• KGS/USD = 0.01184 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00207 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09395 -0.21%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 -0.28%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01184 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00207 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09395 -0.21%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 -0.28%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01184 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00207 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09395 -0.21%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 -0.28%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01184 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00207 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09395 -0.21%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 -0.28%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01184 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00207 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09395 -0.21%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 -0.28%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01184 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00207 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09395 -0.21%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 -0.28%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01184 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00207 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09395 -0.21%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 -0.28%
  • KGS/USD = 0.01184 0%
  • KZT/USD = 0.00207 0%
  • TJS/USD = 0.09395 -0.21%
  • UZS/USD = 0.00008 0%
  • TMT/USD = 0.28490 -0.28%
03 October 2024

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 16

New round of talks in Georgia

TBILISI (TCA) — On December 20, 2019 Georgian authorities made a new proposal to the opposition on the electoral reform, in order to stabilize the situation. But opposition has rejected this proposal as too rigid. "Georgia is going to fall into an international isolation if the government would not agree to the principle of fair elections," declared the statement by the so called United Opposition. The authorities have proposed the system that would have 100 members of the parliament elected on the proportional system and 50 members on the majoritarian system. So the system would be changed — with two thirds elected by proportionate system, while maintaining the mixed system with one third majoritarians. According to this proposal these constitutional changes would be made not just for the year of 2020, but for good. And this proposal is absolutely unacceptable for the opposition at this point. The initiative by the ruling coalition was voiced by Chairman of the Parliament, Archil Talakvadze. Continue reading

Georgia’s precarious state

TBILISI (TCA) — According to former EU and US Ambassadors to Georgia Denis Corboy, William Courtney, and Kenneth Yalowitz "Georgia’s status as a post-Soviet democratic leader is under challenge. A flawed presidential election, use of force against protesters, and political manipulations by the secretive billionaire who heads the ruling Georgian Dream Party have strained public confidence and brought mounting public protests. Domestic calm may hinge on improving political dialogue and conducting free and fair parliamentary elections in fall, 2020. Continue reading

Turkish lira casts pall over Caucasus and Central Asia

BISHKEK (TCA) — The fall of the Turkish lira against the US dollar may have a negative impact on Central Asia and Caucasus countries which have extensive trade and economic relations with Turkey, with the economy of Turkmenistan facing the most serious consequences. We are republishing this article on the issue, written by Maximilian Hess*, originally published by Eurasianet: The Turkish lira last week ended one of the most turbulent weeks in its history, settling uneasily at six to the dollar. Turkey’s borrowing spree and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s insistence on low interest rates hastened the lira’s fall. But more trouble could be around the corner as a spat rumbles on between Erdoğan and his equally capricious American counterpart, Donald Trump. Such are the trade, political and person-to-person contacts between Turkey, Central Asia and the Caucasus that many fear the rot could spread. Trading trouble Turkey’s trade with Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan has been growing steadily, despite some hiccups caused by the creation of external tariff barriers under the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union. Ankara’s business ties with Tajikistan, which does not share a Turkic language like the other Central Asian states, have steadily grown as well. But it is Uzbekistan that has offered the most promise as a result of the gradual opening-up effected by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who has worked hard to mend strained ties with Turkey as part of his global charm offensive. The textile industry is seen as one of the strongest potential areas for growth in Turkish-Central Asian trade and it is a useful bellwether for understanding what impact the currency crisis will leave. When, last September, Uzbekistan caved after many years of resistance and allowed its domestic currency, the som, to float freely, the devaluation suddenly offered the prospect of significantly cheaper Uzbek cotton for Turkish buyers. But the lira’s sustained fall means that while one lira bought 2,300 Uzbek som in September 2017 – compared to 1,200 som in August of that same year – the lira has now fallen back to 1,300. Neighboring Kyrgyzstan has put up a reasonably strong defense of its currency, which is also affecting the textile sector. Small-scale clothes-making studios are a precious and rare job-generator. “The Kyrgyz som has so far maintained its position, which means that Turkish goods, in particular clothing, have become cheaper for Kyrgyz people,” Aziz Soltobayev, chief executive of Kyrgyzstan’s leading e-commerce platform Svetofor.info, told Eurasianet. “But this will have the opposite effect for Kyrgyzstan's light industry. Cheaper imported clothing from Turkey could significantly reduce the competitiveness of Kyrgyz textiles in the local market.” Caucasus concerns Elsewhere, the lira’s fall is already pushing down the Georgian lari and the Azeri manat. Georgia-based investment bank Galt & Taggart lowered its forecast for the Georgian lari in light of Turkey's turbulence, although it is also insisted contagion should be contained. Given Georgia's reliance on imports for secondary goods, the lira's weakening will have some benefits. At the same time, any upside will be mitigated by the fact...

Trans-Caspian Transport Route to launch regular container train from China to Turkey, Georgia

ASTANA (TCA) — Members of International Association "Trans-Caspian International Transport Route" (TITR) held a General Meeting in Astana, Kazakhstan on December 6 to discuss the development of container traffic along the TITR, the launch of a regular container train in 2018, and increasing the competitiveness of TITR tariff rates next year, the press-office of Kazakhstan’s national railways company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) said. Continue reading

Trans-Caspian International Transport Route to increase cargo transportation

ASTANA (TCA) — On November 15, Azerbaijan’s capital Baku hosted the General Meeting of members of Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) International Association, which discussed increasing the volume of cargo transportation along this route and increasing its efficiency, the press office of Kazakhstan’s national railways company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) said. Continue reading

Will the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway become Uzbekistan’s new connection to Europe?

TASHKENT (TCA) — Landlocked countries of Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, badly need sea and rail transport routes for the transit and export of goods to foreign markets. One such transport corridor will soon connect Central Asia, across the Caspian Sea, to the Caucasus, Turkey, and Europe. We are republishing this article by Fuad Shahbazov on the issue, originally published by The Jamestown Foundation’s Eurasia Daily Monitor: Continue reading