Day: February 10, 2023

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Tourism Development Committee claims that almost 1 million foreign tourist visited Tajikistan last year

In a report released at a news conference in Dushanbe, the head of the Tourism Development Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, Kamoliddin Muminzoda, stated on February 10 that 999,300 foreign tourists visited Tajikistan last year, which is 3.4 times or 703,000 tourists more than in 2021.

According to him, most tourists came from Uzbekistan – 690,000. Russia (136,000 tourists), Kazakhstan (25,000 tourists), Turkiye (7,500) and the United States (about 7,000) are reportedly also among the top five countries.

Muminzoda also noted that three large and two small projects are currently being implemented in the country to support further development of the tourism sector in the country.

He noted that the main tasks of the tourism industry for the period up to 2027 include the creation of the tourism infrastructure in accordance with world standards, training of qualified personnel for the tourism industry, improvement of quality of offered tourist services and expansion of their list, increasing the country's status in international ratings, and formation of a national brand.

“A special attention will be given to development of medical, ecological and mountaineering tourism,” Muminzoda added.

Tourism is considered one of the sectors, which are hoped to promote further development of the national economy. However, tourism receipts-to-GDP ratio remains very low. Due to the coronavirus pandemic this ratio fell in 2019 to 0.3 percent, and in 2021, it rose 1.3 percent.

It is to be noted that the tourism industry is an economic sector among those most severely affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Tajikistan’s rich cultural heritage, hospitality and abundance of mountain snow peaks, rivers, lakes and recreational opportunities contribute to the development of country’s tourism industry. In 2018, Tajik Government announced a year of tourism development. The tourism sector is considered a priority for the development of Tajikistan’s economy. At the same time, undeveloped infrastructure and low levels of quality of services delay the growth of the tourism industry.

Source: Asia-Plus

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Tajikistan routinely ranks toward the bottom of international standings in terms of speed and prices offered by ISPs

Tajikistan routinely ranks toward the bottom of international standings in terms of Internet speed and prices offered by Internet service providers (ISPs).

Mobile Internet

As of December 2022, the Speedtest Global Index ranks Tajikistan 137th among 141 nations in terms of mobile Internet speed. There are only Ghana, Venezuela, Cuba and Afghanistan below it. Among Central Asia’s nations, Tajikistan stands in the last place, not counting Turkmenistan (no data available for this country).

Everything is also bad at the cost of mobile Internet. Worldwide Mobile Data Pricing 2022 ranks Tajikistan (1GB of mobile data in Tajikistan costs on average US$1.94).

As far as other Central Asia’s are concerned, Kyrgyzstan comes in at 6th in the world, with 1GB of mobile data costing an average of US$0.17, Uzbekistan ranks 15th (US$0.37 per 1GB), and Kazakhstan ranks 16th (US$0.37 per 1GB).

Even Afghanistan comes 65th in the world, with 1GB of mobile data costing an average of US$0.90.

Turkmenistan reportedly has the most expensive mobile Internet in the world, with 1 GB costing an average of US$14.27.

Cable Internet

In terms of cable (broadband) Internet speed Tajikistan ranks 118th among 178 nations. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan rank 83rd, 89th and 96th, respectively.

Turkmenistan and Afghanistan ranks 176th and 177th, respectively.

Tajikistan stands in fourth place among the Central Asian countries in terms of cable Internet speed.

Since February 1, mobile internet service providers have reportedly been sending SMSs to their customers to inform them that connection speeds are poised to increase dramatically.

One company, Babilon-Mobile, has said that customers paying for a contract providing them with speeds of 512 kilobits per second, for example, will soon be upgraded to 1 megabit per second.

Another company, Tcell, is slashing the prices for its internet packages. Where a 1-gigabyte data package used to cost the equivalent of around US$3.00, the rate will now be closer to US$1.70. A 20-gigabyte package will set customers back by around $11.50.

Megafon Tajikistan reportedly offers 20 gigabytes for just under US$9.00.

A source at one mobile telecommunications company told Eurasianet on condition of anonymity that they and industry peers got the word to act after President Emomali Rahmon experienced trouble staying online during last month’s Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) virtual summit

“During the meeting, his connection dropped out about seven to 10 times. The president was angered by the quality of the internet and reprimanded the head of the communications service agency,” the source told Eurasianet.

During an address to a joint meeting of both chambers of parliament, Rahmon on December 23 drew a direct correlation between the difficulty of getting online and the sad state of the tourism industry.

“Basically, where do tourists go?” he asked. “Where there is good internet.”

“We need to rethink the culture of using mobile phones,” said the head of state. “There is no need to rejoice at this. In the future there may be serious problems as a result, and people will succumb to various diseases, such as brain cancer.”

Rahmon also expressed dissatisfaction with how much people were spending on their phones.

Source: Asia-Plus

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Tajik rescuers launch search-and-rescue operation in the Turkish province of Kahramanmaras

Tajik rescuers, who have arrived in Turkiye to help eliminate the consequences of the devastating earthquake, today morning began search-rescue operations in the quake-hit province of Kahramanmaras, according to the Emergencies Committee under the Government of Tajikistan.

“40 Tajik rescuers are inspecting and dismantling the rubble of destroyed buildings. Our rescuers work with maximum efficiency in conditions of catastrophic destruction, where every minute counts. The rescuers use special technical equipment designed to search for people under the rubble,” Ms., Umeda Yusufi, a spokeswoman for the Emergencies Committee, told Source: Asia-Plus in an interview.

According to her, the head of the team of Tajik rescuer workers, Major-General Sulaimon Isozoda, yesterday night met in the city of Gaziantep with Yusuf Aisu, chief of the Gaziantep emergency management department.

“The Turkish side expressed gratitude for the support Tajikistan has provided and the location of the work of our rescuers was determined during the meeting -- Kahramanmaras province,” Ms. Yusufi said.

Recall, Tajikistan has sent a team of 50 rescue workers to help eliminate the consequences of the devastating earthquake. The rescue team members include highly-skilled rescuers, surgeon and a doctor of traumatology.

Earthquake in Kahramanmaras; photo / Reuters

UN OCHA reported on February 9 that an earthquake measuring 7.7 on the Richter scale took place in Pazarcik, Kahramanmaras at 04.17 hours on February 6, 2023. A total of 1,052 earthquakes occurred including a 7.6-magnitude earthquake that hit Elbistan.

UN OCHA says that according to initially available information from SAKOM, 12,391 people have lost their lives and 62,914 individuals have been injured in Kahramanmaras, Gaziantep, Sanliurfa, Diyarbakir, Adana, Adiyaman, Osmaniye, Hatay, Kilis and Malatya and Elazig.

Source: Asia-Plus

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A five-year-program aimed at improving living standards in Zarafshon Valley launched in Tajikistan

On Wednesday February 8, the high-level launch event of the new multi-stakeholder cooperation for the Zarafshon Valley was held in Dushanbe with participation of Tajik government officials and development partners.

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Representative Office, Dushanbe says to improve the quality of life of people of the Zarafshon Valley, the Government of Tajikistan, the European Union (EU) and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) by the agency of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) launched a new five-year program under the banner of the “Integrated Natural Resources Management in Zarafshon Valley for Equitable and Sustainable Development (INVEST)” Project.

The aim of the partnership is to strengthen sustainable management and protect natural resources to improve the standard of living, food security and nutrition of more than 200,000 people in the Zarafshon Valley.

As Mr. Anvar Yoqubi, Deputy Chairman of the Sughd province noted: "The implementation of this project, covering more than 16.6 million euros, is a significant incentive for us to develop rural areas, in particular improving the living conditions of the population and the economic and social progress of the Zarafshon Valley".

"This cooperation is aimed at implementing the reforms carried out by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan in the agricultural and water sectors - these are exactly the initiatives within which the program for the development of rural regions was prepared," said Ms. Zulfiya Davlatbekova, representative of the European Union.

Mr. Qozidavlat Qoimdodov, Permanent Representative of AKDN, emphasized the value of the project: “This project can provide practical assistance to three mountain regions in solving issues of water scarcity and sanitation, responsible land use and construction of new intensive gardens that mountain residents need.”

Other speakers, including the heads of the Zarafshon Valley districts and development partners, noted the importance of the project, aimed at improving the living standards of the population of the region.

The project will be implemented by a consortium of partners from the agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), the Aga Khan Health Service in Tajikistan (AKHS), the Mountain Societies Development Support Program (MSDSP) and the Non-Profit Cooperative Sarob.

Source: Asia-Plus

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Aeroflot to operate flights from St. Petersburg to Dushanbe from next month

Russia’s largest airline, Aeroflot-Russian Airlines, is expected to launch regular flights from the Russian city of St. Petersburg to Dushanbe starting from March.

Boeing 737s will be used to operate this flight that will be operated twice-weekly service – on Fridays and Sundays, Aeroflot’s press center says.

Founded in 1923, Aeroflot-Russian Airlines is one of the oldest active airlines in the world. Aeroflot is headquartered in the Central Administrative Okrug, Moscow, with its hub being Sheremetyevo International Airport.

Before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the airline flew to 146 destinations in 52 countries, excluding codeshared services. The number of destinations was significantly reduced after many countries banned Russian aircraft; as of March 8, 2022, Aeroflot flies only to destinations in Russia and Belarus.

In April 2006, Aeroflot became a member of SkyTeam, making it the first carrier in the former Soviet Union to do so. In 2022, SkyTeam and Aeroflot agreed to temporarily suspend the airline's membership, one of many corporate responses to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. As of March 2020, the Government of Russia owns 51% of Aeroflot through the Federal Agency for State Property Management, with the rest of the shares being free-floating.

The Aeroflot passenger fleet consists of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft from six aircraft families: the Airbus A320, the Airbus A330, the Airbus A350, the Boeing 737, the Boeing 777, and the Sukhoi Superjet 100. As of July 2022, there are 181 passenger aircraft registered in the Aeroflot fleet.

Source: Asia-Plus

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As part of agreement between Caritas Switzerland and Tajik Hydromet, low-cost weather stations will be deployed throughout Tajikistan

On February 8, Caritas Switzerland signed an implementation agreement with the Agency of Hydrometeorology of Tajikistan (Hydromet) for joint implementation of the “Leveraging weather water climate services for sustainable livelihoods and rural well-being” (WWCS) initiative. The project is funded jointly by the Government of Switzerland through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and Caritas Switzerland.

According to press release issued by Caritas Switzerland, WWCS aims to improve the density of weather observations through deployment of low-cost weather stations throughout the country to generate and deliver reliable local weather forecasts. It will also produce a suite of weather-water-climate services (e.g., when to plant, when to irrigate) to support farmers, and more effective early warning systems for extreme climate events. This investment capitalizes on memorandums of understanding signed in 2019 between the Governments of Switzerland and Tajikistan on integrated water resources management and a second on climate change and disaster risk reduction.

A higher-level agreement on WWCS between the SDC, Caritas Switzerland, Ministry of Agriculture, Committee for Environmental Protection and Emergencies Committee is forthcoming.

These agreements will frame and support an even closer and deeper working-relationship between the Government of Tajikistan, the Government of Switzerland and Caritas Switzerland.

Caritas Switzerland is a Swiss NGO, founded in 1901 with headquarters in Lucerne, Switzerland. Caritas Switzerland assists people in need within more than 50 countries abroad as well as in Switzerland. Caritas Switzerland has been active in Tajikistan since 1996. Within its country program strategy for 2021-2025, contextually relevant approaches for inclusive, effective and sustainable weather-water-climate services are developed and institutionalized for tangible improvements in human and environmental well-being within rural communities.

The Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan represents the Government of Switzerland and supervises Swiss funded projects implemented in Tajikistan Switzerland funds projects in the following domains: Water, Infrastructure and climate change; Governance, human rights and service delivery; Inclusive and sustainable economic development.

Source: Asia-Plus

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Russia to open pre-migration training center in Tajikistan

Migrants make enormous development contribution to their host and origin countries. The number of those seeking better employment opportunities in the Russian Federation remains high in Tajikistan.

Russia expects to sign government-to-government agreements on migration with Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in 2023, Alexander Sternik, Director of the Russian MFA Third Department of the CIS Member Nations, told RIA Novosti in an interview on February 9.

According to him, they are currently working on opening pre-migration training centers in three Central Asia’s nations.

“In accordance with our legislation, the centers will provide a set services (fingerprinting, photography, registration) to those wishing to travel to Russia. Besides, the center will make available consultations on organized recruitment [of workers] for Russian employers and issuance of necessary medical certificates will be provided,” Sternik said.

“In a word, we are jointly engaged in streamlining the rapid migration flows, which is in the common interest. We hope to reach the signing of relevant government-to-government agreements with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, and possibly with Tajikistan by the end of this year,” Russian diplomat added.

Recall, Russian authorities stated in early November 2021 that Russia plans to launch three pre-departure training centers for labor migrants in three main labor resource donor countries, namely Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, from 2022 to 2025.

It was supposed that nationals of these countries would be able to receive a full complex of migration services and “enter Russia with a full package of documents for living and working in the territory of the country.”

Within the framework of Russian government’s strategic initiative “Russia is Attractive Country for Study and Work”, the Russian authorities were supposed to take measures to simplify entry into the Russian labor market that would allow increasing the number of legally working foreign nationals to 3.5 million by 2030.

Source: Asia-Plus