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Environment ADB UNDP Environmental Awareness health security Air Pollution

Report Addresses Air Pollution in Almaty

On October 30, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, together with the Urban Center of Almaty Management University, presented the results of their joint efforts within the Green and Safe Streets Initiative, which aims to address air pollution in Kazakhstan’s largest city, Almaty. This initiative is part of the regional City Experiment Fund program funded by the Ministry of Finance of Slovakia. The Green and Safe Streets Initiative included three interrelated clusters of activities: a social impact campaign, tactical urban actions on Berezovsky, Turgut Ozal, and Kazybek bi streets in Almaty, and the installation of air pollution measuring devices, which resulted in the development of methodological recommendations. These actions helped identify further steps to address the complex challenge of improving air quality in Almaty. The actions and approaches implemented within the City Experiment Fund framework are expected to help reduce air pollution by increasing green spaces, introducing energy-efficient technologies in the housing sector, improving infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists, and prioritizing public transport. According to IQAir, Almaty, along with the industrial city of Karaganda, has the highest level of air pollution in Kazakhstan and is among the 25 most polluted cities in the world. The primary sources of air pollution in Almaty are motor vehicles and private-sector and municipal heating that burns coal. During the winter, Almaty is covered by a deep smog that causes severe health problems and a high prevalence of respiratory diseases in the local population. According to an Asian Development Bank report, the decline in Almaty’s air quality is attributable to the city’s population growth, rapid urbanization, inefficient public transportation, and heavy reliance on coal for power generation and residential heating. The city’s valley setting exacerbates these factors, creating ideal conditions for solid temperature inversions during the late fall and winter that trap pollutants in the lower atmosphere. Additionally, the ADB report concludes that the city’s low wind speeds cause pollutants to accumulate and recirculate at the city's surface level.

Infrastructure Development Transportation Economy growth ADB Banking Finance

ADB to Help Upgrade Strategic Road in Kazakhstan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a sovereign-guaranteed local currency loan of up to $291.49 million for KazAvtoZhol, the company overseeing the planning, construction, operation, and maintenance of Kazakhstan's national highways. This loan will support reconstructing a 208-kilometer road connecting Kyzylorda and Zhezkazgan in central Kazakhstan. The project will upgrade the existing two-lane highway to a higher-standard, climate-resilient two-lane road, providing all-weather access and reducing travel time from 4 to 2 hours. The reconstruction will also improve domestic and regional connectivity and road safety and promote national and international trade. ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov commented: “By improving the Kyzylorda–Zhezkazgan corridor, we are addressing critical infrastructure constraints that hinder Kazakhstan’s economic growth and balanced regional economic development. The project road is also crucial for leveraging Kazakhstan’s geostrategic advantage and boosting regional and global integration.” Kazakhstan, the largest economy in Central Asia, is well-positioned to become a bridge between Asia and Europe. However, due to inefficiencies and high transport and logistics costs, the country needs help leveraging its strategic position. The country has also seen a high traffic fatality rate, with 12.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2021. The ADB project incorporates rumble strips, safer pedestrian crossings, and interchanges to improve road safety. These measures are expected to significantly reduce accidents and enhance the overall safety of the road corridor.

ADB Infrastructure Development Women-owned Enterprises Finance EBRD Banking

ADB Finances Road Reconstruction in Tajikistan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $86.67 million grant to help Tajikistan expand its degraded two-lane 49-km Dangara–Guliston highway to four lanes. Commenting on the move, ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov said: “ADB, in partnership with other organizations, promotes safe, accessible, and green transport infrastructure and services in our developing member countries. The Dangara–Guliston road, constructed in the 1930s and reconstructed in the 1970s, will become the first road in Tajikistan to incorporate climate adaptation and elements specific to women's needs." The project will fund two pilot charging stations and develop investment frameworks to catalyze private sector investment in Tajikistan's national charging infrastructure rollout. Safety is a high priority and to this end, the newly reconstructed road will include dedicated cycleways, wide sidewalks for people with children and disabilities, improved lighting and well-marked pedestrian crossings. Special toilets and changing facilities will be provided for mothers and babies, while public transport facilities will include preferential seating for people with disabilities. In addition to the above, the fund will incorporate training programs for women living in and around the project area to open and run small businesses, and award entrepreneurship grants to selected participants. The Tajikistan government has pledged $23 million towards the realization of the project whilst subject to its Board’s approval in early 2025, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD, will provide a $40 million co-financing loan. Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport plans to complete the project in 2030.

Energy Security Energy Infrastructure Rogun HPP Power Supply ADB Finance

ADB Allocates $15 Million to Tajikistan for Power Grid Reconnection in Central Asia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a grant of $15 million for a project to reconnect Tajikistan’s power lines to the Central Asian unified electricity grid. The reconnection, it is reported, will be carried out through mutual relations with Uzbekistan. “Through the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program, ADB actively promotes regional power trade among countries in Central Asia and beyond,” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov. “Our support improves the sustainability of the regional power system and helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the region.” The additional funding will build a new 22-kilometer, 500-kilovolt power line in northern Tajikistan, connecting the Sughd substation to the New Syrdarya substation in Uzbekistan. This will increase the ability to send and receive electricity between Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan and improve the infrastructure to prevent blackouts. The project will also help ensure that Tajikistan’s energy system is ready to provide regulatory opportunities for the continued integration of renewable energy in the region. In the long term, it will become a key component of the electricity evacuation scheme for the Rogun hydropower plant in Tajikistan. Previously, ADB approved $17.5 million in grant assistance to improve women's agricultural skills and ensure food security in Tajikistan.

International Finance Corporation High- speed highway International investment Asian Development Bank ADB Banking

ADB to Finance Upgrade of Barskoon–Karakol Section of Issyk-Kul Ring Road in Kyrgyzstan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced on September 19 that it had approved $109.5 million in financing to renovate the highway around Lake Issyk-Kul. The lake is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Kyrgyzstan, and a strategic location that connects to neighboring Central Asian countries. ADB’s Issyk-Kul Ring Road Improvement Project will construct 75.2 kilometers of the road traversing the Barskoon to Karakol section of the Issyk-Kul Ring Road, which connects the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Corridor 1. The project will widen the two-lane roadway to four lanes to meet increasing traffic demand, while incorporating climate-adaptation measures into the road design and construction materials. Rest areas, bus stops, streetlights, and safer access for pedestrians will also be constructed. The ADB funding comprises an $87 million concessional loan and a $22.5 million grant from the Asian Development Fund. ADB Principal Transport Specialist Oyunchimeg Erdene commented: “The Barskoon–Karakol road section [on the southern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul] is the remaining portion of the Issyk-Kul Ring Road for improvement. Completing this will mean eliminating congestion and boosting tourism that will support the growth of businesses in the area.” Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Transport, Beknazar Bazaraliev, earlier said that the rehabilitation of the Issyk-Kul Ring Road is to be completed in 2028. The rehabilitation of the 440 km long Issyk-Kul Ring Road was divided into several parts and is financed by the government and international financial organizations.

Economy Strategy ADB Regional Development

ADB Launches New Strategy for Turkmenistan

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced its new country partnership strategy for Turkmenistan on August 28. The strategy is designed to help the country develop a competitive, diversified, and knowledge-based economy driven by an innovative private sector. Under the new strategy, which spans from 2024 to 2028, the ADB’s assistance will focus on three strategic priorities: supporting the green transition to a sustainable and climate-resilient economy, promoting economic competitiveness through diversification with an emphasis on private sector and human capital development, and promoting structural reforms and institutional development. The ADB Director General for Central and West Asia, Yevgeniy Zhukov, commented: “ADB and Turkmenistan have a longstanding partnership, and the new strategy underscores our unwavering commitment to the country’s development. We will continue working closely with the government and Turkmenistan’s development partners to help the country realize its ambitious long-term development goals.” The ADB will support Turkmenistan’s green transformation with investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy, low-carbon pilot projects, and policy reforms. The bank will continue to help Turkmenistan develop long-term decarbonization plans and reduce methane emissions. The ADB will also support the development of sustainable and integrated transport networks focusing on railways along crucial trade corridors. Recognizing the critical role of the private sector in driving inclusive economic growth in Turkmenistan, the ADB will help build an export-oriented private sector and continue supporting domestic financial institutions, including improving access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises targeting export markets. To support human capital development, the ADB will help reform the country’s healthcare sector to improve access, quality, and the range of services.