Day: October 28, 2022

The first regional Central Asia-European Union (EU) high-level meeting with the participation of leaders of five Central Asian states and European Council President Charles Michel took place in the Kazakh capital of Astana on October 27.

The press service of the Ak Orda (the official workplace of the President of Kazakhstan) says Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Deputy Chair of Turkmenistan’s Cabinet of Ministers Hojamyrat Geldimyradow and President of the European Council Charles Michel participated in the event.

The leaders reportedly outlined the results of the 30 years of multilateral cooperation. They reaffirmed their commitment to continue building a strong, diversified and forward-looking partnership underpinned by shared values and mutual interests.

According to the Tajik president’s official website, the meeting participants exchanged views on a number of regional and international issues being of mutual interest, including various aspects of regional security and the problem of Afghanistan.

Speaking at the meeting, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon noted that the event is another good opportunity to discuss and agree on actions against the backdrop of global geopolitical changes aimed at strengthening the constructive development of interregional cooperation, the Tajik president’s official website says.

Tajik leader reportedly expressed satisfaction with the level of cooperation between Tajikistan and the European Union, the adoption of a new European Union Strategy for Central Asia, and also thanked the leadership of the European Union for providing assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tajik president’s official website notes that it was highlighted that Tajikistan fully supports the efforts to develop interregional cooperation in the fields of economy, transport and communications, water and energy management and other issues aimed at further sustainable development of our countries.

Emomali Rahmon reportedly also spoke about the possibility of strengthening and expanding relations between the countries within the framework of “Central Asia – European Union” format in promising areas of trade and economy, food security, agriculture, transport, logistics and energy.

He also emphasized that climate change, melting glaciers, increased precipitation and floods, droughts and the negative consequences of these phenomena, which have an adverse impact on the economic and social situation of countries.

Source: Asia-Plus

Specialists of the Department of Seed Production and Breeding Achievements of the Ministry of Agriculture have determined the stock of seed fund of and leguminous crops for sowing in 2023.

Source: Asia-Plus

Tajikistan has taken great strides in reducing poverty levels and boosting economic growth over the last decades., Ms. Cassandra Colbert, IFC Senior Manager, Central Asia, notes.

Between 2000 and 2021, the poverty rate, measured by the national poverty line, fell from more than four-fifths of the population to just over a quarter, while the economy grew at an average of 7 percent a year.

But, like most countries in Central Asia, Tajikistan has had limited economic diversification. Its heavy reliance on mining exports and remittances has made it vulnerable to external shocks. In the last two years alone, the country has borne the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conflict in Afghanistan, and the war in Ukraine.

All that has led to sizeable drops in economic activity, currency fluctuations, and financial sector instability. The labor market remains weak and food security is also lower than pre-pandemic levels.

These external shocks have impacted both households, and micro and small businesses. At home, many have experienced a double hit – from increasing expenses because of rising daily commodity prices, and diminishing incomes from a drop in employment and remittances. At firm level, Tajik companies have been reporting increased production costs and mounting difficulties in accessing credit, due to high interest rates or nonexistent collateral and guarantees.

Source: Asia-Plus

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved additional grant financing of US$43.2 million to scale up the safety and reliability of the road network in southern Tajikistan and enhance women’s access to social and economic activities, according to ADB Tajikistan Resident Mission (TJRM).

“Given its mountainous terrain, landlocked location, and the fact that other modes of transport remain underdeveloped, roads play a key role in moving people and goods in Tajikistan, both domestically and internationally” said ADB Director General for Central and West Asia Yevgeniy Zhukov. “ADB has provided comprehensive assistance to improve key international road corridors and we’re now moving to help strengthen the domestic road network. This responds to the government’s needs.”

The additional grant will rehabilitate a 40-kilometer section of road from Oqmazor to Bokhtar in the populous Khatlon province in southern Tajikistan. The design incorporates climate-resilient features to protect the road from potential extreme weather and renders it accessible year-round. It also includes safety features to improve road users’ safety and comfort.

The grant supplements an ongoing US$67.5 million grant approved by ADB in 2020 to rehabilitate Danghara-Oqmazor and Hulbuk-Kangurt road sections, assist the development of the road asset management system, and engage women along the sections in socioeconomic opportunities.

The road sections being improved under the ongoing project and additional financing link up with Asian Highway 66, a vital road connection between Asian and European countries. The project supports the goals of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Program by improving connectivity and competitiveness of key national roads that connect to international corridors.

“This project will help strengthen regional connectivity in southern Tajikistan with local people and businesses standing to benefit from the improved roads,” said ADB Transport Specialist for Central and West Asia Rika Idei. “Our ongoing assistance to develop the road asset management system will help the government identify where maintenance is needed and implement it timely – ultimately helping to ensure the long-term sustainability of roads.”

The project will also support women residing along the Oqmazor-Bokhtar road section through education programs designed to impart critical skills in managing business start-ups and household finances. The training will be delivered using mobile phones and schooling events.

Since Tajikistan joined ADB in 1998, the bank has provided over US$2.5 billion in assistance to the country, including over US$1.8 billion in grants. ADB’s 2021–2025 country partnership strategy for Tajikistan focuses on three strategic priorities: structural reforms to enhance resource allocation and mobilization, improving labor productivity through human capital development, and fostering better livelihoods by investing in the land-linked economy.

Established in 1966, the Asian Development Bank is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Source: Asia-Plus

Child poverty across Europe and Central Asia (ECA) has soared by 19 percent, as Ukraine war and rising inflation drive four million children into poverty.

A report released by UNICEF on October 17 says data from 22 countries across the region featured in the study shows children are bearing the heaviest burden of the economic crisis caused by the war in Ukraine. While children make up 25 percent of the population, they account for nearly 40 per cent of the additional 10.4 million people experiencing poverty this year.

The Russian Federation has reportedly experienced the most significant increase in the number of children living in poverty, with an additional 2.8 million children now living in households below the poverty line, accounting for nearly three-quarters of the total increase across the region. Ukraine is home to half a million additional children living in poverty, the second largest share. It is important to note that this is a conservative estimate which uses a GDP drop of 10 percent.

The consequences of child poverty stretch far beyond families living in financial distress. The sharp increase could result in an additional 4,500 children dying before their first birthday, and learning losses could be equivalent to an additional 117,000 children dropping out of school this year.

The poorer a family is, the greater the proportion of their income that is committed to necessities such as food and fuel. When the costs of basic goods soar, the money available to meet other needs such as health care and education falls. The Ukraine war and subsequent cost-of-living crisis means that the poorest children are even less likely to access essential services and are more at risk of child marriage, violence, exploitation and abuse.

For many, childhood poverty lasts a lifetime. One in three children born and raised in poverty will live their adult lives in poverty, leading to an intergenerational cycle of hardship and deprivation.

The challenges faced by families living in or on the brink of poverty deepen when governments reduce public expenditure, increase consumption taxes or put in place austerity measures in a limiting effort to boost their economies in the short-term, as this diminishes the reach and quality of support services that families depend on.

The study sets out a framework to help reduce the number of children living in poverty and prevent more families from falling into financial distress: provide universal cash benefits for children and ensure minimum income security; expand social assistance benefits to all families with children in need, including refugees; protect social spending, especially for vulnerable children and families; protect and support the delivery of health, nutrition, and social care services to pregnant mothers, infants, and preschoolers; Introduce price regulations on basic food items for families.

UNICEF has recently partnered with the EU Commission and several EU countries to pilot the EU Child Guarantee initiative to mitigate the impact of poverty on children and provide them with opportunities to thrive in adulthood. With more children and families now being pushed into poverty, a robust response is warranted across the region.

UNICEF is calling for continued and expanded support to strengthen social protection systems in high- and middle-income countries across Europe and Central Asia; and the prioritization of funding for social protection programs, including cash assistance programmes for vulnerable children and families.

Source: Asia-Plus

A session of the CIS Council of Heads of Government is being held in the Kazakh capital of Astana today.

Media reports say the event is attended by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Alikhan Smailov, Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Ali Asadov, Prime Minister of Belarus Roman Golovchenko, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Akylbek Japarov, Prime Minister of Russia Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of Tajikistan Qohir Rasoulzoda, Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov, Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Megri Grigoryan, Deputy Prime Minister of Turkmenistan Hojamyrat Geldimyradow.

According to AKIpress, the meeting is addressing several issues, including the following: agreement on free trade of services, investments; holding the second CIS Games in Belarus in 2023; agreement of cooperation in prevention of and response to emergency situations in public health; concept of science and technology cooperation; concept of digital transformation of chemical complex; interstate radio navigation program for 2023-2026; interstate program on remediation of territories of the states affected by uranium mining; action plan on humanitarian cooperation for 2023-2024; and financial support of CIS bodies.

In all, more than 10 documents are expected to be adopted at the meeting.

This is the 80th meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government since 1991. The previous meeting was held via video link in May. Kazakhstan holds chairmanship this year.

The CIS Council of Heads of Government was established on December 21, 1991. The council is the second major body in the CIS after the CIS Council of Heads of State, and consists of the prime ministers of all member states. The council coordinates the CIS member states” cooperation in economic, social and other areas of their common interests, and adopts corresponding decisions through consensus. The session of the CIS Council of Heads of Government is convened twice a year, normally in winter and autumn. Extraordinary meetings are summoned on the initiative of the government of a member state.

Founded in 1991 as a regional association of former Soviet republics, the CIS now consists of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Ukraine and Turkmenistan are associate members of the organization. Georgia pulled out quitted of the organization in 2009. Ukraine formally ended its participation in CIS statutory bodies in 2018, although it had stopped participating in the organization much earlier.

Source: Asia-Plus