Page 255 – The Times Of Central Asia

19 Sep 2025

Home, Kazakhstan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Next Stop, Wi-Fi: Kazakhstan Pilots Satellite Internet on Rails

September 19, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

Just a few years ago, internet access on passenger trains in Kazakhstan seemed like an unattainable dream. Today, this service is becoming a reality.

In an interview, Anuar Akhmetzhanov, Chairman of the Board of JSC Passenger Transport, told The Times of Central Asia that providing passengers with access to high-speed internet on trains is one of the key directions in the digitalization of the passenger transportation sector.

Since the beginning of this year, the national company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (Kazakhstan Railways), together with the official distributor of the low-orbit satellite network OneWeb in Kazakhstan, has launched a pilot project to provide internet access on passenger trains. The service was first introduced on the Astana–Almaty route, and in the spring, on the Astana–Oskemen route. According to Akhmetzhanov, Kazakhstan is among the first countries in the world to implement low-orbit satellite internet on passenger trains. In addition, internet access based on Starlink technology was recently launched in pilot mode on the Astana–Borovoe electric train.

“The preliminary results of the pilot project show strong demand from passengers. According to surveys, 87% of our passengers are satisfied with the quality of the internet, and the service meets their expectations,” said Akhmetzhanov.

High-speed internet of up to 150 Mbps benefits both passengers and the carrier. Travelers can remain connected throughout the journey, have access to various online services, make online payments during the trip, and enjoy unlimited entertainment options.

JSC Passenger Transport will, in turn, gain additional opportunities to sell tickets, control passenger boarding, provide additional services, and ensure safety control by connecting an onboard video surveillance system.

“As of today, only three trains are equipped with internet. Work is underway to expand the service to all types of trains. Based on testing results, we plan to roll out the solution to all major routes as early as next year,” noted Akhmetzhanov.

One of the main questions for passengers is whether the introduction of internet services on trains will affect ticket prices. On this point, Akhmetzhanov stated that an increase in ticket prices is not currently under consideration. “However, to reduce and offset expenses, the national carrier, together with its partner, is conducting market research on the demand for paid internet packages with higher speeds,” he said.

For example, the operator Jusan Mobile offers paid internet services; currently, passengers can choose tariffs for the entire trip or purchase 1 GB packages with the option to increase the volume as needed. There are no restrictions on which internet resources can be accessed.

In the near future, JSC Passenger Transportation is preparing to launch internet services on trains traveling on western routes, such as Aktobe–Almaty, Kyzylorda–Semey, and others.

The Train Internet project, based on satellite technology, ensures a stable, high-speed connection even in remote and hard-to-reach regions where traditional mobile services are limited. For Kazakhstan, with its vast territory and long travel distances, providing internet access on passenger trains is a service in high demand.

19 Sep 2025

Education, Turkmenistan Home, Turkmenistan Life & Culture, Turkmenistan, Life & Culture

Turkmenistan Expands Educational Partnership with UK’s AQA

September 19, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

The Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan has held an official meeting with representatives of AQA Global Assessment Services, a leading UK-based organization specializing in educational assessment.

The AQA delegation included Sean Crowley, Director of International Business Development; Anna Green, Director of Assessment Systems; and regional consultant Vali Huseyn. Deputy Minister of Education Azat Ataev emphasized Turkmenistan’s interest in deepening strategic cooperation with AQA, particularly in introducing modern methods of academic evaluation.

“Our key task is to improve the quality of education and ensure it fully meets the needs of the labor market,” Ataev said.

Regional Experience

AQA has led numerous educational reform initiatives globally, including across Central Asia. In Uzbekistan, the organization contributed to the development of a new model for senior school graduation exams, aligning national assessments with international standards. In Kazakhstan, AQA supported the transition to a criteria-based assessment system, which formed the basis for updated qualification requirements.

Experts note that such reforms increase trust in national diplomas, improve transparency, and make education systems more competitive and aligned with labor market demands.

Prospects for Cooperation

During the meeting in Ashgabat, both sides discussed several areas for collaboration, including:

the introduction of modern examination platforms
digital analytics of learning outcomes
development of qualification standards
training of teachers and administrators in examination processes

Particular emphasis was placed on methodological support and establishing a systematic approach to educational planning. According to participants, the adoption of international best practices will help Turkmenistan build a sustainable, data-driven model of educational development.

19 Sep 2025

Business & Economy, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy

Uzbekistan to Host First-Ever Web Summit Spotlight in Central Asia

October 24, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan will host its first Web Summit Spotlight on September 27 in Tashkent, marking a significant milestone for the country’s growing tech sector. The Ministry of Digital Technologies and IT Park Uzbekistan, co-organizers of the event, confirmed the announcement in an official press release.

The event is being held in partnership with Web Summit, one of the world’s most prominent technology conferences, which draws more than 70,000 participants each year to its flagship gathering in Lisbon. In recent years, Web Summit has expanded globally with editions in Rio de Janeiro, Qatar, and Vancouver. Tashkent will now join this lineup, positioning Uzbekistan as a rising hub for innovation and international tech collaboration.

According to organizers, Web Summit Spotlight: Uzbekistan will bring together leading global experts, venture capitalists, startup founders, and IT industry executives. The program will highlight Uzbekistan’s evolving role as a center for technological innovation, opportunities for international investment in emerging markets, and current trends in venture funding.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has consistently stressed the importance of digital transformation for Uzbekistan’s future. “We are creating conditions for Uzbekistan to become a true center of innovation, where young people can turn their talent and energy into globally competitive projects,” the president said earlier this year while outlining the country’s digital development strategy.

The forum comes amid rapid growth in Uzbekistan’s IT sector. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, revenues from IT outsourcing tripled to more than $300 million, following four consecutive years of annual doubling. The United States remains the primary destination for Uzbek IT exports, accounting for half of all outsourcing contracts. Authorities aim to grow outsourcing revenues to $5 billion by 2030, with a projected 300,000 people employed in the sector.

IT Park Uzbekistan has played a pivotal role in this transformation. By the end of 2023, it was home to 1,652 resident companies, nearly half of which were founded that year. With attractive tax incentives and support services, the park has become a magnet for both domestic and international tech talent.

19 Sep 2025

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Home, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy

Uzbekistan Approves Share Purchase Plan to Join Eurasian Development Bank

September 19, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has approved Uzbekistan’s plan to acquire shares in the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), formally initiating the country’s accession to the institution’s 2006 founding agreement. The decision was published on the official legal portal, Lex.uz.

Under the approved terms, Uzbekistan will receive 777,777 shares in the EDB’s charter capital, each valued at $1,000. Of these, 168,411 shares (21.7%) are payable, while the remaining 609,366 shares (78.3%) will be paid on demand. The president’s decree also outlines a payment schedule, with funding to begin from the state budget in 2025.

The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade has been tasked with executing the share purchase in accordance with established procedures. The Ministry of Economy and Finance will allocate the necessary funds, which will be included in the state budget from 2026 onward. The Central Bank of Uzbekistan will serve as the depository for EDB funds and assets within the country.

President Mirziyoyev described Uzbekistan’s participation in the EDB as a strategic move to strengthen regional economic ties. “Joining the Eurasian Development Bank will open new opportunities for financing infrastructure, industrial, and trade projects that directly serve our long-term development goals,” he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev has been appointed Uzbekistan’s authorized representative to the EDB, with Deputy Minister Khurshid Teshabaev designated as his deputy. The Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade will serve as the country’s authorized body in dealings with the bank.

This move is part of Uzbekistan’s broader strategy to deepen integration with Eurasian economic institutions. In 2024, officials confirmed that Uzbekistan aims to complete its accession to the EDB by early 2025.

Uzbekistan has held observer status in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) since 2020 and already participates in collaborative projects on trade, transport, e-commerce, and climate change.

Founded in 2006 by Russia and Kazakhstan, the EDB now also includes Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The bank’s core mission is to finance large-scale investment projects that promote economic growth and regional integration.

19 Sep 2025

Central Asia, Home, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan Home

Kyrgyzstan Says It’s Close to Being Removed from EU Flight Ban

September 19, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

A delegation from Kyrgyzstan’s Civil Aviation Agency will meet European officials in Brussels next month, marking another step in the campaign to end a two-decade ban on Kyrgyz airlines operating in the European Union because of safety concerns.

The October 7 meeting will be followed by a final European audit in December as Kyrgyzstan moves into the last stage of being removed from the EU’s so-called “blacklist” of air carriers, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said last week during the re-opening of two of the country’s airports, Naryn and Kazarman.

“Thus, we firmly believe that the European skies, which have been closed since 2006, will reopen for Kyrgyzstan,” said Japarov, who predicted that the possible removal of the ban would boost international tourism in the Central Asian country.

Kanat Tologonov, deputy director of Kyrgyzstan’s Civil Aviation Agency, said this week that European officials will decide on whether to lift the air ban on Kyrgyzstan in May 2026, according to the 24.kg news agency. Speaking to a parliamentary committee on budget and fiscal policy, Tologonov said Kyrgyzstan successfully passed 2023-2024 audits of the International Civil Aviation Organization, a U.N. agency that oversees safety and other aspects of air travel.

As Kyrgyzstan’s bid to regain access to EU skies gains momentum, civil aviation chief Daniyar Bostonov met representatives of the International Air Transport Association this week to discuss upgrading air navigation and the digitization of passenger and air cargo transportation.

The EU Air Safety List is a list of air carriers that it says do not fulfil international safety standards and it bars those airlines “from operating to, in and from the EU, including the overflight.”

Sixteen carriers from Kyrgyzstan are on the list, out of a total of 169 banned airlines, according to a June update. The EU barred Kyrgyzstan because of inadequate regulation in the aviation sector and failure to comply with international safety standards.

Civil aviation has been developing in some other parts of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

19 Sep 2025

Home, International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

From Astana to the World: Kazakhstan Expands Academic Frontier

September 22, 2025
By Aliya Haidar

Kazakhstan is rapidly establishing itself as a regional center for higher education, attracting students from around the world. The number of branches of foreign universities operating in the country is steadily increasing, complemented by a growing domestic academic base, especially in fields such as artificial intelligence. Today, Kazakhstan is viewed as a viable regional alternative to Russia, which has long been considered a destination for affordable, high-quality education.

Expanding Options for Students

In June, the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan unveiled a map of foreign university branches operating in the country. The government is positioning Kazakhstan as a leading academic hub in Central Asia by enhancing international cooperation and expanding opportunities for students.

Partnerships have already been established with 39 foreign universities. Currently, 23 branches of institutions from the UK, Italy, China, Russia, the U.S., France, and South Korea operate in Kazakhstan.

Map of foreign university partnerships; image: Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan.

Seven more branches are expected to open in the 2025-2026 academic year, namely Coventry University, the Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) in Astana, Gazi University in Shymkent, Woosong University in Turkestan, Anhalt University in Almaty, Politecnico della Marche in Taldykorgan, and Dong Eui University in Kostanay.

A standout example of this strategy arrived in early September:

Notably, on September 3, Cardiff University opened its first campus outside the UK in Astana. It is also the first member of the prestigious Russell Group to begin operations in Kazakhstan. The Russell Group comprises 24 leading UK universities responsible for two-thirds of all research grants and contract funding in the UK, and 56% of doctoral degrees awarded. Cardiff University Kazakhstan is now accepting students for four-year bachelor’s programs in computer science, business management, civil engineering, and geology and mineral exploration.

Kazakhstan has witnessed a surge in the establishment of foreign university branches since 2021. These include the Peking University of Languages and Culture at Astana International University, and the National Research Nuclear University MEPhI (Russia) at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Additional branches include the University of Lorraine (France) at the Kazakh National Pedagogical University named after Abai, and the University of Anhalt (Germany) at the Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications named after Gumarbek Daukeev.

Other notable branches include the University of Hong Kong at Satpayev University in Almaty, Berlin Technical University in Aktau, De Montfort University (UK) in Almaty, and Queen’s University Belfast (Ireland) at Narxoz University, among others.

These branches offer programs in mining, water resource management, and mineral exploration and extraction, along with biotechnology, electrical engineering, energy, mechatronics, logistics, chemical technology, robotics, and related disciplines.

In 2023, Korkyt Ata University in Kyzylorda launched an Institute of Artificial Intelligence, in partnership with Seoul National University of Science and Technology. It currently offers programs in computer science, cybersecurity, software development, and information systems.

An Ambitious Vision

Observers note that Kazakhstan’s education drive is unfolding amid growing global competition for international students. Neighboring Uzbekistan has also launched partnerships with European institutions, while Turkey and the Gulf states are actively courting students from Asia and Africa. By moving early and offering relatively low tuition, Kazakhstan hopes to secure a durable niche in this crowded market.

Kazakhstan is aiming to become the top education destination in Central Asia. The government is working with globally recognized universities to align its education system with international standards. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek has stated that Kazakhstan aims to attract 150,000 foreign students by 2029, nearly five times the current number.

The country offers several advantages: a strategic location bridging Europe and Asia, political and economic stability, and lower tuition fees compared to Western countries and Russia. “Kazakhstan is not only a leader in education in Central Asia; we are becoming a new Eurasian center,” said Nurbek. “Our partnerships with global universities and the growth in world-class campuses show that students no longer need to leave the region to access international-quality education.”

To support this goal, the government is providing tuition grants, building new dormitories, and investing in research clusters. Thirty-five Kazakhstani universities have been included in the QS Asia University Rankings 2025. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, L.N. Gumilyov Eurasian National University, and Satpayev University are ranked among the top 100, reflecting growing international recognition.

Officials emphasize that attracting students requires more than campuses and programs. Work is underway to improve dormitory conditions, expand visa services, and create cultural integration programs. Several universities now run orientation courses for foreign students, including Kazakh language basics and intercultural workshops, aimed at easing adjustment and retention.

Building an AI-Ready Future

Kazakhstan has also made significant investments in AI infrastructure. In May 2025, the country acquired the most powerful supercomputer in Central Asia, with a processing capacity of approximately two exaflops. Based on NVIDIA’s H200 graphics chips, the system is available to government agencies, universities, and startups.

The country has also established partnerships with Huawei, Coursera, and Astana Hub, supporting a practical and applied approach to education. AI studies are being integrated across higher and secondary education curricula.

The government also sees higher education as a tool for economic diversification. By training specialists in AI, engineering, and energy, officials hope to reduce reliance on extractive industries and foster a knowledge-based economy. Analysts argue that international campuses can serve as incubators for research partnerships, tech startups, and innovation clusters that will spill over into broader economic growth.

A Competitive Alternative

For decades, Russia was the primary destination for students from the post-Soviet space. That dynamic is shifting, not only due to the war in Ukraine, but because Russia’s withdrawal from the Bologna Process has complicated degree recognition in Western countries.

Kazakhstan is well-positioned to fill the gap. It offers a Russian-speaking environment while increasingly improving English and other foreign language instruction in its universities.

As a result, Kazakhstan is attracting more students from countries such as China, India, Pakistan, across Asia and Africa, Eastern Europe, and even Russia and other post-Soviet states. This trend is supported by deliberate government policies, expanding global university partnerships, and growing international awareness of Kazakhstan’s academic strengths. Whether this momentum can be sustained will depend not only on Kazakhstan’s ability to attract prestigious partners, but also on how its institutions deliver. For now, as new campuses open and domestic programs grow, Kazakhstan’s higher education system is entering a decisive phase in its evolving regional role.