TASHKENT (TCA) — The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $100 million credit from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Prosperous Villages Project in Uzbekistan. The project will improve the quality of basic infrastructure, including schools, roads and internet service, with village residents deciding collectively which priorities will receive funding, the World Bank said.

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ASHGABAT (TCA) — Reducing the footprint of the state and opening the economy to competition are important to promote economic efficiency and market development in Turkmenistan, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission said in a statement following its visit to Ashgabat earlier this month. The IMF mission assessed recent developments and discussed economic and financial policy priorities with senior Turkmen government officials, representatives of the business and financial sectors, and the diplomatic community.

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TASHKENT (TCA) — Uzbekistan Prosecutor-General’s Office has started “a study” of an audio recording in which a man with a voice similar to that of Tashkent Mayor Jahongir Ortiqkhojaev threatens to “destroy” journalists and “turn them into gays,” RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — The Board of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) has approved funding to support a climate resilient project in Kyrgyzstan. The United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has been supporting the formulation of the project that will build resilience and mitigate the effects of climate change in the country, FAO reported on its website.

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ALMATY, Kazakhstan (TCA) — On November 15-16, the First Regional Summit on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on the theme “Mobilization of financial resources for the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals” was held in Almaty, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan reported.

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DUSHANBE (TCA) — The European Union and Tajikistan held the 11th Human Rights Dialogue in Dushanbe on November 15. The meeting participants discussed the broad range of human-rights related areas, such as non-discrimination, freedom of association, freedom of expression and freedom of religion or belief, as well as torture prevention.

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