BISHKEK (TCA) — The President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbai Jeenbekov inaugurated the Conference on Digital Transformation in Central Asia (DTCA) on October 4 in Bishkek. This three-day international Conference is jointly hosted by the University of Central Asia (UCA), State Committee for Information Technology and Communications, and the High Technology Park of the Kyrgyz Republic, and includes a day-long session at UCA’s campus in Naryn.

The DTCA conference, taking place in the year designated by the Government of Kyrgyzstan as the Year of Regional Development and Digitalisation, brought together over 20 international speakers from 12 countries, and over 100 leading technology leaders from Central Asia, to discuss current and future technology trends in Central Asia. Technology professionals, government officials, educators, and researchers will be discussing the latest approaches to solving intriguing challenges in the fields of data collection and analysis, digitising government services, management (public and private enterprise), cyber security, and the increasing role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in education and research.

In his inaugural address, President Jeenbekov announced that “We have set the goal to make Kyrgyzstan the top country in the region in terms of digitization. Digital technologies are changing the nature of global economy by creating opportunities for every country to have wide-ranging involvement in the global process. In order to effectively use these opportunities, we need to create a new mindset that can implement these developments in public administration and business.”

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Central Asia (UCA), and the Aga Khan Development Network’s (AKDN) Diplomatic Representative to the Kyrgyz Republic, Dr Shamsh Kassim-Lakha, confirmed the full support of UCA and AKDN to continue to work with the Government to advance the important policy recommendations on digitisation articulated by President Jeenbekov. He highlighted the importance of ensuring that “learning and technological advancements are not driving development in a haphazard manner, but that they are grounded in the ethical, cultural, and normative frameworks of society.”

Besides providing an unprecedented opportunity for networking with the best minds in the business, the presence of representatives from companies such as Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, and SAP, as well as Telecommunications, Mining, and Energy fields in Central Asia, provides a window into the depth of expected dialogue and discussion. It is the hope of the organisers that this conference marks the beginning of new partnerships and initiatives that sustain and grow digital transformation into the future.

In his concluding remarks, President Jeenbekov expressed his appreciation to the organizers of the Conference: the University of Central Asia, the State Committee for Information Technology and Communications, and the High Technology Park. “I strongly believe that this Conference will become an important platform for new and creative ideas on digital transformation, and that its success will depend on the joint efforts of all stakeholders.”

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The OSCE launched activities in Kazakhstan to support the development of green ports and connectivity in the Caspian Sea Region. They included a launch event on 30 September in Nur-Sultan and two technical workshops with port authorities in Aktau and Kuryk on 2 and 3 October, respectively.

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BISHKEK (TCA) — Authorities in Kyrgyzstan have reopened a probe into the assassination of independent journalist Alisher Saipov, who was shot dead in the southern city of Osh almost 12 years ago, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported.

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TASHKENT (TCA) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $60 million loan to construct hydropower plants (HPPs) capable of adding 25 megawatts (MW) capacity, which will help the Government of Uzbekistan achieve its goal of diversifying the country’s energy mix through greater use of clean energy sources and lowering carbon emissions, ADB’s Country Office in Uzbekistan said.

“ADB’s assistance to help build HPPs will boost Uzbekistan’s aim of securing a cleaner, more sustainable energy future,” said ADB Energy Specialist for Central and West Asia Mr. Seung Duck Kim. “The project’s integrated approach to high quality design, international practices on safeguards, and climate change resilience is a template for similar development of hydropower projects in Uzbekistan.”

Uzbekistan has abundant renewable energy resources, including hydropower. So far, only 1.9 gigawatts (GW) or 20% of the available hydropower potential has been exploited.

The project will construct hydropower plants with 25 MW of total capacity. This is composed of a 6 MW plant in Rabat, an 8 MW plant in Chappasuy, a 10 MW plant in Tamshusu, and three mini/micro-hydropower plants with a combined capacity of 1 MW. The mini/micro-HPPs will ensure the efficient use of water resources including from spillover water from dams or irrigation canals, and can be alternate sources of electricity in rural and remote villages. The project will also help the government to formulate a hydropower development masterplan, which will help identify potential private sector investment opportunities through public–private partnerships.

The Joint-Stock Company Uzbekhydroenergo, as the nodal agency to oversee the government’s $2.6 billion investment program to increase the country’s hydropower capacity by 1,600 MW by 2030, will be the project’s executing agency. ADB will also help improve Uzbekhydroenergo’s institutional capacity and corporate governance throughout the project.

The total cost of the project is $75.3 million and is expected to be completed by the end of 2023.

DUSHANBE (TCA) — The World Bank Group is helping Tajikistan develop a national strategy that will make it easier for individuals and smaller businesses to access financial services, part of a larger effort to create jobs and stoke economic growth in the country, the International Finance Corporation (IFC) said.

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TASHKENT (TCA) — The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, signed an agreement this week to advise Uzbekistan on the structure and tender of a public-private partnership (PPP) to develop a 1,300 megawatt gas-fired power plant in the Syrdarya region.

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