Page 509 – The Times Of Central Asia

27 Feb 2025

Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Environment, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan to Launch Production of 1,000 Sprinkler Irrigation Machines Per Year

February 27, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kazakhstan has begun domestic production of sprinkler irrigation machines under the SU BEREKE brand, with the ADAM Group of Companies manufacturing 30 units in 2024, according to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Sprinkler irrigation systems help distribute water evenly across fields, reducing consumption by 30% to 40%.

This year, ADAM plans to scale up production. By April, the company will open a second plant in East Kazakhstan, increasing output to 1,000 sprinkler machines annually.

The new facility is expected to reduce Kazakhstan’s dependence on imported equipment. Locally manufactured sprinklers will also be exported to neighboring Central Asian countries.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has previously criticized the slow adoption of water-saving practices in Kazakh agriculture, citing annual water losses of up to 40% in some regions. He has set a national target to introduce water-saving technologies on 150,000 hectares of land each year.

To support this initiative, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and the Ministry of Agriculture raised subsidies for farmers investing in water-saving irrigation systems from 50% to 80% in 2023. Additionally, the government increased subsidies for farmers using such technologies, covering 85% of irrigation water costs.

Kazakhstan’s agricultural land spans 23.3 million hectares, of which 1.9 million hectares are irrigated, primarily in the arid southern regions. However, the adoption of water-efficient technologies remains limited. In 2023, only 17% of irrigated land (312,000 hectares) used these systems, with drip irrigation covering just 84,000 hectares.

27 Feb 2025

International Affairs, Home, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Features

Sadyr Japarov Criticizes European Deputies for One-Sided Reports on Kyrgyzstan

February 28, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has criticized European Parliament deputies for what he described as one-sided and subjective reporting on human rights issues in Kyrgyzstan. Speaking at a meeting with members of the European Parliament’s Subcommittee on Human Rights, Japarov expressed regret that EU officials had not sought clarification from the Kyrgyz government before publishing their reports.

European officials have previously raised concerns about criminal cases against independent journalists, particularly those linked to Temirov Live, as well as the prosecution of activists who opposed the transfer of the Kempir-Abad reservoir to Uzbekistan.

Addressing these concerns, Japarov defended his administration’s handling of these cases, stating that the judiciary operated independently and that some accused individuals had been acquitted.

“Two journalists are in custody, probation was applied to two, and seven were acquitted. The courts made their decisions, and we accepted them. When we resolved border issues with Uzbekistan, the so-called ‘Kempir-Abad group’ opposed the agreement, claiming we had given away land. But in reality, 99% of the population saw the deal as beneficial. Only 26 people protested, calling for unrest, and were arrested. But the court later acquitted them, and we did not object,” Japarov said.

He reiterated that freedom of speech and human rights remain key priorities for Kyrgyzstan.

“As an active member of the international community and the UN Human Rights Council, Kyrgyzstan is committed to strengthening democracy, the rule of law, and upholding international obligations,” he stated.

Chairman of the European Parliament’s Human Rights Committee, Mounir Satouri, acknowledged the importance of strategic cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and the EU and expressed readiness for an open dialogue on the issues raised.

27 Feb 2025

Business & Economy, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Turkmenistan Features

Turkmenistan to Supply Gas to Turkey Through Swap Deal Starting March 1

February 28, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Turkmenistan will begin supplying 1.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Turkey on March 1 through a swap agreement, according to Oğuzhan Akyener, President of the Turkish Center for Research on Energy Strategies and Policies (TESPAM). Akyener discussed the deal in an interview with News.Az on February 24.

Under the agreement, Turkmenistan will send gas to Iran, which will then transfer an equivalent amount to Turkey. Iran will consume Turkmen gas in its northeastern regions, freeing up its own supply for Turkey.

Akyener noted that other potential routes for transporting Turkmen gas were considered but faced infrastructure and logistical challenges:

Via Azerbaijan: This would require new pipelines from Turkmenistan to Baku and an expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline (SCPx).
Via Russia: The Western Line (Batı Hattı), which could have been used, is not operational.
Through Turkey’s TurkStream or Blue Stream pipelines: These remain possible alternatives, provided there is available capacity.

Turkey aims to position itself as a major energy hub, Akyener explained. The country has significantly expanded its gas infrastructure, diversified its supply sources, and introduced regulations to allow the re-export of imported gas. According to TESPAM, with the right investments, Turkey could increase gas imports from:

Turkmenistan – up to 65 billion cubic meters
Azerbaijan – 15 billion cubic meters
Kazakhstan – 10 billion cubic meters
Uzbekistan – 15 billion cubic meters
Iraq – 58 billion cubic meters
Eastern Mediterranean – 25 billion cubic meters

These developments could boost Turkey’s annual gas trade capacity to 300 billion cubic meters, further solidifying its role in global energy markets.

Despite holding some of the world’s largest natural gas reserves, Turkmenistan exports only about 40 billion cubic meters of gas per year, with 35-36 billion cubic meters going to China. However, Turkmenistan faces economic risks due to China’s control over pricing, leading it to seek new buyers and diversify exports.

Turkmenistan is exploring options to supply gas to Europe, following Azerbaijan’s model to gain European political support. However, alternative export routes face significant challenges.

One such route is the TAPI Pipeline (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India), a long-planned project that has been delayed due to political and security issues. Ongoing conflicts between Afghanistan and Pakistan, along with tensions between Pakistan and India, have stalled progress. Additionally, China has been accused of using its influence to prevent the pipeline’s completion.

Given these obstacles, Akyener believes Turkey remains the most realistic and viable export destination for Turkmenistan’s gas. Strengthening energy cooperation between the two nations could deepen economic and political ties among Turkic-speaking countries and further integrate them into the global energy market.

27 Feb 2025

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

Uzbekistan and Pakistan Agree to Increase Trade Volume by $2 Billion

February 27, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan and Pakistan have agreed to expand trade, transport, and cultural cooperation, following talks between Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Tashkent on February 26.

During the meeting, both leaders expressed satisfaction with the growing bilateral relationship. In 2024, trade volume between the two countries exceeded $400 million, and the number of joint ventures reached 130. Additionally, direct flights between Tashkent and Lahore have been resumed.

The two sides discussed plans to boost trade to $2 billion and simplify customs procedures under a recently adopted roadmap. Key areas of cooperation include pharmaceuticals, agriculture, mining, and textiles.

Transport connectivity was a major focus of the discussions. Freight traffic through the Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan corridor has increased fivefold in recent years, and the two countries agreed to establish a joint transport and logistics company. They also pledged to advance the Trans-Afghanistan railway project, which aims to enhance regional trade routes.

The two governments also committed to expanding cultural and educational exchanges. Agreements were reached on mutual cultural weeks, tourism development, and cooperation in science, technology, youth policy, and security.

To strengthen long-term cooperation, Uzbekistan and Pakistan will establish a High Council for Strategic Partnership, with its first meeting scheduled for next year.

27 Feb 2025

Business & Economy, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

EDB to Invest in Kazakhstan’s Energy Projects and Polyethylene Plant Construction

February 27, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) will continue financing strategic energy, transport, and industrial projects in Kazakhstan, with a focus on digital technologies and innovation, according to Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board. Podguzov made the announcement during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov on February 26.

The EDB is a multilateral development bank that supports economic and infrastructure projects in its six member states: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.

According to Podguzov, in 2025, the EDB plans to invest in socially significant projects in Kazakhstan, including:

Expansion and modernization of combined heat and power plants in the country’s central and eastern regions.
Construction of a polyethylene plant.
Development of the 545 MW Altyn Dala solar power plant.

In 2024, the EDB allocated nearly $1.4 billion to projects in Kazakhstan, bringing its total investment in the country over the past three years to $3.6 billion. This reflects Kazakhstan’s prominent share in the EDB’s investment portfolio.

Bektenov reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s interest in deepening cooperation with the EDB, particularly in the energy and utilities sectors.

“The Eurasian Development Bank is an important partner for Kazakhstan. Last year, the bank’s investment in our economy grew by nearly 40%, and its loan portfolio in Kazakhstan increased to 63.4% of the bank’s total loan portfolio. We are interested in expanding our cooperation on mutually beneficial terms and unlocking new opportunities in both traditional and emerging areas,” the prime minister stated.

27 Feb 2025

Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Kyrgyzstan Faces Labor Shortages Amid Growing Return Migration

February 27, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

As of February 1, 2025, Kyrgyzstan had 6,305 job vacancies, with the highest demand for blue-collar workers, according to the Ministry of Labor, Social Security, and Migration.

The official unemployment rate currently stands at 1.8%. A total of 69,300 people have sought assistance from the employment service, with 49,800 officially registered as unemployed. Since the beginning of the year, 12,246 citizens have applied for job placement, and 1,283 have successfully secured employment.

To enhance job seekers’ competitiveness in the labor market, the employment service has introduced training programs for in-demand professions. These include computer operation, sales, cooking, cosmetology, hairdressing, manicuring, massage therapy, makeup artistry, translation, accounting, sewing, driving, electric and gas welding, plumbing, and beekeeping.

Over the past three decades, hundreds of thousands of Kyrgyz citizens have migrated abroad for work, primarily to Russia. However, in recent years, return migration has been rising due to Russia’s economic downturn, stricter regulations, and increasing anti-immigrant sentiment toward Central Asians.

In response to this trend, the Kyrgyz government has prioritized establishing new industrial enterprises to create job opportunities for returning labor migrants.