Page 631 – The Times Of Central Asia

24 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Environment, Home, Tajikistan International Affairs, Tajikistan Business Economy, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Features, Business & Economy, Tajikistan Environment, Features

ADB to Support Climate-Friendly Business Environment in Tajikistan

July 24, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) says it has approved a $50 million policy-based grant for a program that will help the government of Tajikistan foster a climate-responsive business environment and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country.

The program aims to transform Tajikistan’s business environment through digitization, reforms to increase exports, improvement of infrastructure governance, fiscal transparency, and support for climate-friendly SMEs.

Underscoring ADB’s commitment to supporting Tajikistan in its transition to a green economy, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov commented, “By promoting climate-responsive investments and improving the overall business environment, we aim to stimulate economic growth, create green jobs, and enhance the country’s resilience to climate change.”

The program will support reforms subsidizing climate-friendly SMEs, and prioritizing funding for female entrepreneurs. It advances digitization and e-commerce through the Agency for Innovation and Digitization and the approval of the E-Commerce program.

The program will also support enhanced public investment management through assessments to recommend improvements and prioritize climate-focused projects. Fiscal transparency will improve the Ministry of Finance’s capacity to publish government finance statistics. The program will also promote international trade and investment by streamlining trade documentation processes and updating regulatory frameworks for issuing local and green bonds.

24 Jul 2024

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

Kyrgyzstan to Introduce Tourist Tax for Foreign Visitors

July 24, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan’s capital Bishkek plans to introduce a tourist tax for foreign visitors staying in the city.

The Kabar news agency reported that according to the draft resolution submitted by the mayor’s office for public discussion, visitors will be charged 50 KGS (approximately 0.59 dollars) for every day spent in the Bishkek’s hotels, hostels, campsites, guest houses, and holiday lets.

The fee is not included in the cost of accommodation. Instead, operators will be obliged to advise their guests of the charges and collect the fee when they register their stay.

Following the requirements of the Kyrgyz Republic’s tax legislation, cash register machines are mandatory in all types of accommodation and the fee, paid in Kyrgyzstan’s national currency, will be accepted either in cash or by bank card.

24 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Justice, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Kazakhstan Justice, Local Politics, Kazakhstan

Ex-Chairman of Kazakhstan’s KNB Denied Pardon

August 6, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has refused to pardon the ex-head of the National Security Committee (KNB) Karim Massimov, who in 2023 was convicted of treason and the attempted seizure of power. This information was reported to Informburo.kz by the Presidential Administration.

On June 27, the Commission on Pardons considered the petition for Massimov’s pardon under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The Presidential Administration responded to Informburo.kz, stating that “following the results of the study about the possibility of applying an act of pardon to Massimov, the Commission made a corresponding proposal to the Head of State, with which he agreed.”

Karim Massimov was detained during the events of January 2022. The criminal case against him was assigned “top secret”. In late April 2023, a court in Astana sentenced Massimov to 18 years in prison for treason, the attempted violent seizure of power, abuse of power, and abuse of authority.

23 Jul 2024

healthcare, Education, Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Home

Rise in Kyrgyzstan Foster Families

July 24, 2024
By Anton Chipegin

At the beginning of July, records showed that 218 children without parental care were being raised by 110 foster families in Kyrgyzstan; an increase of 29% compared to the previous year.

Active in promoting fostering as a far better alternative to orphanages , the Kyrgyz Ministry of Labor reports, “A foster or adoptive family is a trained family that provides upbringing for children in difficult life situations for a certain period of time, based on a contract with the state.

Citizens between the ages of 30 to 65 are eligible to apply to become foster parents and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their charges, receive specialist training as well as monthly checks by social service employees. Contracted by the state, they also receive an allowance of $80 a month until the orphans come of age.

According to the Ministry of Social Services, “If applicants have one or two children, they can only foster three. If foster parents have no children of their own, they can raise up to five toddlers or teenagers from three to 16 years of age.”

Beneficial on many levels, fostering provides children with both a secure base and opportunities to master a trade, work in agriculture or follow a profession, to enable them to lead independent lives as adults.

23 Jul 2024

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

Foreign Investment in Beverage Production and Bottling Plant, Kazakhstan

October 8, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

On July 22, National Company Kazakh Invest announced its signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Vietnamese-Japanese joint venture LLP Mareven Food Tian Shan for the construction of a beverage production and bottling plant in the Almaty region.

The plant, to be built in stages from 2025-26, will have four production lines with a 70,000 bottles per hour capacity, and an in-house warehouse with space for 15,000 pallets.

A major investor in Almaty region’s food production sector, Mareven Food Tian Shan has so far invested over 35 billion tenge in the country’s economy, creating 690 jobs, 95% of which have been taken by locals.

Emphasizing the importance of the initiative for Kazakhstan’s economy, Yerzhan Yelekeyev, Chairman of the Board of Kazakh Invest, stated: “The investment project for beverage production and bottling in the Almaty region not only contributes to the development of local industry but also creates new jobs, positively impacting the socio-economic development of the region.”

Nguyen Dinh Hien, Deputy General Director of Mareven Food Tian Shan, in turn, expressed his gratitude for Kazakh Invest’s support and announcing the start of the third phase of the project, reiterated that the in addition to supplying the local market, the plant’s products will be exported to other Central Asian countries, Russia, Mongolia, and Afghanistan.

23 Jul 2024

Defense, Central Asia, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Local Politics, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs, Uzbekistan Local Politics

Uzbekistan Launches NATO-Standard Armored Vehicle

July 23, 2024
By Sadokat Jalolova

As reported by Uzbekistan 24, the Uzbekistan Defense Industry Agency has developed a new armored military vehicle, “Arslon,” which is built to NATO standards.

The vehicle, which weighs over 30 tons, can accommodate eight paratroopers and a crew of three. Its front is designed to protect against 30 mm armor-piercing shells. The side armor is capable of repelling 4.5-mm-caliber bullets.

“In creating this armored personnel carrier, the parameters provided by NATO standards were considered. This is a national product created in Uzbekistan in cooperation with enterprises that produce high-quality components,” said Akmal Karimov, a company representative.