major cities in the Fergana Valley with the capital. This will facilitate direct and efficient operation of freight and passenger train services, and promote economic and social development in the Fergana Valley, ADB said.

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ASHGABAT (TCA) — An International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission led by Mr. Martin Sommer visited Turkmenistan during November 1-8 to assess macroeconomic and financial developments and discuss economic challenges and policy priorities with senior government officials, representatives of real and financial sectors, academics, and the diplomatic community.

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