IFPRI CENTRAL ASIA NEWS WEEKLY DIGEST (JUNE 30 – JULY 6, 2015)
News and Analysis
EBRD makes equity investment in Schiever Tajikistan to open the country’s first hypermarket
(EBRD, 30 Jun 2015) Tajikistan’s first hypermarket is a significant step closer to opening after the EBRD became a shareholder in Schiever Tajikistan, the subsidiary of a French company, suggests the bank’s news release. Tajikistan’s shoppers mostly rely on expensive open-air markets and small shops for their groceries. According to the bank’s statement, new 5,000 m² hypermarket will not only bring competition and lower prices, but also new standards in food quality, hygiene and logistics.
World Bank Scales Up Project to Help Communities in Tajikistan Adapt to Climate Change Risks
(WB, 30 Jun 2015) The World Bank (WB) Board of Executive Directors approved an additional financing of US$3.8 million for the Tajikistan Environmental Land Management and Rural Livelihoods Project, according to the bank’s press release. The original project, launched in October 2013, is supporting rural communities in six districts in the Khatlon region and the Region under Republic subordination of Tajikistan to sustainably manage natural resources and increase resilience to climate change risks.
World Bank Supports Improvements in Higher Education in Tajikistan
(WB, 30 Jun 2015) The World Bank (WB) Board of Executive Directors approved an allocation of US$15 million for the Tajikistan Higher Education Project with a goal to develop mechanisms that improve and monitor the quality and labor-market relevance of higher education. The project will support reforms both at institutional and system levels including improving labor-market relevance through updated curriculum, teacher development, career services, refurbishing laboratories, as well as assisting eligible educational institutions to develop and deliver short-term courses to job-seekers, including returning migrants.
Central Asia hit with record-breaking heatwave
(Phys.org, 1 Jul 2015) Record breaking heatwave was recorded in Central Asia. According to Turkmenistan’s state meteorological service June 2015 was the hottest June since 1891. Tuesday, June 30, was the hottest June day in Ashgabat in the recorded history with 47.2 degrees Celsius. In Kazakhstan, the most northern country in the region, the highest temperature reached 42 degrees Celsius, reports the article.
(Bloomberg, 1 Jul 2015) Russia and Kazakhstan will be among the 10 economies with worst economic growth prospects in 2015, according to forecasts of economists surveyed by Bloomberg. This may have significant negative impact on the economies of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan. The main impact channels will be through trade, remittances, and investment.
EU to allocate 168 million euros to Uzbekistan
(AzerNews, 2 Jul 2015) Yuri Sterk, the head of the EU delegation in Uzbekistan, informed that the European Union will provide a financial assistance worth 168 million euros to Uzbekistan at a presentation of updated EU Strategy for Central Asia for 2014-2020, adopted last week. This is more than a double Uzbekistan received during the previous six year program in 2007-2013, 70.6 million euros. EU assistance to Uzbekistan focuses on rural and local development, rule of law and judiciary reform, trade facilitation and support to the private sector and small businesses, according to the article.
Chinese Ambassador calls Kazakhstan to abandon Cold War mentality
(TengriNews, 2 Jul 2015) The Ambassador of China in Kazakhstan Zhang Hanhui has assured Kazakhstan that it should not fear Chinese expansion in agriculture. The Ambassador stressed to approach the land rentals by Chinese companies as a mutually beneficial cooperation and abandon the Cold War mentality.
Kazakhstan gears up to expand organic agriculture
(FAO REC, 6 Jul 2015) Kazakhstan government joining effort with FAO to draft a national plan to expand country’s potential for organic agriculture, according to the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia’s news release. A recently initiated FAO project is introducing new organic legislation, strengthening Kazakhstan’s institutional capacity, helping with development of a national strategic plan, and establishing an inspection and certification system for organic production. A workshop in June – attended by representatives of the Kazakhstan Ministry of Agriculture and others from public- and private-sector organizations – reviewed national legislation and identified gaps, informs the article.
Narendra Modi’s Visit to Central Asia: What to Know
(WSJ, 6 Jul 2015) Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi begins a whirlwind overseas tour on Monday in which he is slated to visit five Central Asian countries, attend two multilateral summits in Russia and talk about issues ranging from trade to yoga to terrorism, reports the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) article. Mr. Modi’s focus is supposedly going to be on major issues related to energy supply, North-South transport corridor and regional security.
Publications
Global Value Chains along the New Silk Road
(P. Vandenberg and K. Kikkawa. 2015. ADBInstitute Policy Brief No. 2015-2.)
Abstract: Central Asia is opening up rapidly with the completion of new transport corridors. Providing a passageway for goods between east and west, however, cannot be its main goal. It needs to attract investment to diversify its economies from petroleum and other natural resources. Other parts of Asia have developed by linking with global value chains. This may be an option for Central Asia, but it must overcome some serious barriers to make that a reality.
(A. Hamidov, A. Thiel and D. Zikos. 2015. Environmental Science and Policy. Early online version.)
Abstract Highlights: This paper investigates institutions regulating Water Consumers Associations (WCA) in Uzbekistan. Particularly, it identifies the necessary and sufficient conditions for successfully managing common pool resources (CPRs) and, more specifically, irrigation canal maintenance in the rural Bukhara region of Uzbekistan. Fifteen WCAs were examined regarding conditions that may facilitate successful irrigation canal maintenance. Methods involved focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with the associations concerned. Data gathered was analyzed using fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis. The results indicate that two paths of local factors can lead to well-maintained irrigation canals: (1) the combination of appropriate chairmanship skills with sustainable resource appropriation or (2) the combination of appropriate chairmanship skills with the presence of effective participatory governance. The results also illustrate the role of path-dependence and traditional co-production of irrigation management in Uzbekistan.
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