Page 785 – The Times Of Central Asia

09 Apr 2024

Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia, Home, Kazakhstan Supplementary Stories, Kyrgyzstan Supplementary Stories, Kazakhstan

Kyrgyzstan Delivers Humanitarian Aid to Flood-Affected Kazakhstan

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

In response to the devastation caused by Kazakhstan’s unprecedented floods, on April 4, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akylbek Japarov, announced that Kyrgyzstan would reach out a helping hand to its neighbour.

A convoy of 15 trucks carrying 300 tons of humanitarian aid from Kyrgyzstan duly arrived in the city of Aktobe in Kazakhstan on 8 April. Emergency supplies include sunflower oil, sugar, rice, pasta, confectionery, as well as locally-produced mattresses and tents.

As reported by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Emergency Situations, aid will be distributed amongst the four regions of Kazakhstan worst hit by unprecedented spring floods. Three trucks are headed the Kostanay region, 4 to the Aktobe region, 4 to the Ural region, and 4 to the Atyrau region.

In a statement, Japarov recalled that following the explosion at the Bishkek thermal power plant on 2 February, which left the city without hot water and heating for several days, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev sent 2,000 tons of diesel fuel.

Expressing his gratitude for the help offered by Kazakhstan, he explained, “we will also send them humanitarian aid, even if they did not ask.”

09 Apr 2024

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan To Auction Rights For 100 Mineral Deposits

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

At a meeting with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on April 8th, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction Kanat Sharlapayev reported on plans regarding geological prospecting and the use of subsoil.

According to the minister, Kazakhstan is poised to auction rights for subsoil use at 100 solid minerals deposits. Sharlapayev also highlighted a 2.5-fold growth in private investment in geological exploration of solid minerals. With the introduction of the digital platform “E-Qazyna.kz,” auctions are now conducted electronically, resulting in a significant increase in transparency and accessibility.

In a statement, the minister stressed, “Participation in the auctions by major global companies, including Rio Tinto and Fortescue, indicates increasing competition for the opportunity to explore potentially resource-rich, but as yet undeveloped fields in Kazakhstan.”

Major international companies including Arras Minerals, Rio Tinto, IG Kazakhstan, Fortescue, East Star Resources, Pallas Resources, Sarytogan Graphite, and Esan Eczacibasi have now invested at least 41 billion tenge on the excavation of areas amounting to 25 thousand square kilometres.

09 Apr 2024

Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy

Major Industrial and Energy Projects for Uzbekistan

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On April 8th, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended a launch ceremony for the construction of two major industry and energy projects in the Jizzakh region.

The first, in the Gallyaaral district, comprises an industrial zone specializing in metallurgy. Encompassing a customs warehouse and 7 projects worth $500 million, the new zone will manufacture various fittings, steel balls, pipes, automobile bodies, and provide 5,000 jobs.

The second project to be established in the Farish district in collaboration with China Poly Group and China Electric, is a large 500-megawatt solar power plant. With investment of $350 million, the plant will generate 1.1 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity per annum and improve the supply of energy to 450,000 households. The first 200 megawatts will be put into operation later this year.

It was announced at the ceremony that in the coming years, additional thermal, wind and solar power plants with a total capacity of 1,660 megawatts will be built in the Jizzakh region. The new facilities will improve the standard of living of the local population and provide a new impetus to the region’s economic development.

09 Apr 2024

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Bishkek Locals Bemoan Corruption Which Yields Terrible Roads

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Residents of Bishkek are outraged by the condition of roads in the city. In their opinion, every spring the asphalt literally disappears. President Sadyr Japarov has said he shares the citizens’ dissatisfaction. Responding to the criticism, representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Communications said that the presence of potholes and holes on highways is a natural process.

“The situation depends on many factors, including weather and climatic conditions and the intensity of road traffic. The Ministry of Transport and Communications makes every effort to repair and properly maintain the roads of international state and local importance on its balance sheet and tries to fulfill the adopted plan for their construction and maintenance as much as possible, even exceeding this plan,” the press service of the Ministry of Transport said. The ministry stressed that only 19,000 kilometers of roads are on the balance sheet of the Ministry, whilst the quality of the remainder of Kyrgyzstan’s roads is monitored by municipal authorities in cities – and therefore Bishkek residents should complain to the city authorities.

The capital’s municipal services were also criticized by President Japarov, who said in an interview that it was time to change the system of road construction and maintenance completely.

“How did the Ministry of Transport work in road construction for 30 years? If they needed to asphalt a road 100 kilometers long, they attracted private companies, calculated the cost of the work and demanded 10% of that amount from those same companies. Of course, they did not pay this 10% to the ministry, but into their own pockets. And after the private companies completed construction, they gave [more] money in order to put it into operation,” Japarov stated.

The President instructed the government to change the rules: roads should be repaired not by private companies, but by government agencies. The government is now allocating funds to buy its own equipment to help solve the problem of corruption, he said. Consequently, over the past two years, about 300 units of special equipment have been purchased and distributed to the regions. Another 450 special vehicles are expected to be delivered this year. The quality of roads will improve, though not immediately, Japarov said. Finding qualified personnel and strengthening their technical know-how will take time.

“We have not increased funds for asphalting roads. The result is due to the fact that we started to build it ourselves… Of course, there are certain shortcomings in quality. However, as the saying goes, ‘everything has its time,’ and our transport workers will gradually achieve high quality. I think this process will take three to five years,” the President concluded.

This year, the capital’s municipal authorities have barely reacted to the complaints of citizens; roads in Bishkek are being repaired slowly with the arrival of spring. However, after harsh criticism from the head of state, the situation has changed.

Mayor of Bishkek, Aibek Junushaliyev recently went on an inspection to check construction work. “Bishkeksafalt service [has been tasked with] monitoring the quality of asphalt. Otherwise, strict measures will be taken against those responsible for road repair,” threatened the head of the city in comments made during the inspection.

09 Apr 2024

Central Asia, Home, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Local Politics, Local Politics

Turkmenistan Stops Selling Tickets to Russia for Migrant Laborers

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

In a number of regions of Turkmenistan, the sale of air tickets to citizens who have received an official offer to work in Russia has been suspended, according to news portal Turkmen.news. The halting of ticket sales is related to the terrorist attack on the Crocus City Hall near Moscow on March 22 of this year.

Following the attack on March 22, the departure of labor migrants from Turkmenistan to Russia suddenly stopped. Those who have received invitations to work and applied for visas have learned that they cannot purchase tickets for the time being.

Recently, twelve undocumented workers from Turkmenistan, who worked in one of the markets in Domodedovo near Moscow, were arrested. Four were released after being fined, and eight were transferred to a special detention center in the city of Yegoryevsk, Moscow region, for deportation.

According to Chronicles Turkmenistan, there are 47 citizens of Turkmenistan being held at a pre-trial detention center in Vidnoye who are awaiting deportation. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan and the Russian Government has begun discussing the possibility of suspending the issuance of visas for Turkmens for at least one and a half years. An exception will be made only for diplomats and representatives of large businesses, according to a report.

09 Apr 2024

Central Asia, Home, Life & Culture

OCA Magazine Celebrates Fifteenth Anniversary

October 8, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The sole English-language magazine dedicated to Central Asia and the CIS region, since 2009 OCA Magazine has been promoting diplomatic relationships and international partnerships between Eurasia and the global community. With a list of contributors which includes heads of state, ambassadors, ministers, celebrities, academicians, business-people, and others, in 2024 the magazine will celebrate its fifteenth anniversary with both new and special editions, as well as international events bringing together readers, contributors, and partners of the publication.

A special issue, OCA: Creative Industries & Tourism Expertise, has already been published as part of the celebrations, which includes articles about the best tourist experiences, modern projects, and key challenges in the creative economies of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, and more. Written by experts from the U.K., Spain, Russia, and others, the first edition was presented during the OCA Zoom International Conference on “Sustainable Development of the Creative Economy: A New Model for Tourism in Central Asia.”

This conference brought together experts to discuss current issues and trends in tourism development resulting from the volatile global situation. During the session, new opportunities for Eurasian tourism were explored, with Gulchekhra-begim Makhmudova proposing the creation of an edutainment park called SILKROADLAND, and suggesting that video content based on her children’s books about the legends of the Great Silk Road should be produced. Makhmudova noted that while many are familiar with Western cartoon characters, there is a great opportunity to showcase the unique and diverse culture of Central Asia through animation.

Gregory Schafer discussed sustainable cultural tourism and its management, highlighting the significance of preserving cultural authenticity, promoting eco-friendly practices, and exploring gastro-tourism. Irina Kharitonova, meanwhile, addressed the topic of developing the creative economy and related industries, noting that some may not be familiar with terms such as “creative tourism,” and the need to promote better understanding. Artem Klykov, a professor at Silk Road University and SWISS University, highlighted the significance of human capital as the basis for sustainable tourism and the creative economy. “Increasing the competitiveness of tourism requires effective management of human capital,” Klykov stated.

Despite the business-oriented nature of the conference, there was still an opportunity for celebration. Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder of Silk Road Media (U.K.) and publisher of OCA Magazine, congratulated everyone on the fifteenth anniversary and expressed his gratitude to all of the participants.

Later this year, the magazine will see several more special issues and related conferences, such as the 4th OCA Magazine: Education (an opportunity for universities, experts and media representatives to promote education and research opportunities inside the region and abroad), the 5th OCA Magazine: People (featuring 40 interviews with outstanding creative people from Eurasia), the 4th OCA Magazine: North America Edition (a special edition observing the wide range of issues related to Central Asia, the CIS, the U.S. and Canada), and the 1st OCA Magazine: Real Estate (a new opportunity for international investors).

The year’s activities will culminate with the OCA Dialogue Forum, “New Dimensions of International Investment Attractiveness of Eurasia. Global ReFace,” which is scheduled to take place in London in November.