MARCH 5 2021 (The Bulletin) — Uzbekistan will set up a factory producing electric scooters, media reported. Details were scant but reports said that the scooters would be built at a factory in the Kokand special economic zone and that the unnamed business hoped to produce 4,500 annually, rising to 23,500 by the end of 2022.
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— This story was published in issue 474 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 5 2021
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MARCH 5 (The Bulletin) — Uzbek and Belorussian officials agreed a deal for MAZ, the state-owned Belorussian lorry and bus producer, to set up an assembly plant in Uzbekistan. Since the death of former president Islam Karimov in 2016, Uzbekistan tried to rival Kazakhstan as a base for car and vehicle manufacturing in Central Asia.
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— This story was published in issue 475 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 15 2021
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MARCH 5 2021 (The Bulletin) — In what some analysts have described as a case of coronavirus realpolitik, India added Uzbekistan to a so-called ‘air bubble’ that allows Indians to travel to other countries with only limited restrictions. India has now set up ‘air bubbles’ with 27 countries. It is trying to build up influence in Central Asia and sees Uzbekistan as its best route.
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— This story was published in issue 474 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 5 2021
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MARCH 4 2021 (The Bulletin) — Uzbekistan wants to expand the range of fruit that it exports to China, which is fast becoming Central Asia’s main export market for nearly all its goods, Muslim Khalilov, a senior Uzbek official in the government’s export promotion department, told the freshplaza.com website. Mr Khalilov said that Uzbekistan already exports 14 types of fruit to China and that it wants permits to export lemons, grapes, plums, peaches and persimmons to China too.
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— This story was published in issue 474 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 5 2021
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MARCH 1 2021 (The Bulletin) — Two units of one of Central Asia’s largest power stations, the Soviet-built gas-fired Syrdarya TPP in Uzbekistan, were turned back on after renovation. The firing up of units 5 and 6 will ease pressure on Central Asia’s electricity supply, especially in Uzbekistan. Russian Power Machines has been overseeing the renovation. In 2019 it repaired units 3 and 4 and later this year it expects to complete the project when units 9 and 10 are restarted.
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— This story was published in issue 474 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 5 2021
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MARCH 1 2021 (The Bulletin) — Uzbekistan approved a Chinese Covid-19 vaccine being developed by Chinese Anhui Zhifei Longcom Biopharmaceutical Co ltd for use under the label ZF-UZ-VAC2001. The Chinese company had been trialling its vaccine in Uzbekistan for several months.
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— This story was published in issue 474 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 5 2021
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FEB. 28 2021 (The Bulletin) — Police in Uzbekistan detained Khidirnazar Allakulov, one of the country’s only opposition leaders, on the day that he was due to hold a meeting with supporters in Tashkent, raising questions over the authorities’ attitude towards political plurality. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has spoken of his mission to uphold democratic principles in Uzbekistan.
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— This story was published in issue 474 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin, on March 5 2021
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FEB. 9 2021 (The Bulletin) — Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree into law that will shift a presidential election this year to October from December. Lawmakers said that they wanted the election date shifted to October because the cold winter may deter people from voting. Uzbekistan’s presidential election is now scheduled for Oct. 24.
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— This story was first published in issue 471 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin
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FEB. 5 2021 (The Bulletin) — Uzbekistan wants to attract investments of $2.5b to upgrade its telecoms sector, media reported by quoting PM Abdula Aripov. The plan is part of Uzbekistan’s general investment strategy and will attract interest. Uzbekistan is Central Asia’s most populous country, with a population of 33m.
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— This story was first published in issue 471 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin
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FEB. 5 2021 (The Bulletin) — Metropolitan Vladyka Vikenty, head of the Russian Orthodox Church in Uzbekistan, consecrated a new church in Nukus, the first in Uzbekistan’s western region of Karakalpakstan. Russia has been keen to push its cultural influences in Central Asia over the past few years and the Orthodox Church is known to be close to the Kremlin. Media reported that there are 37 Russian Orthodox Churches in Central Asia.
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— This story was first published in issue 471 of the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin
— Copyright the Central Asia & South Caucasus Bulletin 2021