Page 475 – The Times Of Central Asia

02 Dec 2024

Central Asia, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Launches New Online Marketplace

December 2, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

A new domestic online marketplace, Teez, has commenced operations in Karaganda, the central city of Kazakhstan’s Karaganda region. The platform, offering next-day delivery, has opened pick-up points in 24 cities nationwide.

On November 29, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, visited the marketplace’s main warehouse. Teez co-founder Linar Khusnullin informed the minister that the platform currently operates 40 pick-up points and plans to expand this network to 127. The marketplace offers 50,000 product types, and its customer application has already been downloaded by 170,000 users.

The company’s warehouse spans 25,000 square meters, but by 2030, it aims to expand to a 120,000-square-meter facility. Teez aspires to become Kazakhstan’s leading e-commerce platform.

Shakkaliyev highlighted the rapid growth of e-commerce in Kazakhstan, noting a 20% increase in electronic trade volume from January to October 2024 compared to the same period in 2023. He emphasized that Karaganda, with its central location and developed infrastructure, has the potential to become a vital trade and logistics hub not just for Kazakhstan but for the entire Central Asian region.

The Times of Central Asia reported that in 2023, the volume of e-commerce in Kazakhstan exceeded 2.2 trillion KZT ($4.8 billion), accounting for 13% of all retail trade, a 0.5% increase from the previous year. The country aims to raise its share of e-commerce to 20% by 2030.

02 Dec 2024

Central Asia, Justice, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Uzbekistan Justice, Uzbekistan International Affairs, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Swiss Bank Implicated in Corruption Scheme Linked to Islam Karimov’s Daughter

December 2, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

Swiss bank Banque Lombard Odier & Cie SA faces allegations of violating anti-money laundering regulations concerning funds linked to Gulnara Karimova, the controversial daughter of Uzbekistan’s first president, Islam Karimov. The Swiss Attorney General’s Office revealed that the bank managed nine suspicious accounts tied to Karimova’s organization, the “Office,” despite clear violations of external regulations and internal policies.

A former bank manager was also charged with facilitating the scheme between 2005 and 2012. According to investigators, the “Office” functioned solely as a front to launder funds derived from corruption in Uzbekistan’s telecommunications sector. It reportedly had no legitimate business operations and employed no staff.

The investigation found that the banker deliberately provided false information to obscure Karimova’s role as the ultimate beneficiary of the accounts. The individual is also accused of destroying or concealing documents that could have exposed the illegal origins of the funds. From 2011 to 2012, the banker allegedly allowed unauthorized access to a safe linked to the “Office,” enabling the removal of critical evidence supporting fraudulent transactions.

Gulnara Karimova was once a prominent figure in her father’s administration, known for her roles as a singer, fashion designer, socialite, businesswoman, and diplomat. At one point, she was even considered a potential successor to Islam Karimov. However, by late 2013, her relationship with her father deteriorated, resulting in her political downfall. By 2014, her residence was raided, and she was implicated in a corruption case involving Swedish telecom giant TeliaSonera.

Her legal troubles escalated, with convictions in 2015 for embezzlement, public fund misappropriation, and tax evasion, leading to a five-year sentence. This was extended in 2017, placing her under house arrest alongside her daughter. In 2019, Karimova was moved to a penal colony for violating house arrest conditions. In 2020, she was sentenced to an additional 13 years for crimes including creating a criminal association, extortion, and embezzlement. In September 2023, the Swiss General Prosecutor’s Office filed an indictment against Karimova in the Federal Court. Prosecutors allege that foreign companies seeking entry into Uzbekistan’s telecommunications market were coerced into paying bribes through entities within the “Office” structure.’

Karimova’s legal troubles extend beyond Uzbekistan. British courts have confiscated properties linked to her, valued at over £20 million. The ongoing investigation into her global operations has drawn attention to her role in one of the largest corruption cases in Uzbekistan’s history. This latest scandal has deepened scrutiny of Karimova’s dealings and raised questions about the accountability of financial institutions enabling such schemes.

02 Dec 2024

Central Asia, Silk Road Treasures, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Local Politics, Uzbekistan Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Archaeologists Uncover Rare Silk Road Artifacts in Uzbekistan

December 2, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

A joint archaeological expedition from China and Uzbekistan has made remarkable discoveries at Mengchaktepa, a key Silk Road site located on the northern bank of the Syr Darya River. Known as the “Living Fossil of the Silk Road,” the site has been under investigation by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and Uzbekistan’s Institute of Archaeology since 2012.

The team, led by CASS archaeologist Liu Tao, unearthed seven tombs, two buildings, and numerous artifacts, including silk fabrics, leather goods, bronze mirrors, square-holed coins, and beads. Among the most significant finds are silk fragments, the first such discovery in the region since 1986, which bridges a 40-year gap in the study of ancient silk in the Ferghana Valley. According to Liu, these silk fragments highlight the advanced weaving techniques of antiquity.

Abdulhamidjon Anarbayev, a professor at Uzbekistan’s National Center for Archaeology, praised the Chinese team’s contributions to advancing Uzbekistan’s field archaeology through modern excavation and preservation methods. He noted that the research underscores the high standards of Chinese archaeology globally.

Mengchaktepa holds immense value for studying cultural connections along the Silk Road. Ancient Chinese chronicles from the Qin and Han dynasties (221 BC–220 AD) describe how Zhang Qian, an emissary of the Western Han dynasty, established trade links between China and Central Asia. Through Dayuan, the ancient region corresponding to the modern Ferghana Valley, silk, paper, and Chinese technology reached Europe, while grapes and alfalfa were introduced to China.

Excavations at Mengchaktepa have been ongoing since 1986. Early discoveries included nine cave tombs containing well-preserved remains, silk garments, and jewelry from the 5th to 8th centuries. This year, researchers are focusing on the necropolis’s scope, tomb structures, and their artifacts, with special attention to preserving organic materials like silk, leather, and reeds for laboratory analysis.
Liu explained that the findings provide new insights into the region’s early medieval funerary practices, belief systems, and architectural traditions. Artifacts such as Han-style objects and relics linked to Zoroastrianism affirm Mengchaktepa’s pivotal role in East-West cultural exchanges along the Silk Road.

02 Dec 2024

Central Asia, Home, Justice, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Features, Uzbekistan Justice

Russian Journalist Pivovarov Detained After Filming Cotton Fields in Karakalpakstan

December 2, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

Alexey Pivovarov, a Russian journalist and YouTuber, was detained in Nukus, the capital of the autonomous Uzbek republic of Karakalpakstan. He was questioned by authorities along with the photography team for his project, Redaktsiya (Editorial), and Feride Makhsetova, a journalist from the local news portal Hook. Their arrest was initially reported by Hook.

The journalists were detained “for an interview”, supposedly following a complaint by an unidentified citizen. Authorities confiscated the visual material collected by the team, who, according to Pivovarov on his Telegram channel, had been filming in one of the region’s cotton fields.

The Karakalpakstan branch of the Agency for Information and Mass Communications claimed that the detentions occurred because the journalists were not accredited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Later, Pivovarov, Makhsetova, and their team were released by the Nukus Department of Internal Affairs. They subsequently traveled to Tashkent without the materials they had filmed in Karakalpakstan.

The Russian Embassy in Uzbekistan addressed the incident, stating that it had contacted Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and would provide support to the Russian citizens involved. In a message on his Telegram channel, Pivovarov described the officials in Nukus as “friendly and polite.”

02 Dec 2024

Home, Uzbekistan, Local Politics, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Uzbekistan Joins Global Alliance Against Hunger and Poverty

December 2, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

The Republic of Uzbekistan has officially become a member of the Global Alliance to Combat Hunger and Poverty, marking a significant step toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and enhancing global efforts to improve food security.

This decision reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to addressing pressing challenges related to hunger, poverty, and inequality on a global scale. By joining the alliance, the country gains access to valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange, international investment, and collaboration on joint programs with other nations and organizations.

To date, over 100 countries have joined this initiative.

Earlier, on October 9, the United States announced the delivery of 131 tons of food aid to Uzbekistan through USAID. The package, valued at over $435,000, includes vegetables and legumes intended to support more than 33,000 people across 145 facilities, including tuberculosis centers, orphanages, and psychiatric institutions.

“At USAID, we collaborate with our partners to deliver life-saving food assistance to the most vulnerable communities in Uzbekistan. By addressing malnutrition and ensuring access to adequate, safe, and nutritious food, we empower individuals to lead healthy, productive lives and build a more stable and resilient world for everyone,” said Anjali Kaur, deputy assistant administrator of USAID’s Bureau for Asia.

02 Dec 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Uzbekistan Features, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan Completes Key Step in WTO Accession with China Agreement

July 8, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan has successfully concluded bilateral negotiations with China regarding its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Azizbek Urunov, Special Representative of the President for the WTO, announced this milestone in a LinkedIn post.

“[It was a] very short but productive visit to Beijing! Yesterday, we completed bilateral negotiations on Uzbekistan’s accession to the WTO with the People’s Republic of China,” Urunov wrote. He expressed gratitude to China’s Ministry of Commerce, Deputy Minister Li Fei, Director Li Defeng, and their teams for their cooperation. “[It is] very important at [the] year-end to finish negotiations with the two biggest global trade players – the United States and China. Twenty-two countries are there, a few left!”

The Times of Central Asia reported that this achievement follows Uzbekistan’s recent finalization of WTO accession negotiations with the United States,

Uzbekistan’s WTO accession is a cornerstone of the country’s ongoing economic reforms, which aim to integrate its economy into the global trade system. Johanna Hill, WTO Deputy Director-General, praised Uzbekistan’s progress: “Uzbekistan has been one of the most active acceding governments of late. It has pushed ahead with economic reform in the strategic region of Central Asia, with WTO accession very high on the government’s agenda.”

Hill referenced a WTO report indicating that countries implementing market reforms during WTO accession experience growth rates 1.5% higher than those without such reforms.

With negotiations with major economies like the United States and China now complete, Uzbekistan is edging closer to its goal of WTO membership, a move poised to boost its global trade prospects and economic development.