Page 242 – The Times Of Central Asia

10 Jun 2025

Central Asia, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Featurees

Kazakhstan Inaugurates Major Container Hub at Aktau Port

June 10, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

On June 9, Kazakhstan officially launched the largest container hub on the Caspian Sea, situated within its Aktau port.

The project, spearheaded by Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), was implemented in collaboration with China’s Lianyungang port and the Aktau International Sea Trade Port. China Communications Construction Company, a prominent Chinese state corporation specializing in transport infrastructure, served as the general contractor.

During the opening ceremony, Nurlan Zhakupov, Chairman of the Board of the National Welfare Fund Samruk-Kazyna, highlighted the joint efforts of Samruk-Kazyna and KTZ in advancing Kazakhstan’s transit and transport potential, a key strategic objective for the nation. “Over the 10 years of KTZ’s partnership with the port of Lianyungang, the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Lianyungang, the Khorgos Gateway Dry Port, and now the container hub in Aktau have been opened. This project is an important step in the development of transport and logistics in Kazakhstan,” he stated.

The newly inaugurated hub is expected to significantly accelerate the processing of containerized cargo, enhance transit capabilities, and reinforce Kazakhstan’s pivotal role as a strategic link on both the East-West and North-South transport routes.

The operational launch of the hub was marked by the arrival of the 100,000th container from China, transported via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), a rapidly expanding trade corridor connecting China and Europe through Kazakhstan.

10 Jun 2025

Central Asia, Local Politics

Kyrgyz Government Urges Foreign Citizens to Legalize Their Status Ahead of Deadline

June 10, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Over 12,000 foreign citizens are currently employed in Kyrgyzstan, according to Jumabek Myrzabayev, head of the Migration Department at the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration, who shared this information with Birinchi Radio.

Foreign nationals are primarily engaged in the construction, light industry, manufacturing, trade, and services sectors. The majority of work permits have been issued to citizens from China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Uzbekistan.

For 2025, Kyrgyzstan has set a foreign labor force quota of 25,000 individuals.

The Kyrgyz government has provided a short window for foreign citizens who have violated the country’s migration laws to legalize their stay. This amnesty, which concludes today, June 10, 2025, applies to individuals with expired visas or residence permits, those without valid documents confirming legal stay, and those who have breached their purpose of entry or transit rules.

Authorities have warned that after today’s deadline, foreign citizens remaining in Kyrgyzstan illegally will face deportation.

Myrzabayev reported that more than 3,000 applications have been submitted by foreigners seeking to regularize their status in Kyrgyzstan.

10 Jun 2025

Central Asia, Environment, Home, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Features, Tajikistan Home, Tajikistan Environment, Features

Dushanbe Proposed as Regional Glaciology Hub Amid Accelerating Glacier Melt

June 13, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon, speaking in France on June 8 at the launch of the International Decade of Cryosphere Sciences (2025-2034), has proposed establishing a Regional Coordination Center for Glaciology in Dushanbe. The event was held as part of the Third UN Ocean Conference in Nice, which convened heads of state and government from 65 countries, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and leaders of international organizations.

Glaciology Center in the Heart of the Pamir Mountains

Addressing the international community, Rahmon underscored Tajikistan’s commitment to creating a glaciology center. “Given the importance of glaciers and in order to study the impact of climate change on them more accurately, we have decided, with the assistance of international partners, to establish a Regional Coordination Center for Glaciology in Dushanbe,” he stated.

He highlighted that Tajikistan is home to up to 60% of all glaciers in Central Asia, playing a pivotal role in the region’s sustainable development. However, their rapid shrinkage poses a threat not only locally but globally. Rahmon warned that if current melting trends persist, up to a billion people could face negative consequences by 2050, particularly in coastal areas and on islands.

Tajikistan: Initiator of the Climate Agenda

Rahmon emphasised that Tajikistan had been a proactive advocate for water and climate issues on the global stage for two decades. He emphasized the broad international support for the joint initiative by Tajikistan and France to designate 2025-2034 as the “Decade of Action for Cryosphere Sciences.”

“Our initiatives in the field of water and climate issues have received the support of the international community and are being implemented through 14 resolutions of the UN General Assembly,” Rahmon noted. He concluded by urging the international community to expand cooperation for cryosphere preservation and the development of scientific potential in this critical area.

From Declarations to Coalitions

Rahmon’s speech followed the first International High-Level Conference on Glacier Protection held in late May. This forum attracted over 2,500 delegates from 80 countries, including scientists, heads of delegations, international organizations, and donor agencies.

The conference’s primary outcome was the signing of the Dushanbe Declaration, a document advocating for urgent action to protect glaciers and synchronize international efforts. Participants called for significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, a transition to sustainable production models, and the implementation of robust climate monitoring systems.

An international coalition was also announced, poised to unite states, scientific institutions, environmental movements, and international organizations. Its mandate will include monitoring the declaration’s implementation, facilitating the exchange of best practices, attracting investment, and developing climate change adaptation technologies.

10 Jun 2025

Central Asia, Environment, Uzbekistan Environment, Home, Kazakhstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan

Central Asian Nations Boost Joint Fight Against Locusts

June 10, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan have committed to strengthening their cooperative efforts in combating locust infestations. The agreement emerged during the 55th meeting of the European and Mediterranean Plant Protection Organization (EPPO) working group, where officials from the three nations convened to enhance collaboration, adhere to international plant health standards, and expedite information exchange.

According to Kazinform, Saken Kanybekov, acting head of Kazakhstan’s State Inspection Committee, engaged in discussions with his counterparts from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, sharing insights and experiences on managing seasonal locust outbreaks.

A key innovation introduced at the meeting was Locust.uz, an online platform developed by Uzbekistan. This system maps locust egg-laying sites and pesticide spraying operations, utilizing GPS tracking to monitor equipment movement. This functionality enables experts to rapidly assess situations and respond swiftly, aiming to prevent the widespread dissemination of locusts.

The three countries pledged increased focus on border areas, which are common pathways for pest migration. They plan to regularly exchange updates on locust conditions, research findings, and ongoing control measures. A further objective is to integrate their digital systems to facilitate more effective data sharing, including plant health certificates.

The Times of Central Asia previously reported on Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to bolster cooperation with neighboring countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, and China, to curb locust outbreaks. Joint inspections along the Kazakh-Uzbek border have, to date, found no signs of infestation. Kazakhstan is also closely monitoring its northern border with Russia and has scheduled additional inspections in other regions for June.

As of June 2, Kazakhstan had surveyed over 6.1 million hectares of farmland, representing 35.6% of its target, and treated nearly 1 million hectares with pesticides. The country has deployed a significant arsenal of 443 spraying units, including 55 ultralight aircraft and 49 agricultural drones, to manage the pest.

Locust-damaged land in Kazakhstan has seen a notable increase, rising from 514,000 hectares in 2020 to 1.6 million hectares in 2023, with projections indicating a further rise in 2024. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warns that over 25 million hectares of farmland and 20 million people across Central Asia and the South Caucasus are at risk from locust threats.

10 Jun 2025

Central Asia, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Majority of Kazakhstanis Are Religious, But Discrimination Persists, Studies Suggest

June 10, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

A recent study by analysts at Energyprom.kz sheds light on the religious landscape of Kazakhstan. According to data from the educational platform Jagran Josh, Kazakhstan’s population includes approximately 15.4 million believers.

The majority, 11.3 million, identify as Muslim, while about 4 million identify as Christian. A smaller segment, approximately 670,000 individuals, comprise atheists, agnostics, and those with no religious affiliation. Additionally, there are around 5,000 Hindus, 40,000 Buddhists, and about 50,000 practitioners of traditional local beliefs.

It is important to note that these figures are compiled from various sources, some dating back to 2015 or earlier. Consequently, they are more suitable for broad international comparisons rather than a precise assessment of Kazakhstan’s current religious demographics.

Regional Characteristics of Religiosity

More recent data, based on a 2024 survey of 1,500 respondents (aged 18 to 65) conducted by the Committee on Religious Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, provides deeper insights into domestic religiosity. The survey revealed that 24.1% of Kazakhstani citizens consider themselves practicing believers who strictly observe religious precepts. The majority, 62.7%, identify as believers but observe only some rituals and traditions.

About 9.2% of respondents stated they do not consider themselves believers yet still participate in certain rituals. A smaller proportion, 1.3%, reported no religious affiliation and no participation in rituals, while 0.9% identified as convinced atheists and 0.5% as agnostics.

Regionally, Shymkent recorded the largest share of conditionally religious people who observe only certain traditions, at 77.6%. The Atyrau region exhibited the highest proportion of strict practitioners, at 46%. Conversely, the Pavlodar region led in the number of non-believers who nevertheless participate in rituals, at 24.6%. Atyrau also had the highest proportion of complete non-believers, at 10%.

In terms of religious affiliation, 65.1% of respondents identified as followers of the Hanafi school of Islam, with another 11.6% belonging to other branches of Islam. Orthodox Christianity was practiced by 14.8% of respondents, Catholicism by 2.1%, and Protestantism by 1.8%. Hinduism, Buddhism, paganism, and Tengriism collectively accounted for less than 2%. An additional 0.8% reported believing but not identifying with any particular religion.

The proportion of daily prayers increased from 17.7% to 19.3% over the last quarter. However, 27.9% of respondents reported never praying. Regarding attendance at places of worship (mosques, churches, etc.), 6.2% visit regularly, 14.5% do so weekly, and 33.8% two to three times a year. Notably, 10.4% of respondents have never been to a place of worship.

Daily religious discussions with relatives were reported by 4.3% of Kazakhstani citizens, while 27.3% admitted that they never discuss religion within their families.

Religious Discrimination

Over the past three months, 41.3% of respondents reported experiencing discrimination on religious grounds. The most frequently cited incidents included the publication of offensive images (19.3%), negative comments on social media (11.5%), bans on visiting mosques or churches by the clergy (7.8%), and restrictions on education due to wearing a hijab (10.8%).

Although official statistics on incidents directly classified as religiously motivated are not maintained, 54 criminal offenses were recorded between January and April 2025 under the article “Inciting social, national, ethnic, racial, class, or religious discord.” This figure represents a 35% increase compared to the same period last year.

10 Jun 2025

Central Asia, International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Bulgarian Ports Eye Middle Corridor Expansion

June 11, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Kazakhstan and Bulgaria are exploring the integration of Bulgaria’s Black Sea ports of Burgas and Varna into the Trans-Caspian International Transport Corridor (TITC), a move that could significantly expand the reach of this crucial East-West trade route.

The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the “Middle Corridor,” has been operational since 2017, connecting China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and ultimately, European countries. This multimodal corridor facilitates containerized cargo transport by rail and sea, primarily utilizing the Caspian Sea for maritime crossings.

Spanning 11,000 kilometers, the route saw a substantial increase in cargo volume last year, reaching 4.5 million tons compared to 2.76 million tons the previous year.

Astana anticipates further growth, projecting an annual freight traffic volume of 10 million tons on the TITR by 2028. This expansion is part of a broader strategy to broaden the Middle Corridor’s geographical scope.

The potential inclusion of Bulgarian ports was a key topic during Bulgarian President Rumen Radev’s official visit to Kazakhstan.

“Today, the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route has become one of the main international highways. We have agreed to consider the inclusion of the Bulgarian ports of Burgas and Varna in this corridor,” stated Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, following talks with Radev.

The discussions culminated in a ceremony where heads of state exchanged signed bilateral documents, including a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Transport and Communications of Bulgaria, focusing on the development of the TITR.

Radev expressed optimism about the deepened cooperation. “I am confident that the talks will give new impetus to our cooperation. The signed memorandum on the further development of the Trans-Caspian Corridor is a reflection of our aspirations. It is necessary to make the most of the strategic geographical position of Kazakhstan and Bulgaria on this route, which connects Asia with Europe,” he said.

Later, at the Kazakhstan-Bulgaria Business Forum, Tokayev reiterated the target of 10 million tons per year for the TITR’s capacity, aiming for this to be achieved by 2028.

Previously The Times of Central Asia reported how, during the Astana International Forum, Kazakhstan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Alibek Kuantyrov highlighted Kazakhstan’s perception of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route as a cornerstone of sustainable logistics across Eurasia.