Page 548 – The Times Of Central Asia

27 Sep 2024

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

Fallout From Assault on Tashkent Schoolboy Reaches Russian Foreign Ministry

September 27, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

On September 23 a teacher at a school in Tashkent’s Chilonzor district slapped a student when the child asked for the Russian language class to be taught in Russian.

The Children’s Ombudsman of Uzbekistan, Surayyo Rahmonova, has begun an investigation into the incident — but not before news of the assault reached Russia.

Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that she was concerned about the content of a video of the slap that was posted on social media. “We have requested official clarification from the Uzbek side,” Zakharova commented. “The Uzbek side is urgently asked to give the media material a legal assessment and, if justified, to take action against the perpetrator of cruel treatment of the child. We are keeping this issue under the closest attention.”

The leader of Uzbekistan’s Milli Tiklanish (National Revival) party and deputy speaker of the lower house of parliament, Alisher Qodirov commented on Telegram that “it would be better for [Russia] to deal with their own affairs [which are] full of problems than to deal with our internal issues. The violation of rights of an Uzbek child at a school in Uzbekistan will be investigated in accordance with Uzbek laws.”

A vocal critic of Russian influence, earlier this year Qodirov proposed a ban on the provision of public services to persons who don’t speak the Uzbek, and the promotion of Soviet ideology and symbols in Uzbekistan.

27 Sep 2024

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan Business Economy, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Features

Central Asian Economies to See Continued Growth in 2024 and 2025

September 27, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

The latest economic outlooks from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) project continued economic growth in the five Central Asian countries in 2024 and 2025.

According to the latest edition of the EBRD’s Regional Economic Prospects report, Kazakhstan’s economy will grow by 4% in 2024, with upside from public spending to restore flood-affected infrastructure and housing. The trade, transport, warehousing, services, and IT sectors were the main growth drivers for Kazakhstan in the first half of the year. The EBRD forecasts that in 2025, the country’s real GDP will likely grow by 5.5% amid the planned expansion of the Tengiz oil field.

The Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Asian Development Outlook (ADO) September 2024 projects 3.6% growth of Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product (GDP) this year, slightly lower than the bank’s previous forecast of 3.8% in April 2024. The reason is a weaker service expansion in the first half of the year, lower oil outputs, massive spring floods, and a slowdown in investment. ADB forecasts Kazakhstan’s economic growth to accelerate to 5.1% in 2025.

The government of Kazakhstan anticipates the country’s economic growth at 5.6% in 2025.

The EBRD report forecasts Kyrgyzstan’s GDP growth to reach 9% in 2024 before moderating slightly to 7% in 2025. The country’s growth potential stems from the expansion of tourism, investment in infrastructure, and gold exports. Both remittances and real wages have remained elevated, helping retail and wholesale trade grow.

ADB projects 6.3% growth for Kyrgyzstan in 2024 and 5.8% in 2025. Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy forecasts economic growth of 6.3% in 2024 and 6% in 2025.

Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Economy, Daniyar Amangeldiev, has explained why the economic forecasts from international financial institutions sometimes differ from those of the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy.

According to Amangeldiev, the forecasts differ because international financial organizations often do not take into account specific measures and actions that the government plans, each of which would potentially impact the country’s economic growth. He added that international forecasts can be skeptical, based on data that may not reflect all the government’s actions.

According to the EBRD report, Tajikistan’s GDP growth is projected to reach 8% in 2024 and 7% in 2025. Hikes in public-sector salaries, pensions, and minimum wages drove domestic demand in the year’s first half, boosting the retail and wholesale trade sectors. The resumption of precious and semi-precious metal exports increased public infrastructure spending, and fixed capital investment was a major growth factor. However, fluctuations in remittances from Tajik labor migrants working in Russia present a significant downside risk for the Tajik economy.

ADB forecasts Tajikistan’s economy to grow 6.5% in 2024 and 2025.

The EBRD report says Turkmenistan’s economy has shown stability in recent years, citing investment in public infrastructure projects, production facilities, and fixed capital investment as key growth factors. Launching a new single window for export-import operations has improved Turkmenistan’s customs efficiency and simplified transit procedures, enabling higher freight turnover. This has led to the expansion of the country’s transportation sector. The EBRD forecasts the national economy to grow 6.3% in 2024 and 2025. The report warns that weaker Chinese growth could negatively impact demand for Turkmen natural gas.

ADB projects Turkmenistan’s growth at 6.5% in 2024 and 6% in 2025.

The EBRD report attributes Uzbekistan’s economic growth to increased remittances and tourist arrivals. It notes the strengthening of the country’s services and industrial production sectors. The EBRD expects Uzbekistan’s economy to expand by 6% in 2024 and 2025 on continued market-oriented reforms and infrastructure investments. However, an energy deficit, which has already led to increased natural gas imports, could pose a challenge and limit growth opportunities.

ADB projects Uzbekistan’s growth to be 6% in 2024 and 6.2% in 2025.

27 Sep 2024

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

Turkmenistan Sees Increase in Number of Bank Cards

September 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

As of September 1, over 5.8 million bank cards were registered in Turkmenistan, indicating a growing interest in cashless payments in the country.

Since the beginning of 2024, the number of cards issued has increased by 4.7%, from 5.562 million in January to 5.823 million in September. There was a slight increase during August and September, with about 38,600 cards added, a 0.67% increase from the previous month.

Looking at the trend of recent years, 5.177 million cards were issued in January 2023, an 8.5% increase from 4.771 million at the beginning of 2022.

The main factor driving this growth is the availability of financial services, as more and more people can use banking products and transition to cashless payments. Government initiatives to digitalize the economy contribute to this process.

27 Sep 2024

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

United States Supports Uzbekistan’s Methane Reduction Efforts

September 27, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

The U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan reports that a joint project between GasGreen Asia LLC, a subsidiary of Maryland-based Climate Compass, and Uzbekistan’s national gas distribution company, Hududgazta’minot JSC, has been engaged in detecting and repairing natural gas leaks within the country’s national gas distribution system. This project contributes to the country’s green economy transition and commitments under the Global Methane Pledge.

Climate Compass, LLC is a world leader in providing logistical and technical services for greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects.
A Korean carbon finance company, Ecoeye Co., Ltd., is the principal investor of the project, which began in March 2023.

Since the project’s inception, over 50,000 individual methane leaks have been identified, measured, and repaired, reducing over seven million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions per year. The project has created more than 200 local jobs, including engineers, data specialists, and project managers, who received intensive training from American technical experts. The repairs have generated tens of millions of dollars in savings for Hududgazta’minot by preventing gas losses and contributing to significant environmental benefits.
At the September 24 event highlighting the project’s significant achievements, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick said: “The United States welcomes Uzbekistan’s commitment to a broad-based transition to a green economy. This project supports Uzbekistan’s efforts to attract foreign direct investment while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”

According to Henick, the United States strongly supported Uzbekistan’s decision to join the Global Methane Pledge in 2022, an initiative to reduce methane emissions worldwide.

Methane reduction is critical to Uzbekistan’s efforts to meet its nationally determined contributions under the Paris Agreement on Climate Change. According to the United Nations Environment Program, methane emissions have accounted for approximately 30 percent of global warming and are an increasingly growing challenge.

According to the “Methane in Central Asia: Emissions, Trends, Actions” report, Uzbekistan’s annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions remained largely stable and declined slightly over the past 15 years, ranging between 180 and 200 million tons of CO2-equivalent or 5 tons per person.

The report says the country’s energy sector is responsible for 75–80 percent of GHG emissions, including 50 percent from fuel combustion and 25–30 percent from methane leaks in the coal, oil, and gas sectors, the equivalent of 50 million tons of CO2. Uzbekistan has successfully decoupled GHG emissions from economic growth and intends to reduce the specific GHG emissions per GDP by 35 percent by 2030 compared to the 2010 level.

27 Sep 2024

Environment, Central Asia, Home, Kazakhstan Environment, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Features, Kazakhstan Featurees

Tigers Return to Kazakhstan: A New Home for Bogdana and Kuma

October 3, 2024
By Aliya Haidar

A pair of Amur tigers from the Netherlands has been brought to Kazakhstan; tigers are not the only animals that Kazakhstan is getting back.

A few days ago, a long-awaited pair of tigers, bred in a special reserve in the Netherlands, arrived in Kazakhstan. Online, some worried that the tigers would not survive in the harsh climate, or would attack livestock and people. According to WWF Netherlands wildlife expert, Geert Poleta, these fears are unfounded.

For several years now, the international NGO, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), together with the Government of Kazakhstan, has been implementing a program to return tigers to Pribalkhashye. The Amur tiger is a relative of the extinct Turanian breed. Historically, the habitat of the Turanian tiger in the country was reed thickets and floodplain forests along the banks of the Ili and Syr Darya rivers. The extermination of the animal began during the time of the Russian Empire, and the last Kazakh tiger was killed in 1948. Decades later, wild cats are returning to Kazakhstan.

As experts point out, this event is an essential step in restoring the ecosystem and lost biodiversity. Bogdana and Kuma, the names of the Amur tigers, flew for more than a day from the Dutch Holy Lion specialized center for predators at the Landgoed Hoenderdaell Zoo to the Ile-Balkhash State Nature Reserve. Permanent caretakers accompanied them.

At the Dutch zoo, “the animals were kept in separate spacious enclosures with minimal contact with visitors,” Gert Polet, a wildlife expert at WWF Netherlands explained. “Thanks to the spacious territory of the center, the tigers had their own area to live in the most natural conditions possible. In the summer of 2024, a Memorandum was signed between the Committee of Forestry and Wildlife of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Dutch center, which provides for the free transfer of two tigers to Kazakhstan for further breeding and the release of their offspring.”

There is no need to fear that the big cats will harm residents in their new and unfamiliar conditions, as they will be kept under strict supervision. “Zoo tigers cannot be returned to the wild. The arriving tigers will never leave the territory of their enclosure. They were brought in for breeding and raising offspring. If the tiger’s birth project is successful, the adults will be moved to another enclosure, located at a center of the reserve which will be open to visitors,” Polet stated. He believes that Bogdana and Kuma have a 60% chance of having cubs.

Tiger cubs born in the enclosure of the Ile-Balkhash reserve will be reared following international standards and protocols. At one and a half to two years old, they will be prepared for release into the wild.

In addition, the new residents of the reserve will be monitored constantly by video and cared for by a dedicated member of staff. “Over the past year, a veterinarian from the Zholbarys Association has been trained in various clinics and zoos in Russia. She also visited the zoo where our tigers were kept. The Kazakhstani specialist underwent a full course of educational training on the care and supervision of tigers. The staff of the animal rehabilitation center shared their extensive experience with her. She was the first to meet Kuma and Bogdana, studied their condition in detail, and familiarized herself with all stages of their care. The veterinarian has the best knowledge of these tigers,” said Polet.

“This is certainly a momentous and historic event – part of an ambitious program by the Government of Kazakhstan, supported by the WWF and UNDP, to restore the Ile-Balkhash River Delta ecosystem and reintroduce tigers to the region. These predators became extinct in Kazakhstan more than 70 years ago, and now the whole world is witnessing this incredible event,” he added.

The relocation of the tigers is an important step not only in terms of returning the big cats to their historical homeland, but also towards restoring a sustainable ecosystem which will benefit both people and nature. This project symbolizes global efforts to conserve biodiversity and maintain an ecological balance.

Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Yerlan Nysanbayev also discussed plans to reintroduce tigers to Kazakhstan. According to Nysanbayev, the WWF is financing the program, and although the pair will not be released, “their resulting offspring will be adapted to the conditions already in the wild. In addition, next year, we expect to receive three or four tigers from Russia.”

In 2018, Kazakhstan created the Ile-Balkhash reserve with an area of more than 415,000 hectares, which will be home not only to wild cats, but to other rare and threatened animals. In 2022, about 50 kulans (Asiatic wild ass) were transported from the Altyn-Emel National Park to the Ile-Balkhash reserve. For their adaptation, the animals were placed in a special enclosure with an area of 22 hectares.

Five Bukhara deer have also previously been brought in. The reintroduction of deer on the reserve began back in 2018, and subsequently, for the first time, five ungulates were released onto the enclosure. Now, their number has increased to more than a hundred individuals. UNDP project expert in Kazakhstan, Aiman Omarbekova has stated that the second stage of the transportation of kulans to the reserve territory will begin this year with 35 animals being delivered.

26 Sep 2024

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

By End of Year, Kyrgyz Authorities Want to Insure All Houses in the Country

September 26, 2024
By Anton Chipegin

The Chairman of the Kyrgyzstan Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, instructed specialized government agencies to ensure the safety of all houses in the country, especially those in mudflow-prone areas.

At the meeting devoted to natural disaster risk management, Japarov assigned specialized government agencies to ensure the safety of all houses in Kyrgyzstan. Thus, according to the head of the Cabinet of Ministers, the authorities will provide financial protection to citizens in case of natural disasters.

This year, powerful mudslides flooded the south of Kyrgyzstan and the Issyk-Kul region. Over 5,000 households, dozens of social facilities, and hundreds of kilometers of roads were damaged.

“Insurance will provide financial protection for citizens in such situations and minimize the consequences for families who lost their homes. Insurance will be an important tool to help people recover faster from natural disasters and reduce the burden on the state budget,” Japarov said.

The head of the Cabinet emphasized that due to global warming, the number of natural disasters will continue to grow. Compulsory home insurance will ensure protection for citizens.

It should be noted that the law on compulsory real estate insurance came into force in Kyrgyzstan on August 26, 2024. According to the law, residents must insure their real estate against fire and natural disasters.

The State Insurance Organization (SIO) explained to The Times of Central Asia that legislative changes would be implemented gradually. The law on compulsory home insurance was first adopted in 2016, but the authorities postponed its implementation. There is no system of fines for lack of such insurance, at least not yet.

“It is not profitable for private firms to engage in home insurance, as the rate is only 0.12%. That is, the cost of insurance is KGS 600 ($8), while payouts can be multi-million: KGS 500,000 ($6,000) for a village and KGS 1 mln ($12,000) for a city. Today in Kyrgyzstan, 143 thousand residences are insured,” the SIO noted.