Italian govt

24 Apr 2024
Tajikistan, Tajikistan International Affairs

Tajikistan and Italy Engage in Dialogue to Enhance Collaboration

On April 23, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon and the President of the Council of Ministers of Italy Giorgia Meloni met in Rome to discuss expanding bilateral relations regarding political, economic, trade, cultural, humanitarian, and security issues.

According to Tajikistan’s president’s press service, both sides expressed interest in expanding cooperation in the fields of hydropower, light, food, metallurgical, mining, and chemical industries, as well as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and tourism.

Seeking to attract Italian capital for the development of his country’s industrial sector, President Rahmon emphasized that Tajikistan has all the necessary components for creating joint ventures in processing agricultural and industrial products and increasing their export to European countries.

The leaders also discussed opening direct flights between Tajikistan and Italy, cooperation in education and healthcare, and the allocation of quotas for Tajik students wishing to study at Italian universities.

As reported by the Italian prime minister’s office, the meeting resulted in the signing of several bilateral agreements aimed to strengthen Italy’s relationship with Central Asia through enhanced dialogue and collaboration in all sectors of common interest including security, drug control and tourism, as well as cultural, scientific and technological cooperation, and sustainable development.

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Times of Central Asia

@iStock

23 Apr 2024
Central Asia, Kazakhstan Local Politics, Local Politics, Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Plans To Stop Bloggers From Promoting Gambling

Kazakhstan is preparing big changes for the gambling business in the form of a new bill that’s under consideration in the country’s lower house of parliament, the Majilis. Should the bill become law, bloggers will be banned from advertising betting platforms and online casinos. These changes are aimed at stricter regulation of the gambling industry and protection of citizens’ financial interests.

Members of the Maijilis emphasize that bloggers will still be able to cover sporting events on their social media accounts, but advertising gambling establishments will be banned. That’s a step towards more responsible and ethical advertising practices that focus on sports and healthy lifestyles that the government would like to promote.

The bill includes other important changes, such as raising the minimum age for gambling to 25, banning gambling by those who are in debt, and tightening the requirements for advertising gambling establishments. These steps are aimed at creating a safer and more responsible gambling environment for citizens of Kazakhstan.

In March the Majilis started working on the new draft law, which, according to representative Askhat Aimagambetov, provides for the introduction of liability for gambling businesses in the form of fines ranging from 1.1 million tenge ($2,500) to 3.6 million tenge ($8,000).

In addition, members of the Maijilis spoke out on the possible introduction of a ban on gambling for civil servants. This is a step that could be part of a broader program to combat the negative consequences of gambling addiction among public-sector employees.

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Times of Central Asia

gov.kg

23 Apr 2024
Kyrgyzstan Business & Economy, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan International Affairs

U.K. Company to Manufacture Innovative Material to Improve Irrigation in Kyrgyzstan

Back in November 2023, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, Akylbek Japarov met head of Concrete Canvas, Will Crawford in Cardiff to discuss the establishment of a plant in Kyrgyzstan.

On 23 April representatives of the company travelled to the Chui region of northern Kyrgyzstan for further negotiations attended by Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers – Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry, Bakyt Torobayev and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron.

Concrete Canvas, produces waterproof flexible concrete filled geosynthetic composite mats used for lining irrigation canals to prevent erosion and reduce seepage losses.

Hailing the benefits of the product, Torobayev stated, “Across Kyrgyzstan, the length of canals is 30 thousand kilometres, including 11 thousand kilometres of -unsurfaced- canals. By laying concrete material on these canals, we will avoid seepage of water and ensure its efficient use. Kyrgyzstan is an agricultural country with a lot of arable land, so we really need such materials. The plan is to build the company’s plant in the Osh region in south Kyrgyzstan in the near future.”

Material produced by the Kyrgyzstan plant will meet domestic demand and could also be exported to Russia and Uzbekistan.

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Times of Central Asia

@mchs.gov.kg

23 Apr 2024
Central Asia, Environment, Kyrgyzstan Environment, Local Politics, Kyrgyzstan, Kyrgyzstan Local Politics

Mudslides in Kyrgyzstan Flood Over 200 Homes

Kyrgyzstan’s emergencies ministry has formed an operational headquarters to deal with recent flooding in the south of the country. Rescuers report that hundreds of local residents have been evacuated to safety.

Flooding due to heavy rains began last week in Kyrgyzstan’s southern Osh region, prompting the region to declare a state of emergency. More than 500 people, including local volunteers, are currently working to clear up the damage caused.

“At about 22:00 (April 22), information was received that flood waters inundated houses and roads due to heavy rain in Mady, Besh-Moinok, Kyrgyz-Chek, Asan-Chek villages of the Kara-Suu district of Osh region,” the emergency ministry has commented.

Unstable weather and heavy rains have already caused mountain mudslides in four regions of Kyrgyzstan. In total more than 30 mudslides have been recorded in recent days, inundating more than 200 homes. Rescuers quickly cleared some villages and districts; however, meteorologists warn that avalanches and flooding may continue until April 26, as the water level in rivers will rise.

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Times of Central Asia

@Washington University in St. Louis

23 Apr 2024
Central Asia, Uzbekistan Environment, Environment, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan International Affairs, Uzbekistan Local Politics

U.S. Government Discusses Data From Air Quality Monitor at Tashkent Embassy

On April 22, a press conference was held at the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan with American air quality specialist and researcher Jay Turner speaking to media representatives about the air quality monitoring device installed at the embassy in Tashkent in 2018.

According to Turner, the device monitors the concentration of air particles every hour: data is taken every 53 minutes, the remaining seven minutes are spent analyzing it, and the results are compared to the previous hour.

Devices recently installed by Uzhydromet also monitor air quality hourly, and their data is roughly similar to that recorded at the U.S. Embassy. However, there are aspects that should be taken into account when comparing the results, says Turner. “It is required to follow certain protocols during the monitoring process. The equipment at the embassy follows these protocols, which I have checked myself. If we assume that Uzhydromet follows these protocols and submits its reports, it can be said that it will be the same as our data,” he said.

Turner mentioned that work is currently underway to determine the differences between the monitoring devices. “To find an answer to this question, the U.S. State Department has allocated grant funds to Duke University and plans to install inexpensive air quality monitoring sensors throughout Tashkent. A portion of them has already been installed,” he stated.

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Times of Central Asia

primeminister.kz

23 Apr 2024
Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Environment, Kazakhstan Home

EU Provides Humanitarian Aid to Victims of Kazakhstan Floods

In response to the extensive spring floods that to date, have displaced more than 119,000 people across Kazakhstan, the European Union has pledged €200,000 in humanitarian aid to assist the worst affected families.

As reported by the Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan, funds allocated by the EU will be channelled through the Red Crescent Society of Kazakhstan to provide essential aid in the form of household items such as mattresses and bed linen, multi-purpose cash, as well as measures and materials related to hygiene.

The humanitarian aid, to be provided over the next three months, will directly benefit 5,000 individuals seriously affected by the floods, particularly female-headed households, households with disabled or elderly family members, and families with more than three children.

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Times of Central Asia