Page 238 – The Times Of Central Asia

11 Jun 2025

Silk Road Treasures, Home, Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Features

Kyrgyzstan: Film Festival Showcases Central Asian Talent, New and Old

June 11, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

An international film festival in Kyrgyzstan this week is celebrating the past, present, and future of Central Asian cinema.

The Bishkek International Film Festival features a retrospective of the work of Kyrgyz director Tolomush Okeev, whose films include The Ferocious One, The Red Apple, and The Descendant of the Snow Leopard; a presentation of ten film projects by emerging directors in Central Asia; and a competition among nine films whose directors are from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan.

The June 11-15 festival also has master classes for those who really want to dig into the craft of making films.

Hosts of some of the classes include actor and educator Olesya Gribok, who will talk about working with emotions, self-presentation, and other core actor values; designer Alex Rosno, who will discuss using AI tools to create scenes and build storyboards; and Andrzej Bartkowiak, a cinematographer and director with decades of experience with lighting, movement, and composition.

Films from India, Mongolia, Germany and other countries will vie for an international prize. A separate contest involves nine films from Central Asia, seeking to highlight the region’s movie-making talent. There’s also “KyrgyzBox” – a competition just for movies, including box office standouts, from Kyrgyzstan.

In another contest, film project contenders are “accepted only from citizens from Central Asian countries – Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan – with strong potential for international distribution,” according to the film festival. The project must be a feature film that is at least 75 minutes long and filming must be planned in Central Asia or have a “close connection” to the region.

The retrospective of Okeev, who died in 2001 at age 66, showcases a screenwriter and director who made films over several decades of the Soviet era and was known for filming in the majestic mountains and deserts of Kyrgyzstan.

The Bishkek festival, the third edition of the event, will screen several of Okeev’s films, including The Descendant of the Snow Leopard, a 1984 film that draws inspiration from Kyrgyz tales about hunters who follow ancient laws.

“When a young chief, Kojozhash, breaks a sacred ancestral taboo, it leads to tragic consequences for the entire tribe,” the festival says in a description of the film.

The snow leopard is a national symbol of Kyrgyzstan, which is taking steps to protect the vulnerable species.

11 Jun 2025

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Features, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Features

Mirziyoyev Proposes Regional Investment Concept as Trade Hits $13 Billion

June 11, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev opened the Fourth Tashkent International Investment Forum on June 10 with a wide-ranging address emphasizing deeper global cooperation, peaceful conflict resolution, and renewed investment in green energy, digital transformation, and regional integration. His remarks underscored Uzbekistan’s economic ambitions and its aspiration to be a constructive global actor, according to the presidential press service.

“We welcome more than 7,500 delegates today, including nearly 3,000 foreign guests from around 100 countries,” Mirziyoyev said. “This is a true expression of respect for our country and a sign of mutual trust.”

Dignitaries included presidents and prime ministers from Bulgaria, Slovakia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan, and senior officials from Russia and Turkmenistan. Also in attendance were leaders of major financial institutions such as the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the New Development Bank.

Addressing Global Challenges

Mirziyoyev painted a sobering picture of current global instability. “The global arms race is intensifying,” he noted, citing a 50% increase in military spending since 2010, now totaling $2.5 trillion.

He criticized the erosion of international law and diplomacy, citing food insecurity, poverty, and climate change as growing threats. He also condemned the humanitarian crisis in Gaza: “In the 21st century, the death of so many innocent people before our eyes cannot be justified,” he said, urging a fair resolution in line with international law. On Ukraine, he reiterated Uzbekistan’s position that the conflict must be resolved through diplomacy.

Mirziyoyev also advocated for continued engagement with Afghanistan, stressing that “stability and economic development in Afghanistan are key factors for long-term progress in the entire region.”

Economic Vision and Sustainability

Turning to economic progress, Mirziyoyev highlighted that Uzbekistan’s GDP has doubled over the past eight years and is on track to reach $200 billion by 2030. In 2023 alone, Uzbekistan attracted $35 billion in investment and exported goods worth $27 billion.

He pointed to major improvements in global rankings: a 48-place rise in the Index of Economic Freedom, a 28-spot climb in Harvard’s Economic Complexity Index, and a recent S&P credit rating upgrade from “stable” to “positive.”

He outlined four strategic priorities for sustainable growth:

1. Green Energy Transition

Uzbekistan has attracted $6 billion in foreign direct investment in renewable energy, with electricity production rising from 59 to 82 billion kilowatt-hours and projected to exceed 120 billion by 2030. Green energy will make up 54% of the total by then.

New measures include privatizing power grids, issuing green certificates and carbon credits, and joining international carbon markets. A new climate investment platform, “Green Uzbekistan”, will be launched this year.

2. Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence

Mirziyoyev said IT exports are expected to reach $1 billion in 2025, with plans to increase fivefold by 2030. Uzbekistan has climbed 17 spots in the International AI Readiness Index and is developing a national AI model reflecting its cultural identity.

Infrastructure plans include 20 new data centers and a national cloud platform, alongside the “One Million AI Leaders” initiative to build future digital skills.

3. Financial Sector Modernization

Uzbekistan is reforming its banking, insurance, and fintech sectors with support from the IMF and World Bank. A Financial Stability Council will be created, alongside platforms for digital reinsurance and venture capital.

A draft law on alternative investment funds is in progress, aiming to attract $1 billion over five years. Two local startups surpassed $1 billion in valuation last year.

4. “Metals of the Future”

With subsoil assets valued at $3 trillion, Uzbekistan is prioritizing the development of critical minerals such as lithium, titanium, and graphite. Technoparks in Tashkent and Samarkand will focus on processing these resources. Foreign investors establishing full production cycles will receive 10-year rent tax exemptions.

Investment and Infrastructure Expansion

Mirziyoyev reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s intention to join the World Trade Organization in 2025. A “national regime” will soon guarantee foreign investors equal treatment, supported by a new “one-stop shop” and stronger safeguards against inspections.

Privatization efforts include the creation of a National Investment Fund to manage $2 billion in state assets across 18 companies. International consultants are assisting with the privatization of 29 additional state firms.

Transport infrastructure is expanding, with several international airports transferred to private operators, including South Korea’s Incheon International Airport managing Urgench Airport. Additional tenders are planned for 2026.

He also unveiled plans for “New Tashkent,” a satellite city designed for 2 million residents, complete with a transport hub and business centers. “We invite all international partners to join this major project,” he said.

Regional Cooperation and a Shared Future

Mirziyoyev concluded by noting that trade with neighboring countries has grown 3.5 times in eight years, reaching nearly $13 billion. He proposed the development of a “Concept of an Integrated Region for Investment and Trade” in Central Asia.

“To our international partners, I say: it is time to create new financial tools to support regional projects,” he urged. “Together, we can turn Central Asia into a region of peace and prosperity.”

11 Jun 2025

Home, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan International Affairs, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan Features, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Local Politics, Tajikistan Features, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Opinions, Turkmenistan Features, Features, Uzbekistan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Featurees, Kyrgyzstan Features

Opinion: Xi Jinping Heads to Astana – What’s at Stake in the Central Asia-China Summit?

June 17, 2025
By Andrei Matveev

On June 16-17, President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China will visit Kazakhstan. The second Central Asia-China summit is scheduled for June 17 in Astana. Leading up to the event, a series of forums, meetings, and conferences have been unfolding across Central Asia and China, drawing experts, journalists, diplomats, and energy-sector representatives. These activities suggest that the upcoming summit is poised to overshadow its predecessor.

While U.S. analysts continue debating the viability of their own C5+1 framework for engaging with Central Asia, and the European Union advanced its outreach with the inaugural EU-Central Asia summit, China has relied on a well-worn path. The thousand-year legacy of the Middle Kingdom is filled with moments when it had to engage with the complex mosaic of Central Asia, once a turbulent region of khanates, emirates, and nomadic tribes. Despite the chaos, China succeeded in carving out a secure overland corridor, the Great Silk Road, which threaded through what are now the independent Central Asian republics, linking them like beads in a continental necklace. Then, as now, China is seeking stability in the region, not just for political influence but to safeguard its global supply chains.

Beijing’s modern initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative and its broader “community of shared future” concept, aim to establish global “islands of comfort” conducive to Chinese interests. At the heart of this strategy lies a deeply embedded worldview: that China represents civilization itself. The Chinese learned long ago to deal with their neighbors not with violence, but through economic incentives, a method which is proving just as effective today.

This layer of understanding is notably absent in many Western and post-Soviet analyses of China’s actions in Central Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and beyond. The reasons for this are twofold. First, Chinese officials are careful never to state views about cultural hierarchies explicitly; doing so would risk alienating partners. This reticence is a feature of traditional Eastern diplomacy. Second, Beijing has cultivated its own expert ecosystem within the post-Soviet sphere. In response to a wave of Sinophobia that swept through Central Asia a decade ago, China now primarily engages with favorable media outlets and Sinologists, many of whom are nurtured through carefully managed media tours. One such tour, organized by People’s Daily, is currently underway ahead of the Astana summit.

As a result, the discourse surrounding the summit is shaped less by hard policy proposals than by diplomatic pageantry, with everything presented in the best possible light. At the recent 5th Forum of Think Tanks, “Central Asia-China: New Horizons for Regional Partnership,” Kazakhstan’s State Councilor Yerlan Karin likened China and Central Asia to “the two lungs of Asia,” emphasizing the symbolic depth of their growing relationship.

The 6th Central Asia-China Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, chaired by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and held in Almaty in April, likewise offered little in terms of concrete summit outcomes. According to a general statement from Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, topics included political dialogue, trade, connectivity, sustainable development, and security cooperation, subjects which were broached in broad, diplomatic language.

Adil Kaukenov, chief expert at the Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan, has suggested that the summit’s agenda likely extends far beyond regional issues. He hinted that U.S. tariffs and China’s response may be among the more pressing topics discussed.

In essence, the lead-up to the second Central Asia-China summit has resembled a well-coordinated media campaign, one emphasizing deepening ties and mutual benefit. But what concrete agreements or strategic shifts lie behind this ornate façade? That, we will shortly discover.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the publication, its affiliates, or any other organizations mentioned.

11 Jun 2025

Experts Warn of Escalating Climate Risks for Central Asia

June 11, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

As global temperatures rise, Central Asia is emerging as one of the world’s most vulnerable regions to the impacts of climate change. This warning comes from three recent reports by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), which predict intensified warming, more frequent droughts, and rapid glacier retreat in the region. Without urgent adaptation and coordinated policy responses, the region faces growing risks to its water resources, agriculture, and energy systems.

Beyond the Climate Norm

According to the WMO’s Climate Outlook for 2025-2029, Central Asia is projected to experience sustained warming and greater variability in precipitation. Every year in the 2025-2029 period is expected to be hotter than the 1991-2020 average. Particularly troubling is the growing likelihood that global temperatures may temporarily exceed +1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in the near term.

One contributing factor is the heightened intensity of the South Asian monsoon, which is 82% more likely to be stronger than normal. While this could increase rainfall, the unpredictability raises concerns, periods of heavy rain could be followed by prolonged droughts, severely impacting regional agriculture.

Another alarming development is the rapid retreat of glaciers in the Pamirs, which feed the region’s primary waterways, including the Amu Darya and its major tributary, the Vakhsh. The loss of these glaciers threatens long-term water availability and necessitates a rethinking of regional water management strategies.

The WMO forecasts that the 2025-2029 period could be the warmest on record, with global temperatures projected to rise by 1.2-1.9°C. Although the chance of exceeding +2°C during this period is currently low, about 1%, the probability is rising.

Spring Floods, Summer Droughts

A second WMO report, though focused on the Pacific region, reinforces global climate trends relevant to Central Asia. It confirms that 2024 was the hottest year on record, with global average temperatures 1.55°C above pre-industrial levels.

For high-altitude countries like Tajikistan, the implications are already evident. Snow is melting earlier, shortening the runoff season. Water that once lasted through summer now disappears within weeks in the spring, heightening the risks of spring flooding followed by summer droughts. The region lacks sufficient reservoir infrastructure to capture and store water during periods of excess.

The report also highlights the looming disappearance of Indonesia’s glaciers by 2026, a fate that may soon await Central Asia’s glaciers. The consequences are serious, particularly for countries like Tajikistan, where over 90% of electricity is generated by hydropower.

Climate anomalies across the region are increasing, including dust storms, intense rainfall, extreme heat, and landslides. The WMO stresses the urgent need for adaptation measures such as modernized infrastructure and improved climate monitoring and water management systems.

The Need for a Regional Strategy

The third WMO report emphasizes Central Asia’s unique vulnerability to droughts, which often cross national borders. This underscores the need for a coordinated regional approach, especially in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya river basins.

The report advocates for transboundary mechanisms for monitoring, data sharing, and joint response strategies. While Central Asia is part of the Global Network of Climate-Resilient River Basins, progress on actual programs remains limited.

The outlook is sobering: without a unified strategy, escalating drought and climate instability could fuel socio-economic tensions, mass migration, and even conflict over water resources.

Though the reports lack specific data on Tajikistan, experts agree it is among the most vulnerable in the region. Glacier retreat, erratic precipitation, and prolonged droughts pose immediate threats to the country’s food security, energy supply, and ecosystems.

All three WMO reports paint a stark picture: without urgent and coordinated action, Central Asia and Tajikistan in particular, faces a dramatically altered climate future. The time for comprehensive decisions and international cooperation is now. Whether the region can adapt or suffer irreversible losses, will depend on the steps taken today.

11 Jun 2025

Central Asia, Environment, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan

Chinese Firm Begins Construction of Waste-to-Energy Plant in Osh

June 11, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

On June 10, construction officially began on a new solid waste incineration facility in Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second-largest city. The plant, part of a larger initiative to convert municipal waste into electricity and heat, marks a major step toward improving urban waste management and expanding sustainable energy generation.

According to the Osh city administration, the plant’s initial phase will include a waste-processing facility capable of handling up to 850 tons of waste per day. It will generate 30 megawatts of electricity per hour, contributing significantly to the local energy grid.

Future phases of the project include the production of thermal energy to supply heat to residential and commercial buildings in Osh during the winter months. In addition, a 300-megawatt solar power plant is planned as part of the overall initiative.

Osh generates approximately 200,000 tons of waste annually, much of which is currently deposited in open landfills. These sites contribute to environmental pollution and pose health risks. The new facility will use environmentally friendly technologies to process and neutralize waste, offering a more sustainable solution.

The project’s total investment is estimated at $95 million.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Hunan Junxin Huanbao is also developing a similar waste-to-energy project in Bishkek. The company is constructing a solid waste recycling facility at the capital’s sanitary landfill. Initially, the Bishkek plant will process 1,000 tons of waste per day, with plans to increase capacity to 3,000 tons. Completion is scheduled for December 2025.

Solid waste management remains a critical issue in Kyrgyzstan, particularly in urban centers like Bishkek and Osh. The development of modern waste-processing plants represents a key advancement in addressing these challenges while also contributing to the country’s renewable energy goals.

11 Jun 2025

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Kyrgyz Health Minister Proposes Raising Tobacco Taxes to Curb Smoking

June 11, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Health, Erkin Checheybayev, has proposed raising excise taxes on tobacco products as part of a broader effort to improve public health, particularly among the country’s youth.

The proposal was announced at a meeting held on June 10 in Bishkek, organized by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) country office and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) Knowledge Hub on Tobacco Taxation. The discussion focused on strategies to reduce tobacco affordability and consumption through effective taxation measures.

According to the Ministry of Health, tobacco use is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, stroke, chronic respiratory illnesses, and cancer. These diseases account for more than 80% of premature deaths in Kyrgyzstan.

WHO estimates indicate that more than 6,000 Kyrgyz citizens aged 30 and older die annually from tobacco-related illnesses, around 5,000 men and 1,000 women. Cardiovascular diseases make up over half of these deaths. The economic toll from tobacco-related cardiovascular conditions exceeds 17 billion Kyrgyzstani som (approximately $194 million).

Roughly 22% of adults in Kyrgyzstan smoke, including one in two men. Among individuals aged 35-69, up to 30% of men and 5% of women die from tobacco-related causes. For these age groups, smoking reduces life expectancy by an average of 21 years.

Despite the public health burden, Kyrgyzstan’s current tobacco excise tax remains below 50% of the retail price of cigarettes, significantly lower than the WHO-recommended threshold of 75% or more.

According to WHO research, taxation is among the most effective tools for reducing tobacco use. A 10% increase in cigarette prices can lower smoking rates among children and adolescents by approximately 8% in developing countries.

On June 9, a delegation from the WHO FCTC Knowledge Hub met with Checheybayev in Bishkek to present the TETSiM simulation model, an analytical tool demonstrating how raising excise taxes can both reduce tobacco consumption and increase government revenue.

The mission will remain in Kyrgyzstan until June 12, providing technical support for developing an effective tobacco taxation policy, increasing public awareness, and building support for stronger tobacco control measures.

“Raising excise taxes on tobacco products is one of the most effective and scientifically validated strategies for protecting public health,” Checheybayev stated. “Tobacco remains far too affordable in Kyrgyzstan, contributing directly to the rise of non-communicable diseases. We are committed to systemic reform and look forward to the continued support of international partners.”

Meeting participants agreed that a higher tobacco tax would not only yield billions in savings for the national healthcare system but also represent a critical investment in the health and future of Kyrgyzstan’s population. Reforming tobacco taxation policy could position Kyrgyzstan as a regional leader in the fight against smoking, setting an example for other Central Asian nations.