Features

Breathing New Life: ABEC’s Clean Air Initiative at the Better Air Quality Conference 2023

In the frosty winters of Almaty and Bishkek, the struggle against air pollution is reaching a turning point. Eager to chart a new course, Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic representatives joined forces with over 700 delegates from 39 countries at the Better Air Quality (BAQ) Conference 2023 in Manila. The Asian Development Bank, a catalyst […]

Leading workwear manufacturer helps fight coronavirus pandemic in the Kyrgyz Republic

Faced with the coronavirus crisis, the Kyrgyz Republic declared a state of emergency in late March and shut down its economy. Aiko Seiko, an entrepreneurial EBRD client, decided to do its bit by producing personal protective equipment.

How the Kyrgyz Republic can become Central Asia’s electric vehicle hub

Air quality in Bishkek, the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic, is declining as more cars—among them many second-hand models from Europe, the US, and Japan—pour into the city. Electric vehicle (or EVs) could be the solution. They generate no tailpipe pollution, and most of the Kyrgyz electricity is from hydropower, so net pollution could be almost zero.

Providing Clean Water, Fulfilling People’s Dreams in Villages of Kyrgyz Republic

The village of Chook, nestled deep in the Kyrgyz part of the Ferghana Valley, is surrounded by hills and yellow-green strips of cultivated land. A significant number of local people have left for Russia and Kazakhstan, from where they now provide for their families back home. Those who have stayed in the village – like the family of Gulkan and Joldoshbay – grow wheat and cotton on their land plots.

A sneak peek at CAREC’s new strategy

The new strategy is an important milestone and a collective opportunity to unleash the potential of regional cooperation for Central Asia.

Central Asia Knowledge Network: Building Partnerships for Regional Cooperation on Water and Energy

Launched as part of the Central Asia Energy-Water Development Program (CAEWDP), the Network seeks to stimulate cooperation and knowledge exchange among local and regional institutions and practitioners in the area of water resource management, energy, and climate change.

Milestones in CAREC Transport

The 15th CAREC Ministerial Conference unanimously endorsed two strategies to promote safety along CAREC corridors and provide a blueprint for long-term development of CAREC railways.

In Almaty, Sharing Knowledge to Strengthen Energy and Water Security Across Central Asia

In Central Asia, energy and water security are critical to boosting income levels, reducing poverty, and ensuring sustainable development for all citizens across the region. This cannot be achieved, however, without enhanced cooperation at both the national and regional level.

Designing new climate-resilient roads in the Kyrgyz Republic

Roads are critical to transport across the vast lands of Central Asia, so we must make sure they can withstand the effects of climate change. Here is how we addressed adaptation in a new way for a project underway in the Kyrgyz Republic, where roads carry approximately 95% of passenger traffic and over 50% of freight.

A snapshot of e-commerce in Central Asia

In 2015, Central Asia made some important improvements in the environment for cross-border e-commerce: Kazakhstan's accession to the World Trade Organization will boost commercial transparency, while the Kyrgyz Republic’s membership in the Eurasian Customs Union expands its consumer base.