17 Jun 2024

JobEscape start-up

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Home

Success of Kazakhstan’s JobEscape Start-up

Kazakhstan’s largest venture fund, Tumar Venture LP, whose key investors are the World Bank and the Kazakh Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, has invested a further 250 thousand US dollars in the Kazakh start-up JobEscape.

As announced by the Ministry of Digital Development on 17 June, the total investment in the project now stands at 450 thousand US dollars.

JobEscape is a platform that facilitates the acquisition of new skills required to start a freelancing career, through the provision of solutions unique to freelancers and career changers, access to training and a wide range of AI tools.

A global project, JobEscape has users from the USA, Canada, Australia, and European countries.

Regarding funding, Aslan Sultanov, CEO of Tumar VF, stated: “We invested in JobEscape in the last round and have seen the project grow from literally $10,000 in monthly revenue to almost $1 million in annual revenue. Seeing this dynamic rise, we are confident that the start-up has the potential to grow into a billion-dollar company with roots in Kazakhstan. We are pleased to support the team in creating such a global initiative.”

Similarly encouraged by the platform’s development, Miras Sovetov, CEO and co-founder of JobEscape, said: “At the moment, the company’s annual revenue is already close to $1 million. The goal is to grow to US$6 million in 2025. The product is now being widely used in Western markets due to the rapid development of products in the field of AI. Investments in this round will help the company increase its customer base and increase the number of AI tools on the platform. Investors from the UAE and Azerbaijan are already entering the project, which confirms its competitiveness in the global market. The next step will be raising money from American funds for further growth and potential exit (sale of the start-up).”

 

 

Times of Central Asia

Times of Central Asia

Laura Hamilton MA, is the former Director of the Collins Gallery at the University of Strathclyde. She first visited Kyrgyzstan in 2011 to research and curate a major exhibition of contemporary textiles and fashion. Since 2012, she has worked as an editor on over thirty translations of Central Asian novels and collections of short stories. In more recent years, her work has focused on editing translations of Kyrgyzstan's great epics -'Ak Moor', Saiykal', Janysh Baiysh', 'Oljobai and Kishimjan', 'Dariyka', 'Semetey' and 'Er Toshtuk' for The Institute of Kyrgyz Language and Literature, and the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University.

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17 Jun 2024

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Central Asia, Justice, Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan, Local Politics

Former Opposition Party Leader Saidjafar Usmonzoda Arrested in Tajikistan

Saidjafar Usmonzoda, a member of parliament and former chairman of the Democratic Party of Tajikistan, has been stripped of his parliamentary immunity and arrested in Dushanbe. The decision to strip Usmonzoda of immunity was made at a meeting of the fifth session of the Majlisi Namoyandagon (parliament) at the suggestion of Tajikistan’s Prosecutor General, the Khovar news agency has reported.

A preliminary investigation found that in September 2021, Usmonzoda spoke on a cell phone with Sharofiddin Gadoev, deputy head of the extremist terrorist organization, Paimoni Milli Tochikiston, discussing plans to usurp state power in Tajikistan. According to the investigation, Gadoev promised that to achieve this goal, the head of the Islamic Renaissance Party, which is banned in Tajikistan, Mukhiddin Kabiri, would provide financial assistance and more than 3,000 fighters from the terrorist organization Jamaat Ansarulloh from abroad.

According to law enforcement, Usmonzoda recruited supporters from various social strata inside and outside the country to destabilize the sociopolitical situation in several regions in the shortest possible time, seizing law enforcement agencies and military structures, taking weapons, and violently overthrowing the state.

According to the investigation materials, to implement these plans, Usmonzoda requested $10 million from a representative of a foreign country to attract influential persons and organize rallies.

On June 12th, 2024, a criminal case was initiated against Usmonzoda and his associates, with Usmonzoda being arrested as a suspect.

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17 Jun 2024

photo: US Embassy in Uzbekistan

Central Asia, Tajikistan Life & Culture, Home, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Business Economy, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan Home, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Home

USAID Supports Central Asian Women Working in Hospitality

The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the International Association of Businesswomen “Tadbirkor Ayol” last week hosted a Central Asian Conference on “Women of Central Asia in the Hospitality Business: Current Challenges and Opportunities”.

The event in Tashkent attracted some 200 women entrepreneurs, professionals, and industry experts from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan to discuss achievements, trends, and challenges in the region’s hospitality sector.

As reported by the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan, the conference focused on service quality, digitalization, and modern standards in tourism, culminating in recommendations to enhance regional cooperation in tourism and hospitality.

Praising the resilience and creativity of women in the hospitality industry and emphasizing their role in the sector’s future, Edward Michalski, USAID Deputy Mission Director in Uzbekistan, commented: “Investing in women and girls is essential to transforming communities. When women do better, families do better, communities do better, and countries do better.”

Gulnora Makhmudova, Chairwoman of “Tadbirkor Ayol,” noted that the growing importance of the region’s hotel business and the increasing involvement of women, had spurred the association into launching “Women in the Hotel Business: Hospitality from the Future;” a project aimed to introduce innovation and digitalization in the hospitality sector.

Since its launch in April 2024, with support from USAID, the project has provided training for 115 women in modern hotel management in Tashkent, Andijan, and Samarkand.

 

Times of Central Asia

Times of Central Asia

Laura Hamilton MA, is the former Director of the Collins Gallery at the University of Strathclyde. She first visited Kyrgyzstan in 2011 to research and curate a major exhibition of contemporary textiles and fashion. Since 2012, she has worked as an editor on over thirty translations of Central Asian novels and collections of short stories. In more recent years, her work has focused on editing translations of Kyrgyzstan's great epics -'Ak Moor', Saiykal', Janysh Baiysh', 'Oljobai and Kishimjan', 'Dariyka', 'Semetey' and 'Er Toshtuk' for The Institute of Kyrgyz Language and Literature, and the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University.

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17 Jun 2024

Kazakh Halal Market

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Home

Kazakhstan Set to Develop Halal Market

From 4 to 12 June, over 100 certification and accreditation specialists from Kazakhstan attended a training seminar on Halal standards in Astana. Over the duration of the course, participants received training on Halal requirements and OIC/SMIIC international standards set by international experts in Halal accreditation and certification.

In her address, Zhanna Esenbekova, Chairperson of the Technical Regulation and Metrology Committee of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, emphasized the importance of national legislation adapted to ISO SMIIC standards for Kazakhstan’s economy as well as the need for trained specialists to promote and monitor compliance with Islamic requirements and standards.

“Halal standards are receiving increasing attention worldwide and the areas of Halal standardization are expanding. Not so long ago, Halal concerned only a few types of everyday products, but today Halal has expanded its boundaries to areas such as transport and logistics, finance and credit, tourism and hospitality, clothing and footwear production, restaurant business and many others,” reported Esenbekova.

One of the seminar’s lecturers, international expert Emre Kırıcıoğlu, added: “Today, the Halal market has over 1.8 billion consumers worldwide and a turnover of 2 to 5 trillion dollars, with regard to Halal financing. Kazakhstan has a reputation for self-sufficiency in food supply. Local meat, grain and vegetables are fine in quality and grown under favourable conditions. Given the profile of a large sector of the population, your country is well positioned to compete in international markets in products acceptable by Islam.”

 

Times of Central Asia

Times of Central Asia

Laura Hamilton MA, is the former Director of the Collins Gallery at the University of Strathclyde. She first visited Kyrgyzstan in 2011 to research and curate a major exhibition of contemporary textiles and fashion. Since 2012, she has worked as an editor on over thirty translations of Central Asian novels and collections of short stories. In more recent years, her work has focused on editing translations of Kyrgyzstan's great epics -'Ak Moor', Saiykal', Janysh Baiysh', 'Oljobai and Kishimjan', 'Dariyka', 'Semetey' and 'Er Toshtuk' for The Institute of Kyrgyz Language and Literature, and the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University.

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17 Jun 2024

photo: Kazakhstan Foreign Ministry

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Kazakhstan and Central Asia Present Investment Opportunities to Swedish Parliament

The first business seminar on the investment climate and business opportunities in Kazakhstan and Central Asia was held last week in Stockholm, Sweden.

As reported by Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, the event was attended by Chairman of the Sweden–Central Asia Friendship Group of the Riksdag (Swedish Parliament) Bjorn Soder, Ambassador of Uzbekistan to Sweden Nodir Ganiev, Ambassador of Sweden to Kazakhstan Ewa Polano, Ambassador of Sweden to Uzbekistan Tomas Danestad, Chairman of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce for Eurasia Heinz Sjogren, and representatives of Swedish ministries and large companies.

Speaking at the event, Bjorn Soder noted the strategic importance of enhancing cooperation between Sweden’s and Central Asia’s public and private sectors. Attention was drawn to Central Asia’s huge potential for strengthening trade and economic relations with Sweden, and the limitless prospects for expanding investment partnership.

Ewa Polano and Tomas Danestad shared their views on the dynamic development of Central Asia, emphasizing that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are the “core-countries” of the region. Referencing growing competition in the region, the two ambassadors called on the Swedish business community to invest in Central Asia, as well as expand its presence in the region.

Representative of Scania AB, Fredrik Wijkander, outlined the Swedish company’s presence in Kazakhstan where it has been operating since 2007. In 2023, the assembly of Scania trucks was launched in Saran, in the Karaganda region, and in 2024, Scania AB set up Scania Central Asia as an independent business unit in the region with its head office in Almaty.

Fredrik Wijkander said that despite the high competition from Chinese automakers, the Swedish company will continue to strengthen its presence in Central Asia and expand production. To this effect, he confirmed plans for the assembly of trucks and buses, and establish local production in Kazakhstan.

 

 

Times of Central Asia

Times of Central Asia

Laura Hamilton MA, is the former Director of the Collins Gallery at the University of Strathclyde. She first visited Kyrgyzstan in 2011 to research and curate a major exhibition of contemporary textiles and fashion. Since 2012, she has worked as an editor on over thirty translations of Central Asian novels and collections of short stories. In more recent years, her work has focused on editing translations of Kyrgyzstan's great epics -'Ak Moor', Saiykal', Janysh Baiysh', 'Oljobai and Kishimjan', 'Dariyka', 'Semetey' and 'Er Toshtuk' for The Institute of Kyrgyz Language and Literature, and the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University.

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17 Jun 2024

Parliament Building, Bishkek. Photo: TCA

Home, Kyrgyzstan Justice, Justice, Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

Kyrgyzstan’s President Says Acquitted Protesters Deserved “At Least a Fine or Probation”

International rights groups welcomed the recent acquittal of more than 20 Kyrgyz activists and political figures who would have faced long jail sentences if convicted of plotting riots and other crimes, but Kyrgyzstan’s president says the defendants should have been fined or put on probation.

President Sadyr Japarov commented about the case on Saturday in an interview with the official Kabar News Agency, one day after the activists were acquitted because of insufficient evidence. The activists were arrested in 2022 after protesting against a border demarcation agreement with Uzbekistan that involved the Kempir-Abad Dam and surrounding lands.

“The court is a separate branch of government,” Japarov said. “I have been saying since the beginning that no one has the right to interfere in the work of the court. We must all obey the court’s decision. We have no right to criticize whether it is legal or not. Whatever the court decides, whether it is right or wrong, we must agree.”

Japarov continued: “But now, after the decision of the court, I can express my opinion. If I were a judge, I would give the organizers of this case some kind of punishment, at least a fine or probation.”

The Kyrgyz president said the activists deserved a penalty because, in his view, they misled people into thinking that Kyrgyzstan was losing the entire dam in the border deal, when in fact it is being jointly managed with Uzbekistan.

Prosecutors were seeking 20-year jail terms for the defendants. Several were also charged with trying to violently seize power.

“We didn’t expect it, at all. We were crying from surprise,” Rita Karasartova, one of the accused activists said of the acquittal. She was quoted by Amnesty International, which described the charges as politically motivated.

The prosecutions in the Kempir-Abad case fed into worries that Kyrgyzstan, under Japarov’s leadership, is walking back the relative freedoms that it has enjoyed in comparison to some of its Central Asian neighbors. Critics point to prosecutions of journalists and a new law that tightens control of foreign-funded non-governmental groups as signs of growing authoritarianism.

Japarov has described some of the international criticism as an exercise in double standards and meddling in the country’s internal affairs.

Times of Central Asia

Times of Central Asia

 Stephen M. Bland is a journalist, author, editor, commentator and researcher specialising in Central Asia and the Caucasus. Prior to joining The Times of Central Asia, he has worked for NGOs, think tanks, as the Central Asia expert on a forthcoming documentary series, for the BBC, The Diplomat, EurasiaNet, and numerous other publications.
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Published in 2016, his book on Central Asia was the winner of the Golden Laureate of Eurasian Literature. He is currently putting the finishing touches to a book about the Caucasus.
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www.stephenmbland.com

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