Page 927 – The Times Of Central Asia

12 Apr 2024

Central Asia, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Business & Economy

People in Turkmenistan Losing Money Due to Bank Glitches

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

According to news portal Turkmen.news, clients of a number of banks in Turkmenistan are inexplicably losing money from their accounts due to technical problems. On April 8-9, Dayhanbank customers discovered deficits of several hundred manat in their accounts. The amounts ranged from about 150 ($88.24) to 800 manat ($470.59). and in some cases their accounts were left in the red.

When customers complained to the bank, they said it was a technical glitch and everything would be back to normal by the evening. In most cases, the amounts withdrawn was refunded to the customer’s account later that same day.

According to the report, only by obtaining a bank statement and carefully checking all expenses would one be able to identify the discrepancy.

12 Apr 2024

Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Spanish Manufacturer to Relocate from Russia to Kazakhstan

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Following the recent closure of its production facilities in Russia, where it was the country’s largest manufacturer of sanitary ware, Spanish company Roca is to open a plant in Kazakhstan.

The announcement was made following a meeting on 10 April between company representatives and Asel Suankulova, Deputy Director of the Department for Attracting Investments and Marketing of JSC National Company Kazakh Invest.

Roca, which annually sells 500 units of products throughout Central Asia, has already established an office in Almaty and plans to open a new logistics centre to export its products to nearby countries.

The Spanish company has been assured of Kazakhstan’s support through investment initiatives including access to local raw materials, such as kaolin and quartz to produce its ceramic wares.

12 Apr 2024

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy

Kyrgyzstan Remains Import-Dependent

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

At a press conference on April 11, Minister of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic Daniyar Amangeldiev reported that amounting to $2.255 billion in January- February, Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade turnover had increased by a 28.3% compared to the previous year.

Kyrgyzstan’s exports increased by 18.4% to $307.5 million and imports rose by 30%, to $1.947 billion.

At the beginning of the year, Kyrgyzstan’s trade with fellow members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia — amounted to $482.7 million, illustrating a fall of 17.9% compared to the same period in 2023. Most of the country’s trade with the EAEU was with Russia (69.4%) and Kazakhstan (28.2%).

Compared to January-February 2023, Kyrgyzstan’s trade with other countries grew 1.5-fold and reached $1.8 billion.

12 Apr 2024

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

Kazakhstan and Finland to Collaborate on Rail Transportation

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

KTZ Express JSC (a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national railways company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy) and Finnish Nurminen Logistics Services Oy, have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation for container transportation from China to Finland along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) through the Kazakhstan.

At a meeting of the Kazakh-Finnish intergovernmental commission on April 11 in Astana, Deputy Minister of Transport of Kazakhstan Maksat Kaliakparov emphasized the strategic importance of cooperation and development of transit opportunities between the two countries regarding trade between China and Southeast Asian countries and the European Union:

“Kazakhstan is the main link in the TITR, or the Middle Corridor, and has already shown potential as an alternative to East – West routes. This is evidenced by an 86% increase in cargo transhipment through the seaports of Aktau and Kuryk, the volume of which rose to 2.8 million tons. The TITR is a ‘green-light’ corridor. Today, the cargo transit time has been reduced from 23 to 14-18 days, including 5 days in Kazakhstan. In 2023, the volume of cargo transportation along the TITR increased by 65%.”

To illustrate the potential for cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and the EU, Kaliakparov reported a steady rise in the transportation of cargo through Kazakhstan along the China-Finland-China route. Compared to the previous year, in 2023, the volume of cargo transported by rail increased by 25% (4.3 million tons), and by road, by 14% (7.3 million tons).

12 Apr 2024

Kazakhstan, Central Asia, Environment, Home, Kazakhstan Environment

USAID Oasis Project on Course to Restore Aral Sea Ecosystem

June 28, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan has announced that from 12 – 16 April, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) will visit the Oasis project on the former shores of the Aral Sea in the Kyzylorda region of Kazakhstan.

Launched in 2021, the Oasis is integral to Environmental Restoration of the Aral Sea Activity (ERAS-I); a larger initiative spawned by USAID in cooperation with the Executive Directorate of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea.

Comprising a 500-hectare demonstration site for testing black saxaul shrubs, the project represents a first step in restoring the local ecosystem and demonstrates the willingness of governments, NGOs, and local communities to collaborate on building resilience against environmental threats to Central Asia.

In advance of the expedition to commemorate the project’s success and celebrate the efforts of those who contributed to its realization, U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan, Daniel Rosenblum, stated:
“The testing and research at the Oasis will benefit not only Kazakhstan communities in this region, but will also inform ecosystem restoration efforts throughout the Aral Sea region. Working together with national and international partners, we are proud to be part of this mission to find collaborative solutions to build climate resilience in Central Asia.”

The Aral Sea disaster is one of the worst ecological catastrophes in human history. Formerly the fourth largest lake in the world, the Aral Sea began shrinking in the 1960s when water from the rivers that fed it was redirected for agricultural irrigation. Today, the Aral Sea is only 10% full. The subsequent birth of the Aralkum Desert and the sand and dust storms rising from the world’s newest desert have both polluted the environment and severely affected the health in local communities.

11 Apr 2024

Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan Justice, Kyrgyzstan

Kyrgyz Authorities Name Causes of Military Helicopter Crash

October 8, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The Chief of Staff of the Kyrgyz Armed Forces has told reporters that the helicopter that crashed outside of Bishkek in January was in good order at the time. Ruslan Mukanbetov named severe weather conditions and human error as the causes of the crash.

On 17 January a Mi-8 MTV helicopter belonging to the Kyrgyz army crashed on the outskirts of the capital during a training flight. Eleven people were on board at the time, and one military serviceman died; the rest received injuries of varying severity. Two Kyrgyz servicemen were sent to Turkey for treatment.

After the crash, the Kyrgyz military prosecutor’s office opened a criminal case, and investigators began deciphering the black box. At the same time the Ministry of Defense also began an investigation.

According to the Defense Ministry’s press service, the commander of the country’s Air Defense Forces, Kylychbek Aidaraliev, and some of his subordinates were suspended while the investigation was carried out. Aidaraliev was ultimately dismissed from his post, and a temporary acting commander of the country’s Air Defense Forces has been appointed.