Thirty organizations – such as schools, libraries, and universities – in Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Batken regions of Kyrgyzstan on May 22 received a total of over 12,000 English-language books from the United States. These are well-loved books donated from the American people to the Kyrgyz people, the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan reported. This project is
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Kyrgyzstan’s Electric Stations have signed a technical assistance agreement for the purchase of equipment for the Bishkek combined heat and power plant (CHPP). This project, financed by the EDB Technical Assistance Fund (TAF), aims to address the consequences of an accident that occurred at the plant on 2 February
The 20th anniversary meeting of the Kazakh-German Intergovernmental Commission for the Affairs of Ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan was held on May 21 in Astana in order to strengthen cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany and discuss the affairs of the German ethnic group, Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry reported. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of
The World Bank Group, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), and the Government of Uzbekistan have signed a financial package to fund a 250-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant with a 63-MW battery energy storage system (BESS). The project aims to expand clean and reliable electricity access to approximately 75,000 households, the World Bank said
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Bishkek Solar have signed a cooperation agreement to finance the construction of a 300 MW photovoltaic power station in Toru-Aigyr village in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul region. The signing ceremony took place on 21 May in Bishkek. The project includes several key agreements, including an agreement with the National Electric Grid
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), the Financial Credit Fund under the Ministry of Finance of the Kyrgyz Republic (FCF), the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund (RKDF) and the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange (KSE) have signed a letter of intent to implement a technical assistance project aimed at modernising the stock exchange in Kyrgyzstan. The modernisation project aims to
On May 20-21, Astana hosted a regular meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Foreign Ministers Council, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu. The meeting began with a minute of silence in honor of the Iranian President and Foreign Minister who died in a plane crash. The
The third meeting of the annual High-level Dialogue on Human Rights and Democratic Reforms between Kazakhstan and the United States took place in Astana on May 20 co-chaired by Assistant to the President of Kazakhstan for International Affairs Erzhan Kazykhan and U.S. Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Uzra Zeya.
From May 17 to 18, an International Conference at the level of ministers of culture of foreign countries, dedicated to the 300th anniversary of the birth of the great Turkmen poet and thinker of the East Magtymguly Fragi (Pyragy) was held in Ashgabat. The conference was attended by leaders and representatives of authoritative international organizations, including
Following unprecedented mob violence targeting foreign students from South Asia in Kyrgyzstan, around 1,200 Pakistani students at the Bishkek-based Kyrgyzstan International University have left the Central Asian nation, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. University Rector Asylbek Aidaraliev told reporters on May 20 that mainly first-year and second-year students had left the country, though some students remain in Kyrgyzstan
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Kazakhstan are joining forces to support the modernization and development of the national mining sector. They will cooperate on activities that can contribute to better governance, transparency and regulation of the sector in line with best international standards and practices, the EBRD reported. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
On May 24-28, the 6th ECG Film Festival will be held at Premier Cinemas Romford in London. This festival is proudly joining forces with the renowned Romford Film Festival for the 6th consecutive year, promising a diverse and captivating lineup of films. Founded by the Eurasian Creative Guild and serving as a cultural bridge between
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Labor Migration Agency on May 17 called on the Central Asian nation’s citizens who may have broken laws in Russia to avoid travel to neighboring Kazakhstan, citing Kazakh-Russian agreements on joint efforts against crime, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. According to the agency, Uzbeks registered in Russia’s database as violators will be arrested if they cross
The Kyrgyz government said 29 people were injured, including three foreigners, in mob violence in Bishkek on the night of May 17-18 that appeared to be directed against foreign students and migrants, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. The violence prompted diplomatic reactions from Pakistan and India, who warned their students in Bishkek to remain indoors. The
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is supporting inclusive lending in Kazakhstan by providing new funds to the country’s leading microfinancier, KMF. KMF has been an EBRD client for almost two decades. The financial package of up to US$ 25 million (€ 23.2 million) will be disbursed in local currency, the Kazakh tenge (KZT)
Alisher Kadyrov, the leader of the National Revival party and vice-speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Uzbek parliament, has proposed that those who do not know the Uzbek language should not work in the civil service and should not be able to use government services in Uzbekistan, Radio Ozodlik reported. Kadyrov made such comments
On May 16 in Astana, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met with secretaries of the Security Councils of the five Central Asian countries. The Kazakh president noted that the meeting was an important stage in the preparation for the Sixth Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia, which will be held in Astana
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on May 15 said it is pledging new funds to support inclusive lending to the smallest customers in remote areas of Tajikistan. The Bank is providing a financial package of US$ 4 million (€3.7 million) to one of the country’s leading microlenders, MDO HUMO. HUMO, the winner of
According to the latest Regional Economic Prospects (REP) report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Central Asian economies in 2024 are expected to see growth slowing to 5.4 percent. However, a rebound to 5.9 percent is expected in 2025. The report notes that intermediated trade with Russia, which had been a significant growth
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has announced it will invest up to $5 million in Sturgeon Emerging Opportunities II, a new venture capital fund managed by Sturgeon Capital, a major venture capital investor. The money will help promote digital economies and support the growth of early-stage tech startups
