Page 856 – The Times Of Central Asia

29 May 2024

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

Ten Thousand Hectares of Land in Tajikistan Left Without Water

June 17, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Asia-Plus reports that more than 10,000 hectares of irrigated land in Tajikistan’s Khatlon region have not been irrigated due to the failure of pumping stations. Almost 900 hectares of irrigated land have fallen out of agricultural use.

This situation was criticized by the country’s president, Emomali Rahmon, at a meeting with leaders and civic figures from Khatlon region on May 25 .

At the meeting in Dangara district Rahmon said: “We must increase the production of agriculture and agricultural products year by year, supply the consumer market of our country with food products at any time of the year, and constantly reduce the dependence of our country’s economy on the import of food products.”

He also called on agriculture workers to fill the domestic consumer market with the most necessary goods, organizing its adequate backup, preventing unjustified price increases, establishing continuous operation of all sectors of the national economy, leaders, and responsible persons to approach with serious attitude and high responsibility.

According to Rahmon, 18 pumping stations are not working in the Khatlon region, which has led to the dehydration of more than 5,000 hectares of land.

29 May 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan and Russia Discuss Rearmament of Republic’s Air Defense

June 17, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Russia and Uzbekistan intend to sign an agreement on a program of arms modernization, including aviation, air defense, and ground forces. This was announced by the head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation Dmitry Shugaev, TASS reports.

According to the speaker, the interaction between Russia and Uzbekistan within the framework of military-technical cooperation will touch upon air defense systems.

“On the agenda is the conclusion of an agreement on the rearmament program. In any case, it will affect the air force air defense, and land equipment. A wide enough nomenclature – we will discuss, further develop, and help our colleagues,” the head of FSVTS said.

Earlier, Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree implying the creation of a state commission to equip the Armed Forces of the republic by March 2024.

About 70,000 people serve in the army of Uzbekistan. The army has 28 brigades, 340 T-62, T-64, and T-72 tanks, and 530 armored vehicles (BMPs, APCs, BRDMs, as well as Turkish and Western Cougar, Ejder Yalcin, Maxxpro+, Typhoon). Defense spending has been steadily increasing, estimated at $797 million for the current year. Uzbekistan left the CSTO in 2012, so it relies on assistance not from Russia, but from Turkey and other foreign partners.

29 May 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Local Politics, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan International Affairs

China and Central Asian Countries to Jointly Respond to Emergencies

October 8, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

China and the five Central Asian countries plan to sign a memorandum of understanding to establish a mechanism of cooperation in the field of emergency management, Wang Manda, head of the International Cooperation Department of China’s Ministry of Emergency Management, said at a press conference in Beijing, Xinhua reports. Manda specified that the signing of the memorandum is expected to take place during a ministerial meeting between China and the Central Asian countries on emergency management to be held on May 30 in Urumqi, the administrative center of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

“Both China and the five Central Asian countries, namely Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, are at high risk of natural disasters, including earthquakes, floods, forest, and steppe fires. The upcoming meeting will review cooperation between the two sides in areas such as disaster prevention, damage mitigation, disaster management, industrial safety supervision, and comprehensive rescue work, and put forward new proposals to deepen practical cooperation,” Wang said.

The two sides will also hold drills on emergency responses to accidents at oil and gas pipelines.

Following the first China-Central Asia summit in May 2023, the emergency management agencies of China and the Central Asian states pledged to establish a new platform for regional cooperation and deepen cross-border cooperation in rescue operations. Over the past year, the Chinese side has held several events within the framework of cooperation on emergency management in the “China-Central Asia” format. Among them are forums of high-level think tanks on emergency management, seminars on improving industrial safety, and the exchange of experience in safety risks.

29 May 2024

Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Life & Culture

Largest Amusement Park in Central Asia to be Built in Uzbekistan

June 17, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Plans are afoot to built the largest amusement park in Central Asia in Uzbekistan. The new park will provisionally be named Grand Serai, with the complex including several world-class facilities – a seasonal water park, an amusement park, a hotel, a shopping gallery, restaurants and food courts, and a beach area for recreation.

The Akfa press service has stated on its Telegram channel that the area of the complex will be 28 hectares, 20 of will be are occupied by the water park. The project is currently in the site selection phase, with the garden planned to be built by 2027. Investment in the design and construction of the park exceeds $200 million. The Akfa press service also posted an artists impression of the site on YouTube.

America’s Legacy Entertainment has developed more than 20 attractions for Grand Serai, which will include a nightly acrobatic show involving innovative 3D mapping technologies in coordination with Cirque du Soleil experts. The architectural concept of the park was created based on the history and traditions of Uzbekistan.

29 May 2024

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

Fight Against Corruption Allows Kyrgyzstan to Increase State Budget

September 26, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The head of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, has said that thanks to the fruitful work of the government, “a new era in the financial sector of the Kyrgyz Republic has begun.”

During a conference, which was attended by ministers, deputies, officials of various levels, representatives of the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, and other international organizations, Japarov spoke about the new monetary policy.

According to him, in 2020, the consolidated budget amounted to 247.8 billion KGS ($2.8 billion), whereas in 2024, the budget is estimated at 670 billion KGS ($7.6 billion). In four years, the authorities were able to increase the state budget by almost 400 billion som ($4.5 billion).

“The reason for such achievements was the elimination of corruption. The main disease was the Kumtor deposit. Dividends received from it from 1994 to May 2021 amounted to $100 million. Over the past two and a half years, we have made a profit of $300 million,” Japarov said.

The head of the Cabinet emphasized that Kyrgyzstan’s GDP has reached 1.4 trillion som ($15.9 billion), while at the time of the collapse of the USSR and independence, the republic’s GDP was only 100 million som ($1.1 billion). “The growth of state budget revenues has become a solid basis for the implementation of policies to improve the socioeconomic situation of citizens,” Japarov summarized.

29 May 2024

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Life & Culture

A Welcome Expansion of Kazakhstan’s Invataxi Fleet

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On 28 May, Kazakhstan Transport Minister Marat Karabaev and Astana’s Mayor Zhenis Kasymbek attended a demonstration of advantages afforded to citizens with special physical needs and impaired mobility by vehicles adapted to serve their needs.

Back in 2008, the Saby Charitable Foundation provided 16 Kazakh cities with a fleet of 62 Invataxis. Equipped with wheelchair-friendly hydraulic lifts, the specially adapted minivans have long facilitated travel for adults and children, opened up opportunities for work and study, and contributed towards their social integration.

Since then, the Ministry of Transport in collaboration with local executive bodies, has continued to expand the fleet across Kazakhstan and this year alone, the number of Invataxis operating in the capital has risen by 26 to 145.

A total of 119 Invataxi services with the combined fleet of 760 vehicles currently operate in the country’s regions.