IFPRI CA NEWS DIGEST (JANUARY 27 – FEBRUARY 3, 2014)

News

Kazakhstan to coordinate Customs Union import duties with WTO

(Tengrinews, 27 Jan. 2014) Kazakhstan is to coordinate its obligations related to import duties currently in place within the Customs Union [of Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus] with the WTO import duties. The average import duty rate within the WTO is 7.9% higher than that currently in place within the Customs Union. The share of WTO member countries in Kazakhstan’s external trade reached 96.51% in 2012; with the European Union's share standing at 41.05% ($54.6 billion), Russia’s at 17.59% ($23.4 billion) and China’s at 16.28% ($21.7 billion).

President Nazarbayev suggests sending grain to Pakistan

(Tengrinews, 31 Jan. 2014) President Nazarbayev indicates possibility of sending its grain to Pakistan. “There are some joint farming-related projects under way, notably to process agricultural produce. As a global supplier of grain, Kazakhstan could send its grain to Pakistan. We could study the potential”, President said following the ceremony of presenting credentials by a number of ambassadors in Astana today.

Kazakhstan’s Central Bank moves to reduce the country’s economy dollarization

(Tengrinews, 3 Feb. 2014) Kazakhstan’s Central Bank plans to reduce dollarization of deposits kept with banks at least by twofold because of instability of the currency, according to Kairat Kelimbetov, the country’s Central Bank Governor. Deposits (including those of non-residents) stood at 25 billion in USD in 2013, up by 15.7 percent than in 2012. The share of Kazakh tenge-denominated deposits decreased from 70.2% back in December 2012 to 62.6% in December 2013.

More than 964,500 people migrated out of Tajikistan last year

(ASIA-Plus, 30 Jan. 2014) The Migration Service of the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of Tajikistan informs that more than 964,500 people migrated out of Tajikistan last year. Of them, some 800,000 people, including nearly 101,000 women, are labor migrants.

Current Tajikistan’s gold and currency reserves estimated at more than 1.0721 billion USD

(ASIA-Plus, 3 Feb. 2014) Tajikistan’s gold and currency reserves were estimated at 1.0715 billion U.S. dollars, which is 10.2 percent more than in 2012, Abdujabbor Shirinov, the head of the National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT), tells to journalists. Annual average rate of growth in Tajikistan’s gold and currency reserves is reportedly 20-25 percent.

Tajikistan’s external debt exceeds 2.161 billion USD

(ASIA-Plus, 3 Feb. 2014) Tajikistan’s external debt amounted to 2.1615 billion U.S. dollars according to the Minister of Finance, Abdusalom Qurbonov. Tajikistan public debt-to-GDP ratio is 25.4 percent. Last year, the national budget earmarked 95.4 million U.S. dollars for repayment of the principal debt and 30 million U.S. dollars for repayment of debt interest.

Energy exports to Europe a priority for Turkmenistan’s international strategy

(TREND News Agency, 31 Jan. 2014) Analytical article by a state news agency reports that the export of energy resources in a European direction is one of the priorities of Turkmenistan's international strategy. Turkmenistan and the European Union are holding talks with regard to the realization of the project on the construction of the Trans-Caspian Gas Pipeline from Turkmenistan to Azerbaijan. An 800 kilometer East-West gas pipeline is being constructed in the country to ensure the efficiency of supplying large volumes of gas from eastern Turkmenistan.

Turkmen parliament to reconsider Code about earth and water

(TREND News Agency, 3 Feb. 2014) The Parliament of Turkmenistan will reconsider the national codes about land and water according to the chairman of the committee on environmental protection, nature management and agro-industry, Rajabgeldi Meredov. Turkmenistan joined the U.N. Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes in 2012. The chairman hopes that adoption of new codes will improve cooperation between neighboring countries in the protection and use of transboundary watercourses and reservoirs.

Kyrgyz and Tajik sides agree to expedite border demarcation

(ASIA-Plus, 3 Feb. 2014) Kyrgyz and Tajik officials have agreed to expedite border demarcation in disputed areas. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan brought additional forces to a disputed area near Kyrgyzstan's southern Batken region earlier in January amid tensions following a shooting incident there. Kyrgyz authorities announced on January 22 that Kyrgyz and Tajik military units have begun withdrawing from the area.

Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan continue negotiations on border delimitation and demarcation

(TREND News Agency and 24.kg, 29 Jan. 2014) Working groups delegated from respective countries are to meet every 10 days to discuss delimitation and demarcation of Uzbek-Kyrgyz border. The total length of the Uzbek- Kyrgyz border is 1378.44 kilometers. Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan agreed and approved 1,007 kilometers of border. Some 58 sections have not been agreed to yet.