Page 531 – The Times Of Central Asia

11 Oct 2024

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

USAID Delivers Food Aid to Vulnerable Groups in Uzbekistan

October 11, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

On October 9, the United States, through its Agency for International Development (USAID), announced it had sent 131 tons of food aid to Uzbekistan, worth over $435,000. The shipment includes a nutritious mix of vegetables and legumes for distribution to over 33,000 people in 145 facilities, including centers for long-term tuberculosis patients, 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 are empowering individuals to lead healthy, productive lives and building a more stable and resilient world for everyone,” said Anjali Kaur, USAID’s Deputy Assistant Administrator of the Bureau for Asia.

Since 2010, USAID’s International Food Relief Partnership program has provided 1,560 tons of food aid to Uzbekistan, worth about $4.5 million. The donated food will be distributed by the American non-profit organization Resource and Policy Exchange in collaboration with the international charitable foundation Sog’lom Avlod Uchun.

USAID’s International Food Relief Partnership is part of a more extensive U.S. government program called ‘Food for Peace’. Initiated in 1954 by President Dwight Eisenhower, the program illustrates USAID’s commitment to reducing hunger and malnutrition.

In addition to providing food, USAID has allocated $6.1 million to expand educational programs in Uzbekistan.

11 Oct 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Changing Volumes of Gold Mined in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan

October 11, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

According to data issued by the U.S. Geological Service, in 2023, 130 tons of gold were mined in Kazakhstan and 100 tons in Uzbekistan.

Kazakhstan’s volume increased by 15 tons compared to 2022, whilst Uzbekistan’s decreased by 4 tons. Russia produced 310 tons of gold, equivalent to that mined the previous year. Worldwide, 3,600 tons of gold were produced in 2023, 60 tons less than in 2022. The U.S. Geological Survey has yet to release the latest estimate of gold production in Kyrgyzstan but according to data, the country mined 25.3 tons in 2022.

As of September 1, Uzbekistan’s international reserves reached $39.15 billion; a record indicator since data disclosure began in 2018. The National Bank of Kazakhstan counts the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves in February 2024 at $36.1 billion. In 2014, this indicator was at $26.05 billion, meaning that over the past ten years, the volume of gross international reserves has increased by $10 billion (+38.6%).

11 Oct 2024

Central Asia, International Affairs, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Seeks Co-Production Venture with Italy

October 11, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

Following the Kazakh-Italian forum, “Kazakhstan–Italy: Trade and Investment Opportunities on the Way to Kazakhstan,” on October 8 in Milan, the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration reported that discussions had focused on renewable energy, the agro-industrial sector, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and technological innovations, with an emphasis on Kazakhstan’s strategic importance in economic cooperation between Europe and Central Asia.

The event came in the wake of Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev official visit to Italy in January 2024, which marked a significant step in strengthening Kazakh-Italian relations.

The Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliyev noted that Italy is one of Kazakhstan’s key trading partners in the European Union with one of the three largest trade turnovers, and proposed the introduction of “Made with Italy”; a concept aimed to promote products created in collaboration with Italian companies.

Valentino Valentini, Deputy Minister at the Italian Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy supported the notion and stressed that joint projects would stimulate the development of small and medium-sized businesses in both countries.

Essential to the initiative, would be the creation of centers of excellence for the transition to European quality standards in Kazakhstan. To ensure the rapid entry of Kazakh products into the EU and Italian markets, such centers would issue certificates of equivalence of manufactured products to EU regulations.

The forum also discussed prospects in the tourism sector, with Italian Minister of Tourism Daniela Santanke noting the significant potential for the growth of tourist exchange, facilitated by the launch of direct flights between Astana and Milan.

The forum launched Kazakh companies’ first trade and economic mission to Italy, involving over 50 enterprises representing agriculture, oilfield services, textile industry, tourism, and IT sectors.

According to Kazakh statistics, in 2023, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Italy amounted to $16.1 billion, an increase of 7.8% since the previous year, with exports from Kazakhstan reaching $14.8 billion. In January-August 2024, bilateral trade increased by 33% to $13.8 billion, with Kazakh exports rising by 36% to $12.9 billion. Kazakhstan’s main exports to Italy comprise crude oil (+38.1%), coal (309-fold increase), flax seeds ($4.1 million increase), and propylene polymers (71-fold increase).

11 Oct 2024

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

Kyrgyzstan Encourages German Investment in Raw Materials Extraction and Logistics

October 11, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

During a Kyrgyz-German Business Forum in Munich on October 10, Kyrgyzstan’s Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, stated that following the first Kyrgyz-German Business Forum in Hamburg over a year ago, bilateral relations between the two countries had strengthened alongside a mutual interest in deepening cooperation.

Japarov cited the fact that 180 joint Kyrgyz-German enterprises are currently engaged in Kyrgyzstan’s trade, industry, agriculture, tourism, energy, education, and services sectors, and to encourage further German investment and participation in implementing the government’s ambitious economic development plans, invited businesses to attend the ‘Day of German Economy in Kyrgyzstan.’ Scheduled for summer 2025, the event follows three ‘Days of Kyrgyz Economy’ in Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, and Munich.

Addressing the forum, Kyrgyz Minister of Economy and Commerce Daniyar Amangeldiev spoke of Kyrgyzstan’s interest in developing cooperation with Germany on raw materials, with reference to the presence of 100 raw material deposits in Kyrgyzstan. In addition, he proposed that German investors participate in auctions to gain the right to use the subsoil in Kyrgyzstan and develop deposits using modern technologies that comply with environmental standards.

The minister also touched upon the development of transport and logistics infrastructure and invited German companies to collaborate in the development of Kyrgyzstan’s logistics system, stating: “Kyrgyzstan, located in the heart of Central Asia, is ‘landlocked’. At the same time, the Great Silk Road — a trade route between West and East, North and South — has been passing through our country since ancient times. Therefore, our country should rightfully be called ‘land connecting,’”

11 Oct 2024

Cultural Heritage, Silk Road Treasures, Central Asia, Life & Culture, International Affairs

Scientists Attempt to Unlock the Secrets of Turkic Runes in Altai

October 11, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

Russian scientists have started deciphering unique Turkic runic inscriptions in Altai, dating back to the VI-X centuries AD.

Speaking at the International Conference “Mountain Altai – the ancestral home of the Turks,” Alexander Vasiliev, head of the Oriental History Department of the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Russian Academy of Sciences, reported that whilst some 120 such texts have been identified, a significant number has yet to be deciphered due to a lack of “keys”.

According to Vasilyev, problems in evaluating inscriptions arise as a result of the different graphic systems used by Turkic peoples in various historical periods. Hence, researchers face a difficult task in making these texts accessible and determining the exact nature of the archaeological objects found. Historians also note that with the emergence of Mongolian vertical writing, the influence of the Turkic writing system began to weaken.

Previous attempts to decipher these texts using Iranian and Finno-Ugric languages, proved unsuccessful. Assuming that the key to understanding the inscriptions lies in one of the ancient Turkic languages, scientists are now focusing on the Chuvash language, which retains ancient features, or the Kypchak language group.

The decipherment of Turkic runic inscriptions began with the discovery of the famous Orkhon-Yenisei texts in Mongolia in the 19th century. In 1893, Danish scholar Wilhelm Thomsen was the first to successfully decipher these ancient texts using analogies to ancient Turkic words such as “tengri” (sky). These inscriptions, dating from the 7th to 10th centuries, recount the lives of the Turkic kagans and their victories. In addition to the Orkhon texts, significant inscriptions have been found in the Yenisei Valley and the Altai Mountains.

An international conference in Manzherok, in the Altai Republic, brought together scholars to discuss not only the problems of deciphering the Turkic script but also the formation of the Turkic civilization and the history of cultural interaction between the Turks and other peoples, including Slavic cultures.

10 Oct 2024

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

Employees in Uzbekistan to be Rewarded with Company Shares

October 10, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

Uzbekistan is to introduce an initiative to reward employees with shares in companies, under a regulation developed by The National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP).

According to the NAPP, the transfer of shares to employees, as part of additional incentive programs, including bonuses, will help increase employee interest in the company’s sustainable development and improve labor relations.

The main goal of the initiative, modelled on ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) successfully applied in other countries, is to improve the population’s welfare and develop the domestic capital market.
Although joining in the Stock Ownership Plan will be voluntary, its development will be mandatory for joint stock companies with more than 50% state participation.

The presidential decree on capital market development, issued in September 2023, envisioned the implementation of ESOP. Funds of up to one month’s salary used to purchase shares will not be subject to personal income tax.