The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on January 31 approved $25 million for the Higher Education Quality and Innovation Project for the Kyrgyz Republic to help improve the quality of research and strengthen labor market alignment of higher education programs. “The Higher Education Quality and Innovation Project is fully aligned with the National Development Strategy of
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in collaboration with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health, the National Scientific Center of Phtiziopulmonolgy (NTP), healthcare professionals, international donors, community leaders and medical representatives, on January 30 in Almaty held a capstone event to celebrate the achievements of its regional Eliminating Tuberculosis in Central Asia (ETICA) activity in Kazakhstan. The
On January 27, a meeting was held between the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov and the managing director of the consulting company Goetzpartners Emerging Markets GmbH Vladimir Mathias and the senior advisor of this company Hans Gerd Prödel. The parties discussed construction of industrial facilities
The Board of Directors of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a new strategy for Uzbekistan, setting out the Bank’s priorities in the country until 2029. The Bank’s strategic approach to operations in Central Asia’s most populous state will be based on activities in three areas: supporting decarbonisation, greater water efficiency and cleaner energy; developing
The official opening ceremony of the new fire and rescue station was held on January 26 in Osh city in southern Kyrgyzstan. The construction of the new facility became possible within the framework of trilateral cooperation between the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Kyrgyz Republic, the Government of Korea through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and
Residents of Kyrgyzstan’s capital city of Bishkek will have access to greener public transport and better services thanks to new buses financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The project is part of the Green Cities programme designed to address environmental challenges and invest in sustainable municipal infrastructure, the EBRD said. Bishkek on January
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it invested more than €1.2 billion in projects across Central Asia in 2023 to stimulate the region’s sustainable and inclusive growth. Uzbekistan remained the leading recipient of EBRD funding in the region for the fourth year running, by attracting more than €700 million. The remaining €518 million
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand on January 23 in Bangkok hosted a seminar on investment and trade opportunities in Kazakhstan. The event was held with the participation of around 60 Thai businessmen to strengthen economic contacts between Kazakhstan and Thailand, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. In a welcoming speech, Deputy Permanent Secretary of
On January 24, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan and Xi’an Lvhuan Forest Technology Service Co. Ltd signed an agreement on bilateral cooperation, with the support of National Company KAZAKH INVEST. Areas of cooperation include implementing projects for developing carbon sink assets in forests, meadows, wetlands, clean energy, soils, rivers, and lakes
On January 23, the United States through its Agency for International Development (USAID) delivered 131 tons of food aid worth approximately $425,000 to Uzbekistan. This aid will provide 6.5 million meals to the country’s most vulnerable citizens through distribution in over 120 health and social protection facilities providing support to patients in tuberculosis and mental
During his official visit to Japan on January 22, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov met with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan, Ken Saito. The ministers discussed strengthening trade and economic ties between Turkmenistan and Japan, noting the successful joint implementation of various projects, including the construction in
Kazakhstan Agency of International Development KazAID held a briefing with the participation of representatives of embassies of Central Asian countries on January 22 in Astana. During the briefing Kazakh diplomats presented information on KazAID projects in 2024 to the Embassies of the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Particular attention was focused on the Dostyk
Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Aibek Smadiyarov said on January 22 that Kremlin-friendly Russian journalist Tina Kandelaki has been banned from entering the country over a post she made online, alleging that the Russian language was being discriminated against in the Central Asian country. Kandelaki had criticized Kazakhstan’s plan to replace the Russian names of railway
A major earthquake followed by a series of aftershocks struck early on January 23 along the China-Kyrgyzstan border, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported. Kyrgyz Emergencies Minister Boobek Ajikeev said in a video message that the earthquake was felt shortly after midnight in Kyrgyzstan and was especially strong in several districts of the northern Issyk-Kul
A round table was held in Tashkent on January 19 to discuss the findings of four expeditions conducted by the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Coordination Water Commission of Central Asia (SIC ICWC) on the dried bed of the Aral Sea. These expeditions, supported by the UN Development Programme from 2019 to 2023, aimed
Both of the Kazakh parliament’s chambers, the Mazhilis and the Senate, approved on January 19 a presidential proposal to send 430 Kazakh peacekeepers to the Middle East and Africa, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. Defense Minister Ruslan Zhaqsylyqov said the troops will join the UN Disengagement Observer Force on the Golan Heights, the UN Truce Supervision
A Moscow court on January 19 sent a leader of the Uzbek diaspora in Russia, Usman Baratov, to pretrial detention for at least two months on a charge of inciting hatred with his online posts, RFE/RL’s Russian Service reported. Baratov pleaded not guilty to the charge, which stemmed from a post last month related to
The United States and European Union have expressed their deep concern about recent actions against independent media in Kyrgyzstan. This comes after 11 journalists were arrested earlier this week in a move international media watchdogs said was aimed at “intimidating and harassing” journalists to keep them from carrying out their work. On January 16, Kyrgyz
On January 17, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov held a meeting with the Vice-President of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas in Ashgabat. The parties discussed key aspects of cooperation between Turkmenistan and the EU and prospects for its further development. Special attention was paid to the areas of security, digitalization, water
Türkiye says people from Turkmenistan and Russia are the two largest groups of foreigners living in the country as they seek better living conditions, Current Time reported. According to a report from the Migration Directorate of Türkiye, among the 1.1 million foreign nationals residing in the country with residence permits, 109,000 are Turkmens and 100,000 are Russian
