IFPRI CENTRAL ASIA WEEKLY NEWS DIGEST (APRIL 24 – MAY 1, 2018)
News
Investments in Central Asia
Asian Development Bank will be investing 5 billion US dollars into the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation Program until 2020. 11 countries (Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, People's Republic of China, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Mongolia, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan) participating in the program will receive funds for further development of the region's infrastructure and improvement of its transport and energy potential. – Kazakh TV
Central Asian Republics ready to join CPEC
The Central Asian Republics are ready to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), however there is a need to provide ample assistance to have clear information about several projects and opportunities offered by the project to invest in, according to envoys of Central Asian Republics in Islamabad. – Daily Times
Central Asia countries to increase exports of halal products
Not all the products labeled as halal comply with Islamic standards in Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan is preparing to launch a pilot project of voluntary certification and labeling of products and services for compliance with halal standards. The aim is to enter the $1.1 trillion market of halal products. Russia ranks the sixth among the top countries of halal products consumption with the amount of $35 billion. Russian companies are ready to compete with manufacturers of halal products from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan. – The Times of Central Asia
Uzbekistan keen to boost business ties with Punjab (India)
Uzbekistan has expressed interest in furthering business and trade ties with Punjab, particularly in the areas of agriculture, education and tourism. During the meeting of Uzbekistan's ambassador to India Farhod Arziev with Punjab`s Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, on April 28, 2018, officials discussed export of various commodities, including wheat and rice, to Uzbekistan from India, and import of fresh fruits, such as mulberry, apricot and peaches, as well as dry fruits from Uzbekistan. Also, possibility of knowledge sharing and transfer of agricultural technologies, along with joint promotion of religious and heritage tourism between two countries were discussed. – The Times of India
Intensive gardening areas are expanding in South Kazakhstan region
Intensive gardening is expanding in South Kazakhstan, with 29,000 hectares allocated for fruit trees, berries, and grapes. According to this Kazakh TV feature, farmers believe that these products are always in demand and view them as attractive export commodities. Farmers are developing domestic offshoots of imported varieties and can receive subsidized state loans for intensive gardening. - Kazakh TV
Kazakhstan. Wheat bran exports grew by 16%
Wheat bran exports from Kazakhstan increased 16% in the first six months against the same period last season. The main buyers of wheat bran traditionally include Asian neighboring countries, such as Uzbekistan, Iran, China, Turkey and Tajikistan. The largest consumer of Kazakh wheat bran is Uzbekistan with an export share of 79%. The nearby Asian countries Iran, China and Turkey continue steadily importing this commodity from Kazakhstan. – UkrAgroConsult
Analysis & Related Information
The Countries Most Reliant On Remittances [Infographic]
Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan were among the top five receipt countries for remittances in 2017, in terms of a share of gross domestic product, 35 and 31 percent, respectively. The top recipient countries for remittances in 2017 in dollar terms were India ($69 billion), China ($64 billion) and the Philippines ($33 billion). Despite that massive flow of cash, remittances tend to make a much bigger impact in smaller and poorer nations. – Forbes
Publications & Reports
Organic agriculture in Uzbekistan: Status, practices and prospects
A. Nurbekov, U. Aksoy, H. Muminjanov adn A. Shukurov (2018). Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN. Tashkent
"One Belt One Road" and Central Asia: A new trend in internationalization of higher education?
A. Li (2018). International Higher Education: A Quarterly Publication, 92: Winter 2018.
Managing the water-energy-food nexus: Opportunities in Central Asia
Sh. Jalilova, S. A. Amerb, F. A. Ward (2018). Journal of Hydrology, 557, pp. 407-425.
Understanding surface water–groundwater interactions for managing large irrigation schemes in the multi-country Fergana valley, Central Asia
M. Ibrakhimov, U. Awan, B. George, U. Liaqat (2018). Agricultural Water Management, 201, pp. 99-106.
Spatial and temporal characteristics of droughts in Central Asia during 1966–2015
H. Guo, et.al. (2018). Science of the Total Environment, 624, pp. 1523-1538.
Events & Call for Papers
3rd Annual International Conference on Agriculture, Food Security, and Nutrition in Eurasia Featuring IFPRI's 2018 Global Food Policy Report
International conference and publication launch. 30 May 2018 in Moscow, Russia. The International Food Policy Research Institute is partnering with the Eurasian Center for Food Security (ECFS) at Lomonosov Moscow State University and the World Bank to launch IFPRI's 2018 Global Food Policy Report in Russia. For more information about the report, please visit the GFPR website. For conference details, please contact Jarilkasin Ilyasov at IFPRI.
International Conference on Agricultural Transformation, Food Security, and Nutrition in Central Asia Featuring IFPRI's 2018 Global Food Policy Report
International conference and publication launch. 1 June 2018 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The International Food Policy Research Institute is partnering with the Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT) to launch IFPRI's 2018 Global Food Policy Report in Uzbekistan. For more information about the report, please visit the GFPR website. For conference details, please contact Jarilkasin Ilyasov at IFPRI.
New Round of Collaborative Research on Food Security in Eurasia 2018
Call for applications. The Eurasian Center for Food Security and World Bank are announcing collaborative research on the theme of policies aimed at supporting food value chains by (1) improving food quality and nutrition or (2) avoiding food loss. Research will take the form of case studies and selected research teams will receive funding from the World Bank. Please see the above link for further details. Deadline to submit applications is 5 May 2018.
"Agriculture Trade and Foreign Investments for Sustainable Regional Integration in Caucasus and Central Asia" Conference
6 – 7 September 2018 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Organized by Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Development in Transition Economics (IAMO) and Institute of Scientific Research on Economic Reforms (ISRER). The aim of this conference is to serve as a platform to discuss options for regional integration in the Caucasus and Central Asian countries and to explore opportunities for increasing agricultural exports from the region. Researchers, public officials, and private sector partners are invited to participate. The conference will be conducted in English and Russian. Please click on the above link for further details. Abstract submission is open until 11 May 2018.
2018 Regional Summer School for Young Economists
Call for applications. 4 – 15 June 2018 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Organized by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and Westminster International University in Tashkent (WIUT). The course will largely focus on developing econometric analysis, policy analysis, and quantitative research skills for use in economics and related social sciences. The course is open to individuals who are engaged in research or are preparing for a career in research, are fluent in English, and are 35 years old or younger. Please click on the above link for further details. Deadline to submit applications was 20 April 2018.
Archived issues of the news digest can be found on the Central Asia page under the ReSAKSS Asia website: http://resakss-asia.org/regions/central-asia. A link to the newsletter can be found under Blog Posts.
The articles included in this news digest have been generated from online sources. Any opinions stated herein are not representative of, or endorsed by, the International Food Policy Research Institute or its partners.
