Page 266 – The Times Of Central Asia

26 May 2025

Uncategorized

Olives, Oranges, and Mandarins to Be Grown in Southern Kyrgyzstan

May 26, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

Citrus seedlings imported from Turkey have been planted in southern Kyrgyzstan as part of an experimental initiative to evaluate their adaptability to the local climate. The Ministry of Agriculture is conducting the trial with a view to diversifying the country’s agricultural output and introducing high-value crops.

The seedlings, mandarin, orange, olive, and kunkuvat (a variety of orange), were delivered by ministry specialists for test cultivation. According to Minister of Agriculture Bakyt Torobaev, the trials are being carried out in the Batken region, where agroclimatic conditions are considered most suitable for heat-loving crops.

“If the seedlings take root successfully, local farmers will attempt to scale up cultivation and expand citrus production to other parts of southern Kyrgyzstan,” Torobaev said.

Bakyt Mambetov, Director of the Department of Agricultural Crops and Horticulture, added that the aim of the trials is to evaluate the plants’ resilience to climatic and soil conditions, as well as their productivity and resistance to diseases and pests. “If the results are positive, these crops will be recommended for both farm-level and private garden cultivation, to meet domestic demand and create export opportunities,” he said.

Mambetov emphasized that introducing such crops could significantly boost the profitability of Kyrgyz horticulture and expand the country’s agricultural export potential.

This is not the ministry’s first citrus initiative. Several years ago, Tashkent lemons were successfully cultivated in the mountainous northern regions of Kyrgyzstan, with the first harvest yielding promising results.

26 May 2025

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Features, Tajikistan Business Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Tajikistan Features, Kazakhstan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Central Asian and Pakistani Leaders Showcase Digital Future at GSMA Summit in Tashkent

May 27, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

The second day of the GSMA M360 Eurasia conference, held on May 21 in Tashkent, delivered a resounding message of partnership, innovation, and forward-looking digital strategies. Leaders from Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, alongside delegates from other countries, shared insights on fostering resilient digital economies through collaboration and technology.

Kazakhstan: Digital Leadership and AI Strategy

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiyev, highlighted his country’s digital advancements. Over the past decade, Kazakhstan has ascended into the global top ten for online service quality and now ranks 24th in e-government development. “More than 90% of transactions are cashless,” he noted, “and over 35 personal documents are exclusively digital. Digital documents now carry the same legal weight as paper ones.” Citizens can even travel domestically using only a digital ID on their phones.

Madiyev spotlighted Astana Hub, Kazakhstan’s primary IT cluster, which hosts over 1,600 startups and global tech firms, with outposts in Silicon Valley, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and the UK. “We recently signed an agreement with Uzbekistan’s IT Park,” he said, “and we will soon open a joint mobile lab with Tcell in Uzbekistan.” He emphasized that cross-border collaboration enables startups to access global markets.

Artificial intelligence (AI) featured prominently in Madiyev’s address. He announced the formation of a national AI committee and the adoption of a five-year strategy that includes ethical guidelines, product labeling, and a public AI platform. A newly acquired supercomputer, boasting two exaflops of processing power, will soon support universities, startups, and companies. Kazakhstan also plans to train one million individuals over five years, spanning schoolchildren to government employees. Madiyev invited Uzbekistan to join a regional AI collaboration centered around the forthcoming International Center of AI in Astana, which will host labs, exhibits, hackathons, and workspaces for startups and major tech firms.

Uzbekistan: Building a 5G Future

In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Dmitriy Shukov, CEO of Perfectum, the first stand-alone 5G mobile network operator in Uzbekistan, discussed the company’s vision. Perfectum primarily serves the business sector with advanced network solutions. “We focus on B2B clients and will continue to develop cutting-edge services for a fast-growing economy,” Shukov stated.

On expanding 5G access nationwide, Shukov pointed to device compatibility. “People need access to 5G stand-alone service. We hope GSMA can facilitate discussions with handset manufacturers to unlock all 5G features here,” he said, underscoring that broader access is essential for digital inclusivity. Perfectum’s pioneering role in the region sets a benchmark for others.

Discussing Uzbekistan’s telecom infrastructure, Shukov expressed optimism. “Our population grows by 700,000 annually. Sixty percent are under 30, demanding high-speed, low-latency services. And the regulatory environment is now very favorable to investors,” he said. These dynamics, he concluded, set a strong foundation for the next three years.

Tajikistan: Rethinking Telecom Models

Tcell CEO Ozodkhon Davlatshoev, whose company serves over two million customers and is Tajikistan’s largest mobile operator, addressed the pressures facing the sector. “Our market share is about 14%, growing 7% annually, but with just 2% population growth, we add only around 60,000 new users per year, while investing millions to maintain infrastructure,” he said. He also noted rising competition and regulatory pressures to lower prices.

Davlatshoev advocated a shift from merely providing access to delivering value-added services. “Being just a gatekeeper is no longer viable. We can leverage our data and networks to offer personalized services, financial tools, even advertising,” he said. His vision includes expansion into fintech, digital advertising, and social media, which he claims has already yielded ten-fold increases in EBITDA in pilot regions. “Let’s make customers richer, not just our companies,” he quipped.

Pakistan: Financial Inclusion Through Digital Innovation

Murtaza Ali, President of JazzCash in Pakistan; image: Muhammad Khayyam Siddiqi

Murtaza Ali, President of JazzCash, highlighted Pakistan’s push toward digital finance. As one of the country’s leading mobile financial platforms, JazzCash serves over 20 million monthly users and collaborates with more than 285,000 agents and 485,000 merchants.

“Almost 40% of adults in Pakistan are unbanked,” Ali said. “We built a system that reaches people wherever they are.” JazzCash offers not just money transfers, but also micro-loans, insurance, and Shariah-compliant savings tools. In 2024 alone, it issued around 143,000 digital loans daily and insured two million individuals.

Ali emphasized the role of partnerships, with the government, Google Wallet, and retail providers, in driving financial inclusion. “We support government payment systems and are the only fintech in Pakistan compatible with Google Wallet,” he noted. As part of VEON Group, JazzCash collaborates with Simply in Kazakhstan and Beepul in Uzbekistan. Together, they processed over $40 billion in transactions in the past year.

Summit Takeaways: Cooperation and Shared Vision

Throughout the event, a consistent theme emerged: the need for cooperation among governments, telecom providers, and fintech innovators. From Kazakhstan’s AI strategy and Uzbekistan’s 5G ambitions to Tajikistan’s evolving business models and Pakistan’s digital finance breakthroughs, the shared goal was clear, deliver fast, affordable, and inclusive digital services.

By the close of May 22, participants had agreed on key objectives: bridging coverage gaps, supporting startups, advancing AI capacity, and strengthening regional partnerships. Working groups were established to address AI ethics, 5G deployment, and cross-border startup collaboration.

26 May 2025

Uncategorized

Kazakhstan Launches Central Asia’s Largest All-Season Tourism Project Near Almaty

May 26, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Kazakhstan is embarking on the largest all-season tourism initiative in Central Asia with plans to develop a world-class ski resort near Almaty. The expansive project will stretch from Talgar in the east to Kaskelen in the west, creating an integrated mountain tourism corridor.

Ambitious Plans for the Almaty Mountain Cluster

The plan for the Almaty Mountain Cluster (AMC) envisions up to 700 kilometers of ski trails, 58 lifts, modern hotels, glamping sites, biking paths, and cable cars. By 2029, the project aims to accommodate up to 34,000 visitors daily and create more than 10,000 jobs, positioning the AMC as the region’s premier year-round destination.

International collaboration is central to the project, with concepts presented by global firms including Horwath HTL (U.S.), Stem International (France), and PGI Management (Andorra). French consultant Vincent Tassard stressed the value of year-round tourism and sustainable practices such as renewable energy and digital environmental monitoring. PGI President Joan Viladomat introduced the “Almaty SuperSki” concept, featuring 65 kilometers of trails across the Kok-Zhailau tract and Kumbel peak.

Environmental Sensitivities and Renewed Approaches

The inclusion of Kok-Zhailau revives a previously suspended development. In 2019, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev halted construction following strong public and environmental opposition. The land was subsequently returned to Ile-Alatau National Park to protect its biodiversity and recreational value.

This time, developers promise greater environmental accountability. The AMC’s central zone, including Shymbulak, Butakovka, Kimasar, Oi-Karagai, and Pioneer, will serve as a pilot site for sustainable tourism design.

Inclusive Design and Eco-Tourism Expansion

The initiative also includes broader improvements to local tourist sites. The Medeu ECO Park concept has been introduced with facilities for family recreation and preserved landscapes. The Gorenlik visitor center and Jumbaq Jol trail are operational, and a suspension bridge, capable of accommodating 10,000 people daily, is slated to open in July.

Almaty SuperSki project leader Thomas Tor Jensen highlighted the fact that half of the ski runs will be suitable for beginners and the entire infrastructure will be accessible to people with disabilities.

Supporters such as Askar Valiev, Secretary General of the National Ski Association of Kazakhstan, and representatives from ECO Network and PANA ASIA, emphasized the importance of balancing economic goals with environmental protection. Valiev noted that Shymbulak is currently overburdened and in need of upgraded facilities for athletics training. Others stressed the need for transparency, compliance with ecological norms, and safe conditions for the increasing number of tourists.

Economic Growth and Government Backing

Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov underscored the project’s strategic role in Kazakhstan’s modernization efforts. “This project will completely change the economic landscape not only of Almaty but of the entire country,” he stated, asserting that every dollar invested would yield double in tourism revenue.

Tourism currently accounts for 3.9% of Almaty’s gross regional product and employs more than 83,000 people. In 2024, the city welcomed over 2.3 million tourists, including 680,000 international visitors. The sector is growing rapidly: tourism revenues rose 30% last year, with tax contributions doubling.

26 May 2025

Home, Turkmenistan Home, Turkmenistan Justice, Justice, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Features, Features

Forced Labor Rampant in Turkmenistan’s 2024 Cotton Harvest, Say Rights Groups

May 27, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Despite public pledges of reform and cooperation with the International Labor Organization (ILO), Turkmenistan’s government continues to enforce widespread forced labor during its annual cotton harvest. This is the core finding of a report released on May 19 by Turkmen.news, the Turkmen Initiative for Human Rights (TIHR), the Progres Foundation, and the Cotton Campaign coalition.

Systemic Abuse: The Role of the State

The report, titled “State-imposed Forced Labor in the 2024 Harvest and Links to Global Supply Chains,” identifies the Turkmen state as the primary orchestrator of forced labor practices. Observers documented conditions in the country’s key cotton-producing regions, Balkan, Dashoguz, Lebap, and Mary, while withholding personal identifiers to protect sources.

Public sector workers, particularly junior staff from schools, healthcare facilities, and utilities, were either compelled to harvest cotton or to finance hired laborers from their own wages. Private entrepreneurs also faced coercive financial pressure. Although child labor remains officially banned, instances were reported, often incentivized by promises of payment.

Reforms on Paper, Resistance in Practice

While Ashgabat adopted a roadmap in 2024 for eradicating forced labor in coordination with the ILO, human rights defenders report negligible progress. Central to the issue is the state’s monopolistic control over every stage of the cotton supply chain, land allocation, seed distribution, pricing, and collection, enabling local officials to enforce arbitrary quotas and extort farmers.

“Boosting productivity or upgrading equipment is futile unless workers are shielded from coercion and can organize to defend their rights,” the report concludes.

Women disproportionately bear the burden, as they make up the majority of social sector employees and often lack the financial means to avoid fieldwork by hiring substitutes.

Supervised Compliance and Global Implications

The report also describes how Turkmen officials obstructed genuine engagement with the ILO. In Mary region, state workers were coached on how to respond to ILO queries, while others were excluded from meetings entirely.

International supply chains are not immune. As one of the world’s top 15 cotton producers, Turkmenistan exports textiles primarily to Turkey, Italy, and Pakistan. Turkish-made goods incorporating Turkmen cotton are subsequently sold in the EU, while firms from Germany and Italy supply industrial machinery to Turkmen producers.

Recommendations and Global Accountability

The report urges the Turkmen government to hold corrupt officials accountable, uphold labor laws, and guarantee fundamental freedoms, including the right to form independent trade unions. International actors are advised to enhance import scrutiny and exclude goods linked to forced labor from supply chains.

Foreign diplomats are encouraged to raise the issue during negotiations with Ashgabat and in investment discussions. The ILO, Turkmenistan’s Ombudsman, and international brands are called upon to maintain rigorous oversight and actively prevent labor violations.

In a rare move, ILO experts were permitted to monitor the 2024 cotton harvest. Despite limited access, they published critical findings on wage inadequacies, child labor persistence, and repercussions for public employees who resisted field assignments.

26 May 2025

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Local Politics

Trade Along Irtysh River Creates New Opportunities and Regional Challenges for Kazakhstan

May 26, 2025
By Times of Central Asia

The Irtysh is the longest transboundary tributary river in the world. It flows through the territories of Kazakhstan, Russia, and China, which gives it important strategic significance as a connecting link in maintaining its ecological balance, as well as in its potential use for international transit logistics. Together with the Ob River, the Irtysh connects the transport corridor of the New Silk Road with the Northern Sea Route, thereby integrating Eurasian transport corridors into the global transport system.

Reserves of River Logistics

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the waterway along the river could be integrated into a large-scale multimodal logistics project. Currently, navigation on the Irtysh River within Kazakhstan runs for just over 1,600km — from Lake Zaysan to the border point of Klin with Russia. The navigation season lasts an average of 192 days, from April to November. During this period, river transport carried out a significant volume of shipments, ensuring connectivity between the regions of Eastern Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, and the border areas of Russia.

The riverbank infrastructure includes the Pavlodar River Port, which has a handling capacity of up to 650,000 tons per year and a network of 10 permanent berths – Tugyl, Oktyabrsky, Ust-Kamenogorsk, “Irtyshtrans,” “Gravelit,” and others – that can handle up to 10,000 tons of cargo daily. The river fleet used for cargo transportation consists of about 95 vessels, including barges, tugs, and auxiliary units. Ship repair functions are performed by three specialized enterprises in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Semey, and Pavlodar. However, most of the technical base requires major renovation: equipment and structures are heavily worn, and the fleet of vessels is mostly outdated.

The Irtysh basin remains a key cargo-generating region, accounting for more than 90% of the country’s river freight. In 2024, the total volume of river transport amounted to 1.5 million tons, including 296,000 tons of export cargo to Russia.

To systematically modernize river transport, in January 2025, a roadmap for the comprehensive development of shipping on the Irtysh River was approved. According to Deputy Transport Minister Maksat Kaliakparov, the main measures include the construction of a new river port in Tugyl, the modernization of existing berths, the purchase of modern transport vessels, the opening of the Urlitobe river crossing point on the border with Russia, and the creation of logistics and multimodal hubs. Plans also include the construction of hydraulic engineering structures, riverbed clearing, and dredging works, which will increase the waterway’s throughput capacity and create conditions for year-round navigation. All this will undoubtedly require significant infrastructure investments, the amount of which, according to the Ministry of Transport, will be specified based on the results of the design and estimate documentation and negotiations with private and foreign investors.

The implementation of these measures opens up opportunities for an even larger project – a multimodal transit corridor between Russia, Kazakhstan, and China, which will involve the movement of ships on the Omsk-Tugyl section with further delivery of cargo by road or rail to China.

One of the key elements of the project being developed by the ministry in Kazakhstan will be the construction of a river port with a transport and logistics center in the settlement of Tugyl, as well as the fourth railway border crossing point with the construction of a new railway line between Tugyl and Maikapchagai.

“If the project is implemented, cargo turnover is expected to grow to 3.5 million tons per year and export routes will be expanded with access to northern seaports,” says Kaliakparov.

Water transport amid climate challenges and growing demand for water

In addition to being environmentally friendly, water transport is characterized by low costs. It is 2-3 times cheaper than rail transport and can be five times cheaper than road transport. However, will the three countries be able to find common ground that will satisfy the needs of their economies when water transport is linked to issues of water resources in the transboundary Irtysh River?

The upper part of the Irtysh basin and its sources are located in China. Given this country’s plans for large-scale development of its western regions, which include the completion of the Black Irtysh-Karamay canal in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) to transfer part of the water to the oil field near the town of Karamay, and increasing water withdrawals for agricultural needs due to expansion of cultivated areas, the country plans to actively build canals, reservoirs, dams, hydroelectric power plants, and other hydraulic structures.

Meanwhile, in Kazakhstan, the water resources of the Irtysh and its tributaries provide for the livelihoods of almost 30% of the country’s population. About 45% of the country’s agricultural production is produced within the basin, and the Irtysh cascade of hydroelectric power plants provides 10% of the country’s total electricity generation. For Russia, the water management activities of the countries in the upper reaches of the river – Kazakhstan and China – pose serious challenges for the socio-economic development of the city of Omsk and the surrounding region.

Climate change also contributes to the challenges in maintaining the water balance, which affects the water level of the Irtysh River. Besides the transit waters coming from China, the river is significantly fed by tributaries, snow reserves from the mountains of Eastern Kazakhstan, and precipitation. At the same time, signs of a reduction in the replenishment of groundwater and surface waters are observed. This reduces the predictability and stability of the river’s management and requires a flexible and scientifically sound water management strategy.

To minimize ecological impact, annual studies of the river are conducted, and all work is coordinated with state authorities in the fields of ecology, water resources, industrial safety, and local executive bodies. As part of scientific support, mathematical modeling has been carried out, designs of hydraulic structures have been tested, and environmentally safe dredging technologies have been developed. In addition to transport goals, these measures contribute to restoring the hydro-ecological balance.

Kazakhstan is negotiating with Chinese and Russian partners to restore full navigation on the river and jointly use the transit potential of the Irtysh.

“The Russian and Chinese sides have expressed preliminary interest in participating in the project. Today, together with the Omsk Region’s government, we are working on a pilot voyage along the Omsk-Tugyl route. Discussions are underway with China on the construction of a railway line and the opening of a new border crossing at Maikapchagai-Zimunai, which will provide a direct logistics link with western China,” said Kaliakparov.

The development of river navigation on the Irtysh River for Kazakhstan, in addition to the transit of goods through its territory, will allow a number of regions to cease to be dead ends and join the transit chain in cargo and passenger transportation. The project will give impetus to the development of small and medium-sized businesses, tourism, and other sectors of the economy.

Tourism along the river

The deputy minister notes that passenger excursion shipping on the Irtysh River is gaining significant popularity, especially during the tourist season.

“As you know, the East Kazakhstan region has a unique natural landscape, from mountain ranges to cascades of reservoirs. This opens up great opportunities for river trips, weekend tours, and tourism. The most popular routes are along the Ust-Kamenogorsk and Bukhtarma reservoirs and excursions on Lake Zaisan. A fleet of pleasure boats is being developed in the region, piers are being built, and the range of tourist services is expanding. Small and medium-sized businesses are actively investing in the development of water tourism. In the future, it may be possible to create river tourism clusters that are integrated into interregional routes and included in international tourism programs,” says Kaliakparov.

The development of waterways along the Irtysh River, as well as cross-border tourism and trade, will be facilitated by the construction of two airports in the region – in Zaisan and Katon-Karagai – and the completion of the reconstruction of the Kalbatao-Maikapshagai highway, which together will lay the foundation for the creation of a major tourist and logistics hub.

Overall, the three countries still have considerable work ahead to expand transport cooperation, develop effective water resource management measures that meet shared interests, foster economic integration, and address social and environmental issues while minimizing water deficit risks and ensuring water security.

The proposal to connect Russia and China with a new transport route, which could serve as an alternative to maritime, road, and rail routes, is planned to be discussed at the upcoming meeting of transport ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization in China this July.

26 May 2025

Uncategorized

Kazakhstan to Launch New Flights to 15 Foreign Cities

May 26, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Kazakhstan will open 15 new international air routes this year, operated both by domestic carriers and by new foreign low-cost airlines entering the market. The announcement was made by Minister of Transport Marat Karabaev during a government session in the Senate, the upper house of Kazakhstan’s parliament.

“The new destinations include cities such as Munich, Budapest, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and others,” Karabaev stated. Most of these routes will be serviced by Kazakh airlines Air Astana and SCAT. Karabaev also highlighted the entry of five new low-cost carriers from India, Thailand, and South Korea, following the implementation of Kazakhstan’s open skies regime.

The additional eleven destinations are Cairo, Da Nang, Abu Dhabi, Hurghada, Busan, Osh, Mumbai, Kulja, Rome, Gazipaşa, and Samarkand. The incoming low-cost carriers include SpiceJet (India), Thai AirAsia X (Thailand), Eastar Jet and T’Way Air (South Korea), and Air Arabia Abu Dhabi (UAE).

The open skies regime eliminates all restrictions on the number of flights operated by foreign carriers on international routes not served by domestic airlines. It currently applies to 15 airports across Kazakhstan: Astana, Almaty, Shymkent, Aktau, Aktobe, Karaganda, Ust-Kamenogorsk, Pavlodar, Kokshetau, Taraz, Petropavlovsk, Semey, Turkestan, Kostanay, and Uralsk. Introduced in 2022, the policy has been extended through the end of 2027.

Karabaev noted that the increased presence of low-cost airlines is fostering greater competition within the domestic aviation market.

He also addressed the development plans of VietJet Kazakhstan, formerly known as Qazaq Air. The airline, now under the ownership of Vietnam’s SOVICO Group, aims to expand its operations beyond Vietnam by launching additional routes between Kazakhstan and neighboring Russia.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, SOVICO Group is also considering the acquisition or management of an airport in Kazakhstan. Currently, VietJet Kazakhstan operates 14 domestic routes, four of which receive state subsidies, and four international destinations. The airline has reportedly been offered an option to manage an airport in the Kyzylorda region.