Page 701 – The Times Of Central Asia

03 Jun 2024

Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Home, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Life & Culture, Uzbekistan International Affairs

New Flights Launched between the Capitals of Qatar and Uzbekistan

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On 2 June, Qatar Airways’ first scheduled flight from Doha landed at Tashkent Airport.

According to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport, the airline will initially operate four flights a week between Doha and Tashkent before introducing daily flights.

The opening of regular flights will make a significant contribution to the growth of tourism between the two countries as well as benefitting the development of multifaceted cooperation between the Persian Gulf and Central Asia.

In his presentation at the opening ceremony of the new air service at Tashkent International Airport, reported by Novosti Uzbekistana , Marwan Koleilat Senior Vice President, East Asia & South West Pacific at Qatar Airways, stated:

“Tashkent has become a new point in the geography of our route network. We are confident that this new route will not only strengthen ties between Qatar and Uzbekistan, but will also open doors for business, tourism and cultural exchange. Passenger flights on the route Doha-Tashkent-Doha will be carried out four times a week — on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays — on Airbus A320 aircraft. In the future, we are considering both increasing the frequency of flights to Tashkent and launching flights to Bukhara and Samarkand.”

03 Jun 2024

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

New International Terminal Opens at Almaty Airport

October 8, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On June 1, a new international terminal was opened at Almaty Airport in readiness to launch its first flights by the middle of the month.

According to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport, the new terminal will increase the airport’s capacity to 14 million passengers per year and before long, launch 15 new international routes to 10 countries.

On 31 May, prior to the opening, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, accompanied by Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Management Board visited the new terminal for a tour of its check-in, border and customs control areas and baggage services.

The EDB was part of a syndicate of lenders which included the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the German Investment Corporation (DEG). Their total investment in the project amounted to US $450 million.

In praise of the project, Tokayev remarked, “Almaty International Airport is the nation’s largest air hub. Inbound tourism to the southern capital grows every year, with over 2 million people having visited the city in 2023. Two years ago, I participated in the time capsule laying ceremony on this site, and tomorrow the new terminal at Almaty International Airport will serve its first flights.”

With reference to security, Alp Er Tunga Ersoy, President of Almaty International Airport drew attention to the fact that the terminal was designed to meet seismic and fire safety requirements and withstand a magnitude 10 earthquake.

The new international terminal was originally scheduled to open in late summer 2024. However, due to a rapid increase in passenger traffic, construction was expedited. All international flights will be transferred to the new terminal by mid-June and the old terminal, repurposed for domestic flights.

The President of Kazakhstan expressed his gratitude to TAV GROUP for constructing the terminal to international standards and thanked the syndicate of lenders for its vital support.

In response, EDB chairman Podguzov commented, “The construction of a new international terminal and the modernization of Almaty Airport is a significant initiative for the development of Kazakhstan’s transport sector, as it is the country’s largest air hub and part of an extensive international network of routes. We highly appreciate the trust and support of the Government of Kazakhstan and our partners – the EBRD, Germany’s DEG, and the IFC.”

03 Jun 2024

Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Home

U.S. Delivers Cutting-Edge Technology to Kyrgyzstan’s Renewable Energy Sector

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The U.S. government – via the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Power Central Asia activity – has delivered a Light Detection and Ranging unit to Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy.

As reported by the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan, accurate wind measurements provided by the cutting-edge technology will prove invaluable in the development of the country’s renewable energy projects and do much to attract investment.

At the handover ceremony, Minister of Energy Taalaibek Ibrayev commented that the Light Detection and Ranging equipment will not only enhance the effective use of renewable energy sources, but also improve financial forecasts and accelerate the introduction of wind farms and wind energy in Kyrgyzstan.

To support the initiative, the USAID Power Central Asia activity has trained local technical staff in the use of the wind measurement equipment.

USAID/Kyrgyz Republic Mission Director, Kaya Adams, stated: “The Kyrgyz Republic can ensure that all future wind projects will be both strategically located and implemented with the highest precision for maximum efficiency.  This efficiency is crucial for making informed investment decisions that will sustainably shape the country’s energy future.”

The USAID Power Central Asia activity is a five-year, regional energy initiative to improve the performance of Central Asia’s energy sectors by introducing more competitive means of producing clean energy, boosting energy security and resiliency through greater regional connectivity, and expanding cross-border electricity trade.

Since the inception of Power Central Asia in 2020, USAID has leveraged $2.2 billion in clean energy investments and facilitated the installation of 2,241 Megawatts of clean energy capacity across the regions.

01 Jun 2024

Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Environment, Uzbekistan Home, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Life & Culture, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Construction of Gas Chemical Complex, Solar Plant and Airport begins in Bukhara

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On May 31, construction began on three large facilities in Uzbekistan’s Bukhara region.

Officially launched by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the ambitious development comprises a gas chemical complex, a solar power plant, and an international airport.

The gas chemical complex, to be built in the Karakul free economic zone, is the first plant in the country to employ methanol- to- olefins (MTO) technology.

The project aims to attract some $5 billion in investments and advanced technologies from the USA, Germany, Denmark, Austria, Italy, and China. Once completed, the complex will process 1.3 billion cubic meters of natural gas and 430 thousand tons of naphtha per year and manufacture 1.1 million tons of polymer products, in high demand by both domestic and global markets. Two thousand new jobs will be created.

The second facility, a 250-megawatt solar power plant to be built by Masdar from the United Arab Emirates, will be connected to the unified energy grid in December 2025.

The third initiative is a new international airport which will be much welcomed by the ever-increasing volume of foreign tourists visiting Uzbekistan. In 2023 alone, some 1.4 million tourists flew into Bukhara.

Built through private partnership at a cost of $226 million, the airport will have the capacity to process 1.2 thousand passengers per hour. Designed to meet international standards, the airport will both improve the quality of service and help attract more international airlines to Bukhara.

01 Jun 2024

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan and United States Strategic Partnership

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On 31 May, Kazakhstan First Deputy Foreign Minister Akan Rakhmetullin and Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Donald Lu attended the sixth meeting of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue (ESPD) between Kazakhstan and the United States in Washington,

According to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry, summaries were provided on recent collaborative initiatives and views on current bilateral and regional issues were synchronized. Plans were outlined for further development and enhancement of the countries’ strategic partnership, with a special emphasis on aspects of political and economic cooperation, as well as the human dimension.

The participants also discussed projected outcomes of the meeting in the U.S in March, between Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Rakhmetullin drew attention to the alignment of the political and democratic transformations declared by President Tokayev on the main issues on the bilateral agenda. He then highlighted the importance of developing infrastructure projects and transportation routes as key elements of bilateral trade and economic interaction. The parties also discussed cooperation in the fields of energy and critical minerals.

The American side praised the steady progress of the bilateral partnership, with reference to projects launched following the C5+1 Presidential Summit in September 2023.

During their visit, the Kazakh delegation also attended separate meetings with leaders of U.S. Administration, the State Department, the Office of the Trade, and other relevant U.S. agencies.

At a round table event with representatives of American civil society, the Kazakh side gave presentations on innovations in national legislation on the protection of human rights in the country.

The meeting concluded with an agreement to further Kazakhstan – U.S. Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue at a meeting scheduled for 2025 in Astana.

31 May 2024

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

Kyrgyzstan Plans to Export Electricity to Pakistan Next Year

June 17, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Kyrgyzstan’s energy ministry has presented a project to develop the country’s National Energy Program until 2035. As part of this project, both Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan will export electricity to Pakistan next year.

The CASA-1000 (Central Asia – South Asia) program plans to supply electricity to Afghanistan and Pakistan. The Kyrgyz side forecasts that around 1.25 billion kilowatt-hours of summertime electricity will be exported to South Asia in 2025. In summer Kyrgyzstan’s reservoirs are full, and hydroelectric power plants produce a lot of electricity, which has nowhere to go — unlike in winter, when there is an electricity shortage in the country.

At the same time, officials plan to increase electricity production and exports yearly. In 2026 supplies are expected to grow to 1.7 billion kWh. Electricity exports starting from 2028 will average 1.75 billion kWh.

At the beginning of this year Kyrgyzstan signed a joint declaration with Pakistan and Tajikistan to resume the CASA-1000 project. It began constructing high-voltage power lines near the border with Tajikistan, after construction had been halted due to the border conflict between Bishkek and Dushanbe. Power lines were also resumed in Afghanistan, where construction was also stopped after the Taliban came to power.