Page 797 – The Times Of Central Asia

05 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan Justice, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Kyrgyzstan Parliamentarian in Brawl with Security Guard

July 5, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

In Bishkek, Chyngyz Azhibayev, a deputy of the Kyrgyz Republic’s Jogorku Kenesh (Parliament), almost ran over an employee of the Asia Mall shopping and entertainment center, after which he got into a fight with him, 24.kg has reported. The incident occurred on June 21, but has only just been acknowledged.

According to a source in law enforcement agencies, at about 3PM, whilst driving his car out of the shopping mall’s parking lot, Azhibayev narrowly avoided hitting a security guard. The deputy then reacted aggressively to the security guard’s remarks, exited his vehicle, and proceeded to start a fight with him. The pair were separated by bystanders, but the deputy then called the police and filed a complaint against the guard.

The press service of the Leninsky district police department said that the call came in at 15:50. Law enforcement officers who arrived on the scene took Azhibayev’s statement, which he later withdrew, meaning the case was terminated.

05 Jul 2024

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan Home

China Seeks to Import 20,000 Tons of Pork from Kazakhstan

July 5, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

Representatives of the Chinese Meat Association visited EMC Agro, one of the largest meat processing enterprises in Kazakhstan, with an interest in importing 20 thousand tons of pork per year.

The Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture reported that during their tour of the facility in North Kazakhstan, the Chinese delegation witnessed the processing cycle from slaughter to packaging.

Fully automated, the process complies with international sanitary and epidemiological standards, with quality control monitored around the clock by a laboratory equipped with German analysers. The produce is then frozen.

Regarding the company’s readiness to supply China with 60% of its produce, EMC Agro head Erzhan Yeleubaev stated, “China has great demands. Supply volumes must be stable and raw materials must be safe. Our meat is of high quality, we have no doubt in our products, and we are ready for fruitful cooperation. The Chinese market is important for us.”

The EMC Agro meat processing plant has a production capacity of 20,000 tons of meat per year and 30 tons of finished meat products per day.

In February 2024, China finally cancelled the ban in place since 2022, on the import of meat imposed by concerns over foot-and-mouth disease in Kazakhstan.

05 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy

Drop in Uzbekistan’s Gold Sales

July 5, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

In April, Uzbekistan’s sales of gold dropped significantly, according to data published by the World Gold Council (WGC).

In the same month, the total gold reserves held by the world’s central banks increased by 33 tons and volumes of purchases and sales amounted 36 tons and 3 tons respectively. The most active buyers of precious metals during the reporting period were the Central Banks of Turkey (8 tons), Kazakhstan (6 tons), and India (6 tons). Meanwhile, the Central Bank of China greatly reduced its gold purchases , while increasing its reserves by 2 tons to 2,264 tons; the lowest figure since November 2022.

A significant decrease in precious metal sales occurred at the expense of Uzbekistan and Jordan, whose reserves decreased by only 1 ton.

In May, the world central banks’ reserves increased by 10 tons, the volume of purchases was 23 tons, and that of sales, totalled 12 tons. During that month, Kazakhstan took the lead in sales of 10 tons of gold.

A previous report, posted by the TCA, provided data for Uzbekistan’s gold exports in February and March.

05 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Education, Turkmenistan Life & Culture, Turkmenistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan

UNDP Launches Course on Gender Issues in Turkmenistan

July 5, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Turkmenportal has reported that the United Nations Development Programme is launching a specialized online course on gender issues for Turkmenistan’s civil servants. The course will cover topics such as basic gender definitions, international standards, gender in public policy, gender analysis tools, local gender stereotypes, strategies for achieving gender equality, national frameworks, the prevention of gender-based violence, and engaging men in efforts to promote gender equality. Training will be offered in English, Russian, and Turkmen, and will include texts, quizzes, presentations, and other content to aimed at providing the necessary knowledge and skills to promote gender equality in the workplace.

The course is expected to provide civil servants with a comprehensive understanding of gender equality concepts and international standards, enhance their ability to integrate gender aspects into public policy, and enable them to actively promote gender-responsible governance.

As Tomica Paovic, the UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan, noted, mainstreaming gender issues and awareness into civil servants’ work is crucial to promoting equality, enhancing policy effectiveness, and ensuring sustainable development. “We are confident that this important initiative, supported by the UNDP’s partner, the Government of Canada, will strengthen the country’s capacity for gender equality and women’s empowerment, in line with the National Action Plans on Human Rights and Gender Equality in Turkmenistan,” Paovic stated.

05 Jul 2024

Central Asia, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Local Politics, International Affairs, Local Politics, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs

Universities of Kazakhstan and China to Cooperate on Microsatellite Launch

July 5, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and the Northwest Polytechnic University of China have agreed to conduct joint scientific research using microsatellites.

According to the press service of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the agreement was reached during talks between the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and Xi Jinping, during the latter’s official visit to Kazakhstan.

The initiative, the first of its kind to be implemented by Kazakh universities, opens up new opportunities for space research, training qualified specialists, and developing joint satellites, as well as enabling remote sensing studies of the Earth via a microsatellite.

Integral to the project, is an aim to develop equipment for gravimetric measurements, including a specialized ground station and a transmitter on the satellite, designed to detect density inhomogeneities in the Earth’s crust and mantle. The employment of such, will help solve fundamental problems in the study of geodynamic processes at great depths.

The North-West Polytechnic University of China is a leader in launching objects into space whilst Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, the only Kazakh university with experience in launching nanosatellites into orbit , has already launched its own Al-Farabi-1 and Al-Farabi-2 nanosatellites.

05 Jul 2024

Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Kyrgyzstan and Switzerland Strengthen Cooperation

October 8, 2024
By Sergey Kwan

On July 3, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov met the Federal Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, Ignazio Cassis in Cholpon-Ata on Lake Issyk-Kul to discuss strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

Switzerland has long conducted an expansive development program in Kyrgyzstan in sectors including economic development, governance, water, and infrastructure.

The Kyrgyz president expressed satisfaction in their fruitful cooperation to date, with specific reference to the joint implementation of a dairy production enterprise in the Issyk-Kul region, as well as the reconstruction of the At-Bashi hydroelectric power plant, to which Switzerland has contributed over 20 million Swiss francs. Looking ahead, he proposed strengthening cooperation in the banking sector and tourism, and promoting the mining agenda.

Japarov stated that in 2023 the volume of bilateral trade exceeded $1 billion and spoke of the need to increase that figure.

On the same day, the Swiss Minister met the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic, Jeenbek Kulubaev. Following discussions on bilateral relations and the positive outcomes of projects supported by Switzerland and implemented in Kyrgyzstan, both parties agreed to intensify collaboration.

As reported by the Embassy of Switzerland in the Kyrgyz Republic, the visit afforded Minister Cassis the opportunity to witness first hand, the progress of Swiss projects implemented in Kyrgyzstan for over $500 million since 1994.

The visit concluded with an evening reception, organized by the Swiss Embassy, to celebrate the Swiss National Day.