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UNESCO Tourism Environment Local Economy

British Magazine Ranks Kazakhstan’s Katon-Karagay Top Travel Destination

The Katon-Karagay district in Eastern Kazakhstan has been included in Asia & the Middle East's top sustainable travel destinations for 2024 by the British magazine Wanderlust. The district is home to Katon-Karagay National Park. Spanning over 643,000 hectares, the park was designated a Kazakh-Russian transboundary biosphere reserve in 2017 by the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. In promoting the reserve, Wanderlust stated: “Five years ago, residents of the Katon-Karagay district – a sweep of lonely steppe, mountains and forests in far eastern Kazakhstan – faced a dilemma. Though home to the country’s largest national park and around 275 bird species, its 48 villages attracted few visitors, and there was little work available. As a result, its population had almost halved since the turn of the century, many residents having moved to cities in search of employment. So in 2019 the Sustainable Rural Development Fund was launched, with the aim of improving the quality of life in three remote districts, including Katon-Karagay. Key to this effort was the creation of sustainable community tourism opportunities, including training guesthouse owners and opening a hospitality school. Money has also been allocated to trail maintenance, signs and a tourist information centre, making it easier for travellers to explore a region whose communities and culture are finally being appreciated.”

Transport Environment Local Economy EDB investment

Green Light for Uzgen Bypass, South Kyrgyzstan

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and a consortium comprising Tez Zhol, Zhagalmai, and DemirBank, have signed agreements to build and maintain a bypass road around the historic town of Uzgen in the Osh region of south Kyrgyzstan. According to EDB’s press office, the project which includes new information technologies for toll road management, aims to improve connectivity in the Osh region, enhance road safety and improve Uzgen’s environment. The Bishkek–Osh highway, one of the country’s main transport arteries and used by approximately 23,000 vehicles per day, causes serious issues for the densely populated town of Uzgen. The route through its center impacts the town’s socioeconomic situation by increasing levels of noise and pollution whilst congestion poses risks for pedestrians, exacerbating safety concerns. The projected timeline for such a large-scale project is 49 years, from 2024 to 2073, and comprising 14.1-km of new roads, three bridges and a toll management system, the estimated cost of its construction is US $29.9 million. Commenting on the initiative, Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, stated: “The Uzgen Bypass is the first toll road initiative in the Kyrgyz Republic. This project will increase the daily capacity of the Bishkek–Osh road from 8,000 to 12,000 vehicles, create approximately 300 jobs and boost demand for local industrial enterprises such as reinforced concrete and concrete plants. Additionally, it will improve the environmental situation and reduce the load on Uzgen’s roads by diverting traffic to bypass the residential sector.”

Local Economy Entrepreneurship Housing Healthcare

Kyrgyzstan President Announces New Social Welfare Measures

In his address at the National Congress on Social Mobilization on 22 May, Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov announced several initiatives aimed at raising the standard of living of the country’s citizens. The event was attended by participants of a nationwide Social Contract program through which the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration provides grants of 100 thousand soms/ $1,130, to low-income families wishing to open small businesses. Launched three years ago, the program has enabled some 13,000 people to develop their businesses, created jobs, and generally enhanced the livelihoods of families and local communities. Highly effective, the initiative has to date, benefited over 70,000 people across the country. In addition to a government allocation of 2 billion soms to maintain the program, the president announced plans to boost the economy and improve the wellbeing of Kyrgyzstan citizens, by establishing new enterprises, industrial facilities and in turn, more jobs. President Japarov stated that the Cabinet of Ministers and local authorities had been tasked to support entrepreneurs at all levels from small workshops, fruit processing plants and retail outlets to tourist bed and breakfast services and cafes. To ease the financial burden on small and medium-sized businesses, the president announced a reduction in social tax from 27 percent to 12 percent. In addition, the president has introduced a strict moratorium on inspections of businesses to further support entrepreneurs. Referencing amendments to the Constitution made in 2021 which guaranteed that pensions would not fall below the minimum living wage, the head of state announced that from 1 October, 2024, pensions in Kyrgyzstan will exceed the minimum living wage of 6,800 soms/ $77. The president confirmed the government’s commitment to its provision affordable housing and reported that the construction of multi-storey buildings through the State Mortgage Company has enabled public sector employees and private individuals alike, to obtain mortgages on apartments. He continued by stating that 11,495 apartments are currently being built across the country and the construction of 12,000 apartments will begin before the end of this year. In the healthcare sector, the president has instructed that from 1 July, the number of doctors participating in the program to locate medics in remote areas, small towns, and villages, is to increase from 200 to 500. Regarding the shortage of doctors in the regions, the president has approved the introduction of an additional monthly payment of 20,000 soms/ $226 to paediatricians, neonatologists, surgeons, anaesthesiologists, and resuscitation doctors working outside Bishkek

Gas and diesel Local Economy Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan to Up Price of Gas and Diesel for Foreign Vehicles

Due to government controls, Kazakhstan currently charges the lowest prices for motor fuel compared to other members of the Eurasian Economic Union, including Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. To maintain the balance of fuel for the domestic market, as well as minimize the risks of ‘gray’ fuel exports, the Ministry of Energy of Kazakhstan has prepared a draft to increase prices for AI-92 and AI-93 gasoline and diesel fuel to be levied in accordance with the origin of vehicles. The proposed new price for AI-92 and AI-93 gasoline in Kazakhstan is 245 tenge per litre. However, for drivers holding licenses and vehicle registration certificates issued in Kazakhstan, the price will remain unchanged, at 205 tenge per litre, if no more than 300 litres are bought per day. Likewise, the price of diesel will remain at 295 tenge per litre for locals but raised to 315 tenge per litre for non-residents of Kazakhstan. In a statement issued on 11 April, the Ministry of Energy gave assurance that the country currently has sufficient motor fuel to satisfy the domestic market. Now published, the draft is open for public discussion.

Local Economy

UNDP Supports the Development of Adventure Tourism in Kyrgyzstan

As per a press release on its website, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Kyrgyzstan, in collaboration with the Fair and Sustainable Development Solutions (FSDS) Foundation, said it is launching activities to strengthen the value-added chain (VAC) of adventure tourism. The project, Aid for Trade in Central Asia, aims to develop adventure tourism in target regions of Kyrgyzstan, creating new jobs, increasing the competitiveness of the sector, and strengthening its export potential. Tourism plays an important role in expanding economic opportunities and contributes to infrastructure development, which has a positive impact on other sectors of the economy. There are also opportunities to make the sector green and sustainable, the project stated. Kyrgyzstan needs to be positioned as a new tourism destination, as the country has a wide range of tourism resources. However, this will require coordinated efforts. “We support the promotion of adventure tourism, which is one of the fastest growing sectors and has a great potential for developing the local economy”, said Aid for Trade project coordinator, Aisulu Mambetkazieva. “Moreover, adventure tourism will allow as many people as possible to learn about the beautiful culture and nature of Kyrgyzstan. We hope that the project can become a driver for the development of adventure tourism in Kyrgyzstan and create new opportunities for sector participants”. The activities on strengthening the VAC of adventure tourism will be carried out in Issyk-Kul, Jalal-Abad, and Osh provinces. The project includes several key tasks on which the UNDP has already begun work: Increasing the potential of VAC participants and introducing joint adventure tourism products. New tourism products will be developed and promoted through various trading platforms; Increasing access to innovative and environmentally sustainable technologies that contribute to sustainable development; Creation of favorable conditions for the development of safe adventure tourism at a local level. The UNDP in Kyrgyzstan pays great attention to supporting women's entrepreneurship and the business initiatives of people with disabilities. In this regard, it is expected that appropriate measures will be taken to create examples of tourism entrepreneurship among women and people with disabilities for further replication and scaling.