TASHKENT (TCA) — Landlocked countries of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, badly need sea and rail transport routes for the transit and export of goods to foreign markets. One such transport corridor will soon connect Central Asia, across the Caspian Sea, to the Caucasus, Turkey, and Europe. We are republishing this article by Fuad Shahbazov on the issue, originally published by The Jamestown Foundation’s Eurasia Daily Monitor:

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BISHKEK (TCA) — The World Bank has been working in Central Asia for more than 20 years to support the region’s countries in their efforts to end poverty and boost shared prosperity for all, Lilia Burunciuc, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia, wrote in her article entitled ‘Dream Bigger: Building the Middle-Class in Central Asia’, published on the Bank’s website on October 17, the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

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DUSHANBE (TCA) — Prosecutors in Tajikistan say that authorities have drawn up a registry of more than 300 lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people in the Central Asian nation, a move purportedly aimed at protecting sexual minorities and halting the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, RFE/RL’s Tajik Service reports.

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ASHGABAT (TCA) — The opening of the first golf course in Turkmenistan took place in the capital Ashgabat on October 17 with the participation of Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported.

The ceremony gathered the chairperson of the Mejlis (Turkmen parliament), members of the Government, heads of military and law enforcement agencies, and mass media.

The new golf club occupies more than 70 hectares and is located in the south-west part of the capital, next to fashionable Yilduz Hotel. The golf club includes administration and operation facilities, an 18-hole course, four artificial ponds and one spring, and open and underground parking lots for 90 vehicles.

Design and consulting works were carried out by Nicklaus Design from the USA, whose head Jack Nicklaus was met by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov several times to discuss the opportunities of the golf development in the country.

The presence of the golf course meeting the highest criteria of similar facilities will allow holding international championships and world tournaments in the Turkmen capital, as well as attracting more tourists.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the President of Turkmenistan noted that the Turkmen government pays special attention to development of mass physical training, sports and Olympic movement. All these measures support wide implementation of a healthy life style, achievement of success of Turkmen sport and recognition of Turkmenistan as a world-class sport center.

ASTANA (TCA) — A meeting of the Government of Kazakhstan on October 17 reviewed the results of the country’s socio-economic development for January-September 2017, the official website of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.

Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov reported that in January-September the economy of Kazakhstan retained the growth rate registered in January-August, at the level of 4.3%. This was facilitated by macroeconomic stability and investment activity, as well as favorable conditions in foreign markets.

The main drivers of growth were industry, construction, trade, transport and communications.

Industry since the beginning of the year has demonstrated a steady growth, which in January-September reached 8.3%. The volume of production in the mining industry increased 11.3%. The growth of manufacturing industry was 5.7%. Significant growth was observed in industries focused on the domestic market, primarily the production of pharmaceuticals, light industry, food and beverage products, and petroleum products.

Stable growth rates were also demonstrated by export-oriented industries, such as ferrous metallurgy production by 7.8% and non-ferrous metal production by 6.6%.

In agriculture, growth remained at 1.9%, while construction has accelerated from 0.1% in January-August to 3.5% in January-September.

For 9 months of this year, the volume of investments in fixed assets increased by 4.4%. The greatest increase in investments was observed in trade and construction, as well as in industry as a result of ongoing modernization of heat and water supply networks.

The growth of investments in fixed assets was primarily ensured by internal sources, while external sources of financing decreased.

Gross inflow of foreign direct investments increased by 8.6% to $10.5 billion in the first half of 2017. At the beginning of October, the country’s international reserves amounted to $89.4 billion as a result of the growth of gold and foreign currency reserves by 10.2%.

The government expects that by the end of the year, the economy will grow at a level of at least 3.4%.

TASHKENT (TCA) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on October 16 received the visiting leader of Russia’s North Caucasus region of Chechnya, Ramzan Kadyrov, the Uzbek presidential press service said.

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