20 May 2024

Photo: gov.kg

Central Asia, Home, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Kyrgyzstan and China Aim to Increase Trade

On May 18 in Bishkek, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akylbek Japarov held talks with Vice Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Liu Guozhong.

Emphasizing that China is one of Kyrgyzstan’s main trade and investment partners, Japarov stated that bilateral trade turnover is growing every year and reached $19.8 billion in 2023, an increase of 30% compared to 2022. “But this is not the limit, and the Kyrgyz Republic is ready to jointly make efforts to increase all trade and economic indicators,” he stated.

Japarov stressed the importance of the full and uninterrupted functionality of the Torugart and Irkeshtam checkpoints on the Kyrgyz-Chinese border to further increases in trade between the two countries. According to Japarov, the Kyrgyz side is aiming to develop transport and logistics infrastructure, removing restrictions that impede trade exchanges, and creating mutually beneficial conditions.

“We would like to expand our capabilities and switch to daily and round-the-clock operation of these border checkpoints. I believe this will also be useful for the Chinese side, as it will allow an even larger volume of cargo and goods to be exported from China to Kyrgyzstan, and on to third countries. We are aiming to increase the throughput capacity of the border checkpoints to 1,000 vehicles per day,” the prime minister said.

Kyrgyzstan also expects to sign protocols on new types of agricultural products and simplify procedures for the export of these products from Kyrgyzstan to China.

In turn, Vice Premier Liu Guozhong noted the high level of Kyrgyz-Chinese relations and the readiness to further develop and strengthen mutually beneficial and multifaceted cooperation.

Guozhong stated that construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is of strategic importance for the entire region and urged that its construction start sooner. He also noted the importance of increasing trade turnover, increasing the capacity at border checkpoints, opening the new Bedel border checkpoint this year, and expanding cooperation in tourism.

Guozhong also stated that the Chinese market is open to the import of Kyrgyz agricultural products.

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Times of Central Asia

20 May 2024

ECG Film Festival, image: ECG

Central Asia, Home, Life & Culture

Sixth Eurasia Creative Guild Film Festival to be Held in the U.K.

From May 24-28, Premier Cinemas Romford will host the Eurasia Creative Guild (ECG) Film Festival, in collaboration with the Romford Film Festival for the sixth consecutive year, featuring a diverse line-up of films from across the globe.

Founded by the ECG to foster deeper cultural ties and understanding, the festival will feature 100 submissions from 22 countries, with movies from Spain, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, the U.K., Iran, Uzbekistan, Russia, Cyprus, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Tajikistan, Armenia, and China. In addition to the competition, there will be a program of educational films.

The opening ceremony will feature an exhibition of original work by Central Asian artists, headlined by Rahima Makhmut from Kyrgyzstan, and a presentation by Gulsifat Shakhidi, a renowned writer from Tajikistan, of her latest book.

On May 28, the ECG will present awards for the Best Eurasian Film, Best Short Film, Best Documentary, and Best Screenplay.

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Times of Central Asia

18 May 2024

photo: gov.kg

Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

EU and Partner Banks Upgrade Water Supply in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan

A new water intake facility has been launched in the Cholpon-Ata resort at Kyrgyzstan’s Lake Issyk-Kul thanks to a joint investment of EUR 5.1 million from the European Union, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The opening ceremony on 11 May was attended by the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov.

The European Union’s grant of EUR 3.1 million, combined with an EIB and EBRD investment loan of EUR 2.25 million, funded vital improvements to the city’s water supply system which had not been upgraded since it began operating in 1986.

According to the EU Delegation to the Kyrgyz Republic, by helping eliminate the risk of water-borne diseases, the project has provided over 19,000 citizens of Cholpon-Ata with regular access to safe drinking water and sanitation services.

To date, grants exceeding EUR 100 million from the EU have leveraged EUR 205 million investments to support Kyrgyzstan’s drinking water, solid waste management, and energy services, benefitting over 376,000 citizens in 14 cities and eight villages across the country.

 

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Times of Central Asia

18 May 2024

photo: primeminister.kz

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan and Malaysia Investment Roundtable

On May 17, the second day of his official visit to Kazakhstan, Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim joined Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and representatives of the two countries’ business communities for a Kazakhstan-Malaysian investment roundtable in Astana.

In his welcoming speech, the Kazakh prime minister reiterated that Malaysia is one of the key trade and economic partners of Kazakhstan in Southeast Asia. Over the past year, bilateral trade turnover increased from $150 million to almost $245 million. The goal is to now unlock the existing potential and exceed the pre-pandemic trade figure of $650 million.

Bektenov announced Kazakhstan’s intention to diversify exports to Malaysia and called on Malaysian business to jointly explore new opportunities to strengthen partnerships in services, manufacturing, finance, education, subsoil use, agriculture, and construction. Today, 48 companies with Malaysian capital operate in Kazakhstan and 17 joint investment projects totalling over $410 million are being implemented.

Prime Minister of Malaysia Anwar Ibrahim announced his country’s intention to strengthen cooperation with Kazakhstan in tourism, education, the energy sector, as well as in the supply of Kazakh halal products.

Kazakh and Malaysian businesses agreed to deepen investment ties and explore collaboration in new markets.

Agreements and memoranda totaling more than $350 million were signed on cooperation in attracting investment in Islamic finance and trade development, as well as in food processing, mining, gold processing, and joint production of transformer and automotive oil.

 

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Times of Central Asia

18 May 2024

Image: СЕЙЧАС KG Telegram, May 13

Central Asia, Home, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

Tension Spills Into Streets of Bishkek After Fight Involving Foreigners

Police in riot gear deployed in part of Kyrgyzstan’s capital overnight as large crowds gathered in anger over an alleged fight between local and foreign people which was widely circulated on social media. The Kyrgyz government later reported that 28 people, including three foreigners had been injured in the incident, whilst four foreign citizens were arrested for incitement.

The crowds milled around some intersections of Bishkek for hours before dispersing early Saturday, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs said the situation was stable. Riot police cordoned off areas where the mobs had gathered and negotiated with the protesters in order to head off any further confrontations.

The incident appeared to reflect tension over the presence in Kyrgyzstan of migrants. Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs is taking steps to tighten monitoring and penalties for foreigners who violate immigration laws, Kaktus Media reported.

The fight which led to the wider conflagration happened at a hostel on May 13. Rumors spread on social media, and a video showing Kyrgyz students fighting with medical students from Egypt went viral. People started gathering on Friday night to show their dissatisfaction with what they said was the lax treatment of foreigners involved in the fight. However, police said three foreigners were detained on suspicion of hooliganism, the AKIpress news outlet reported. It said the suspects appeared in a video, apologizing for the fight and saying they would accept their punishment.

“All measures were taken in a timely manner, they were detained, legal measures will be taken against them,” said Azamat Toktonaliev, head of Bishkek´s Internal Affairs Directorate. He told AKIpress that Kyrgyz citizens were invited to testify as witnesses and were not detained.

Kyrgyzstan has expressed concern about the plight of some of its own citizens who travel to Russia in search of employment and have faced official scrutiny and sporadic harassment there.

In the wake of the violence, diplomatic delegations from Pakistan and India have advised their students in Bishkek to stay indoors.

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Times of Central Asia

17 May 2024

Image: A.Chipegin

Central Asia, Environment, Home, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Features, Kyrgyzstan Features

Bishkek Bets on Bikes and Buses

To alleviate congestion and traffic bottlenecks in the capital, the Bishkek Mayor’s Office has green-lit a strategic plan for enhancing the city’s road transport infrastructure over the 2024-2030 period. This initiative, as detailed on the municipal website, encompasses an ambitious range of projects. Highlights include the construction of bridges and new road junctions, the introduction of bike lanes within the road network, the consolidation of dedicated lanes into a coherent system, the expansion of parking facilities including an increase in bicycle parking spaces, and the establishment of transport hubs and park-and-ride lots.

The vision driving these efforts is to significantly reduce car dependency in Bishkek, promoting instead a robust network of public and bicycle transport options. Plans are underway to construct seven park-and-ride facilities around the city’s perimeter, encouraging commuters to opt for public transport upon entering Bishkek.

City officials have consistently advocated for strategies to lower rampant smog levels and congestion, including proposals to limit private car access into the city based on a vehicle’s license plate number.

Furthermore, the Mayor’s Office announced plans to establish at least two advanced transport and transfer hubs at key entry points into Bishkek. These hubs will serve as critical junctions for intercity and regional bus routes, facilitating seamless connections with the city’s public transport system.

By 2030, these initiatives aim to achieve a 20% reduction in car usage within the city and cut congestion by 30%.

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