Page 936 – The Times Of Central Asia

05 Dec 2023

Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy, Turkmenistan Features, Turkmenistan Environment

Turkmenistan Preparing for Accession to Global Methane Pledge Program

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The upcoming Climate Change Conference to be held in Dubai became the main topic of a recent cabinet meeting held by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov. At the meeting, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov reported on preparations for participation in the 28^th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-28) to be held from November 30^th to December 12^th. Turkmenistan’s accession to the Global Methane Pledge (GMP) program will be announced at the meeting as one of the main steps in countering climate change.

At the meeting, Meredov proposed that Turkmenistan “continue cooperation with international organizations and partner countries in the framework of joint projects and programs aimed at fulfilling GMP conditions at a national level.” In other words, in order to meet GMP quotas, Turkmenistan is counting on the support of and joint projects with international organizations and partner countries.

Advisor to the President on Oil and Gas Issues, Ashyrguly Begliyev reported on the work of the Natural Gas Research Institute of the State Concern, Turkmengaz and the Institute Nebitgazylmytaslama of the State Concern, Turkmenneft. Their work is related to the fulfillment of the conditions of the GMP. Begliyev also spoke about taking “concrete steps to reduce methane emissions into the atmosphere, including through the use of modern technologies in the fields of energy, industry and transport.” Precisely what actions will be taken remain unclear, however.

Deputy Prime Minister Batyr Amanov, who oversees the oil and gas industry, also reported on cooperation with German partners to increase the volume of hydrocarbon production. In particular, the importance of modernizing gas compressor stations subordinated to Turkmengaz was emphasized.

05 Dec 2023

Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Features, Tajikistan Home, Features

Reserve Fund of the President of Tajikistan set to Exceed US$50 Million

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The amount held in the reserve fund of the President of Tajikistan, which is spent at the discretion of the head of the country, will increase by 68-million somoni (US$6.25-million) next year, bringing the total set to be held by 2024 to over 563-million somoni (US$51.73-million).

This figure was revealed in the law on the state budget of Tajikistan for the next year, which will come into force on January 1^st. The volume of the fund has increased year on year from 404-million somoni in 2021 and 438.5-million somoni in 2022. The volume of the fund is used as an indicator on accounts, and will be used in the calculation of taxes and fines in Tajikistan.

The funds are used at the discretion of President Emomali Rahmon for charity, social work, and emergency situations. In particular, in recent years, republican Olympiads in the field of education and culture have been held using the reserve funds. In 2020, additional allowances were paid from the fund to doctors who worked under the conditions of the coronavirus pandemic. At the same time, prizes were paid from the President’s fund to athletes who won medals in international competitions.

The allocation of scholarships for the education of Tajik citizens in higher educational institutions abroad is estimated from other sections of the fund’s expenses.

05 Dec 2023

Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Home

Plans Approved to Complete the Gasification of Bishkek within Three Years

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Speaking at a briefing on ‘How the authorities want to accelerate the gasification of residential communities in Bishkek’, the Deputy Director General for Economics and Finance of Gazprom Kyrgyzstan LLC, Arzymat Aldayarov stated that it is planned to fully gasify Bishkek within three years.

During the company’s operations so far, 53 settlements have been gasified, 1,250 kilometers of street gas distribution pipelines have been laid, and 53,000 households have been able to connect to gas. This year, the investment program included the possibility of the gasification of residential complexes and villages, but due to the environmental situation and the need to reduce the load on electrical networks, it was decided to carry gas to eleven facilities, including a handful of residential complexes. In part of the points, the supply of blue fuel has already been provided.

“In 2023, we signed a road map with Bishkek City Hall,” the Deputy Director General said. “Within this framework, it is planned to fully complete the gasification of the capital within the next three years. Together with the Cabinet of Ministers, the issue of preferential loans for gasification through state banks has been resolved.”

05 Dec 2023

Uzbekistan, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Uzbekistan Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

Uzbekistan Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company

Following a meeting between the President of Uzbekistan and a delegation of leading UAE enterprises led by Minister of Investment, Muhammad Hassan al-Suwaidi, an agreement on a strategic partnership with the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) was signed.

On December 2^nd, President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a delegation of leading UAE companies led by the Minister of Investment and Chief Executive Officer of the ADQ holding, Muhammad Hassan al-Suwaidi. The meeting was held as part of the business program in Dubai, where the UN climate conference (COP28) took place a day earlier.

The delegation also included the heads of leading Emirati companies, TAQA, Jasim Hussein Thabet, and Masdar Muhammad Jamil al-Ramahi. The parties discussed issues of supporting and promoting joint projects in trade, economic and investment cooperation.

After the meeting, President Mirziyoyev presented the Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, Muhammad Jamil al-Ramahi, with a state award of Uzbekistan – the Order of Dustlik for his personal contribution to the development of Uzbek-Emirati multifaceted relations.

Masdar is building several solar photovoltaic power plants in Uzbekistan. In 2023, the company began the construction of three photovoltaic power plants – Nur Jizzakh for 220 MW in the Jizzakh region, Nur Samarkand for 220 MW in the Samarkand region, and Nur Sherabad for 457 MW in the Surkhandarya region. For these projects, it attracted loans of almost $400 million.

05 Dec 2023

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

Kazakhstan’s Exports to Organization of Islamic Cooperation Countries Reaches $8.4 Billion

October 8, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

The Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, Arman Shakkaliyev addressed the 39^th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Economic and Trade Cooperation (COMSEC) in Istanbul. The official opening ceremony of the event took place on December 4^th with the participation of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) is the largest official Muslim governmental international organization, uniting 57 countries. Today, OIC countries comprise more than a quarter of the world’s population – 1.7 billion people on four continents – Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Over the past three years, total trade turnover between member states has increased from $3.7 trillion to $4.5 trillion. During the meeting, ministers from the participating countries discussed further efforts to strengthen cooperation, including in trade and agriculture.

Kazakhstan is actively seeking to make a significant contribution to food security. Over the past five years, the country has doubled its volume of agricultural products and exports them to more than 80 countries, working in this direction with OIC members.

“OIC countries are among the active trade and economic partners of Kazakhstan,” said Shakkaliev, addressing a report on improving the potential for trade with OIC member states. “Our trade turnover for the first nine months of 2023 amounted to $12.5 billion. Exports of Kazakhstani products to the OIC countries account for more than half of the total trade turnover – $8.4 billion. We need to combine the efforts of all members of the Organization in the development of transport and logistics infrastructure, and expansion of investment cooperation.”

05 Dec 2023

Turkmenistan Home, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan International Affairs, Turkmenistan Business & Economy

Turkmenistan and Russia Discuss Cooperation

June 27, 2024
By Times of Central Asia

On December 4^th in Moscow, the Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov met with Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Alexey Overchuk. The main topic of the talks was preparations for the upcoming 13^th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Russian Commission on Economic Cooperation, which will be held in Ashgabat early next year.

It was emphasized that the upcoming meeting will be an important stage in the development of mutually beneficial trade and economic partnership between the two countries. Both sides noted that today, Turkmenistan and Russia are searching for new forms and areas of cooperation that meet modern realities, the needs and mutual potential of the two countries. In this context, the importance of improving the legal framework of bilateral economic and commercial relations was stated.

The parties also discussed cooperation in the cultural and humanitarian sphere. In this regard, Overchuk noted the agreements reached on the construction of a new joint Turkmen-Russian secondary school named after Pushkin in Ashgabat, the new Russian Drama Theater, and the creation of a Turkmen-Russian university in Ashgabat.