05 May 2025

Viewing results 1 - 6 of 65

Kyrgyzstan Begins Construction of Border Fence with Tajikistan

Kyrgyzstan has launched construction of a border fence along its frontier with Tajikistan in the Batken region, according to a report by 24.kg. The project commenced near the village of Koshmolo in the Tort-Gul area, a strategically significant location where the borders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan converge. An official ceremony marking the start of the project was held at a nearby border marker. Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister and head of the State Committee for National Security, Kamchybek Tashiev, addressed the event via video link. Other senior officials in attendance included Director of the Border Guard Service Major General Abdikarim Alimbaev and Aybek Shamenov, the presidential representative in Batken. To facilitate the project, a field operations camp has been established, and specialized construction equipment has been deployed. Authorities report that all necessary logistical conditions have been prepared for personnel working on site. “Today we are witnessing a significant event of great importance for the citizens of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The Border Service will make every effort to complete the development work within the established timeframe. Our goal is to create a zone of security and tranquility on the shared border,” said Alimbaev. 420 Kilometers of Fencing Planned in First Stage In its initial phase, the project aims to install barbed wire fencing along 420 kilometers of the border. The entire border fortification is expected to be completed by the end of 2025. The initiative follows a pivotal agreement between Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan signed on March 13 in Bishkek. During a bilateral summit, the presidents of both countries reached a historic deal to fully delimit and demarcate the 1,006-kilometer border after years of disputes and sporadic clashes.

Nuclear Energy Project in Uzbekistan Enters Construction Phase

Uzbekistan has entered a new phase in its energy strategy as construction begins on the country’s first small-capacity nuclear power plant. The announcement was made during the INNOPROM. Central Asia industrial exhibition, held on April 28 in Tashkent, according to the presidential press service. The event, hosted at the Central Asian Expo Uzbekistan center, spans more than 18,000 square meters and has attracted over 10,000 delegates from Russia, neighboring Central Asian countries, China, India, and other nations. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev toured the exhibition pavilions and emphasized the importance of innovative business ideas and economic cooperation. He noted that the forum serves as a platform to advance new projects and strengthen long-term partnerships. Nuclear Power in Focus On the sidelines of the event, President Mirziyoyev met with a Russian delegation led by First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov. The sides reviewed progress on bilateral agreements made during Putin’s visit to Uzbekistan in May 2024 and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation across multiple sectors. A central topic of discussion was Uzbekistan’s nuclear energy project. Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev confirmed that all legal formalities have been completed and that construction could officially begin within the year. “Not if, but when the leadership of Uzbekistan returns to the topic of a large nuclear power plant, we will already have proposals ready, not only on the design of future facilities but also on financing and local manufacturing,” Likhachev told TASS. “This project will be carried out through international cooperation, drawing on global best practices in electrical and mechanical engineering. However, the core nuclear technologies, the reactor island, will be Russian,” he added. Project Overview The plant is located in Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh Region and will consist of six reactors, each with a capacity of 55 megawatts, for a total output of 330 MW. While Rosatom serves as the main contractor, local Uzbek companies are also involved in the construction process. Officials say the project is a strategic step toward Uzbekistan’s long-term energy security. Azim Akhmadkhodjaev, head of Uzbekistan’s Atomic Energy Agency, recently called nuclear energy the most viable alternative to imported fossil fuels. He noted that Uzbekistan aims to increase the share of renewable energy in its national mix from 16% today to 54% by 2030. China is also playing a significant role in Uzbekistan's nuclear energy project. Shanghai Electric, a leading Chinese manufacturer, is being considered for providing turbine equipment for the non-nuclear island of the plant. Additionally, the Export-Import Bank of China (Eximbank) is in discussions to provide financial support. Energy analysts agree that a combined strategy of nuclear and renewable sources will allow Uzbekistan to meet rising domestic demand while reducing its environmental footprint.

Kyrgyzstan Simplifies Process for Obtaining Construction Licenses

The Kyrgyz Ministry of Construction has streamlined the process of issuing licenses to construction companies, eliminating intermediaries and making it possible to obtain a license directly for a fixed fee and within a short time frame. Minister of Construction Nurdan Oruntaev announced the changes via his official Facebook page.  All documents can now be submitted, and construction licenses obtained, through the Ministry of Construction’s official website. According to the ministry, the number of documents required to obtain a construction license has been reduced significantly, from 23 to just 6. However, the cost of obtaining a construction license has increased substantially, from 150,000 KGS (approximately $1,700) to 1.5 million KGS (around $17,000). "Foreign investors, please contact us directly. Do not purchase licenses from unofficial sources. We are ready to issue you a construction license under the simplest conditions: you need only to provide a copy of the relevant license from your country and pay 1.5 million som to the state treasury. No bureaucracy, no queues, just six documents, and the license will be issued within 10 days," Oruntaev emphasized. Under the new rules, the procedure for obtaining one-time construction licenses has also been simplified. Companies without a full construction license can now receive a permit for a single project at a specific site. This reform follows the establishment of the Ministry of Construction earlier in 2025. Previously, licensing and regulatory functions for construction were managed by the Architecture and Construction Agency, which was subordinate to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.

Chinese Company to Help Build Central Asia’s Longest Bridge in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is set to begin construction on the longest highway bridge in Central Asia, a key component of the third phase of the Obigarm-Nurabad highway project. The implementation agreement was signed between Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport and the Tajik branch of the Chinese company Zhejiang Communications Construction Group Co. Ltd. (CCCC). The document was signed by Tajik Minister of Transport Azim Ibrohim and CCCC representative Li Mingkun. The bridge, spanning 920 meters (1,500 meters including access roads), will cross the Surkhob River in Nurabad district, making it the largest infrastructure project of its kind in the region. “The construction of the bridge should be completed with high quality and within the stipulated time frame, but we hope the work can be finished even earlier,” Ibrohim said. The project, estimated at CNY 427.5 million (approximately $59.8 million), is scheduled for completion within four years, with both local and international experts involved. Design and feasibility studies were prepared by South Korean firms Dong Maeng Engineering Company, Seng Engineering Company, and Susang Engineering Company, in collaboration with the Institute of Transport Facilities Design under Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport. Li Mingkun emphasized that CCCC has prior experience in Tajikistan, having participated in the construction of roads and bridges. This project aligns with the country’s strategy to overcome transport isolation and establish itself as a key regional transit hub.

Kyrgyzstan to Build Large Residential Complex with IT Hub in Osh

Kyrgyzstan has launched the construction of an IT town as part of the large-scale project, an initiative aimed at transforming Osh, the country’s second-largest city. Speaking at the launch ceremony on February 14, President Sadyr Japarov stated that the project’s main goal is to ensure sustainable regional development through modern technology and large-scale housing construction. The Osh project will include a residential complex with over 10,000 apartments, covering a total area of 1 million square meters. The development will feature modern schools and kindergartens; medical facilities and gyms; pedestrian and bicycle paths; green recreation areas; and children’s playgrounds. A key component of the project, the IT town, will serve as an innovation hub for entrepreneurs and IT specialists, offering modern residential, social, and commercial infrastructure. According to Japarov, the growth of the IT sector will enhance Kyrgyzstan’s global competitiveness, accelerating economic, social, and technological development in Osh and beyond. The initiative is expected to strengthen trade, economic, cultural, and humanitarian ties, while also attracting more foreign tourists. Japarov noted that thousands of jobs will be created during the construction process, helping to reduce migration levels. Once completed, the Osh project will generate employment in housing services, education, healthcare, and the IT industry. The IT town is envisioned as a magnet for IT professionals, drawing specialists from across Kyrgyzstan and abroad.

British Company to Produce Flexible Concrete Material in Kyrgyzstan

The government of Kyrgyzstan and British company Concrete Canvas have signed an agreement to build a plant in Kyrgyzstan that will produce flexible concrete canvas, the government’s press service announced on February 6. Concrete Canvas manufactures waterproof, flexible, concrete-filled geosynthetic composite mats, primarily used to line irrigation canals to prevent erosion and reduce seepage losses. The planned production capacity of the new plant is at least 5 million square meters of concrete canvas per year. At the signing ceremony in Bishkek, Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, Adylbek Kasymaliyev, highlighted the project as an example of an effective public-private partnership. He noted that five tons of this innovative material could replace 100 tons of cement in canal lining, significantly improving installation efficiency while delivering the same expected results. The agreement follows negotiations in April 2024, when representatives of Concrete Canvas visited Kyrgyzstan to discuss the project. The talks involved Kyrgyz Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry, Bakyt Torobayev, and the then British Foreign Secretary, David Cameron, who was on an official visit. Torobayev underscored the importance of the material, stating, “Across Kyrgyzstan, the length of canals is 30,000 km, including 11,000 km of unsurfaced canals. By laying concrete material on these canals, we will avoid seepage of water and ensure its efficient use. Kyrgyzstan is an agricultural country with a lot of arable land, so we really need such materials.” He also confirmed that the British company’s plant will be built in the Osh region, in southern Kyrgyzstan.