Page 76 – The Times Of Central Asia

15 Oct 2025

Central Asia, Home, Kazakhstan, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Home

Legal Imports of Chinese Smartphones Surge in Kazakhstan

October 15, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Mandatory verification of mobile phones imported into Kazakhstan has led to a significant reduction in the shadow market, according to Deputy Minister of Finance Yerzhan Birzhanov. He stated that official imports of many popular Chinese smartphone models have increased 1.5 times and for some models, up to four times.

As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakh authorities introduced a policy in March 2025 requiring telecom operators to check the IMEI codes of smartphones and disable illegally imported devices. This measure applied to all phones brought into the country after March 24.

Parliamentary deputy Ekaterina Smyshlyaeva supported the move, citing that 64% of mobile devices in Kazakhstan were previously brought in through illegal or “gray” channels. In 2024 alone, this led to an estimated loss of nearly 100 billion tenge (approximately $196 million) in unpaid value-added tax (VAT).

The Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry, later reorganized as the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, reported even higher levels of illicit trade. According to its data, around 5 million smartphones were sold in Kazakhstan in 2024, with up to 75% believed to have been imported illegally.

However, there has been no immediate impact in the premium segment. “This was expected, as consumers were awaiting the release of new models from brands like Apple and Samsung. We anticipate growth in legal volumes from these brands as soon as sales data from October becomes available,” Birzhanov added.

Under the new system, all smartphones imported into Kazakhstan after March 2025 are categorized based on their IMEI codes into three lists: white, gray, and black.

The white list includes legally purchased and customs-cleared devices. The gray list comprises phones with suspicious or duplicate IMEI codes; owners of these devices have 30 days to verify their legitimacy. The black list includes stolen or counterfeit devices, which are barred from network access.

In a further step to combat illegal imports, Kazakhstan also introduced personal import limits. As of this year, individuals are permitted to bring in no more than two smartphones and two tablets per year without customs clearance.

15 Oct 2025

Central Asia, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Home

Kyrgyzstan Highlights Water Crisis at FAO’s Rome Water Dialogue

October 15, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kyrgyzstan requires $1.2 billion in investment to resolve drinking water supply issues in 960 villages nationwide, Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry Bakyt Torobayev announced during the Rome Water Dialogue 2025. The event took place at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome.

According to the ministry, Kyrgyzstan has 2,014 villages, but only 796 currently have access to clean drinking water. While pipeline construction is underway in 258 villages, 960 remain without a reliable supply.

“If we don’t invest the necessary funds today, restoring the lost potential tomorrow will cost three times as much. It’s time to give water the same level of attention as oil and gas,” Torobayev told the international forum.

The minister emphasized that the conservation and rational use of water resources is one of the most urgent challenges in Central Asia. Accelerated climate change and population growth are intensifying water shortages and threatening food security across the region.

Torobayev noted that approximately 10 million people in Central Asia still lack access to clean drinking water. He also cited figures showing that 80% of the region’s water infrastructure is outdated, with water losses reaching up to 55%.

He underscored the importance of protecting Kyrgyzstan’s mountain glaciers, which serve as critical water sources for major regional rivers that supply neighboring countries, including Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

Another urgent issue, according to the minister, is the declining water level in Lake Issyk-Kul, a body of water with regional environmental and climatic significance. “The tragic example of the Aral Sea shows that the loss of natural resources can lead to irreversible consequences. Water security is not only an environmental issue but also a matter of national and global sustainable development,” Torobayev warned.

14 Oct 2025

Central Asia, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Home

New Kazakh Fish Processing Plant Exports Aral Fish to Europe

October 14, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

A new fish processing plant has opened in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda region, signaling continued progress in efforts to revive the fishing industry in the Aral Sea basin, once the site of one of the world’s most devastating environmental disasters.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the facility, located in the Aral district, has the capacity to process up to 6,000 tons of fish annually. Outfitted with modern equipment, the plant focuses on producing environmentally sustainable fish products that comply with international quality and safety standards. Its primary export, pike perch fillets, is shipped to markets in Germany, Denmark, and Norway.

Kazakhstan currently operates 72 fish processing plants, 20 of which are licensed to export to the European Union.

The country’s fishing sector has been buoyed by ongoing efforts to restore the Northern Aral Sea. Formed in 1987 during the large-scale desiccation of the original Aral Sea, the northern section has been preserved and partially replenished following the construction of the Kokaral Dam. Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported a record increase in the sea’s water volume.

Rising water levels have expanded the surface area, reduced salinity, and facilitated the return of 22 fish species to the ecosystem. The annual catch in the Northern Aral now reaches approximately 8,000 tons, creating new economic opportunities for local communities.

Kazakhstan’s fishing industry continues to show steady growth. In 2024, the country produced 94,600 tons of fish products, a 7% increase compared to 2023. Of this total, 45,200 tons came from natural water bodies, while 18,200 tons were farmed.

In the same year, Kazakhstan exported 23,400 tons of fish products worth $74.7 million to 21 countries, reflecting rising global demand for sustainable fish from the Aral region.

14 Oct 2025

Home, Environment, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan

European Banks to Allocate up to $1 Billion for Kambarata-1 Hydropower Project in Kyrgyzstan

October 14, 2025
By Anton Chipegin

Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Energy, Taalaibek Ibraev, has signed agreements with European financial institutions to advance the construction of the Kambarata-1 hydropower plant, a flagship regional energy project on the Naryn River. The deals were concluded in Brussels during the Global Gateway Forum, organized by the European Union to mobilize sustainable investment in partner countries.

According to an official EIB statement, the EU and the European Investment Bank (EIB) signed €900 million in memoranda of understanding with Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan to support the project, which aims to strengthen regional energy security and accelerate the green transition in Central Asia. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) also signed parallel agreements with the three governments and is assessing a financing package worth up to €1.3 billion.

At the Brussels forum, Ibraev met with his counterparts from Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan to discuss coordination on implementation, following last year’s intergovernmental agreement establishing the Kambarata-1 project as a trilateral initiative. Under that framework, the countries will cooperate on construction, power-sharing, and environmental safeguards, with additional technical support from the World Bank. The World Bank’s project brief describes Kambarata-1 as a key step toward integrated energy and water management in the region.

The 1,860-megawatt facility – one of the largest planned in Central Asia – will supply clean power domestically and to neighboring markets through regional transmission links. The EIB and EBRD agreements were signed by Minister Ibraev, EIB Global Director General Andrew McDowell, and EBRD Regional Director Hüseyin Özhan. It was reported that each institution has preliminarily earmarked up to $500 million in financing as part of its broader engagement.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during the forum that the EU’s Global Gateway initiative will mobilize more than €400 billion by 2027 to strengthen sustainable infrastructure worldwide, including renewable energy projects in Central Asia. “This is a great opportunity for Europe, and this year, together with our partners, we are turning this demand into real action,” she said.

14 Oct 2025

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Tourism at Kyrgyzstan’s Lake Issyk-Kul Shows Steady Growth

October 14, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Tourism remains a vital sector of Kyrgyzstan’s economy, contributing significantly to regional development and employment. The Issyk-Kul region continues to serve as the country’s premier tourism hub, anchored by Lake Issyk-Kul, its most popular destination for both domestic and international visitors.

According to data from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the 2GIS mapping service, tourism activity in the Issyk-Kul region has tripled over the past six years. By the end of August 2025, which marked the close of the summer resort season, the volume of tourist services along the lake’s shores had increased threefold compared to 2019.

In 2019, the region hosted 627 hotels and guesthouses. By 2025, that number had grown to 1,833. The highest concentration of accommodations is found in Cholpon-Ata (377), the neighboring village of Bosteri (336), the regional capital Karakol (196), and Balykchy (27).

Food service establishments have seen similar growth. The number of cafes and restaurants has nearly tripled from 360 in 2019 to 963 in 2025. Karakol leads with 170 establishments, followed by Cholpon-Ata (157), Bosteri (142), and Balykchy (84).

Nationwide, Kyrgyzstan received over 3.7 million tourists in 2024, a 1.3-fold increase compared to 2023, according to the National Statistical Committee. Of these, 2.4 million were served by the organized tourism sector, including hotels and resorts, while 1.3 million stayed in the unorganized sector, such as guesthouses and private homes.

The Issyk-Kul region accounted for a substantial share of this total. In 2024, approximately 714,000 visitors were accommodated in the organized sector, and over 1.2 million in the unorganized one.

Tourism has become a key driver of small and medium-sized enterprises in the region, generating employment and enhancing the investment climate. In 2024, Kyrgyzstan’s tourism industry attracted more than $11 million in foreign direct investment, with Issyk-Kul playing a central role in that growth.

14 Oct 2025

Home, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Women in Space: Kazakhstan Completes First All-Female SANA-1 Experiment

October 14, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

Kazakhstan has successfully completed its first space research experiment involving an all-female crew. Conducted over ten days in a specialized ground-based module simulating a spacecraft, the SANA-1 project marks a milestone in the country’s space program and underscores the expanding role of women in science and technology.

Kazakhstan’s First Female Crew

In Astana, the results of the SANA-1 scientific experiment, which focused on studying psychophysiological responses to isolation, were officially presented. It is the first time in Kazakhstan’s space research history that a mission was carried out exclusively by female engineers and scientists.

According to the project’s scientific director, Alina Gutoreva, the aim was to study “the cognitive, physiological, and emotional adaptation of humans in a confined space.”

“The crew underwent medical, physiological, and psychological assessments, conducted cognitive and behavioral studies, and tested the capsule’s engineering systems,” Gutoreva explained.

The experiment was timed to coincide with World Space Week (October 4-10), the 2025 theme of which was “Living in Space.”

What the Researchers Studied

The SANA-1 team examined the psychological and physiological effects of isolation, monotony, and stress on human behavior and team dynamics. The data collected is expected to inform the development of stress-resilience training and psychophysiological monitoring systems for future cosmonauts.

The results will feed into Kazakhstan’s national cosmonaut training program and will be presented at global platforms, including Space Days Kazakhstan and meetings of the UN Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS).

Researchers emphasized that female leadership, emotional intelligence, and empathy were critical factors in the crew’s resilience and performance. These findings are expected to contribute to future criteria for selecting and training participants in long-duration space missions, including to the Moon and Mars.

The closing ceremony of the experiment took place on October 10, exactly 34 years after Tokhtar Aubakirov, Kazakhstan’s first cosmonaut, completed his spaceflight. Speaking at the event, Air Force Major General Aubakirov stressed the psychological demands of space missions.

“The most important thing in space is belief in your own strength and responsibility to the team. Without this, it is impossible to complete any mission,” Aubakirov said.

Earlier this month, Danna Karagousova became the first Kazakh woman to travel to space, participating in a suborbital flight aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard spacecraft. The rocket launched from a site in Texas, reaching an altitude of approximately 100 kilometers, the Kármán line, widely recognized as the boundary of space. The flight lasted around 10-12 minutes.