Page 409 – The Times Of Central Asia

22 Jan 2025

Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan’s Foreign Trade Turnover Grows by 3.8% in 2024

January 22, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover (FTT) reached $65.9 billion in 2024, reflecting an increase of $2.4 billion, or 3.8%, compared to the previous year, according to the Statistics Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Exports totaled $26.95 billion, an 8.4% increase year-on-year, while imports amounted to $38.99 billion, representing a modest rise of 0.8%.

China and Russia remain Uzbekistan’s top trading partners, with Kazakhstan emerging as a key partner in third place. Uzbekistan conducts trade with 198 countries, with China accounting for 18.9% of its FTT, followed by Russia (17.6%), Kazakhstan (6.5%), Turkey (4.5%), and South Korea (3.0%).

Trade with state members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) reached $17.5 billion in 2024. Of this, $5.83 billion came from exports, while imports amounted to $11.66 billion.

In 2024, natural gas trade played a significant role in Uzbekistan’s foreign trade activities. The country exported $628 million worth of gas but imported $1.68 billion worth, more than 2.5 times the value of its exports. Gas imports rose sharply, increasing 2.4 times compared to 2023. Purchases of natural gas from Turkmenistan and Russia surged from $694.9 million in 2023 to $1.68 billion in 2024.

22 Jan 2025

International Affairs, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Mirziyoyev Invites Trump to Visit Uzbekistan

January 22, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has extended his congratulations to Donald Trump on his inauguration as the 47th President of the United States by inviting him to visit Uzbekistan. Mirziyoyev’s press secretary, Sherzod Asadov, made the announcement.

Republican candidate Donald Trump won the November 2024 U.S. presidential election and was sworn into office on January 20, 2025.

In his congratulatory letter, Mirziyoyev expressed confidence that the United States, under Trump’s leadership, would continue to enhance its global influence and prestige. He commended the country’s economic strength and vital role in international affairs.

The letter also highlighted Uzbekistan’s appreciation for the United States’ consistent support of its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. Mirziyoyev voiced optimism for a new era of strategic partnership between the two nations during Trump’s presidency. He stressed the importance of deepening bilateral ties and expanding collaboration through bilateral and multilateral platforms.

President Mirziyoyev also invited Trump to visit Uzbekistan, a gesture aimed at strengthening the relationship between the two countries.

Mirziyoyev visited the United States in 2018 during Trump’s previous term as president. When the two leaders met at the White House, Trump remarked on Uzbekistan’s growing influence: “The authority of Uzbekistan is growing. It’s an honor for us to meet with you in the White House.”

In addition to Uzbekistan, other Central Asian leaders congratulated Trump on his inauguration. Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent a telegram expressing confidence in the continued development of mutually beneficial cooperation between Kazakhstan and the United States, particularly concerning energy, nuclear non-proliferation, and international security.

22 Jan 2025

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

Kazakhstan Aims to Boost Agricultural Exports to Russia

January 22, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kazakhstan is seeking to expand its agricultural exports to Russia as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral trade ties. On January 21, Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov met with his Russian counterpart Oksana Lut in Moscow to discuss lifting restrictions on the import and transit of agricultural products.

Trade turnover in agricultural goods between the two countries reached $3.4 billion from January to November 2024, marking a 4.3% increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

According to Saparov, Russia remains Kazakhstan’s largest trading partner in the agricultural sector. Over the first 11 months of 2024, Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to Russia totaled $502.9 million. “Kazakhstan is interested in increasing the presence of its agricultural products on the Russian market,” Saparov said.

In recent months, both countries have made progress in easing trade restrictions. Kazakhstan has lifted all restrictions on Russian agricultural products, while Russia this month removed temporary bans on tomato imports from 36 Kazakh enterprises. Discussions are ongoing to further relax restrictions on the import and transit of Kazakh livestock and plant products.

The Moscow meeting concluded with the signing of an action plan to enhance Russian-Kazakh agro-industrial cooperation. Key elements of the plan include:

Preparing a joint project to establish an agrobiotechnopark.
Creating a favorable framework for mutual food supplies.
Finalizing the integration of veterinary and phytosanitary control information systems.

These measures are expected to strengthen agricultural trade between the two countries and support the development of new joint projects in the agro-industrial sector.

22 Jan 2025

Kyrgyzstan, Environment, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Kyrgyzstan Begins Construction of a New Solar Power Plant

January 22, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kyrgyzstan has launched the construction of a new solar power plant in the Kemin district of the Chui region, approximately 100 kilometers east of the capital, Bishkek.

The plant will have a capacity of 100 MW and is expected to generate 155 million kWh of electricity annually. According to the government, this will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 140,000 tons and coal consumption by 50,000 tons per year.

At the January 21 groundbreaking ceremony, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev described the project as a significant step toward achieving Kyrgyzstan’s energy independence and advancing sustainable development.

Acknowledging that the country still heavily relies on its Soviet-era hydroelectric power plants for electricity generation, Kasymaliev emphasized Kyrgyzstan’s commitment to adopting modern and environmentally friendly energy solutions.

Kasymaliev also highlighted the country’s growing energy demands, noting that Kyrgyzstan’s population now exceeds 7 million and new large-scale industrial enterprises are being established. He expressed optimism that the new solar power plant would help alleviate electricity shortages, which remain a pressing issue, especially during the winter months.

The chairman extended his gratitude to Chinese partners and investors, particularly those from Shaanxi Province, for their support and contributions to the project.

Kyrgyzstan is actively addressing its energy challenges by investing in a diversified mix of renewable energy initiatives, including solar and wind farms, as well as large hydroelectric power projects.

22 Jan 2025

Business & Economy, Home, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Completes International Visits Ahead of Nuclear Power Plant Construction

January 22, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Kazakhstan has completed a series of international visits to evaluate technologies for its planned nuclear power plant (NPP). On January 21, 2025, a Kazakh delegation led by Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev visited Russia to assess the operations of Generation 3+ nuclear power units at the Leningrad NPP.

During the visit, the delegation examined key components of the plant, including its control systems, turbine hall, laboratory facilities, and cooling system. Particular focus was placed on the VVER-1200 reactor, the flagship project of Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom.

This visit marked the final stage of Kazakhstan’s review process of potential suppliers for the NPP. From October to December 2024, Kazakh specialists also visited South Korea, France, and China. As a result, the final list of candidate suppliers includes Russian Rosatom, Korean KHNP, Chinese CNNC, and French EDF.

While in Russia, the Kazakh delegation also consulted with Leningrad NPP management and visited the satellite town of Sosnovy Bor, a scientific and engineering innovation hub. The Leningrad NPP is Russia’s largest by installed capacity and features two types of reactors: uranium-graphite RBMK and water-water VVER.

“We have completed a series of working visits dedicated to studying advanced nuclear power technologies. Familiarization with the operation of Leningrad NPP allowed us to study in detail the key aspects of operation, the safety of the plant, and its impact on the environment,” Energy Minister Satkaliyev stated.

The final decision on the supplier or consortium to construct the NPP will be made in 2025. This decision will take into account Kazakhstan’s national interests, its international obligations, and recommendations from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Kazakhstan’s first nuclear power plant is set to be built in the village of Ulken on the shores of Lake Balkhash. The project is intended to address the country’s growing power shortages and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Potential partners from China, Russia, South Korea, and France are being considered, and the project is expected to be financed through foreign loans.

22 Jan 2025

Home, Justice, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Kazakhstan Justice, Kazakhstan

Activists in Almaty and Kostanai Fined for Protests Supporting Temirlan Yensebek

January 22, 2025
By Tamila Olzhbaekova

Courts in Almaty and Kostanai have fined activists who held solitary protests supporting detained satirist Temirlan Yensebek. Each activist was ordered to pay 196,600 KZT (approximately $371).

In Almaty, journalist Akmaral Dzhakibayeva was detained by police after staging a protest in front of the State Academic Opera and Ballet Theater. She held a placard reading “Satire is not a crime” for 25 minutes before being taken away by officers. Dzhakibayeva’s protest was not only in support of Yensebek but also dedicated to journalists previously arrested for similar demonstrations.

On the same day in Kostanai, activist Sergey Zinchenko was detained after holding a protest in front of the Kazakh Drama Theater. Like Dzhakibayeva, he displayed a poster with the same message: “Satire is not a crime.”

Temirlan Yensebek, the creator of the satirical platform Qaznews24, was arrested on January 17. The following day, a court ordered him to be held in custody for two months as part of an investigation into charges of “inciting interethnic discord.” This charge carries penalties ranging from fines and restricted freedom to imprisonment of two to seven years.

Previously, journalists Asem Zhapisheva and Ruslan Biketov were also arrested in Almaty for 15 days after participating in solitary protests supporting Yensebek.

Yensebek’s detention has sparked widespread public criticism. Members of the journalistic community and broader society have condemned the actions against him, calling for greater protections for freedom of speech and the right to peaceful protest.