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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 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.
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.
TASHKENT (TCA) — President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay an official visit to Japan on 17-20 December 2019 at the invitation of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the president’s official website said. Continue reading
ASTANA (TCA) — The business forum, held last week, presented Kazakhstan’s investment climate, transport and logistics potential and transit opportunities of the country, as well as the most promising sectors for foreign direct investment and a number of specific investment projects, Kazakh Invest national company for investment support and promotion reported. Continue reading
ASHGABAT (TCA) — Development of interstate cooperation was discussed during the talks held by Turkmenistan Government delegation led by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov in Tokyo, the State News Agency of Turkmenistan reported. On October 22, members of the Turkmenistan delegation were received by Prime Minister of Japan Shinzo Abe. Having confirmed high interest of his country in further improvement of partnership with Turkmenistan, the head of the Japanese Government expressed the gratitude to Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov for his personal contribution to development of traditionally friendly Turkmen–Japanese relations. During the meeting, the sides discussed opportunities of intensification of productive partnership by implementation of new joint projects with Japanese companies in petrochemical industry, electrical energy, transport sphere, and modernization of the railway network in Turkmenistan. In addition, the Turkmen delegation had meetings with leaders of ministries and departments of Japan. Various aspects of cooperation in transport sphere were discussed during the talks with the Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan Keiichi Ishii. Shipbuilding, automobile and railway transport were outlined as priority aspects. Opportunities of joint work in telecommunication were reviewed at the meeting with Minister of Communications of Japan Masatoshi Ishida. In particular, the Japanese side expressed interest and willingness to support the construction of a subsea fibre optic cable between Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan. Partnership in the economic sphere was discussed during the meeting with Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finances Taro Aso. Special attention was paid to financing of projects in Turkmenistan with participation of Japanese companies. On October 23, the Turkmen delegation met with President of Japanese International Cooperation Agency Shinichi Kitaoka. The sides noted positive experience of cooperation between the Government of Turkmenistan and JICA gained for more than 20 years. High efficiency of projects for improvement of qualification of Turkmen specialists in different spheres was highlighted. In addition, the Agency arranged joint work of scientists of the two countries in seismology. Necessity of further expansion of bilateral relations in the educational sphere was mentioned in the aspect of future partnership. The head of JICA expressed the interest in cooperation in social sphere projects. From this point of view, the Turkmen side proposed to consider the participation in the project of modernization of the railroads in Turkmenistan as socially important and aimed at provision of high quality services to the population of the country.
