Japan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Turkmenistan Strengthens Cooperation with Japanese Investors

As reported by TDH, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, chairman of the Khalk Maslakhaty of Turkmenistan, recently engaged in a meeting with representatives of Japan's Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., including Senior Strategic Advisor Tatsuya Watanabe and Executive Director Kenji Sanada. During the meeting, Japan's role as an important strategic partner for Turkmenistan in the Asia-Pacific region was noted, with particular regard to bilateral cooperation between the two countries and within the framework of international organizations, including the UN. A long-term partnership has been established with Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd., and several major projects have been implemented, including a plant for producing gasoline from natural gas in Ovadandepe, a urea plant in Mary province, and the Keliati cement plant. New opportunities for cooperation were discussed alongside Turkmenistan's plans to produce and process natural gas. The importance of using advanced technologies and observing environmental standards in the implementation of projects was emphasized.

Arts and Culture Uzbekistan Japan POWs museum

Uzbekistan Opens New Museum Commemorating WW2 Japanese POWs

On 30 April, Uzbekistan Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change Aziz Abdukhakimov joined by Ambassador of Japan to Uzbekistan Hatori Takashi, founder and director of the museum, Jalil Sultanov, and representatives of the Japan Society in Uzbekistan to celebrate the opening of a new museum in Tashkent commemorating Japanese prisoners of war. Over 20,000 Japanese POWs captured by the Soviet Union during the second world war, were interned in Uzbekistan between 1945-1950. During this period, the prisoners were dispersed across the country to construct buildings, dams, and roads in regions including Angren, Bekabad, and Kokand, and in Tashkent, built the Alisher Navoi Opera Theatre, the Mukini Theatre, the Central Telegraph and Ministry of Culture, as well as barracks still in use today. According to estimates, 817 died in the process. The new premises, under construction since 2023, replace the original museum founded in May 1998. Housing photographs, documents, and artefacts, such as prisoners’ workwear and a wooden crib made for the local market, the collections testify to the lives of Japanese POWs in Uzbekistan, and given a new lease of life, are expected to become a major draw for Japanese tourists visiting the country.

Earthquake Kazakhstan Central Asia Security Japan

Seismologists From Japan to Study Earthquakes in Almaty

Japanese experts in the field of seismology will come to Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, to study the nature of recent earthquakes there. According to the foreign ministry, a seminar on seismic safety will be organized by the Kazakh Agency for International Development (KazAID). "The co-organizers of the event are the Japanese International Development Agency (JICA), the Kazakh Research and Design and Experimental Institute of Earthquake Engineering (KazNIISA) and the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction," a statement said. Japanese seismologists will share their experience with Central Asian counterparts. They will present advanced technologies and standards of seismic isolation, as well as discuss possible cooperation in seismic construction practices. Japanese seismologists will also study the recent earthquakes in Almaty, to allow Kazakh specialists to develop strategies to prevent risks in the future. As previously reported, on January 23 and March 4 in Almaty, sensors recorded tremors with magnitudes of more than five points on the Richter scale. Experts say that the fluctuations of the Earth's crust had an unusual structure for the region.

UN Japan Kyrgyzstan WFP Aid

Japan and UN WFP Support Vulnerable Citizens in Kyrgyzstan

An agreement has been signed by Gulnara Baatyrova, Kyrgyzstan’s Minister of Labour, Social Security and Migration, Hideki Goda, Ambassador of Japan to Kyrgyzstan, and Kojiro Nakai, Country Director of the UN World Food Program (WFP) in the Kyrgyz Republic, to enhance self-sufficiency amongst Kyrgyzstan’s most vulnerable citizens. An allocation of $3.5 million will be invested in a basic infrastructure to provide import-dependent food products such as flour and vegetable oil, and improve skills in entrepreneurship and agriculture amongst low-income residents of Batken, Issyk-Kul, Jalal-Abad, Naryn, and Osh. Expressing her gratitude for aid pledged by the Government of Japan and the UN, Minister Baatyrova said: “This program is aimed at strengthening the food security of vulnerable groups and will boost the development of sustainable economic independence, thereby contributing to economic and social stability in the country. Supported by the Japanese government, existing enterprises for the production of apricot oil in the Batken region, and the processing of medicinal herbs in the Naryn region, have already created additional jobs.”

Japan Afghanistan

Japan-Funded Project Helps Tajikistan Manage Its Border With Afghanistan

Japan has long been a "steadfast supporter of Tajikistan, contributing tens of millions of dollars to the country’s development through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)." The Japanese government, through its Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is also funding the “Border Management Project” – an initiative to support the Tajik Government in controlling its national border with Afghanistan, UNDP Tajikistan reports. The project aims to both secure the length of the Tajik-Afghan border and facilitate cross-border trade. It was initially launched in 2015, and will run until 2025. Since its launch the parties have constructed a new border checkpoint at Langar, and modernized the old checkpoints at Khumrogi and Shogun. Toshihiro Aiki, Japan’s ambassador to Tajikistan, recently commented: “We have had favorable relationships with the government of Tajikistan since its first steps of independence. Japan supports Tajikistan in many ways, considering strategic aspects, especially in light of the changed political landscape involving the whole Eurasian continent. There are some challenges that not only Tajikistan but most of the countries face.” Given the problem of drug trafficking at the Tajik-Afghan border, the initiative is also supporting Tajikistan in disrupting illicit activities, protecting border communities from the harmful effects of the drug trade.

business Japan

Turkmen Foreign Minister Visits Japan, Meets With Business Community

During a working visit to Japan on January 22nd, the Turkmen foreign minister, Rashid Meredov, held a meeting with the chief cabinet secretary of Japan, Yoshimasa Hayashi. They exchanged views on the current state of their countries' bilateral cooperation in priority areas, the Turkmen Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported, as well as prospects for developing ties. Mr Meredov stressed the positive dynamics in cooperation between Turkmenistan and Japan in the political, trade, economic, cultural and humanitarian spheres. The parties focused on the development of trade and economic ties, mentioning a number of successfully completed joint projects in the energy and gas chemical industries. They also identified priorities for further cooperation in the energy, industrial, and investment sectors, as well as in the fields of culture, science, and education. Also on January 22nd, the Turkmen delegation led by Mr Meredov met with representatives of the Japanese business community. It was suggested to invite Japanese companies to produce export goods with high added value in Turkmenistan, as well as to involve small and medium-sized enterprises from both countries in joint projects. Representatives of Japanese companies showed interest in cooperating in the fields of infrastructure and energy transition.