19 Jun 2024

@24.kg

Central Asia, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Kyrgyzstan to Take Chinese Loan to Build Railroad

Kyrgyzstan intends to take a loan from China to construct the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad. Azamat Sakiyev, the General Director of Kyrgyz Temir Jolu NC, stated at the Parliamentary Committee on Transport, Communications, Architecture, and Construction meeting, 24.kg has reported.

The Speaker noted that the feasibility study for the project has already been developed, and the agreement amounts to $4 billion 700 million.
“According to the agreement, 51% of the costs will be covered by the People’s Republic of China, and the Kyrgyz and Uzbek sides will assume 24.5% each,” Sakiyev said.

“Where will we find $1 billion?” MP Baktybek Sydykov asked, to which Sakiev replied that the Kyrgyz Republic intends to borrow money from Chinese banks.

Sakiyev specified that the Chinese side would lend the joint venture half of the total project cost—$2 billion 350 million—and the parties would cover the other $2 billion 350 million at their own expense. As a result, Kyrgyzstan’s share will amount to $783 million.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railroad is a projected 454-kilometer railroad designed to connect the railroads of China and Uzbekistan through the territory of Kyrgyzstan and further through Turkmenistan, Iran, and Turkey, to connect with the European railroad network within the framework of the New Silk Road transport system. Previously, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov had said the construction would cost between $3 and $5 billion.

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Times of Central Asia

Askar Alimzhanov graduated from the journalism department of the Kazakh State University named after S. Kirov, then worked as a correspondent for the daily republican newspaper Leninskaya Smen. He then moved to the United States to be a reporter for the daily newspaper "Cape Cod Times" in Hayanis, Massachusetts, (USA) under the journalist exchange program between the Union of Journalists of the USSR and the New England Society of News Editors. Since then, he has helped build transparency and understanding of Central Asia region in various executive level positions at esteemed media organizations including "Akbar"(Alma-Ata) international center for journalism, the Khabar News agency, the Television and Radio Corporation "Kazakhstan" JSC, and MIR- Kazakhstan.

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19 Jun 2024

photo:gov.kg

Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Kyrgyzstan Promotes Investment in Mineral Resources

On June 19, Bishkek hosted the 10th mining and geological forum “MINEX Central Asia” with the participation of over 100 companies from 22 countries of Central Asia, Europe, China, North America, and the Middle East.

Addressing the forum, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov reported that 95% of the territory of Kyrgyzstan consists of mountains, the depths of which are rich in minerals, not only gold and coal, but also iron (one section of one deposit alone, contains over 5 billion tons of ore), titanium, and high in demand rare earth metals such as europium, zirconium, cesium, and group of lanthanides.

Citing examples, the prime minister said that the predicted reserves of titanomagnetite in just one area of ​​the Kyzyl-Ompol deposit, amount to some 20 million tons, and the reserves of rare earth metals, including more than 21 elements, at Kutessay-2 deposit, to around 60 thousand tons.

“These reserves were recorded more than 50 years ago, and there is an opinion among authoritative geologists and scientists that these figures could increase significantly following more detailed geological exploration using new technological solutions. We invite partners to engage in joint geological exploration and are seeking investors in this promising sector of the economy – mining,” explained Japarov.

Regarding Kyrgyzstan’s current climate, which ultimately determines its attraction to investors, he stated:

“Political stability has been achieved through the improvement of our country’s economic situation. We have achieved a sharp reduction in the shadow economy, an increase in tax revenues and customs duties and, accordingly, an increase in wages for teachers, medical doctors, cultural workers, an increase in the [economic] activity of impoverished citizens, and a tough fight against corruption and crime. As a result, 82% of the population supports the course set by the country’s leadership, headed by the President; a fact substantiated by the International Republican Institute (IRI).”

In conclusion, he remarked,  “Our people are experiencing improvements across the board – and after- three revolutions, we are focused on creating a better economy for our country.”

 

Times of Central Asia

Times of Central Asia

Laura Hamilton MA, is the former Director of the Collins Gallery at the University of Strathclyde. She first visited Kyrgyzstan in 2011 to research and curate a major exhibition of contemporary textiles and fashion. Since 2012, she has worked as an editor on over thirty translations of Central Asian novels and collections of short stories. In more recent years, her work has focused on editing translations of Kyrgyzstan's great epics -'Ak Moor', Saiykal', Janysh Baiysh', 'Oljobai and Kishimjan', 'Dariyka', 'Semetey' and 'Er Toshtuk' for The Institute of Kyrgyz Language and Literature, and the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University.

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19 Jun 2024

@mchs.gov.kg

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

One Dead in Mudflows in Southern Kyrgyzstan

Mudflows in Kyrgyzstan’s southern Jalal-Abad region have forced 300 families to evacuate their homes, and a 10-year-old child has died, the country’s Ministry of Emergency Situations reports.

On June 18th, after heavy rain, a mudflow descended in several villages, flooding over 50 buildings. According to the Ministry, police, doctors, and civil protection officers are working to repair the damage from the disaster.

Deputy Minister for Emergency Situations Edelbek Kulmatov said that the Kochkor-Ata water basin is 15-20 kilometers from the affected villages. “Water accumulates, and the stream rushes down the mountain hollow, traveling over 20 kilometers. Unfortunately, some cowsheds and families live 16 kilometers away from the settlement. The mudflow carried away a 10-year-old child, who died,” Kulmatov said.

During the day, rescuers used heavy special equipment to clear 16 households from mudflows. Flooded internal roads were also cleared and put back into operation. Doctors are on duty at the site to monitor residents’ health. Currently, the Ministry of Emergency Situations employees are conducting disinfection procedures within the two villages in the Jalal-Abad region.

A section of the Bishkek-Osh highway is temporarily blocked due to the mudflows. However, residents of some evacuated houses are returning to their homes despite many buildings still being damaged by flooding.

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Times of Central Asia

Askar Alimzhanov graduated from the journalism department of the Kazakh State University named after S. Kirov, then worked as a correspondent for the daily republican newspaper Leninskaya Smen. He then moved to the United States to be a reporter for the daily newspaper "Cape Cod Times" in Hayanis, Massachusetts, (USA) under the journalist exchange program between the Union of Journalists of the USSR and the New England Society of News Editors. Since then, he has helped build transparency and understanding of Central Asia region in various executive level positions at esteemed media organizations including "Akbar"(Alma-Ata) international center for journalism, the Khabar News agency, the Television and Radio Corporation "Kazakhstan" JSC, and MIR- Kazakhstan.

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19 Jun 2024

photo: KTZ

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Reports Rise in Rail Cargo

Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) reports that from January-May 2024 it transported 102.4 million tons of cargo. Over 34.2 million tons of this cargo were exported by rail.

During the first five months of the year, rail transportation of coal amounted to 40.6 million tons, including 30.3 million tons within the country.

Over the same period, over 3.7 million tons of grain were transported by rail. Exports of oil by rail increased by 9.5% (2.3 million tons), ferrous metals by 5% (1.4 million tons), chemical fertilizers by 12% (over 550,000 tons), iron ore and manganese by 8.4% (4.7 million tons), and construction materials by 9% (142,000 tons).

KTZ also reported that the Caspian port of Aktau handled over 5,100 shipping containers in May 2024, setting its own record for the monthly container handling volume. Over the five months of this year, 15,800 containers were handled, double the volume in the same period in 2023.

“Since the beginning of the year, there has been a high growth in container traffic through the port of Aktau,” said the seaport’s chief dispatcher Vadim Novikov. “Container transit from China along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) accounted for the lion’s share of the traffic, which has grown 10-fold due to the launch of the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an.”

 

 

Times of Central Asia

Times of Central Asia

Laura Hamilton MA, is the former Director of the Collins Gallery at the University of Strathclyde. She first visited Kyrgyzstan in 2011 to research and curate a major exhibition of contemporary textiles and fashion. Since 2012, she has worked as an editor on over thirty translations of Central Asian novels and collections of short stories. In more recent years, her work has focused on editing translations of Kyrgyzstan's great epics -'Ak Moor', Saiykal', Janysh Baiysh', 'Oljobai and Kishimjan', 'Dariyka', 'Semetey' and 'Er Toshtuk' for The Institute of Kyrgyz Language and Literature, and the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University.

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19 Jun 2024

@kokshetau.asia

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

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to Invest in Fiber Optic Cables in Caspian Sea

More than $50 million will be invested by Kazakhstani and Azerbaijani operators in laying fiber optic fiber along the bottom of the Caspian Sea.

Kazakhstan’s minister of digital development Zhaslan Madiev has announced: “Today, a joint venture between Kazakhtelecom JSC (Kazakhstan’s national telecommunications company) and Azertelecom LLC has been established, and a tender to select a contractor for designing and laying an underwater FOCL is being finalized.” The laying of optics on the bottom of the Caspian Sea will total 370 kilometers. “Investments of Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan telecom operators will total more than 23 billion tenges ($50.6 million).”

Madiev also said that introducing 5G mobile communication in Kazakhstan should be completed by the end of 2025. According to him, by the end of 2027 cellular operators will invest almost $1 billion in the country’s telecommunications industry.

The Trans-Caspian fiber-optic communication line (FOCL) project along the Caspian Sea bed is part of the Digital Silk Road project, which envisages the creation of a digital telecommunications corridor between Europe and Asia. Earlier, it was reported that the deadline for the project’s realization was 2025.

Avatar

Times of Central Asia

Askar Alimzhanov graduated from the journalism department of the Kazakh State University named after S. Kirov, then worked as a correspondent for the daily republican newspaper Leninskaya Smen. He then moved to the United States to be a reporter for the daily newspaper "Cape Cod Times" in Hayanis, Massachusetts, (USA) under the journalist exchange program between the Union of Journalists of the USSR and the New England Society of News Editors. Since then, he has helped build transparency and understanding of Central Asia region in various executive level positions at esteemed media organizations including "Akbar"(Alma-Ata) international center for journalism, the Khabar News agency, the Television and Radio Corporation "Kazakhstan" JSC, and MIR- Kazakhstan.

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19 Jun 2024

photo: Kazakhstan Ministry of Water Resources & Irrigation

Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs

Kazakhstan’s Irrigation Water to be Swelled by 560 Million Cubic Meters from Kyrgyzstan

On June 18, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced that during this year’s irrigation season, the country will receive 180 million cubic meters of water from the Shu River and 380 million cubic meters of water from the Talas River from upstream Kyrgyzstan.

As reported by Kazakh Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, the agreement between the two countries was reached during the 33rd meeting of the Shu-Talas Water Commission.

Agreements were also settled on the extent of work required on the repair and reconstruction of water management facilities located on the transboundary Shu and Talas rivers.

Welcoming the decisions, Minister Nurzhigitov commented: “International cooperation is one of our ministry’s key goals. In preparation for the irrigation season, a lot of work has been undertaken to provide farmers in the south of Kazakhstan with necessary volumes of water, and important negotiations have taken place with neighbouring countries. Today’s agreement with the Ministry of Water Resources of Kyrgyzstan to increase water supply along the Shu and Talas rivers, will be implemented from June 21.”

The agreement follows that between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for the supply of 922 million cubic meters of water to the former through the Dostyk interstate canal.

 

 

Times of Central Asia

Times of Central Asia

Laura Hamilton MA, is the former Director of the Collins Gallery at the University of Strathclyde. She first visited Kyrgyzstan in 2011 to research and curate a major exhibition of contemporary textiles and fashion. Since 2012, she has worked as an editor on over thirty translations of Central Asian novels and collections of short stories. In more recent years, her work has focused on editing translations of Kyrgyzstan's great epics -'Ak Moor', Saiykal', Janysh Baiysh', 'Oljobai and Kishimjan', 'Dariyka', 'Semetey' and 'Er Toshtuk' for The Institute of Kyrgyz Language and Literature, and the Kyrgyz-Turkish Manas University.

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