JAN. 30 (The Conway Bulletin) – China’s Gezhouba Group Cement Co has said it will open a new plant in Kazakhstan’s Kyzlorda region this year, media reported. Azernews quoted the company’s head, Lee Min, as saying that sales would be concentrated in the former Soviet Union and the Eurasian Economic Union.
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>>This story was first published in issue 360 of The Conway Bulletin
JAN. 31 (The Conway Bulletin) – Georgia’s Central Bank kept its key interest rate unchanged at 7.25% because it said that inflation would shortly start to drop. There had been discussion before the rates meeting that the Central Bank would have to increase interest rates. Annual inflation in Georgia hit 6.7% in December, higher than the Bank’s 4% forecast.
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>>This story was first published in issue 360 of The Conway Bulletin
TASHKENT, JAN. 31 (The Conway Bulletin) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev sacked the once all-powerful head of the National Security Services (SNB) Rustam Inoyatov, a move that confirms his supremacy in the struggle for power in Uzbekistan since the death in 2016 of Islam Karimov.
Mr Inoyatov, closely associated with the authoritarian Karimov and once seen as his natural successor, was made a senator, giving him immunity from any potential future prosecutions, and a presidential adviser.
Human rights activists accuse the 73-year-old Mr Inoyatov, a cold much-hated figure who had run Uzbekistan’s legion of spies, informants and security agents since 1995, of using torture against opponents of the government.
Rafael Sattarov, an Uzbek analyst, told The Conway Bulletin that Mr Inoyatov’s demise had been likely since December when Mirziyoyev made a speech about cutting the power of the security services.
“It is clear that Inoyatov has been a redundant political figure in the country’s changing period,” he said.
“Inoyatov is 73-years-old, he has never been a public figure and is in poor health. The people, no matter how politically passive they are, would unequivocally choose the side of Mirziyoyev as he has managed to create the image of a passionate reformer.”
Mirziyoyev promoted 51-year-old Ikhtiyor Abdullayev, formerly the prosecutor-general, as the new head of the Uzbek security services. Analysts said that as an outsider to the security services, Mr Abdullayev may be able to push through the reforms that Mr Mirziyoyev has called for.
As President, Mirziyoyev has been winning rave reviews from Western businesses for his reforms which have included simplifying exchange rates and enticing corporates back to Uzbekistan with various pro-business policies.
Mr Sattarov, the analyst, said: “Officials and siloviks [officials who used to work for the security services] who used to be sceptical about the initiatives of the President, have received a clear signal that Mirziyoyev will not stop his reforms and will not tolerate sabotage.”
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— This story was first published on Feb. 6 2018 in issue 360 of The Conway Bulletin
JAN. 30 (The Conway Bulletin) – The Kazakh Central Bank chief Daniyar Akishev defended his policy of keeping interest rates high by insisting that he was still pro-business. Speaking to reporters he said that the Central Bank’s main priority was to target inflation and then to consider cutting the cost of borrowing. Mr Akishev said that he wanted to see inflation at 5-7% this year and 4% by 2020.
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>>This story was first published in issue 360 of The Conway Bulletin
TBILISI, JAN. 27 (The Conway Bulletin) — Georgia made a formal complaint to Russia over the opening of customs points with the Georgian breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Jan. 27). Georgian officials said the customs points were another way for Russia to try to absorb South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russia refuted the accusation.
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— This story was first published on Feb. 6 2018 in issue 360 of The Conway Bulletin
JAN. 31 (The Conway Bulletin) – Uzbekistan Railways is extending two of Tashkent’s metro lines and adding a third line, deputy chairman Oybek Khudoyqulov told media. The line extensions are part of a drive by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to invest in infrastructure and create jobs. The Tashkent metro is one of the most ornate built by the Soviet Union. It was opened in 1977 and has roughly 36km of track.
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>>This story was first published in issue 360 of The Conway Bulletin
JAN. 29 (The Conway Bulletin) – Highlighting both improved relations and also increased demand for trade links between Iran and Azerbaijan, Iran Air said that was going to restart a direct route to Baku after a three year gap. One of the biggest drivers of the improved relations between the two neighbours has been tourism. The number of Iranian tourists, and visitors from other Gulf states, travelling to Azerbaijan has rocketed.
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>>This story was first published in issue 360 of The Conway Bulletin
JAN. 31 (The Conway Bulletin) – The EBRD is considering buying a stake in International Bank of Azerbaijan (IBA), which is majority-owned by the Azerbaijani government (Jan. 31). Last year the IBA defaulted on loan repayments forcing it to restructure its debts. The EBRD already owns shares in other Azerbaijani banks. Azerbaijan’s government had bought stakes in IBA as a way of bailing it out.
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>>This story was first published in issue 360 of The Conway Bulletin
FEB. 1 (The Conway Bulletin) – Tajikistan’s $4b Rogun dam could be opened on Nov. 16, a national holiday to mark the birthday of Pres. Emomali Rakhmon, state media reported. Rogun dam will be the highest dam in the world when it does open and is considered vital for improving Tajikistan’s electricity production. Italy’s Salini Impregilo is the main contractor for the project.
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>>This story was first published in issue 360 of The Conway Bulletin
JAN. 31 (The Conway Bulletin) – Kazakhstan appears to be having a clear out within the ranks of its legal system after the sacking of three senior prosecutors. Almaty city prosecutor, Gabit Mirazov, and the deputy prosecutors of the Aktyubinsk region, Daniyar Syzdykov, and South-Kazakhstan oblast, Abil Kozhakhmetov, were sacked for various misdemeanours.
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>>This story was first published in issue 360 of The Conway Bulletin