Page 620 – The Times Of Central Asia

01 Aug 2024

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

Kyrgyzstan Aims to Achieve GDP of $30 Billion by 2030

August 1, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

The Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Akylbek Japarov, says that Kyrgyzstan aims to be among the world’s top 30 countries in terms of achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

“The main goal is to achieve a GDP of $30 billion in the next six years,” Japarov said on July 31. “This requires maintaining annual nominal GDP growth at 10-12%. According to the World Bank classification, Kyrgyzstan can confidently increase its GDP per capita and join the ranks of upper-middle-income countries by 2030, leaving the category of lower-middle-income countries,” he added.

According to Japarov, Kyrgyzstan’s economic growth demonstrates sustainable development. The average GDP growth rate in 2023 was 7%, and according to the National Statistical Committee, while it was 8.1% in the first half of 2024.

Japarov added that in 2023, Kyrgyzstan crossed a historic milestone, with the country’s GDP reaching an all-time high of $13.9 billion.

He added that inflation in January-June 2024 was 2.4% due to a balanced monetary policy.

31 Jul 2024

healthcare, Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Features, Local Politics, Uzbekistan Home, Features, Uzbekistan Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Uzbekistan: Nationwide Health Checks for Children Reveal Anaemia Worries

July 31, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan’s acting minister of health, Asilbek Khudayarov, has announced that the country recently conducted medical examinations in the majority of its schools and kindergartens.

In the first half of this year, Khudayarov said, 5.7 million of Uzbekistan’s 5.9 million schoolchildren were given check-ups. It was found that 1.3 million of these children (27.9%) were suffering from an illness of some kind. Eighty-one percent could be given simple treatments.

Among kindergarten-age children, 1.3 million of 2 million pupils (63.5%) underwent a medical examination, and 26% of these were diagnosed with an illness.

Khudayarov said that the most common illnesses were blood conditions (28.4% of cases), with anaemia a particularly common ailment. These were followed by problems with the respiratory and digestive systems (6.9% and 5.4% respectively).

Almost 13 million Uzbek citizens – over a third of the population – are under the age of 18.

The acting minister also noted that in recent years, fewer young Uzbeks have been traveling abroad for treatment, because hospitals in Uzbekistan are increasingly equipped with high-tech equipment.

Khudayarov mentioned that presently, in addition to Tashkent, hospitals have high-tech diagnostic equipment in four regions of Uzbekistan: Samarkand, Andijan, Fergana, and Namangan. Citizens in these regions can receive quality treatment without coming to the capital.

31 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Life & Culture, Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Uzbek Female Scientist Awarded Gold Medal at SVIIF 2024

July 31, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

The Silicon Valley International Invention Festival (SVIIF) was held in Santa Clara, California, United States, from July 26 to 28 this year. According to UzA, Parahat Matyakubova, head of the Tashkent State Technical University, an Uzbek woman scientist, participated for the first time.

More than 350 inventors from over 30 countries participated in the SVIIF 2024 festival, exhibiting their inventions and innovative developments in various fields of technology, food, medicine, chemistry, and industry. The Uzbek scientist demonstrated her scientific work and achieved results based on her invention, “Capacitive moisture meter for liquid products and pool materials,” at a competition organized within the festival’s framework, wherein Matyakubova was awarded the Inventor Specialist Special Prize and a gold medal in the SVIIF-2024 Finals category.

The scientist received this award for her patent on a device for controlling the moisture content of grain products and solid dispersion materials. It was reported that the results of the invention were introduced to enterprises processing grain products, and a high level of economic efficiency was achieved due to the expansion of functional capabilities.

31 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Tajikistan Justice, Justice, Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan

Tajik Authorities Seize the Property of Detained Politicians

July 31, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Tajik authorities have seized the property of a recently detained group of prominent political figures, as well as property belonging to their close relatives.

Sources say investigators have seized the bank accounts of ex-Democratic Party chairman and former MP Saidjafar Usmonzoda, ex-Supreme Council chairman Akbarsho Iskandarov, ex-Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi, journalist and Democratic Party deputy chairman Ahmadshokh Komilzoda, Social Democratic Party of Tajikistan deputy chairman Shokirjon Khakimov, and their relatives.

Usmonzoda was detained in Dushanbe on 14 July. Authorities claim that he was planning to overthrow President Emomali Rahmon and his government. It is not clear whether the other political figures were arrested in connection with the same alleged plot.

A ban has been imposed on the sale or lease of residential houses and apartments, dachas, cars, and other movable and immovable property by members of their families.

In addition, relatives of the detainees report being pressured in other ways. One of them, who wished to remain anonymous, reported that he was dismissed from his job at the behest of official bodies.

Tajikistan’s Prosecutor General’s Office, which investigates cases against former political figures, has not provided details because the cases are classified. Relatives of the detainees have not yet been allowed to meet with them in the pre-trial detention center. Most lawyers refuse to defend the detainees and their relatives for fear of repurcussions.

31 Jul 2024

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

China to Invest in Electric Scooter Production in Uzbekistan

July 31, 2024
By Vagit Ismailov

The Chinese company ECOMOTO has announced plans to become a joint producer of electric scooters in the Yangiyul district of Uzbekistan.

A memorandum was signed at a meeting between Odiljon Ataullayev, hokim of Yangiyul district and investors whereby the project will be funded by direct foreign investment of 10 million dollars and create 50 jobs.

The production of modern, competitively-priced electric scooters is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2025.

A metal construction plant, built by the Chinese company Da Fu which recently started operating near Yangiyul, will produce up to 500 tons of products per year.

31 Jul 2024

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

Kazakhstan Reports on Renewable Energy Generation

July 31, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The Kazakh minister for energy, Almasadam Satkaliyev, reported on July 29 that the country produced 60.4 billion kWh in the first half of 2024.

The minister also reported on developing renewable energy sources, which accounted for almost 6.5% of the country’s electricity generation in the first six months of the year.

According to the Ministry of Energy, Kazakhstan has 148 renewable energy facilities with a total capacity of 2,903 MW. These include 59 wind power plants with a total capacity of 1,409 MW; 46 solar power plants with a capacity of 1,222 MW; 40 hydroelectric power plants with a capacity of 269.7 MW; and three biogas power plants with a capacity of 1.7 MW.

In the first half of 2024, these renewable energy facilities generated 3.896 billion kWh of electricity (wind power plants — 2.325 billion kWh; solar power plants — 974.9 million kWh; hydroelectric power plants — 595.3 million kWh; and biogas plants — 0.43 million kWh), or 6.47% of the total electricity production volume.

Satkaliyev also reported that in the first half of 2024, Kazakhstan produced 44.7 million tons of crude oil, 6.78 million tons of petroleum products, and 30.1 billion cubic meters of natural gas.