ASHGABAT (TCA) — A former manager of Germany's MAN company has gone on trial in Munich on charges of bribing top officials at the Turkmen state oil company, RFE/RL's Turkmen Service reported.

UST-KAMENOGORSK, Kazakhstan (TCA) — The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on December 10 said it has received the second and final shipment of low-enriched uranium (LEU) at a purpose-built facility in Kazakhstan housing the IAEA LEU Bank, which was established to provide assurance to countries about the supply of nuclear fuel. The delivery completes the planned stock of the material that the IAEA LEU Bank will hold, following the first shipment in October.

DUSHANBE (TCA) — The Cooperation Council between the European Union (EU) and Tajikistan held its 8th meeting on December 10 in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by Tajikistan’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Sirojiddin Muhriddin. The EU delegation was chaired by Mr Goran Grlić Radman, Croatia's Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, on behalf of Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) flagship Human Development Report (HDR) 2019 was presented in Kazakhstan on December 11.

TASHKENT (TCA) — Uzbekistan is considering cancellation of the registration demanded of foreign visitors for a stay of no more than 30 days in the Central Asian country, according to a proposed presidential decree open for public comment on December 10, Xinhua news agency reported.

BISHKEK (TCA) — The Cooperation Council between the European Union (EU) and Kyrgyzstan held its seventeenth meeting on December 9 in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by Gordan Grlić Radman, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, on behalf of Josep Borrell Fontelles, the new EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The delegation of Kyrgyzstan was led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Chyngyz Aidarbekov.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — During his working trip to the United States, Kazakhstan Prime Minister Askar Mamin on December 9 met with the Governor of Nebraska Pete Ricketts and the President of Valmont Industries, the market leader in irrigation systems, Stephen Kaniewski.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — Tyson Fresh Meats, Inc., the beef and pork subsidiary of US’s Tyson Foods, Inc., on December 9 signed an agreement with the Republic of Kazakhstan and private holding company Kusto Group to collaborate on a project that in its initial phase could lead to the construction of a modern beef processing plant in Kazakhstan with an anticipated harvest capacity of 2,000 head per day. The investment is projected to help provide an annual agricultural economic benefit to the country well in excess of one billion US dollars, Tyson Foods said in a press release.

BISHKEK (TCA) — The head of the government of China’s Xinjiang, at a press conference in Beijing on December 9, said the region is determined in counter-terrorism, deradicalization and maintaining development, Xinhua news agency reported.

BISHKEK (TCA) — A psychiatric examination has been ordered for Kyrgyzstan’s arrested former President Almazbek Atambayev, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported citing the country’s Interior Ministry.

BISHKEK (TCA) — Prosecutors in a high-profile corruption trial in Kyrgyzstan have asked a court to sentence two former mayors of the country’s capital, Bishkek, to lengthy prison terms, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reports.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — An agreement on supplying Kazakh oil to Belarus may be signed early next year, Belarus’ BelTA news agency reported on December 6 with reference to Kazakh Deputy Energy Minister Asset Magauov.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — In January-November 2019, preliminary oil production in Kazakhstan amounted to 82.5 million tons. The country's oil production plan for 2019 is 89 million tons, and until the end of the year, it is expected that the oil production plan will be slightly exceeded to reach 90.5 million tons, Vice Minister of Energy Asset Magauov said at a press conference on December 6, the press service of the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan reported.

DUSHANBE (TCA) — The Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan said it has signed a 20 million euro agreement with KfW for construction of a small hydropower plant (HPP) in the Mountainous Badakhshan Autonomous Province of Tajikistan.

BISHKEK (TCA) — The Publisher’s note: Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, Central Asia was the scene of intense geopolitical struggle and the Great Game between the British and Russian Empires, and later between the Soviet Union and the West, over Afghanistan and neighboring territories. Into the 21st century, Central Asia has become the area of a renewed geopolitical interest, dubbed the New Great Game, largely based on the region’s hydrocarbon and mineral wealth. On top of that, the region now is perhaps the most important node in the implementation of China’s One Belt, One Road initiative through which Beijing aims to get direct access to Western markets. Every week thousands of news appears in the world’s printed and online media and many of them may escape the attention of busy readers. At The Times of Central Asia, we strongly believe that more information can better contribute to peaceful development and better knowledge of this unique region. So we are presenting this Weekly Digest which compiles what other media have reported on Central Asia over the past week.

KAZAKHSTAN

Latinisation of the Kazakh alphabet

The Kazakh transition to a Latin script comes at a time when integration with Moscow appears high on the agenda

Dec 3 — ““The future of Kazakh people lies in the fluent use of Kazakh, Russian and English languages”. This statement by former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, summarises the nuance for the meaning of Kazakh Latinisation. Official authorities in Russia have reacted by stating their understanding and respect for such a decision of a sovereign state. Whereas the more popular reactions from commentators in Russia were loaded with anger and nationalistic sentiments. Some Western analysts immediately interpreted this decision as a change in East-West relations and Kazakhstan becoming more Western. Neither is fully true. The answer for the right direction lies in the statement above.” READ MORE: https://neweasterneurope.eu/2019/12/03/latinisation-of-the-kazakh-alphabet/

Kazakhstan: Reaching Out to Central Asian Neighbours

Despite its regional outreach, Kazakhstan’s diplomatic priority will remain Russia, China, and Europe

Dec 4 — “Leaders of the resource-rich Central Asian region have the propensity to remain in power until mortality dictates otherwise. Much like the UK and Brexit, however, few wanted to see Central Asia’s longest reigning ruler, Kazakhstan’s septuagenarian president Nursultan Nazarbayev, crash out without a deal.” READ MORE: https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/kazakhstan-reaching-out-central-asian-neighbours#

Kazakh strategist: The EU is a precious, but undervalued partner

EURACTIV’s interview with Sanat Kushkumbayev, a prominent foreign policy analyst, about Kazakhstan’s diplomatic and geopolitical efforts, including its relations with China and the EU

Dec 5 — “Is it possible to compare the situation in Ukraine and in Kazakhstan, almost three decades after both countries’ independence from the USSR? It is not by chance that at the conference we both attended it was said that in a transition period it is very important to have a long mandate to carry out reforms. Kazakhstan adopted the presidential model and long-termism. Short-termism and a big role for Parliament doesn’t help, maybe this was the issue in Ukraine, and the democratic process can also often bring about populism. This is especially true when unpopular decisions need to be taken. Maybe in Central Europe, the parliamentary model worked, but in the post-Soviet space, Ukraine, Moldova, it didn’t.” READ MORE: https://www.euractiv.com/section/china/interview/kazakh-strategist-the-eu-is-a-precious-but-undervalued-partner/

One Third of Kazakhstan Schools Have Outdoor Toilets Only

Until 2021, the administrations of cities and regions of Kazakhstan should totally eliminate outdoor school toilets and build them inside educational institutions. This decision was made after a schoolgirl was raped in an outdoor toilet

Dec 5 — “Kazakhstan is a country that seeks to become a very serious tourism player on the global map. Yet, the country has only two toilets that meet global standards. The study was conducted by representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Sport, according to vice-head of the agency, Yerlan Kozhagapanov. At the recent meeting of the interagency committee on protection of children’s rights, it was reported that 2,352 schools with outdoor toilets are operating in Kazakhstan.” READ MORE: https://cabar.asia/en/one-third-of-kazakhstan-schools-have-outdoor-toilets-only/

KYRGYZSTAN

“It’s Contrary to our Mindset.” Scandal over Exhibition Unfolds in Kyrgyzstan

In Bishkek, female activists decided to draw public attention to the issue of women’s rights violation using contemporary art. Other activists – supporters of the national culture and traditions – opposed it and called to close down the exhibition

Dec 3 — “On November 27, the first exhibition opened in Kyrgyzstan that united the idea of biennale (festival of contemporary art) and feminism. The feminnale called “Foster Mothers. Economic Freedom. Women” reveals the idea of women’s freedom in Kyrgyzstan. According to the organisers, the exhibition will be held for 17 days – equal to the number of girls who died in fire at a Moscow printing house in 2016. 14 of the deceased were from Kyrgyzstan. The feminnale is threatened to be closed down just 5 days after its opening, according to organisers.” READ MORE: https://cabar.asia/en/it-s-contrary-to-our-mindset-scandal-over-exhibition-unfolds-in-kyrgyzstan/

Kyrgyzstan: Blogger Faces Incitement Charges

A Kyrgyzstan blogger was detained and has now been placed under house arrest over posts on corruption

Dec 6 — “A blogger in Kyrgyzstan who wrote about corruption on social media is facing charges of inter-regional incitement, Human Rights Watch said today. The blogger, Aftandil Zhorobekov, was detained on November 24, 2019 by Kyrgyzstan’s State Committee for National Security (GKNB) and held in pretrial detention until being placed under house arrest on December 5, with the charges against him still standing.” READ MORE: https://www.hrw.org/news/2019/12/06/kyrgyzstan-blogger-faces-incitement-charges

Kyrgyzstan: Former PM sentenced to 15 years in Chinese bribery case

The alleged bribe-givers were never compelled to testify

Dec 6 — “A former prime minister in Kyrgyzstan has been sentenced to 15 years in prison on corruption charges, ending a trial that has served as a sideshow to a now-spent battle of wills between the country’s current and former presidents. Sverdlovsk district court on December 6 found Sapar Isakov and six other former top officials guilty of profiting from a 2013 deal for Chinese company TBEA to overhaul a power plant in the capital, Bishkek. Isakov and others in the dock denied the charges.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/kyrgyzstan-former-pm-sentenced-to-15-years-in-chinese-bribery-case

TAJIKISTAN

Iran Helps Power Tajikistan With Hydroelectric Power

Iran has common historical and cultural roots with Tajikistan, but the relations between the two nations have been strained in recent years

Dec 4 — “Iranian and Tajik officials recently discussed financial issues regarding a hydroelectric power plant built by Iranian companies in Tajikistan – a country with ethnic and linguistic ties to Iran. “One of the most successful projects that Iranian companies have carried out in Tajikistan in recent years was the construction of 220-megawatt Sangtuda-2 hydroelectric power plant that has come on stream and plays a major role in supplying the country’s power demands in the wintertime,” Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources Usmonali Usmonzoda said on the sidelines of a recent meeting of the Iran-Tajikistan joint commission for economic cooperation, which kicked off in Tehran on December 2.” READ MORE: https://caspiannews.com/news-detail/iran-helps-power-tajikistan-with-hydroelectric-power-2019-12-4-35/

How to Develop Tourism in Tajikistan?

An interview with Andrea Dall’Olio, Lead Financial Sector Economist at the World Bank, about Tajikistan’s tourism potential and what the country can do to respond to increasing international tourist demand

Dec 4 — “What kind of tourist comes to Tajikistan? And what makes Tajikistan an attractive destination for tourists? Tajikistan has both natural beauty and cultural richness, which appeals to tourists from all around the world. In addition, the country is relatively unexplored, and therefore considered “exotic”. This is a big selling point for today’s adventure tourists who want to explore places where few other people have been to.” READ MORE: https://moderndiplomacy.eu/2019/12/04/how-to-develop-tourism-in-tajikistan/

Report: Tajikistan to yield share in aluminum plant to China

China's state-owned CMEC has pledged to invest $545 million in the Tajik aluminum plant

Dec 5 — “Tajikistan is reportedly on the cusp of selling a stake in its main industrial concern to a Chinese company, thereby relinquishing yet more assets in exchange for much-need cash injections. RFE/RL’s Tajik service, Radio Ozodi, on December 4 cited Beijing’s former ambassador to Tajikistan, Yue Bin, as saying that the acquisition would be executed in return for the Chinese company investing $545 million into the Talco aluminum producer.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/report-tajikistan-to-yield-share-in-aluminum-plant-to-china

TURKMENISTAN

New Roadblock Alleged For Women Drivers In Turkmenistan

Dozens of women have described having their licenses seized by traffic-police officers under thin pretexts like missing spare tires or lack of a first-aid kit

Nov 30 — “An Ashgabat mother who's been driving for two decades has found herself stranded after authorities recently refused to extend her driver's license in what looks like a fresh blow to women drivers in the male-dominated Central Asian country. The woman, who doesn't want her identity revealed for fear of reprisals, says more than a dozen visits to the relevant authorities have elicited no explanation for why they derailed her routine application for a renewal.” READ MORE: https://www.rferl.org/a/new-roadblock-alleged-for-women-drivers-in-turkmenistan/30300428.html

Turkmenistan: A shining city on the steppe

In its ‘Akhal-Teke: A Turkmenistan Bulletin’, Eurasianet reviews the main news and events in the Central Asian country for the previous week

Dec 3 — “Turkmenistan's rubber-stamp legislature, known as the Mejlis, late last month approved next year’s budget, although little useful detail has been published. President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov has called for the spending plans to ensure what the government insists are “high levels of growth.” The wider population, meanwhile, will be hoping that basic utilities can be kept going. RFE/RL's Turkmen service, Radio Azatlyk, reported last week on troubles with the heating system in various parts of the country.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/turkmenistan-a-shining-city-on-the-steppe

Is new Russia-China gas pipeline a threat to Turkmenistan?

Turkmenistan has been China’s largest source of gas. With the new Power of Siberia pipeline, Russia is muscling in

Dec 4 — “Russia’s mega-project to export its gas to China, the Power of Siberia pipeline, came onlineDecember 2. By 2024, the pipeline is expected to deliver 38 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually. This triumph for Moscow will be greeted warily in Turkmenistan. Turkmenistan has dominated deliveries of gas to China since the first arm of the Central Asia-China gas pipeline was completed in 2009.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/is-new-russia-china-gas-pipeline-a-threat-to-turkmenistan

UZBEKISTAN

Uzbekistan Faces Choice Between Closer Ties to US, Russia

Diverse economic ties are important because double-landlocked Uzbekistan lacks direct access to ports. Geography alone means the country needs all the economic partnerships it can muster

Dec 1 — “After two decades of disengagement from international entanglements, a newly confident Uzbekistan is seeking a larger role in its Central Asian neighborhood, prompting the United States and Russia to compete for its favor in ways that echo their long-past Cold War rivalry.
Moscow hopes to cement Uzbekistan into its regional bloc, the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), which includes Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Doing so would preserve Russia's primacy in Central Asia.” READ MORE: https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/uzbekistan-faces-choice-between-closer-ties-us-russia

Uzbekistan: Elections look livelier but choice still threadbare

Only pro-government parties are allowed to compete in parliamentary elections this month

Dec 6 — “In competitive political systems, it is parties that chase voters. In Uzbekistan, it has always notionally worked the other way around. The handful of registered parties stands still and waits as an electorate evolves around them. Those inclined to robustly reject government policy, meanwhile, have no home. Uzbekistan has lacked a real opposition for almost all of its three decades of independence.” READ MORE: https://eurasianet.org/uzbekistan-elections-look-livelier-but-choice-still-threadbare

Tourists, High Prices, And KFC: A Look Inside A Changing Uzbekistan

A correspondent for RFE/RL’s Kazakh Service traveled through Uzbekistan to investigate the shifting landscape in the country. He spoke with Uzbeks about the changes they’ve witnessed and whether they hold out hope for greater transformations

Dec 6 — “Three years ago, Uzbekistan went through its first major political upheaval in decades. The death of Islam Karimov, who had ruled the country since it gained independence in 1991, was announced in September 2016. Two months later, the prime minister, Shavkat Mirziyoev, was elected president with an overwhelming majority. The transition prompted debate inside and outside Uzbekistan as to whether the country was headed for a political thaw or a continuation of an autocratic regime under different leadership. Since 2016, there have been slow but visible signs of change: Foreign investment and tourism are growing, and Uzbeks are able to travel abroad without official permission.” READ MORE: https://www.rferl.org/a/uzbekistan-social-economic-change/30311367.html

AFGHANISTAN

Afghanistan in 2019: Hoping for Peace

A growing majority of all Afghans, 64.0%, now believe that reconciliation with the Taliban is possible, an increase of 11 percentage points since last year

Dec 4 — “Eighteen years after international forces arrived in Afghanistan in pursuit of the architects of 9/11, the prospect of peace in this poor and war-weary nation has emerged as a tantalizing flicker of light at the end of a long, dark tunnel. Peace overtures by the United States, its international partners, and Afghan political figures dominated the national narrative in 2019, and U.S.-Taliban peace talks in Doha and Moscow, and subsequent confidence-building measures and intra-Afghan dialogues, have awakened a tentative optimism among the Afghan people that peace may finally be possible.” READ MORE: https://asiafoundation.org/2019/12/04/afghanistan-in-2019-hoping-for-peace/

Why a Deal with the Taliban May Be Inevitable

In areas of Afghanistan where German troops once built schools, the Taliban is now capturing one district after the other. With no end to the war in sight, voices calling for a deal with the Taliban are growing

Dec 6 — “It's a clear, warm autumn morning, and hundreds have gathered to pay their last respects to Najmullah, the revered commander of the militia in the village of Warduj, who fell in the battle against the Taliban. It is said that Najmullah never showed fear, that he always encouraged his men and that he loved trees more than anything else.” READ MORE: https://www.spiegel.de/international/world/why-a-deal-with-the-taliban-may-be-inevitable-in-afghanistan-a-1298956.html

Afghanistan at a crossroads

It seems possible that the United States is now more directly gearing an agreement on the presence of US forces in Afghanistan to the achievement of a serious intra-Afghan negotiation and to the outcome of that negotiation

Dec 6 — “After decades of conflict, today there is at least a prospect that a path to peace in Afghanistan might be opened. At the same time, it seems that once again the country is at a crossroads, with its future to be determined by decisions that will be taken in the coming weeks by Afghans, their partners, and their adversaries. Those decisions can set the stage for further success in the hard struggle of the Afghan people and their elected leaders for the better future they are striving for.” READ MORE: https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/new-atlanticist/afghanistan-at-a-crossroads/

WORLD

WHY CHINA LEANS HARD ON CENTRAL ASIA

The Central Asia region is critical to China’s ambitions, hence the generous offers of state-of-the-art surveillance technology

Dec 3 — “China is providing several Central Asian former Soviet bloc countries surveillance technology for free. But as we have seen there is always a cost to doing business with China. In this case, the cost is that the data gleaned from these technologies goes back to Beijing where the Chinese government can monitor activity and purchases in those countries.” READ MORE: https://mindmatters.ai/2019/12/why-china-leans-hard-on-central-asia/

Is This Central Asia’s ASEAN Moment?

On November 29, Central Asia re-emerged as a world region

Dec 5 — “Hats off to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan, First President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan, President Emomali Rahmon of Tajikistan, President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov of Turkmenistan, and President Sooronbay Jeenbekov of the Kyrgyz Republic.” READ MORE: https://thediplomat.com/2019/12/is-this-central-asias-asean-moment/

DUSHANBE (TCA) — The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $110 million grant to Tajikistan to construct 30 kilometers (km) of a highway and 30 km of secondary roads between the towns of Obigarm and Nurobod in the northeast of the country, ADB’s Country Office said on December 6.

BISHKEK (TCA) — A court has sentenced former Kyrgyz Prime Minister Sapar Isakov to 15 years in prison on corruption charges stemming from his involvement in a 2013 project to modernize the Bishkek Thermal Power Station, RFE/RL's Kyrgyz Service reported.

Presiding Sverdlovsky District Court judge Inara Gilyazetdinova said in rendering the verdict late on December 6 that Isakov’s penalty includes the confiscation of property he owns as well as stripping him of his diplomatic status.

The high-profile corruption trial has implicated several former top Kyrgyz officials who allegedly are close associates of former President Almazbek Atambayev.

Gilyazetdinova handed down a 7 1/2-year prison sentence in the case to another former prime minister, Jantoro Satybaldiev, while Aibek Kaliev, the former chief of the National Energy Holding, was given 15 years.

Former General Director of Electric Stations OJSC Salaidin Avazov was sentenced to 11 years and 3 months of prison.

Two other former officials were sentenced to shorter prison terms of 2 1/2 years.

Former Energy Minister Osmonbek Artykbayev and former Finance Minister Olga Lavrova were handed fines.

The defendants were accused of allegedly using their positions to lobby for the interests of a Chinese company in the selection process of a contractor for the modernization of the power plant, inflicting damage on the Kyrgyz state and society.

The Chinese company TBEA was selected as the winner of the tender.

The case was launched after an accident at the Bishkek power station in January last year left thousands of households in the capital without heat for several days.

The probe was launched amid tensions between Atambayev and incumbent President Sooronbai Jeenbekov, an ex-prime minister who was tapped by Atambayev as his favored successor in Kyrgyzstan's October 2017 presidential election.

Atambayev was arrested on August 8 after he surrendered to police following two days of violent resistance following his refusal to show up in police headquarters for questioning in an unrelated case.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — On December 5, the Kazakh capital hosted the presentation of the so-called "Letter from Nur-Sultan". The event organized by the European Union Delegation to Kazakhstan in cooperation with the Carnegie Europe Center provided a unique opportunity to discuss the key issues of the EU-Kazakhstan and the EU-Central Asia relations. The "Letter from Nur-Sultan" is part of the Capitals Series by the Carnegie Europe and is the first such publication on the Central Asian region. The Letter itself was prepared by a well-known Kazakhstani expert, political scientist, Chief Research Fellow of the Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies under the President of Kazakhstan, Dr Murat Laumulin, the Delegation of the European Union to Kazakhstan reported.

KABUL (TCA) — Afghanistan will need continued financial support from the international community following a potential political settlement, says a new World Bank report that examines the country’s overall medium-term financing needs under a range of political and economic scenarios.

The World Bank concludes that Afghanistan will require $6 billion to $8 billion a year in international grants between 2020 and 2024 to fund basic services, support faster economic growth, and consolidate and sustain any potential reduction in violence following a political settlement with the Taliban, the World Bank said in a press release on December 5.

“An improving security situation, political stability, and freedom of movement can help increase private sector investment and job creation. But the gap between revenue and public expenditure remains large, and certain expenditure needs may increase following a political settlement,” said Henry Kerali, World Bank Country Director for Afghanistan. “While a gradual decline in grant support can and should occur, it needs to be carefully calibrated to economic realities, to avoid deterioration in services and development outcomes. Such a deterioration may, itself, imperil prospects for sustainable peace.”

While Afghanistan has achieved remarkable progress in increasing revenues over recent years, the gap between revenues and expenditures remains wide. Afghanistan continues to rely on grants to finance 75 percent of its total public expenditures. Total revenues currently amount to around $2.5 billion per year, while expenditures reach around $11 billion per year.

Due to the current extent of dependence on aid, a sharp reduction in either security or civilian grants would mean insufficient resources to meet pressing expenditure needs, including: security spending, delivery of basic government functions such as social services and infrastructure, public investments for faster economic growth and poverty reduction, and short-term job creation and community development programs following a political settlement, which will be vital to sustain and consolidate peace.

The report also finds that expectations of a major aid-driven economic dividend following any political settlement are unlikely to be realized. Grant inflows are likely to remain limited under any scenario, relative to the extent of grant support already being provided. The most critical gains for Afghans following any political settlement would rather come from increased private sector investment, job creation, and access to services.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — During his visit to Germany on December 5, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev had a series of meetings with representatives of German business in Berlin, the president’s press service reported.

During the conversation with Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser, Chairperson of the Supervisory Board of CLAAS Group, President Tokayev discussed implementation of joint investment projects. CLAAS Group is represented in Kazakhstan by the distribution network CT Agro, which sells agricultural machinery and maintains its service.

“Our strategy is to diversify investments that come from many countries. We would like to make Germany the main strategic partner in terms of investments,” the President of Kazakhstan said.

Cathrina Claas-Mühlhäuser expressed satisfaction with the fact that Kazakhstan intends to develop cooperation not only with large but also with medium-sized companies.

Christian Bruch, Executive Vice President of Linde AG informed Tokayev about the company's activities in Kazakhstan and future plans. Bruch informed that in 2013 his company launched the production of technical gas on the basis of Arcelor Mittal Temirtau JSC, investing about 95 million euros into this project.

“Today, Linde AG is implementing the second phase of the project and intends to invest another 80 million euros,” he added.

In addition, the German side is negotiating with KazMunayGas JSC the construction of a gas processing plant in Zhanaozen, Mangystau region.

The prospects of cooperation were discussed at a meeting with Klaus Rosenfeld, CEO of the Schaeffler Group. The company specializes in the production of components for the automotive and astronautics industry. The German businessman told the Kazakh president about the production and investment opportunities of the Schaeffler Group.

Bernd Montag, CEO of Siemens Healthineers, told Tokayev about the project of construction of a cancer centre based on the principles of public-private partnership. The company intends to establish long-term cooperation with Kazakhstan.

At a business dinner organized for representatives of the top German companies later on December 5, President Tokayev spoke about Kazakhstan’s economic and investment potential.

He stressed that Kazakhstan intends to give a new impetus to cooperation with Germany.

“As the President of Kazakhstan, I will do my utmost that depends on me that business and investments from Germany come to our country and would feel safe and successfully be developing. We are ready to provide special conditions for German businessmen,” Tokayev said.

The Kazakh president focused on Kazakhstan’s favorable geographical position and a well-thought-out foreign economic policy, which opens up great opportunities for foreign investors.

“We have very good relations with China, Russia and Central Asian countries. We are an important transport hub between East and West. More than 70% of all transcontinental routes pass through Kazakhstan. The international corridor Western Europe - Western China makes it possible to reduce the time of transportation of goods. This year it took only 10 days, having broken the speed record of cargo transportation from the Chinese Xi’an to Germany,” President Tokayev noted.

According to him, such leading German companies as Volkswagen, Mann, Siemens, Knauf, Bayer, METRO are already actively working in Kazakhstan. There are other examples of successful economic cooperation. In particular, Heidelberg Cement and Linde Group have invested significant sums in Kazakhstan.

Tokayev urged German businessmen to get involved in the implementation of projects in agriculture, high technologies and digitalization, as well as to take part in the activities of the Astana International Financial Centre.

The event was attended by heads of more than 20 German companies, including WILO, CLAAS Group, SMS Holding GmbH, Schaeffler AG, Airbus Defence and Space, Linde AG, Mangold Consulting GmbH, Herrenknecht AG, Knorr-Bremse AG, Euler Hermes, Siemens Healthineers, John Deere, Deutsche Bank AG, Tönnies holding, and Bauer COMP Holding.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — The President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel held talks in Berlin on December 5 on the intensification of bilateral relations and the prospects of establishing a strategic economic partnership. The two leaders also discussed cooperation in education, science and cultural areas, the press service of the Kazakh president reported.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — Ukraine has voiced concern over Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev's description of Russia's takeover of the Crimea, when he said it wasn't an annexation, RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service reported.

NUR-SULTAN (TCA) — Kazakhstan’s delegation visited Washington, DC on December 4 to attend the Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue (ESPD) meeting on political, economic and humanitarian issues, the Kazakh Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported.

BISHKEK (TCA) — Kyrgyz Republican Center for Quality Control of Laboratory Diagnosis of Infectious Diseases (RCQCLDID) will receive ISO/IEC 17043 international accreditation certificate during an official ceremony at the Preventive Medicine Research and Production Association in Bishkek. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Health and the U.S. Embassy in Kyrgyzstan will jointly award the certificate, issued by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation on December 9, the U.S. Embassy said on December 5.

ASHGABAT (TCA) — Turkmenistan’s former Interior Minister Isgender Mulikov, fired by President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov in October, has been convicted of abuse of power and corruption, RFE/RL's Turkmen Service reported.