Vladimir Norov on LinkedIn: An Indonesian delegation is visiting Kabul. It is headed by Mohammad Yusuf… (2024)

Kazakhstan and China signed an agreement to construct a smelter with a capacity of 300,000 tons of copper per year during a June 3 meeting between Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov and Chairman of China Nonferrous Metal Mining Xi Zhengping,The trilateral agreement was signed between KAZ Minerals Smelting LLP, China Nonferrous Metal Industry’s Foreign Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd. (NFC), and NFCThe plant will be built near the village of Aktogai in the Abai Region. Its construction will create a cluster combining one of the world’s largest copper mines and a modern copper smelting facility. The project, with a preliminary cost of $1.5 billion, will employ over 1,000 people and is scheduled to be commissioned by the end of 2028.https://lnkd.in/dfqNB7Tc

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Uzbekistan, like many other countries, faces serious environmental problems that have a negative impact on human health and ecosystems. However, taking into account the need to preserve the resources and health of citizens, the government of the country is actively developing measures to prevent environmental crises and introducing innovative approaches to improve the state of the environment. In 2021, at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, a large-scale nationwide program called “Yashil Makon” (“Green space”) was launched in the country, which provides for the annual planting of 200 million trees and shrubs until 2030. As a result, an increase in the area of green spaces in cities is expected from the current 8% to 30%, as well as an increase in the forest cover area of the state forest fund from 7.5 to 15%.Over the past period, within the framework of the national “Yashil Makon” project, about 500.0 hectares of parks, 935 hectares of green zones, 6179.2 hectares of public parks, as well as green belts around the cities of Bukhara, Nukus, Khiva, and Urgench with a total length of 40 km have been created.As part of the systematic organization of work on the development of “green” areas, 219.7 million seedlings of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs were planted in 2023. 2.83 million seedlings were planted around 189 industrial enterprises with a high impact on the environment, “green belts” with 220,000 tree seedlings were created; and 196 garbage collection points were organized, around which arboretums were created.Uzbekistan is also conducting consistent and effective reforms in the field of waste management, improving the quality of services provided to the population, and combating environmental pollution. Thus, according to the plan, in 2024-2028, by attracting investments, waste recycling, alternative energy, and organic fertilizer production projects will be implemented in each region of the country. Indicators will also be set for the annual production of 2,000 MW of alternative energy from 2.8 million tons of waste, the production of 1.1 million tons of organic fertilizers from 1.3 million tons of waste by composting, and the commissioning of 14 waste recycling plants.https://lnkd.in/dmNTXyuV

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Crypto Week Uzbekistan 2024 has attracted around 200 participants, including entrepreneurs, investors, developers, and crypto enthusiasts. These participants are engaged in various activities designed to share knowledge and explore the potential of crypto-assets and blockchain technology. In his opening speech, First Deputy Director of the Agency Vyacheslav Pak emphasized the progress Uzbekistan has made in the realm of crypto-assets. "Today we can proudly say that thanks to the support and political will of the head of state, Uzbekistan has become a unique platform where a regulatory and institutional framework for the functioning of crypto-assets has been created," Pak stated.He further mentioned the primary objective behind the development of the crypto industry in Uzbekistan. "Undoubtedly, the main goal of crypto-industry development in Uzbekistan is to increase the investment attractiveness of our country, to introduce new forms and methods of investments attraction, both local and foreign, which is ultimately aimed at ensuring sustainable economic growth and improving the well-being of citizens," Pak added. https://lnkd.in/dmgDM3aN

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According to the State Committee on Investment and State-owned Property Management of Tajikistan (GosKomInvest), China is Tajikistan's main investor. The total volume of Chinese investments in Tajikistan's economy from 2007 to 2023 amounted to about $3.9 billion, part of which was in the form of grants.Additionally, China is the primary creditor of Tajikistan. According to the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan, as of the beginning of 2024, Tajikistan's debt to China amounted to US$900 million, which is 27.8% of the country's total external debt.In Tajikistan's foreign trade turnover, China ranks second, only behind Russia. According to data from the Agency for Statistics under the President of Tajikistan, the bilateral trade between Tajikistan and China last year valued at more than US$1.5 billion, which is 24.2% more than in 2022. This consisted of Tajikistan’s exports to China estimated at SUS$313.8 million and Tajikistan’s imports from China worth around US$1.2 billion.The share of trade with China in Tajikistan's total foreign trade turnover last year was 18%.The Silk Road Fund is a China Government Guidance Fund to foster increased investment in countries along the Belt and road Initiative (formerly One Belt, One Road), an economic development initiative primarily covering Eurasia. The Chinese government pledged US$40 billion for the creation of the investment fund, established on December 29, 2014.Read more: https://lnkd.in/dc9A4_gM

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News Central Asia (nCa) says the population of Central Asia is currently in excess of 80.8 million. There has been an average growth of one million during the past ten years.The experts reportedly estimate that by 2050, the population of Central Asia would exceed 100 million.The region is predominantly young and the literacy rate is nearly 100%.Assuming that Digital Literacy is the ability to access, manage, understand, integrate, communicate, evaluate and create information safely and appropriately through digital technologies for work or entertainment, the Digital Literacy in Central Asia in the population segment below 35 is almost 100%. — nCa says this statement is based on their interactions across the region.It should be noted that nCa’s definition of Digital Literacy encompasses the related skills such as computer literacy, ICT literacy, information literacy and media literacy.With a population that is young, educated, and comfortable with technology, Central Asia is an ideal region for investments, outsourcing, e-commerce clustering, and logistics hubs. Read more: https://lnkd.in/gXBwhVU2

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During my visit to Beijing on May 27-28, I was pleased to meet two young friends studying at Tsinghua University.Biloliddin Vakhabov is currently the only Master degree student from Uzbekistan studying at Tsinghua University. He received a merit-based full Tsinghua University Tuition Scholarship upon his admission to study Industrial Engineering. Being a native Uzbek, he is also fluent in English, Russian and Chinese. He found great interest in traveling, learning about other cultures as well as promoting Uzbek cultural heritage. After six years of living in China, Biloliddin now provides practical guidance and full support to talented Central Asian youth who are planning to pursue their education in top universities in China and beyond. Follow his telegram channel “C9 Consulting” at https://t.me/c9consultingUrunov Rozmet, from Turkmenistan, obtained a bachelor's degree and two master's degrees in China. He is currently enrolled in a Management program at School of Economics and Management at Tsinghua University. For Rozmet, Tsinghua University has given the opportunity to meet many interesting people from different parts of the world.They share knowledge and cultural experiences with each other, making education even richer and more exciting. Many of these people have become good friends and colleagues, and he is sure their paths will cross again. He has big plans for the future including starting his own company and doing business.Tsinghua University is a public university in Haidian, Beijing, China. The university is a member of the C9 League. It ranks 12th globally and 1st in Asia by Times Higher Education. Additionally, the U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings for Subject 2023 places Tsinghua University at the top in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computer Science, and Engineering. https://lnkd.in/gyA9haVahttps://lnkd.in/gagz-Hi3https://lnkd.in/g36PndFq

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Qatar Airways marked a milestone with the inauguration of its first scheduled flight from Doha to Tashkent on June 2. The Airbus A320, carrying passengers from Qatar to Uzbekistan, landed at Tashkent International Airport at 13:30 local time. The arrival of the aircraft was celebrated with a traditional water salute, symbolizing a warm welcome and new beginnings.Tashkent is the second city in Central Asia, after Almaty in Kazakhstan, to be included in Qatar Airways’ extensive network, which spans over 170 destinations worldwide. The airline, headquartered in Doha, has garnered numerous accolades, including being named the "World's Best Airline" seven times by Skytrax.https://lnkd.in/gh7S67fH

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The role of Uzbekistan in the development of trans-Afghan communications remains crucial. Since the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan has held several rounds of negotiations with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates on financing the construction of the $7 billion Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway, which would link Uzbekistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan.The project is crucial for the states of Central Asia and Afghanistan in terms of providing access to the sea, as well as strengthening their transit potential and geopolitical role, but the implementation of the Trans-Afghan Railway has long been complicated by instability in Afghanistan During the Republic period a major threat to the project was the Taliban; now the current Taliban government in Afghanistan is ready to act as a guarantor of the route’s safety. Another remaining major hurdle is the question of investment. As such, Tashkent has called on the Gulf monarchies to cooperate. Kazakhstan, Russia, and Belarus have also expressed interest.Uzbekistan has pursued a constructive policy toward Afghanistan, diligently involving Kabul – regardless of who held power – in the process of strengthening connectivity between Central and South Asia.Since 2011, the Hairatan-Mazar-i-Sharif railway line has been in operation, providing Uzbekistan with an exceptional position in the transportation of goods in the Afghan or trans-Afghan direction. This corridor serves almost the entire volume of Afghanistan’s foreign trade, generating high transit revenues. This explains Tashkent’s ardent desire to use it in new transport projects.In November 2023, a memorandum was signed on the creation and implementation of the International Transport Corridor (ITC) Belarus-Russia-Kazakhstan-Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan. The length of the route is 5,532 kilometers, and the cargo delivery time is 20 days, which is three times faster than transit by sea. The promise of economic benefits fuels the interest of northern powers in using the Uzbek-Afghan transit route to export goods to South Asia and the Middle East. With Kabul, Tashkent is forming effective transport corridors, involving states from near and far abroad. The core of all these projects should be the Termez-Mazar-i-Sharif-Kabul-Peshawar railway, which is scheduled to be launched in 2030. China, Russia, Iran, and the Persian Gulf countries are showing varying degrees of interest in this route. Its successful implementation will bring Central Asia economic bonuses due to the diversification and intensification of foreign trade, and also a geopolitical dividend, which will be expressed in reduced dependence on northern cargo delivery routes. At the same time, Uzbekistan, as so far the only country that has direct, uninterrupted railway communication with Afghanistan, will have another fundamental opportunity – to strengthen its transit potentialhttps://lnkd.in/dQMkMZnV

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The UAE and China signed agreements to boost co-operation in investments, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), industry and technology, and tourism during President Sheikh Mohamed's visit to Beijing on the last Thursday.The two countries also agreed to promote investment co-operation in green development, according to a report by state news agency Wam.The UAE is China's largest trading partner in the Arab world, with trade and investment spanning many sectors, including crude oil, petrochemicals and artificial intelligence. China is the UAE’s leading trade partner with non-oil bilateral trade worth Dh264.2 billion ($72 billion) in 2022.https://lnkd.in/d4UerqH3

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