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Central Asia Security Economy Strategy Social Government Artificial intelligence

Responsible AI Rankings: Uzbekistan Leads in Central Asia

The Global Center on AI Governance has published a report titled “Results of the Global Index on Responsible AI in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.” Among Central Asian countries, Uzbekistan has been judged to use artificial intelligence in the most responsible way. Recent AI initiatives in Uzbekistan cover fields including cultural and linguistic diversity, international cooperation, public sector skills development, and transparency. Kazakhstan ranks second in the region. Among Central Asian countries, Kazakhstan ranks first for the number of government initiatives related to responsible AI. Kyrgyzstan ranks third in the region, demonstrating significant non-governmental sector participation in responsible AI. However, the need for a comprehensive government system affects its overall outcome. The report states that the country has received a high rating for responsible AI governance, second only to Uzbekistan in the region. However, due to the scarcity of government frameworks, which, along with government initiatives, had the most weight in the index score, Kyrgyzstan scored lower in the Responsible AI Index. Tajikistan is the only Central Asian country with an AI national strategy aimed at development until 2040. It ranks fourth in the region. However, this strategy covers only 5 out of 19 thematic directions. Tajikistan's scores are relatively high regarding responsible AI governance; however, the country has the most passive non-state sector among the pillars assessed. Turkmenistan has the lowest indicator in the region. Government structures related to the responsible use of artificial intelligence have not been identified in the country.

Finance Investments Export/import Economy Industry Government

Kazakhstan Reports Steady Economic Growth in First Half of 2024

On July 15, the Ministry of the National Economy of Kazakhstan announced the result of the country’s economic development for the first half of 2024. In the period January-June, the gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 3.3%, compared to 3.2% in the same period last year. The production of goods rose by 3.6%, and the services sector grew by 3.3%. Compared to last year, the economic growth rate slowed in H1 of 2024. This was caused by the economic impact of extreme flooding during the spring, which had a limiting effect on the development of most sectors. The floods resulted in reductions in trade, transport and logistics in ten regions. Oil production also decreased by 1.6%. In the first half of this year, industrial production was one of the main engines of economic growth, the volume of which increased by 2.8%. There was steady growth in multiple sectors of industrial production. Mechanical engineering grew by 9.4%, metallurgy by 8.3%, the chemicals industry by 5.3%, pharmaceuticals by 14.8%, and the furniture industry by 28.3%. The volume of construction work also increased by 8.6%. In January-June, 4.6 million square meters of housing in new apartment complexes were commissioned, 5.9% more than in the same period last year. Agricultural production increased 3.4% in January-June, and transportation and warehousing services grew 7.3%. Investments in non-resource sectors of the economy were also on the rise. Fixed capital investment increased in the manufacturing industry (by 9.4%), information and communications (2.4-fold), scientific and technical activities (58%), transport (33.7%), education (24.1%), financial operations (22.1%), and real estate transactions (4.5%). In June, annual inflation fell to 8.4% compared to 9.5% in January. In the period January-May, Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover amounted to $55.3 billion. Exports grew by 1.8% to $32.5 billion, including exports of processed goods, which increased by 0.8% to $10.5 billion. Imports amounted to $22.9 billion, down 7.2%, meaning the positive trade balance was $9.6 billion, an increase of $2.3 billion or 32.4% year-on-year. Since the beginning of the year, Kazakhstan’s international reserves have also increased by $5.4 billion and exceeded $101.3 billion as of July 1. This includes the assets of the National Fund, which increased by $1.4 billion to a total of $61.4 billion. The gold and foreign currency reserves of the National Bank also increased by $4 billion to $39.9 billion.

Culture Education Social Government UNDP

UNDP Launches Course on Gender Issues in Turkmenistan

Turkmenportal has reported that the United Nations Development Programme is launching a specialized online course on gender issues for Turkmenistan's civil servants. The course will cover topics such as basic gender definitions, international standards, gender in public policy, gender analysis tools, local gender stereotypes, strategies for achieving gender equality, national frameworks, the prevention of gender-based violence, and engaging men in efforts to promote gender equality. Training will be offered in English, Russian, and Turkmen, and will include texts, quizzes, presentations, and other content to aimed at providing the necessary knowledge and skills to promote gender equality in the workplace. The course is expected to provide civil servants with a comprehensive understanding of gender equality concepts and international standards, enhance their ability to integrate gender aspects into public policy, and enable them to actively promote gender-responsible governance. As Tomica Paovic, the UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan, noted, mainstreaming gender issues and awareness into civil servants' work is crucial to promoting equality, enhancing policy effectiveness, and ensuring sustainable development. "We are confident that this important initiative, supported by the UNDP's partner, the Government of Canada, will strengthen the country's capacity for gender equality and women's empowerment, in line with the National Action Plans on Human Rights and Gender Equality in Turkmenistan," Paovic stated.

Repair and Reconstruction Kazakh Floods Government Legislation Economy

Floods in Kazakhstan: Affected Citizens Make Demands to the Authorities

The situation with floods in several regions of Kazakhstan remains critical. In Atyrau region, it has already acquired the character of a political crisis; in the city of Kulsary, since May 15, residents, dissatisfied with the amount of compensation offered have continued to speak out. On May 20, the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the RK provided operational information on the flood situation. In Petropavlovsk, work on pumping out the remaining flooded 29 territories continue. During the day 153,320 cubic meters were pumped out. Due to the stabilization of flood situation in general, work in the region also involved rescuers from Almaty, Abay, Ulytau, Akmola, Karaganda, Kostanay, Pavlodar and Turkestan regions. In Atyrau region 66,770 cubic meters of water were pumped out from flooded areas, whilst around-the-clock monitoring of the water level of the River Zhaiyk and additional bank reinforcement works were undertaken in Atyrau and Makhambet districts. "Disinfection work is being carried out in drained houses and territories. Over the past six days, the units of radiation, chemical and biological protection of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the villages of Teplichnoye, Olshanka, Sokolovka, Vishnevka, Beskol, Pribrezhnoye of Kyzylzhar district of North Kazakhstan region disinfected 307 houses in the city of Kulsary of Atyrau region and some 165,000 square meters," officials stated. Some 61,348 evacuated people have returned to their homes, whilst 5,460 remain in temporary accommodation centers. About 22.4 million cubic meters of water from 11,319 private residences and 3,593-yard territories have been drained. Nevertheless, the water level in the River Zhaiyk remains at a critical level. In this regard, Kazakhstan continues to reduce spending on hospitality events, and today the International IT Forum Digital Bridge 2024, which was to be held from September 5-7 in Astana, was canceled. The organizers of Digital Bridge - the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the international technology park Astana Hub - reported that given favorable circumstances, it will resume its work in 2025. Last week, on May 15, residents in the town of Kulsary went to the building of the district Akimat (local authority) to demand compensation in the amount of 400,000 tenge ($905) per square meter of flooded houses. On May 16, eyewitnesses reported that outraged residents were still outside the Akimat having pitched tents and blocked the central street. Internet outages were observed in the city. On May 17, Atyrau Oblast Akim Serik Shapkenov arrived in Kulsary, where he said that when assessing the damage and determining the amount of compensation, many parameters were considered, from the quality of building materials, "down to the number of doors in the house... Now the average compensation per square meter when recognizing a house unfit for habitation is about 200-240,000 tenge per square meter ($540)," - he stated. Following the results of the tour, the head of the region instructed the Akim of the district to strengthen their explanatory work when familiarizing residents with the results of the assessment. On May 18, President...

Government Parliament Economy Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan: Leader of the Nation Nazarbayev sets tasks for his ruling party

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Askar Mamin on October 18 reported to Elbasy (Leader of the Nation) Nursultan Nazarbayev and the deputies of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Nur Otan party about the interim implementation results of the Nur Otan Party’s Election Program “Kazakhstan–2021: Unity. Stability. Creation” and the Plan of the Nation “100 Concrete Steps to Implement the Five Institutional Reforms,” the prime minister’s press service reported. Nazarbayev, who ruled Kazakhstan from 1989 until he abruptly resigned in March this year, holds the titles of the First President of Kazakhstan and Leader of the Nation, presides over the powerful Security Council and chairs the ruling Nur Otan party. Prime Minister Mamin said that Kazakhstan has become a transcontinental bridge between Europe and Asia, a large-scale modernization of transport infrastructure is underway. “The optimal railway network has been fully formed. A logistics infrastructure is being formed. Next year, passage through the main transit automobile corridors will be provided,” said Mamin. By the end of 2018, the volume of exports of the manufacturing industry, compared with 2016, increased by 21.7% and amounted to $15.7 billion. The export of services increased by 15.8% to $7.3 billion. In general, since 2016, the volume of industry in the country grew by 15.7%, and manufacturing – by 16.3%. Alternative energy is actively developing; since 2016, renewable energy capacity has increased 3.7-fold and by the end of this year will amount to 1041 MW at 87 facilities, and by 2024 – 3 thousand MW, the prime minister said. “Particular attention is paid to providing Kazakhstanis with quality and affordable housing. In 2016-2018, over 34 million square meters were built. By the end of the year, it is planned to introduce 13 million square meters [of housing],” said Mamin. The prime minister spoke about the efforts of the Government and the Nur Otan faction to saturate the domestic market with domestic food products – on average, the supply of basic types of food products reached 80%, and for some items – 100%. The government plans to bring the rate of investment in fixed assets to 30% of GDP by 2025. Today, a pool of investment projects has been formed that will attract 41 trillion tenge of investments in 2020-2024. The solution to this problem will ensure the inflow of foreign direct investment up to $34 billion, which is the basic condition for ensuring 5% growth of the national economy by 2024, Mamin said. After listening to reports, Nursultan Nazarbayev emphasized the special role of his party in the development of the country and improving the welfare of the people. “Today, our party faces the task of consolidating society, rallying the elites around the country's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The party, as the country's leading political force, must ensure the continuity of the strategic course of development of our state. Therefore, the Government and the Faction must solve specific problems of people together,” Nazarbayev said. Noting the results of the implementation of the election program and the...

Government Politics Strategy Economy Kazakhstan

First glimpses of Tokayev’s Kazakhstan: The listening state?

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — While seeking to "maintain continuity" yet nonetheless calling for "systemic reforms," Kazakhstan’s new President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev appears to institute and seek to manage reforms from above. Kazakhstan will also seek increased engagement and investment from the West. We are republishing the following article on the issue, written by S. Frederick Starr, chairman of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council: Continue reading