Page 859 – The Times Of Central Asia

14 Feb 2024

Central Asia, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Almaty the Most Popular Tourist Destination in Kazakhstan

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Over 835,000 foreign tourists visited Kazakhstan from January to September 2023, an increase of more than a third compared to the previous year, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan has announced.

The ministry revealed the top five most popular destinations in Kazakhstan among foreign tourists. The country’s largest city, Almaty, was in first place with 410,000 tourists. Almaty and its surroundings attract tourists with ski resorts and beautiful nature. Recently Condé Nast Traveler Italia recommended Shymbulak ski resort as one of the world’s top five ski resorts, and The New York Times included Almaty in its list of 52 places worth visiting in 2024.

Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, was in second place, with 220,000 foreign guests. The Mangistau region on the shores of the Caspian Sea was in third place, with 35,000. The western Atyrau region was in fourth place, with 25,000 tourists, and the country’s third-largest city, Shymkent, was the fifth destination, with over 20,000 visitors.

Nurtas Karipbaev, the chairman of the Tourism Industry Committee at the Ministry of Tourism and Sports of Kazakhstan, commented: “Citizens of 81 countries now enjoy a visa-free entry into Kazakhstan. In the future we plan to increase this figure to 100.”

According to the National Bureau of Statistics, from January to September 2023 the majority of travelers visiting Kazakhstan were from Russia — over 350,000. Chinese tourists were in second place (over 75,000), followed by Turkey (over 40,000), India (almost 35,000), and the USA (almost 30,000).

14 Feb 2024

Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Life & Culture

Kyrgyzstan’s Military Blasts Mountains With Anti-Aircraft Guns for Avalanche Safety

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The country’s hydro-meteorological center recently announced a storm warning, with worsening weather conditions in the mountains and the risk of avalanches. To ensure the safety of citizens, the military, together with rescuers and public utilities, are working to clear snow. Unstable weather is expected for almost all of February, according to forecasts. That means avalanches are to be expected. Kyrgyzstan’s main cities, Bishkek and Osh are connected by a single 620-kilometer highway that passes through picturesque but dangerous mountain passes. It’s here in the Too Ashuu and Ala Bel passes that many accidents occur.

Multiple avalanches have occurred in the past few days, and temporary restrictions on the passage of heavy trucks have been put in place on some sections of the road, whilst other sections are completely closed until the threat is eliminated, according to the Ministry of Transport. Therefore, the military have been deployed.

“Today the task force of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic and artillery of the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic fired on the 247th, 255th and 250th kilometers of the Bishkek-Osh highway. As a result, 23,230 cubic meters of snow were dislodged,” the Kyrgyz Emergencies Ministry said.

According to rescuers, the shelling was delivered by a Soviet-made KC-19 anti-aircraft gun with live fragmentation projectiles. The gun’s range is up to 15 kilometers.

14 Feb 2024

Central Asia, Home, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan

Kozy Korpesh – Bayan Sulu: Kazakhstan’s Valentine’s Day

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

February 14^th may be the international Valentine’s Day which is celebrated all over the world, but Kazakhstan has its own unique day dedicated to love and devotion, Kozy Kөrpesh – Bayan Sulu, which is celebrated on April 15^th. The holiday is centered on a legend from an epic poem from the 13^th-14^th century, which conveys a story of love and strength of spirit.

Sometimes likened to a Kazakh Romeo and Juliet, the story tells of two heroes – a young man named Kozy Korpesh and a girl called Bayan Sulu – who fight against prejudice and confront an unrighteous ruler to be together. Their story symbolizes the power of courage in the face of obstacles.

In honor of the pair, who, according to a folk legend, were buried in a mausoleum near the village of Tansyk in the East Kazakhstan region, a memorial structure was erected which has been included in the list of historical and cultural monuments and under state protection since 1982. Another monument was erected in the city of Ayagoz in 2013.

Each Kazakhstani has his or her own approach to this day. Some, like Valeria from Astana celebrate it with friends. For them, it’s not only a day of love, but an opportunity to remember their culture and traditions. “I learned about this legend back in high school. Now, even though I study abroad, I try to get together with friends to celebrate it. For me, it’s a reminder of my homeland.”

Others, like Sarzhanbek from Almaty, came to appreciate the story later. “The first time I learned about it I was still in school, but I didn’t pay much attention to it,” he told TCA. “However, one day, I went to the theater for a production based on this legend. It was very interesting; it’s amazing how rich the history of Kazakhstan is.”

Alua, a student of the Faculty of Pedagogy from Taraz, told TCA that she thinks events dedicated to Kazakhstan’s Valentine’s Day should be introduced in schools. She believes it is important to preserve and pass on this holiday to younger generations so they can know and respect the traditions of their country. “We should celebrate it, because it’s our traditional holiday,” she told TCA. “Traditions should be remembered and honored.”

13 Feb 2024

Central Asia, Home, Business & Economy

U.S. and Central Asian Countries Launch C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialog

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On February 8th, the U.S. Department of State hosted the inaugural meeting of the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialog (CMD), an initiative announced by Joe Biden and the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan at their C5+1 summit in New York in September 2023.

The C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialog aims to increase the region’s involvement in global critical minerals supply chains, strengthen economic cooperation, and advance the transition to clean energy, while also protecting Central Asia’s unique ecosystems, the U.S. Department of State said.

The United States Under-Secretary for Economic Growth, Energy, and the Environment, Jose W. Fernandez, chaired the CMD meeting, and Assistant Secretary of State for Energy Resources, Geoffrey Pyatt moderated the event, accompanied by Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Central Asian Affairs, John Mark Pommersheim, and colleagues from across the U.S. government who work on critical minerals.

Senior officials from each of the Central Asian governments shared their interest in developing investment opportunities in critical minerals that meet the highest environmental standards.

The participants of the meeting underscored the benefit of working together to advance their countries’ shared critical minerals objectives including diversification of markets and development of technologies.

13 Feb 2024

Kazakhstan Business & Economy, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s Government aims For 6% Economic Growth

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

In January 2024, Kazakhstan’s economic growth was 3.9%, it was announced at a government meeting on February 13th. The country’s new prime minister, Olzhas Bektenov emphasized that the government’s priority task for this year is to ensure growth of no less than 6%.

Bektenov stressed that priority should be given to manufacturing products with high added value, as well as to exporting manufactured products. “Financial support should be provided proportionally depending on the level of technological complexity of production. That is, the more complex the production and the more technologically advanced, the lower the loan rate or the longer the loan term,” the prime minister said.

Bektenov also announced that there will be no increase in the value-added tax rate. “We must look for other ways to replenish budget revenues,” he said.

On February 9th, at the first government meeting after he was appointed Kazakhstan’s prime minister, Bektenov outlined urgent tasks for his new cabinet, emphasizing that state budget expenditures must be clearly prioritized with an emphasis on obtaining full economic returns, and unproductive expenses should be completely excluded.

The prime minister demanded that large industrial enterprises, primarily in the extractive industries, submit specific plans for the creation of new facilities manufacturing products with high added value. He also recommended domestic industrial giants increase the purchases of Kazakh goods, works, and services.

13 Feb 2024

Uzbekistan Environment, Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Features, Features

Uzbekistan’s Lake Julturbas Added to List Of Vital Wetlands

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Lake Julturbas in Uzbekistan’s northwestern Karakalpakstan region has been added to the List of Wetlands of International Importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands – the intergovernmental treaty that governs the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. This was announced on February 12th during the 14th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP14), which is taking place in Samarkand, Uzbekistan this week.

Lake Julturbas was once part of a bay of the Aral Sea, the fourth-largest lake in the world until around 1960, along with the nearby Sudochye Lake System, which is also a Wetland of International Importance.

Since the severe reduction in the Aral Sea area, Lake Julturbas has become an important stopover for many birds migrating along the Central Asian and African-Eurasian flyways. It supports about 25,000 waterbirds annually, and 1% of the regional populations of at least seven bird species, including ferruginous duck, red-crested pochard, and white-headed duck.

There are 15 species of fish, and five of them are endemic to the Aral Sea region, including two critically endangered species – the dwarf sturgeon and the Amu Darya sturgeon. There are also some land animals living around the periphery of the lake, such as the vulnerable goitered gazelle.

Activities such as cattle grazing, reed harvesting, fishing and hunting are allowed for the local communities living around the lake.