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New Kazakh premier will struggle to attract more FDI

Location:

KAZAKHSTAN

Tokayev has also criticised regional officials for relying excessively on budgetary funding and not doing enough to attract private capital. However, structural economic and…

Economic stress drains CIS sovereign wealth funds

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CIS

Concern about the need to preserve one of the SWFs to support the pension system is probably a major reason behind the rejection. The Ministry of Economic Development had already…

New Kyrgyzstan language law will raise Russia tensions

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CENTRAL ASIA

A new language law entered into force on July 18 that reflects the president's determination to promote Kyrgyz. Russia’s foreign ministry has protested. The controversy highlights…

Russian recession will blunt Central Asian growth

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CIS

Russia's economic problems caused by the low price of oil and to a lesser extent Western sanctions are a challenge for Kazakhstan and the four other Central Asian states. In its…

Kazakh election will merely defer transition challenge

Location:

KAZAKHSTAN

Tokayev is heading for victory in the June 9 presidential election with the backing of the ruling Nur Otan party and its leader Nazarbayev. A wave of protests has accompanied the…

Central Asia faces COVID-19 surge and resurgence risks

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CENTRAL ASIA

Like Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan took timely action when evidence of COVID-19 emerged. Their governments' claim of effective management may prove justified but is…

Central Asia's vaccination campaigns will be patchy

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CENTRAL ASIA

Vaccination, procurement and limited local production are in train but face many systemic obstacles. One state, Turkmenistan, claims it has never had a COVID-19 case, while…

Kyrgyzstan has limited scope for reviving its economy

Location:

KYRGYZSTAN

Officials in Kyrgyzstan have complained that the Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) has created problems instead of improving trade and investment prospects. Russia's…

Kazakh election intended to hedge against future risk

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KAZAKHSTAN

The less than democratic nature of the vote resembled the practices of Tokayev's predecessor Nursultan Nazarbayev, despite promises of a break with the past. His programme for a…

Uzbek-Tajik talks set tone for Central Asian reset

Location:

CENTRAL ASIA

The summit is a direct consequence of leadership and policy change in Uzbekistan, leading to warmer ties with other Central Asian states. Uzbek President Shavqat Mirzioyev's March…