The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is supporting micro, small and medium-sized businesses and improving access to finance for young entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan by providing a financial package of up to US$ 20 million (€18.8 million) to a major private lender, Ipak Yuli Bank. The package consists of a US$ 10 million loan under
Amid Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine and geopolitical confrontation with the West, the Kremlin is taking efforts to strengthen its influence in Kazakhstan, Moldova, other countries of Central Asia, and in the South Caucasus. For this purpose, Russia has launched information campaigns using various news agencies and Internet platforms to disseminate Moscow’s narrative in
Significant steps towards expanding relations between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were made within the framework of the III Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 2-3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan reported. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Nazira Nurbayeva spoke at the event, saying that last year, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan reached
Kyrgyzstan has advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Russia in the face of rising scrutiny of Central Asians in the country following the deadly Crocus City Hall attack near Moscow in late March, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. The Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry issued the travel advisory on May 2, warning Kyrgyz citizens of intensified checks and controls at
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on May 2 said it is contributing to the development of sustainable transport connections in Central Asia by financing the upgrade and expansion of a key transportation route in Uzbekistan. The EBRD’s sovereign loan of up to US$ 238 million (€224 million) will help rehabilitate around 81 km of
Speaking at the Third Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 2, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that in the past few years, Uzbekistan has attracted over 60 billion dollars in foreign investments, and more than 14 billion dollars from international financial institutions have been directed to social and infrastructure projects. The volume of foreign
Regional officials and employees of local state entities in Turkmenistan’s western region of Balkan have been forced to buy watches with pictures of President Serdar Berdymukhammedov and his father and predecessor, Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, on the face of the timepiece, RFE/RL’s Turkmen Service reported. The watches cost between 1,500 and 3,000 manats ($410-$820). Those of higher
Kazakhstan’s national railways company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has announced that the issues of organizing the launch of an international tourist passenger train from China’s Xi’an to Almaty were discussed during a working meeting of the heads of NC KTZ JSC, Passenger Transportation JSC and a delegation of the government of Xi’an (PRC). The tourist
Azerbaijan and Armenia are expected to hold negotiations in Almaty at the suggestion of the Kazakh side, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev announced on May 1. “I welcome the agreement between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia to hold talks at the Foreign Ministers’ level on the preparation of a peace treaty between
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Swiss government are helping to address pressing water treatment and environmental issues in Tajikistan by contributing additional funds towards the completion of upgrades to water and wastewater infrastructure in the city of Fayzobod and 14 neighbouring communities, the EBRD said on April 30. The EBRD is organising
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on April 30 approved a $84 million grant from the International Development Association (IDA) for the Afghanistan Community Resilience and Livelihoods Project, which complements $70 million in additional financing from the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund (ARTF). The project started in 2022 with a grant of $265 million from the
The first meeting of the Business Council of Kazakhstan and Croatia was held in Zagreb on April 25 as part of a joint business forum with the support of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Croatia. During the event, Ulbosyn Sarybayeva, the representative of National Company Kazakh Invest, told Croatian businessmen about measures of state support for investments and
The Kazakh Prosecutor-General’s Office said investigators have detained former Interior Minister Erlan Turghymbaev on a charge of abuse of office and power, RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service reported. In a statement on April 30, the office said Turghymbaev’s detention was linked to “ongoing investigations into the events that took place in January 2022,” a reference to nationwide demonstrations that were sparked
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing funds to upgrade key infrastructure and develop sustainable transportation solutions for Tajikistan’s capital. This is the third project under the Dushanbe Green City Action Plan (GCAP). The EBRD’s sovereign loan of up to €28.45 million will help finance major transportation improvements in the riverside part of
The European Union on April 25 granted EUR 6 million to the Government of Uzbekistan to help incentivize the adoption of National Food Security and Healthy Nutrition Strategy. In addition to the grant, technical assistance funded by the European Union will support the Ministry of Agriculture in planning reforms, the Delegation of the European Union
Thirty aspiring tourism business owners from universities in Osh, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will participate in the two-day “Youth Empowerment in Tourism” workshop to hone their skills in digital literacy, hotel service, business development, and social media marketing. The workshop features experts from the Kyrgyz Republic, the United States, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan, and included session on
A Kyrgyz man who was handed a suspended seven-year prison term for joining Russia’s armed forces and fighting in Ukraine is expected to obtain Russian citizenship, Russian Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk said over the weekend, RFE/RL’s Kyrgyz Service reported. Askar Kubanychbek-uulu told Russian journalists that he had fled Kyrgyzstan via neighboring Kazakhstan and is
Tajikistan has advised its citizens to refrain from traveling to Russia amid increased pressures faced by Central Asians there following the deadly Crocus City Hall attack near Moscow last month, RFE/RL’s Russian Service reported. The Tajik Foreign Ministry issued the “temporary” advisory on April 27, a day after Tajik officials expressed concerns about Tajiks being “unjustifiably” denied entry to
As part of his visit to Italy, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon on April 26 paid an official visit to the Vatican and met with Pope Francis. According to the Holy See press office, during the meeting the good relations between the Holy See and Tajikistan were evoked, and mention was made of some aspects of
A Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin this week visited Afghanistan to discuss cooperation in regional transport projects. The Kazakh side announced its readiness to participate in projects for the development of the trans-Afghan corridor: the construction of the Termez – Mazar-i-Sharif – Kabul – Peshawar and Herat – Kandahar – Spin
