On March 6, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Union (EU) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan, launched the “Roadmap for Sustainable Investment Policy Reforms (RSIPR)” Project funded by the EU and ADB. The project will provide a comprehensive assessment of the investment framework currently
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing fresh funds and creating new growth opportunities for women-owned and managed businesses in Uzbekistan by offering a loan of up to US$ 6 million (€ 5.5 million equivalent) to Uzbek Leasing International (Uzbek Leasing). The loan to Uzbek Leasing is extended under the EBRD’s Central Asian Women in
On March 5, the European Union (EU) and the UNDP held the handover ceremony of equipment to the Research Institute of Fisheries to support more sustainable fish farming practices in Uzbekistan. The provided equipment will help to reduce water consumption, improve water quality and energy efficiency in the fish farms, and, in turn, support the welfare of fish, the Delegation of the European Union
The World Bank and the IFC, the private sector arm of the World Bank Group, on March 1 organized the first Conference on Elevating Global Access through E-Commerce (E-GATE) in Tajikistan. In Central Asia, e-commerce is emerging as a powerful tool to tap into global markets for locally made products, modernize traditional supply chains, and foster
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is promoting green lending in the Kyrgyz Republic by adding three partner banks to its US$ 50 million Green Economy Financing Facility III (KyrSEFF III). Demir Kyrgyz International Bank, FINCA Bank Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank have agreed to engage in lending to small and medium-sized businesses and households across the country.
Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov on February 28 participated in a ceremony to launch the construction of an automobile assembly plant in the country’s northern Chui region. The plant will assemble electric vehicles, commercial and passenger cars, and special equipment. It is a joint project of the Kyrgyz government, local enterprises, and the Chinese company China
During a working visit to Geneva, Deputy Prime Minister–Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Murat Nurtleu on February 28 met with the leadership of the Swiss companies INOKS Capital, Stadler Rail, Воѕсhung and MSC. The parties discussed current and new investment projects in Kazakhstan in the priority areas of the national economy – agriculture, mechanical
On February 20 in Ashgabat, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Myahri Byashimova met with Leandro Slowinski, the editorial director of The Investor magazine, published by the French consulting company Beyond Investments Group. Mr. Slowinski expressed the interest of the magazine’s editors in researching the trade and economic potential of Turkmenistan for a broader
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has released the latest Macroeconomic Review for its six member states — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan. In the face of a challenging external economic environment, the Review says, the EDB region saw a strong recovery in 2023, with the aggregate GDP of the Bank’s member states increasing
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Shinhan Bank Kazakhstan (SBK) are helping to increase the capacity and attractiveness of Kazakhstan’s major conference hub, the Atakent Business Cooperation Centre in Almaty, by financing its expansion, the EBRD said on February 19. The EBRD will share half of the risk of a KZT 3 billion (US$ 6.6 million) loan
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced a subscription of up to $10 million in a landmark local currency green bond issued by Tajikistan’s Eskhata Bank. The first in the country, the bond aims to boost access to climate finance for smaller businesses amid a challenging macro-economic environment.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on February 14 said it has invested $41.99 million into shares of Kazakhstan’s flagship carrier, Air Astana, supporting the country’s first partial privatisation through an initial public offering (IPO). The EBRD’s investment represents a 5 per cent shareholding in Air Astana. The shares will be listed on both the London
On February 12, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with Nikolai Podguzov, the chairman of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Management Board. Podguzov informed President Tokayev about the Bank’s plans and said that the EDB’s annual investment in Kazakhstan’s economy has exceeded $1 billion for the second consecutive year, the EDB’s press service reported. The EDB
Kyrgyzstan and Turkey have signed a contract for the export of 400 tons of walnuts from the Kyrgyz Republic. The first batch of walnuts will be exported to Turkey on February 15, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and Commerce said. The contract comes as a result of the Kyrgyz-Turkish business forum held in the Turkish
Kazakhstan ranks 8th in the world in the development of online services. In 2023, 50 million services were provided online and citizens received 92% of services without leaving their homes, the Minister of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry of Kazakhstan, Bagdat Musin said, summing up the results of Digital Almaty-2024 forum held last week.
As part of the VI Digital Forum Digital Almaty 2024: “Industry X: Digital Evolution of the Future,” a panel session on the topic “Quality of Communication and Tariff Increases” took place on February 2. The panel session began with discussions about the “250+” project, in which mobile operators created infrastructure for high-speed mobile internet access
Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov has ordered to fully modernize the Bishkek thermal power plant after an explosion at the old plant on February 2 left parts of the capital city without hot water and heat. Three workers of the power plant were seriously injured in the explosion. President Japarov visited the plant as its staff
According to the latest findings from the “Listening to Kazakhstan” survey conducted by the World Bank and presented at a roundtable in Astana on January 31, around 70 percent of Kazakhstan’s citizens express satisfaction with their life – a number that has remained the same since the start of the survey in 2021. This survey, conducted in
From February 1-3, Kazakhstan’s business capital, Almaty, will host the Digital Almaty 2024 forum, entitled “Industry X: The Digital Development of the Future”. Now in its sixth year, the forum will bring together government officials from Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) countries, leading experts, and entrepreneurs from around the world, said
The Kyrgyz Interior Ministry’s official told RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service on January 26 that the former deputy chief of the Customs Service, Raimbek Matraimov, who in 2020-2021 was at the center of a high-profile corruption scandal, was added to the wanted list of the State Committee for National Security. The ex-official is suspected of abducting and
