Page 67 – The Times Of Central Asia

11 Feb 2026

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Kazakhstan to Launch AI Fund Backed by National Bank

February 11, 2026
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Kazakhstan will establish a dedicated Artificial Intelligence Fund to finance digital and educational initiatives, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development Zhaslan Madiev announced at an expanded government meeting.

According to Madiev, the fund will be capitalized using resources from the National Bank, with the government currently finalizing its financial and organizational structure. The fund is expected to serve as the main vehicle for identifying and supporting priority AI and digitalization projects, as well as educational programs.

Madiev cited international precedents, noting that leading technological nations allocate between 4% and 6% of GDP to digital development and artificial intelligence over three years. Based on ministry projections, such investments could yield a multiplier effect of 5 to 1, with the potential to contribute up to 1.5% of GDP annually in additional economic growth.

One of the fund’s key focuses will be integrating AI solutions into Kazakhstan’s public and quasi-public sectors. Simultaneously, the country is pursuing international tech partnerships. With presidential backing, Kazakhstan has approved the creation of a joint venture with Chinese artificial intelligence firm 01.AI. Scheduled to launch in March, the venture will operate the National Artificial Intelligence Platform and focus on developing AI agents to enhance public sector decision-making.

01.AI is a startup founded by former Google China CEO Kai-Fu Lee. The company is best known for its open-source language model Yi-34B, positioned as an alternative to ChatGPT.

At the meeting, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized that AI is a foundational pillar of Kazakhstan’s emerging economic model. Anticipated benefits include increased labor productivity, growth in export-oriented industries, higher production of high value-added goods, and deeper integration into global digital networks.

However, Tokayev also cautioned against using insufficient digitalization as a scapegoat for systemic inefficiencies. “Technology should not serve as an excuse for management shortcomings,” he noted.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan joined OpenAI’s “Education for Countries” initiative, aimed at integrating AI tools into national education systems.

11 Feb 2026

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Kazakhstan Targets Raising Wage Share of GDP to 40%

February 11, 2026
By Dmitry Pokidaev

The Kazakh government is preparing a series of measures aimed at accelerating wage growth and increasing the overall wage fund, with the goal of raising its share in the country’s GDP to 40%, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced during an expanded government meeting.

According to government estimates, household incomes are currently growing more slowly than the broader economy and corporate profits, including those generated with state support. At present, wages account for roughly 31% of Kazakhstan’s GDP, a figure considered relatively high by Central Asian standards but still below the levels seen in developed economies, where wage funds typically exceed 40% of GDP.

Kazakhstan’s GDP growth in 2025 reached $20.1 billion in monetary terms, with the economy expanding at an annual rate of 6.5%, according to official data.

To address the income gap, the government is developing a comprehensive package that includes financial, tax, and regulatory incentives for employers to raise wages. The initiative also prioritizes the creation of new, decently paid jobs, upskilling of the workforce, and reducing the financial burden on citizens. Real income growth has been designated a key economic policy priority for 2026.

A complementary role will be played by the upcoming Joint Action Program for 2026-2028, developed by the Cabinet, the financial regulator, and the National Bank. The program aims to stabilize the macroeconomic environment and improve public welfare, setting a target of household income growth at a rate of at least 2-3% above inflation each year.

According to official statistics, the average monthly salary in Kazakhstan stood at approximately $873 by the end of the third quarter of 2025. However, earlier reports indicated that the minimum wage will remain frozen at $172 in 2026, despite prior commitments to increase it.

11 Feb 2026

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Kyrgyzstan’s Crypto Market Generates More Tax Revenue Than Country’s Largest Bazaar

February 11, 2026
By Vagit Ismailov

Kyrgyzstan’s virtual asset market has rapidly become one of the fastest-growing segments of the national economy. In the first nine months of 2025 alone, the country’s cryptocurrency turnover exceeded $7.9 billion, a figure that industry insiders believe could continue to rise substantially.

Kyrgyz law currently permits fully legal cryptocurrency transactions, and the authorities are actively working to enhance regulation and oversight. According to official figures, the total volume of crypto transactions last year surpassed $20.5 billion, generating $22.8 million in tax revenue.

Temir Kazybaev, Chairman of the Association of Virtual Asset Market Participants, told The Times of Central Asia that tax income from crypto turnover has already outpaced revenue collected from the Dordoi bazaar, Kyrgyzstan’s largest commodity trading hub, as well as the total from voluntary patent fees.

“Just over $7.9 million in taxes was collected from the Dordoi bazaar over the year. Patent tax collection totaled $13.6 million. In other words, the entire market and all individuals in Kyrgyzstan working under a patent paid as much tax as was collected from cryptocurrency turnover,” Kazybaev explained.

He noted a significant shift in public perception of the sector.

“A few years ago, most Kyrgyz people saw the crypto market as a scam or a pyramid scheme. That perception is changing. People and businesses now see it as an opportunity. This is in large part because President Sadyr Japarov is personally invested in the topic,” Kazybaev said.

He also highlighted recent developments in the market’s professional infrastructure.

“The development of virtual assets is a critical area. As far as I know, the National Council on Virtual Assets has a dedicated secretariat, and our association is deeply involved in this work. Educational events are being held actively. We are training compliance officers, including those focused on crypto, and we’ve already trained two groups of accountants in crypto asset accounting,” he said.

As of early 2026, more than 200 crypto exchanges and 11 mining companies are officially registered in Kyrgyzstan. The sector received a further boost with the launch of the USDTKG digital asset, a token said to be backed by Kyrgyz gold, which is gradually gaining domestic recognition.

11 Feb 2026

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Kyrgyzstan Plans Full Transition to Water-Saving Irrigation in Issyk-Kul Region

February 11, 2026
By Sergey Kwan

Kyrgyzstan’s government is preparing to fully transition the Issyk-Kul region to water-saving irrigation technologies, offering farmers preferential financing amid growing concerns over falling water levels in the country’s largest lake and key tourist destination.

Speaking in parliament on February 11, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobaev announced that farmers adopting drip or sprinkler irrigation systems will be eligible for low-interest loans at a preferential 2% rate. Lending is expected to begin next month.

Torobaev emphasized the urgency of reducing agricultural water consumption to stabilize inflows into Lake Issyk-Kul. “If we switch to drip irrigation, more water will flow into Issyk-Kul. If we use all the water for agriculture, none of it may reach the lake. Therefore, our goal is to fully transition the Issyk-Kul region to drip and sprinkler irrigation,” he told lawmakers.

Environmental pressure on the Issyk-Kul basin has intensified due to climate change and accelerated glacier retreat. The basin contains 957 glaciers, covering about 560.8 square kilometers, many of which are shrinking rapidly. Although around 120 rivers feed the lake, only about 80 reach it during the summer months due to irrigation withdrawals. Between 1927 and 2003, the lake’s level dropped by 2.75 meters, an effect largely attributed to inefficient water use.

Policy support for conservation has recently been formalized. In December 2025, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the Concept for the Sustainable Development of the Ecological and Economic System of Lake Issyk-Kul through 2030, alongside a detailed action plan prioritizing the adoption of water-saving agricultural technologies.

Under current plans, modern irrigation systems will be installed on 100,000 hectares of farmland across the Issyk-Kul region, potentially redirecting up to 200 million cubic meters of water back into the lake annually.

Nationwide, adoption of water-efficient irrigation remains limited but is accelerating. According to the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, modern irrigation technologies currently cover around 16,000 hectares. The authorities aim to expand that area by 30,000-40,000 hectares each year, targeting 200,000 hectares under water-saving irrigation by 2030.

State-funded installations are also increasing. In 2026, drip and sprinkler systems are scheduled to be deployed on 5,270 hectares. Between 2024 and 2025, such systems were installed on 2,369 hectares, 641 hectares with drip irrigation, and 1,728 hectares with sprinkler systems. Kyrgyzstan currently has approximately 1 million hectares of irrigated agricultural land overall.

11 Feb 2026

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Up to Eighty Persian Leopards Now Roam Turkmenistan

February 11, 2026
By Vagit Ismailov

Between 60 and 80 Caucasian leopards, also known as Persian leopards, currently inhabit Turkmenistan, according to extensive monitoring conducted throughout 2025. The findings confirm not only the stable presence of this rare predator in key ecological zones but also provide encouraging signs of population recovery.

A recent report by Conservation X Labs estimates Turkmenistan’s Persian leopard population at 60-80 individuals. Most breeding activity occurs within protected natural reserves, while border zones serve as critical migration corridors that support the dispersal and genetic diversity of the species.

The Persian leopard is one of the largest leopard subspecies and plays a vital role in maintaining biodiversity in Turkmenistan. The majority of the national population is concentrated along the Kopetdag Mountains, near the border with Iran.

Camera trap data also confirms a significant presence in the Uly-Balkan Range, an area of ecological importance. It supports the potential repopulation of the Garabogazgol region and sustains habitat connectivity with neighboring Kazakhstan. The re-confirmed presence of leopards along the southern coast of Garabogazgol is viewed as a particularly meaningful indicator of the species’ gradual return to its historical range.

In 2025, monitoring efforts were significantly expanded. A wide network of camera traps was deployed across key habitats, providing more accurate and consistent long-term data.

The data confirms that individual leopards have been present in the same territories over multiple years. Notably, a third breeding female has now been recorded in the Uly-Balkan mountains, an important development for the species’ viability.

Conservation X Labs researchers describe the findings as “an important step in the conservation of the species,” citing improvements in habitat quality, sufficient prey availability, and the cumulative impact of long-term conservation efforts.

Despite this progress, the global outlook for the Persian leopard remains fragile. Experts estimate that the total wild population numbers between 750 and 1,044 individuals, including only 450-626 adults. The majority of these leopards live in fragmented and declining habitats across the region. As such, the subspecies is listed as endangered in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Turkmenistan’s leopard population thus serves as a rare example of regional recovery, underscoring the importance of continued monitoring, cross-border cooperation, and sustained habitat protection.

11 Feb 2026

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Kyrgyzstan to Install Electric Vehicle Charging Stations in Key Tourist Region

February 11, 2026
By Sergey Kwan

State-owned Chakan GES OJSC will install 10 electric vehicle (EV) charging stations across the Issyk-Kul region, Kyrgyzstan’s primary tourist destination, and home to Lake Issyk-Kul and the country’s largest mountain ski resort in Karakol.

The initiative is being implemented with support from the Ministry of Energy as part of ongoing efforts to promote environmentally friendly transportation and enhance tourism and transport infrastructure in the region.

The new stations will be located in Karakol, the administrative center of the Issyk-Kul region (2 stations); Cholpon-Ata, the main resort hub (2); Balykchy (2); and the villages of Bokonbaevo (1), Kyzyl-Suu (1), and Tyup (2). All are scheduled to begin operations later this year.

The number of electric vehicles in Kyrgyzstan is steadily rising. According to First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Amangeldiev, more than 200 EVs are imported into the country daily under a VAT exemption scheme.

As a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kyrgyzstan has an annual quota allowing for the duty-free import of up to 15,000 electric vehicles.

Despite this growth, EVs still make up a small share of the national vehicle fleet. According to Minister of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision Meder Mashiev, Kyrgyzstan had over 1.9 million registered vehicles as of early 2026, a 13% increase from 2024. Of these, 972,000 run on gasoline, 339,000 on diesel, 56,900 on gas, and 37,000 are hybrids. Electric vehicles account for just 0.8% of the total, or approximately 15,200 units.

The government is also advancing plans to localize EV assembly as part of its broader strategy to expand eco-friendly transport options and combat air pollution, particularly in cities like Bishkek.

In June 2025, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korean firms EVSIS, NGS, and the Korea Automobile Environment Association. The agreement focuses on developing EV charging infrastructure in Bishkek.

As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, South Korean partners also intend to launch production of EV charging stations in Kyrgyzstan, aiming to establish local manufacturing and create a nationwide charging network across major cities and regions.