@hronikatm.com

03 May 2024
Central Asia, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Local Politics, Local Politics, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy

Turkmenistan’s Public Sector Employees Pay Up to Care for Mulberry Silkworms, Cotton Fields

To cover the costs of silkworm care and the weeding of cotton, money is being collected from employees of state institutions in the Mary region, according to a report by Radio Azatlyk. According to a verbal order issued by the authorities, 100 manat is being collected from each government employee for the cost of silkworm care – and 30 manat for weeding.

Many workers at state institutions are dissatisfied with yet another example of extortion, but say they have no choice but to comply. According to an employee of one local state organizations, if any employee refuses to hand over the money, a report will be written on him or her. Employees who don’t agree with the collection of money are accused of opposing public policy, which can lead to their dismissal under various false pretexts.

“It is already very difficult to find a job now. Therefore, the majority of public sector workers are forced to agree to submit to the authorities’ next levies. If you write a report on one worker, the rest of them immediately agree to any demands,” the anonymous government worker said.

According to a presidential decree signed in February, Turkmenistan plans to produce 2,100 tons of silkworm cocoons this year. Meanwhile, cotton sowing projects also continue.

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@iStock

03 May 2024
Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Features

Citizens of Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan Continue to Encounter Difficulties Entering Russia

In recent days, the Russian border and migration services have been massively and summarily denying entry into Russia at airports and land-border checkpoints – not only to citizens of Tajikistan – but also to migrants from Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. That’s according to comments made by human rights advocate, Valentina Chupik to the Агентство. Новости Telegram channel.

According to Chupik, Russia has never before arbitrarily banned the entry of citizens of other countries on such a large-scale. The mass detention of immigrants at their attempted point of entry into Russia began on April 24, and by May 1, about 4,500 people were gathered at Russian airports, and the same number were not allowed egress at ground checkpoints.

Chupik said that only a quarter of those detained are citizens of Tajikistan, about half are from Uzbekistan, with the remainder comprising mainly citizens of Kyrgyzstan. Most detainees are repatriated to their home countries within a day or two, but in some cases the return can take up to a week.

Since April 24, the human rights advocate has received around 200 appeals from migrants detained by border guards. According to her, people are neither fed nor given water, they are not allowed to use the bathroom, their phones are confiscated, and they complain that “nothing is explained.” Women wearing headscarves and men with beards without mustaches are not being allowed into Russia, according to Chupik. Most of those denied entry have already entered Russia for work previously.

Russia itself has disputed Tajik claims that it’s targeting people from Tajikistan, saying it’s intensifying anti-terrorism measures at the border and that more rigorous checks of foreign citizens seeking entry are carried out “regardless of the nationality of the persons.”

The diplomatic back-and-forth – a rare show of discord between Russia and Tajikistan – comes amid a surge in suspicion and harassment among some Russians toward Tajik citizens after gunmen attacked the Crocus City Hall near Moscow on March 22, killing more than 140 people. The alleged perpetrators are all citizens of Tajikistan.

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Times of Central Asia

@El.kz

03 May 2024
Central Asia, Life & Culture, Kazakhstan Life & Culture, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan International Affairs

First Kazakh Kindergarten Has Opened in California’s Silicon Valley

The first Kazakh kindergarten in the U.S. has opened in the state of California, and its a project developed and operated by natives of Kazakhstan. The main purpose of the educational center is to work for the preservation of national culture abroad, reports the news site 24.KZ.

The idea to create a kindergarten replete with Kazakh-language instruction education came to Zhanna Atabekova. According to her, through the new school, citizens of Kazakhstan who live and work in Silicon Valley can now instill national values in their children.

“We want our child to receive the same upbringing as if he or she was raised by grandparents. This kindergarten is important to preserve our language,” parents stated.

Earlier, President Kasym-Jomart Tokayev spoke out on the issue of a national language policy, expressing confidence that Kazakh would become the main language of inter-ethnic communication.

At the end of last year, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection reported on its efforts to open education and training centers to help prepare Kazakhs for work abroad. According to official data, more than 194,000 citizens currently work abroad: 162,700 in Russia, 13,100 in Poland, 6,000 in South Korea, and 5,000 in Britain.

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Times of Central Asia

@iStock

03 May 2024
Central Asia, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Business & Economy, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy

Turkmenistan Ousts Uzbekistan from Tajikistan’s Market for Greenhouse Tomatoes

Turkmenistan has completely overtaken Uzbekistan in the market for greenhouse tomatoes in Tajikistan, according to a report by the EastFruit agricultural news portal.

Analysis revealed that Turkmen tomatoes are winning due to competitive pricing and also, their attractive appearance and modern packaging.

Despite problems related to the cultivation of tomatoes grown  in Tajikistan’s greenhouses  this season, the price has remained at a record low for this time of the year. The average wholesale price for one kg is  currently just $1.46 — and further price reductions are expected in the near future, notes EastFruit.

In Tajikistan, which currently imports the majority of greenhouse tomatoes it consumes, the wholesale price is significantly lower ($1.9 per kg) than in Uzbekistan, which is still the main regional exporter.

The EastFruit portal notes that today, greenhouse tomato prices in Central Asian countries are not much lower than  in Eastern European countries. It also reports that further development of energy-efficient greenhouse technologies will allow countries with colder climates to remain relatively highly competitive  and moreover,  local consumers are generally willing to pay more for the fresh taste of greenhouse-grown vegetables.

 

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Times of Central Asia

@ipd.kg

03 May 2024
Central Asia, Uzbekistan, International Affairs, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Uzbekistan International Affairs

Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan to Unite Their National Card Payment Systems

Kyrgyzstan’s national payment system, Elkart, and Uzbekistan’s Humo payments platform intend to launch a project on mutually acquiring, or guaranteeing payment security and authorizations according to Kyrgyzstan’s Interbank Processing Center (IPC). The agreement was reached at a meeting in Tashkent.

“We are going to develop payment systems and create an ecosystem in our countries. This project will open new horizons for the development of not only financial infrastructures of Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, but will also give impetus to the development of many spheres of activity of the two states,” said Kanykei Zhamangulova, Chair of the Board of the Kyrgyz IPC.

Payment organizations of the two countries have been negotiating a mutual acquiring framework since last summer. At the last meeting in Bishkek, the parties agreed on money transfers and internet payments. “An agreement was reached to start a joint project for step-by-step realization of the set goals and mutual exchange of experience in acquiring, issuing and combating fraudulent transactions,” Shukhratbek Kurbanov, director of the Humo payment system, said at the time. Citizens of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan will be able to pay with their cards in the other of the two countries without additional commissions, he said. However, the exact launch date of mutual acquiring services wasn’t announced.

The cross-border payments plan is advancing as relations between Bishkek and Tashkent were further warmed by the demarcation of the two states’ international border. This key step put an end to decades of border disputes that had persisted since the end of the Soviet period.

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@Asia-Plus

03 May 2024
Central Asia, Tajikistan Local Politics, Tajikistan, Tajikistan Business Economy, Business & Economy

Tajikistan Faces Acute Shortage of Human Capital in Field of Land Reclamation and Irrigation

In Tajikistan, specialists are leaving the important sphere of land reclamation and irrigation due to low salaries. In the last five months alone, 1,000 employees of the Land Reclamation and Irrigation Department (LRID) in Sughd Province have quit their jobs. That could mean trouble for the agricultural sector sooner rather than later.

As Asia-Plus reports, subordinate enterprises under the Land Reclamation and Irrigation Agency are among the main debtors to the tax authorities. Their debt at the beginning of the year is 83.8 million somoni ($7.7 million) – and more than 80 million also belongs to the energy sector. For the first quarter of 2024, the Agency’s wage arrears amounted to about 1.7 million somoni.

“This is primarily due to the fact that water users do not pay or delay payment for reclamation services. Today, the debt of water users amounts to 95.6 million somoni,” according to the Soghd regional leadership.

More than 5,600 people work in Tajikistan’s land reclamation and irrigation sector. The average salary of employees is about 850 somoni per month ($78), and in the regions that salary hasn’t been paid for months. Only during the irrigation season can employees of local water management organizations go to the fields and collect money for irrigation services rendered. Those proceeds often pay rank-and-file workers’ salaries. In order to pay their employees, managers of local water management organizations let them use equipment (excavators, tractors, trailers, etc.) that’s available in order to make money.

There are 779 units of machinery of different brands on the balance sheet of the subordinate enterprises of the Agency, 350 of which are so outdated they are no longer suitable for use.

The sad state of affairs in the Land Reclamation and Irrigation Agency and its subordinate organizations has become a key reason for the mass departure of employees As a consequence, the Agency is facing a crippling staff shortage, with some water pumping stations employing 5-6 people instead of the 18 needed.

The department plans to increase salaries for its specialists – especially young personnel – at the expense of payments for water supply. However, most water consumers are also unable to pay for irrigation, thereby threatening the wage increases before they even begin – meaning both problems may yet persist in tandem.

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