Page 254 – The Times Of Central Asia

19 Sep 2025

Home, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

From Hydropower to Human Capital: Japarov Plans Strategic Visit to Japan

September 24, 2025
By Stephen M. Bland

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov is preparing for a visit to Japan that underscores growing strategic ties between the two countries. Kyrgyz officials say they plan to sign energy and infrastructure agreements in Tokyo, including support for a training center for the national electric grid and upgrades at the Kurpsai hydropower plant, according to Trend, citing the Kyrgyz Energy Ministry. The same report notes that grant funding from Japan’s international cooperation programs will back grid training and modernization efforts.

The timing reflects Tokyo’s recent step-up in activity vis-à-vis Central Asia. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, in late August 2025, Japan’s foreign minister undertook a multi-country tour that emphasized long-term engagement and connectivity across the region. Japanese officials framed their approach as trust-building, focused on people-to-people links, infrastructure, and practical cooperation.

Energy cooperation is expected to feature prominently during the visit. Kyrgyz officials say the Japan-backed training center is moving through final approval, and modernization of the Kurpsai facility is planned with Japanese grant support. Bishkek has also invited Japanese participation in additional hydropower projects, positioning Japan as a technology and financing partner in Kyrgyzstan’s power sector.

Labor mobility and skills are another focus. The authorities in Kyrgyzstan have been working with Japanese counterparts to create safe, legal pathways for Kyrgyz workers. In July, Kyrgyz officials met with Japan’s construction human-resources association to align training standards and prepare workers for job opportunities in Japan, and free Japanese-language courses were launched in Bishkek to improve employability for prospective migrants.

Education and cultural exchange underpin the relationship. Over three decades, Japan has funded scholarships, exchanges, and language programs that connect Central Asian students to Japanese universities. An overview of these initiatives highlights how education has become a durable pillar of Japan’s regional engagement, building familiarity with Japanese business practices and technology among Kyrgyz graduates.

For Bishkek, the visit is about turning ongoing cooperation into signed projects and new resources. Officials point to the grid training center and Kurpsai upgrades as near-term deliverables, while the broader agenda includes workforce programs and academic ties. The message from both sides is continuity: steady, practical steps rather than headline-grabbing announcements.

Regionally, Japan’s approach offers Central Asian countries additional partners for finance, training, and technology. For Kyrgyzstan, deeper ties with Tokyo complement existing relationships while helping diversify investment sources and markets. The outcome to watch is whether the visit locks in concrete funding and timelines for priority energy and skills initiatives outlined by the Kyrgyz side.

19 Sep 2025

Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Backstreet Boys to Perform in Almaty on September 19 for City Day

September 19, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Almaty is preparing to host one of its most anticipated music events of the year: the legendary Backstreet Boys will perform at Central Stadium on September 19 in celebration of City Day.

Organizers have promised a show featuring the group’s greatest hits from the 1990s and 2000s, complete with elaborate stage production and the signature energy that made the band a global phenomenon. To ensure public safety, approximately 2,500 police officers will be deployed, alongside on-site ambulance teams and fire crews.

The city administration has also announced that 150 volunteers will assist attendees in navigating the venue. LED screens around the stadium will display a hotline number for those needing assistance.

@Almaty Akimat

The concert is expected to attract Almaty residents as well as international fans, some of whom have traveled thousands of kilometers to see the iconic group perform against the backdrop of the Zailiyskiy Alatau mountains.

“I bought my ticket back in July and flew in from Minsk just for this show. The city is amazing, and the atmosphere promises to be unforgettable,” said Belarusian fan Yulia Makhovich.

For 35-year-old Almaty resident Alina Agapova, the event carries personal significance: “Backstreet Boys are my childhood and youth. Their songs always carried deep meaning and are tied to important memories. For me, this is not just a concert but a return to the times when we collected posters, magazines, and dreamed of seeing them live.”

@Almaty Akimat

Many fans see the band’s visit as a milestone for Kazakhstan’s cultural scene. “Before, to attend concerts like this, you had to fly to Europe or the U.S. Now global stars are coming to us. It’s a matter of pride for our city,” said Aigerim, a university student who purchased her ticket in the first days of sales.

Almaty is emerging as a regional hub for international music. After hosting stars like Jennifer Lopez and Marilyn Manson, the Backstreet Boys’ concert highlights the city’s drive to become Central Asia’s leading destination for major cultural events, with strong attention to safety and accessibility.

19 Sep 2025

Environment, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz Energy Minister Warns of Imminent Winter Power Shortages

September 19, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kyrgyzstan’s Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev has warned that the upcoming winter will be one of the most difficult in recent memory, with the country facing significant electricity shortages due to critically low water levels at the Toktogul Hydroelectric Power Plant (HPP) reservoir. Toktogul is Kyrgyzstan’s largest energy facility, generating approximately 40% of the country’s electricity.

According to Ibraev, the Toktogul reservoir currently holds 10.8 billion cubic meters of water, 1.6 billion cubic meters less than in 2024, when levels were already deemed critically low at 12.4 billion cubic meters. The “dead water level,” at which the turbines can no longer operate, is 6.5 billion cubic meters.

Kyrgyzstan has struggled with persistent electricity deficits in recent years, particularly during winter when demand spikes as households depend heavily on electricity for heating. In 2024, national consumption reached 18.3 billion kilowatt-hours, an increase of 1.1 billion kWh over 2023. To cover the shortfall, Kyrgyzstan imported 3.6 billion kWh from Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Russia.

Ibraev urged citizens to conserve electricity and stressed that Kyrgyzstan aims to overcome its energy crisis by 2028. A key pillar of this strategy is the construction of the Kambarata-1 HPP, which is set to become the largest hydroelectric facility in Central Asia. With a planned capacity of 1,860 megawatts and an average annual generation of 5.6 billion kWh, the project is expected to significantly enhance long-term energy security.

In the short term, Kyrgyzstan is banking on regional cooperation. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan have all signed an agreement on coordinated water and energy management.

Under the agreement, Kyrgyzstan will release water from Toktogul for irrigation needs in downstream Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, while receiving electricity supplies from both countries through spring 2026.

The Toktogul HPP serves a dual purpose: generating electricity for domestic use and regulating water flows for agriculture in neighboring states. In winter, higher hydropower output to meet heating demand often lowers reservoir levels, threatening irrigation supplies in spring. The trilateral agreement is intended to reduce this risk by enabling Kyrgyzstan to conserve water while ensuring essential electricity imports during peak consumption periods.

19 Sep 2025

Central Asia, Home, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Features, Kyrgyzstan Home

EDB to Fund Feasibility Study for Kyrgyz Hydropower Cascade

September 19, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

On September 18, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Orta Asya Investment Holding signed an agreement to develop a feasibility study for the Suusamyr-Kokomeren hydropower plant cascade project in Kyrgyzstan.

The study will be financed by the EDB, a multilateral development bank headquartered in Almaty that invests across its member states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

This agreement builds on earlier investment deals between Kyrgyzstan and Central Asian Investment Holding, a subsidiary of Turkey’s İhlas Holding, to develop both the Kokomeren and Kazarman cascades. With a combined capacity of 2,217 MW, these agreements were signed on August 11 by Kyrgyz Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev and Ahmet Mücahid Ören, Chairman of İhlas Holding’s Board of Directors.

These projects are considered strategically important for both Kyrgyzstan and the broader Central Asian region, with planned investments exceeding $6 billion. Once completed, they are expected to increase Kyrgyzstan’s electricity generation capacity by more than 50%, meeting rising domestic demand and enabling future electricity exports.

The Kokomeren River cascade will include three hydroelectric plants with a combined capacity of 1,305 MW:

Karakol HPP – 33 MW
Kokomeren-1 HPP – 360 MW
Kokomeren-2 HPP – 912 MW

Under the terms of the agreements, Central Asian Investment Holding will operate the plants for 20 years, with Kyrgyzstan guaranteeing the purchase of the electricity generated.

İhlas Holding, through its subsidiary, is also developing a 250 MW natural gas-fired combined heat and power plant (CHPP-2) in Bishkek. Scheduled for commissioning in 2028, CHPP-2 is expected to enhance the capital’s heating and electricity supply while reducing reliance on the aging coal-fired Thermal Power Plant, currently the city’s primary energy source.

The parallel development of hydropower and cleaner thermal energy projects is seen as central to Kyrgyzstan’s energy transition, offering both economic benefits and improved environmental outcomes.

19 Sep 2025

Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Kazakh School Teams to Compete at Drone Soccer World Cup in South Korea

September 19, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Three school teams from Astana will represent Kazakhstan for the first time at the FIDA Drone Soccer World Cup 2025, set to take place in late September in Jeonju, South Korea, according to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.

Drone soccer, a South Korean innovation launched in 2016, is a rapidly growing esport. The game is played in a netted arena by two teams of five, each piloting spherical drones measuring 20-40 centimeters in diameter. The goal is to score by flying a designated drone, known as the drone-ball, through the opponent’s gate while defending one’s own. Matches consist of three three-minute rounds.

The Federation of International Dronesoccer Association (FIDA) was founded in 2021, bringing together national associations. The inaugural world championship took place in South Korea in 2023, evolving from a school-based initiative into a national sensation. Today, more than 1,000 school and university teams compete across South Korea, and FIDA now includes over 35 countries. The 2025 World Cup in Jeonju is expected to feature dozens of national squads and hundreds of athletes, including Kazakhstan’s debut delegation.

Kazakhstan will be represented by three Astana-based teams: Specialized Lyceum No. 82 “Daryn,” School-Lyceum No. 8, and the private school Skillset. “For children, this is not just a tournament but a ticket to the future. Today they pilot drones; tomorrow they’ll design unmanned systems that could reshape aviation in Kazakhstan and beyond,” said Dmitry Ivanov, head of the Kazakhstan Drone Soccer Association.

The championship will run from September 25 to 28 at two venues: the Jeonju International Drone Sports Center and the Jeonju World Cup Stadium. This autumn, the Kazakh teams will also participate in Digital Bridge 2025 in Astana, where they are scheduled to lead masterclasses and demonstration matches for international guests.

Organizers say the event will mark the launch of Kazakhstan’s national drone soccer season for 2025-2026, with the introduction of regular school and city leagues.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is also investing in drone technology for broader applications, including agriculture and safety engineering.

19 Sep 2025

Central Asia, Home, Kazakhstan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Home

Kazakh Wheat Flour Enters U.S. Market

September 19, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kazakhstan has reached a new milestone in diversifying its agricultural exports with the inaugural shipment of wheat flour to the United States. A 50-ton batch recently arrived in New York, marking the beginning of what could become a regular supply channel.

Marketed under the Eurasian Legacy brand, the flour is now available on Amazon and Walmart. It retails for $14.50 per 1.36 kg package on Amazon and is advertised as non-GMO and glyphosate-free. Each package bears the label “Product of Kazakhstan,” highlighting the country’s positioning as a producer of environmentally friendly, high-quality food products.

According to the QazTrade Center for Trade Policy Development, monthly exports could exceed 100 tons in the near future. In addition to e-commerce platforms, discussions are underway with American restaurants, coffee shops, and major retail chains about incorporating Kazakh flour into their supply chains.

In July, QazTrade opened a representative office in the United States to boost the visibility of Kazakhstani food products. “We are not limited to flour. We have already presented buckwheat, granola, talkan, chocolate, and cocoa in the United States, and partners in New York, Chicago, and Washington have tested their quality. A business mission of Kazakh producers to these cities is the next logical step. This is not only an opportunity to strengthen ties with partners but also to enter the HoReCa segment, where natural and authentic products are in demand,” said Aitmukhammed Aldazharov, CEO of QazTrade.

The move into the U.S. market follows Kazakhstan’s growing grain and flour exports to Europe. For the first time, Kazakh wheat has been shipped to Belgium, Estonia, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.

Despite this growing diversification, Kazakhstan’s primary grain buyers remain Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, and Azerbaijan.