Page 702 – The Times Of Central Asia

04 Jun 2024

Central Asia, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

UNICEF Donates Vehicles to Distribute Vaccines in Kyrgyzstan

June 17, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and UNICEF have donated 16 vaccine transport vehicles to Kyrgyzstan. The special cars were provided to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Health to increase immunization rates across the country.

The vehicles will help improve the distribution of vaccines from regional to district storage facilities, ensuring their timely availability in remote regions of the country.

“Vaccines against dangerous diseases such as measles, rubella, or pertussis require special storage and transportation conditions to be safe and effective. Therefore, improving this infrastructure directly affects the availability of life-saving vaccines for every child in Kyrgyzstan,” said UNICEF’s acting representative in Kyrgyzstan Cristina Bruggiolo.

Akchabar reports that this is the first batch of 26 vehicles that the ministry will receive. The remaining ten cars will arrive in the country by the end of July.

04 Jun 2024

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

Uzbekistan Set to Maximize Tourism

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On 3 June, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a government meeting to review plans for the forthcoming year to attract 11 million foreign tourists and increase revenue from tourism to $2.5 billion.

It was stated that every dollar currently invested in tourism generates 3-4 dollars for the industry’s future and each new job created in the tourism sector spawns two jobs in related industries.

Officials reported that to encourage growth, procedures for running tourism businesses have been simplified and specialized policing created to ensure the safety of tourists.

Given the year-on-year increase in extreme tourism, Uzbekistan is developing a program to meet demand for access to its wilder regions.

To expand tourism around the country’s natural lakes, a decision was made to auction land for the construction of water parks and other attractions around these scenic shores.

Triggered by the pandemic, the demand for medical and recreational tourism has soared and last year alone, over 60 thousand foreign visitors were treated in Uzbekistan’s sanatoriums and medical institutions. In response and based on practices in South Korea, Turkey, and India, the government has launched a “Medical Hospitality” initiative.

From now on, costs incurred by private clinics for international certification and participation in overseas exhibitions to promote their services, will be covered by the state. In addition, VAT will be refunded on payments made by foreign patients attending Uzbekistan’s clinics.

To maximize its potential, the president recommended the launch of a global advertising campaign to demonstrate to the full, the diversity of Uzbekistan’s tourist industry.

04 Jun 2024

Central Asia, Turkmenistan Justice, Turkmenistan Life & Culture, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Local Politics, Local Politics

Turkmenistan Restricts Women From Obtaining Driving Licenses

June 17, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

It is becoming more and more difficult for women to drive in Turkmenistan, with requirements for obtaining a driver’s license often oppressively strict.

Turkmenistan has restricted women’s rights for many years, including their freedom to drive a car. In 2017 Turkmen police began revoking women’s driving licenses and refusing to issue them with new ones. From the beginning of 2023 women had to be over the age of 41 to learn to drive, and even then driving schools would only accept them if they provided marriage certificates and character references.

It is reported that in the country’s Mary region it is now almost impossible for women to drive a car. Women who already have a license can only renew it when it expires if they have a vehicle registered in their name.

“Often, the cars driven by women are not registered in their name, and they use vehicles registered in the name of their brothers or husbands by power of attorney. Now they have to transfer the cars to their name or buy a new car to get a driver’s license; otherwise, they will not be issued a new document,” Radio Azatlyk wrote. According to local sources, police officers are refusing to issue licenses to women under the age of 35.

One resident added: “You also need a medical certificate from a psychiatric dispensary to renew your license. They are obtained in local medical institutions. The cost of renewing a driver’s license will cost 200 to 400 manats ($57-$114).

Mary residents said using a bribe is the easiest way to solve the problem. “Men can get a driver’s license by paying a bribe of 4,000 manat ($1141), while a woman will have to pay 6,000 to 7,000 manat ($1712 to $1997),” the resident said.

Turkmen officials deny any discrimination against women, and maintain that gender equality is fully respected in the country.

04 Jun 2024

Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan and Turkey Enhance Strategic Partnership

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On June 3, Ankara hosted a symposium on “Uzbek-Turkish Strategic Relations – Comprehensive Perspectives for the Future”.

Aimed to forge conceptual strategies to enhance the partnership between Uzbekistan and Turkey, the event was attended by First Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan Nozimjon Kholmuradov and officials from the Administration of the President of Turkey, heads of various ministries and agencies, as well as prominent political scientists and experts from both nations.

Presentations highlighted the impressive momentum in trade, economic, and investment cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkey. Over the last five years, bilateral trade has surged 1.3-fold, the number of enterprises funded with Turkish capital in Uzbekistan has tripled to 1,898, and the inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) from Turkey has increased ten-fold.

In 2023, 260 new Uzbek-Turkish ventures were established, elevating Turkey to third place in the number of joint ventures in Uzbekistan. The frequency of regular flights connecting the two countries has also grown 2.5-fold to 90 flights per week.

Initiatives by Uzbekistan to further refine its investment climate include a steady six percent annual economic growth, a nine percent reduction in inflation, the drafting of an updated “Law on Investments” in alignment with WTO standards and the deployment of an efficient management system for special economic zones (SEZs). In addition, plans are in place to trim tax rates and the number of taxes, launch an ambitious new privatization program and IPO for shares of major companies, and establish a Tashkent International Arbitration Center.

04 Jun 2024

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Environment, Kazakhstan Life & Culture

Water Levels of Kazakhstan’s Reservoirs Continue to Rise

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On June 3, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced that to date, the country’s reservoirs have collected 75 billion cubic meters of water, 15 billion cubic meters more than last year. Over 12 billion cubic meters of the accumulated water is flood water.

The statement updates statistics cited in an earlier report by Times CA

In total, Kazakhstan’s reservoirs can hold 89 billion cubic meters of water.

Last year the country’s agricultural sector used 14 billion cubic meters of water, and 24.4 billion cubic meters of water were used by other sectors across the country.

Welcoming the news, representative of the ministry Moldir Abdualieva said, “The collection of flood water continues. Since the beginning of the flood situation, 3.3 billion cubic meters of water have been sent to Lake Balkhash, and about 6 billion cubic meters of water have been directed to the Caspian Sea”

04 Jun 2024

Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Chinese to Build Industrial Park and Bonded Warehouses in Kyrgyzstan

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

A memorandum of cooperation has been signed between the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic and the Xinjiang Xing Long Corporation on the establishment of an industrial park in Kyrgyzstan and construction of bonded warehouses in the territories of both countries.

The agreement was made during a visit by the Chinese company to Bishkek where delegates met with Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Nazarbek Malaev.

The Chinese company has constructed innovative industrial parks in the city of Urumqi, Xinjiang, and owns the Xing Long Industrial Park in Urumqi spanning over 300,000 square meters and home to over 200 large and medium-sized companies.

Deputy Minister Malaev welcomed the corporation’s plan to build an industrial park on the territory of Kyrgyzstan and pledged support for its to implementation. He also expressed interest in pursuing joint industrial ventures in Kyrgyzstan.