Energy and Economy 

Turkmenistan to Restarts Gas Exports to Iran

Turkmenistan will resume its gas exports to Iran after over sixyears. The gas deal between the two countries stopped in January 2017 due to debt disputes between the major energy companies Turkmengaz and the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC). After the resolution of the conflict, Turkmenistan successfully delivered its first test, with 10 million cubic meters of gas transported to Iran. The Iranian side expressed its interest in further expanding the gas deal for both short-term and long-term periods.

Source: Caspian News

Kazakhstan and UAE to Create New Shipping Routes for Grain Exports

Kazakhstan is in negotiations with the Abu Dhabi Ports Group (ADP), a UAE-based logistics company, to establish a joint venture company that will enable the export of Kazakh agricultural products to the Gulf region via Iran. The new route would reduce cargo delivery times to three days.

Source: Caspian News

China’s Antasolar Announces 470MWp Solar Tracker in Uzbekistan

On August 14, the leading supplier of the whole industry chain in PV mounting systems, China-based Antasolar, announced the signing of a 470MWp Solar Tracking System Supply contract with Enter Engineering, the top-ranked EPC contractor inCentral Asia. Once the project is complete in December 2023, it will be able to transmit about 600 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity every year.

Source: PR Newswire

Turkmenistan Warns Against Russian-led “Gas Union”

On August 12, after Russia’s Foreign Ministry said that its gas union with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan could be expanded to reach the China-Central Asia gas pipeline, Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry rebuked the statement by claiming the state had not been consulted about this proposed expansion. The ministry went further by adding: "The Turkmen side considers such an approach incomprehensible and unacceptable, and our country views it as going against international law and the established practice in the gas sector."

Source: Reuters

Kazakhstan to Increase Exports to North Macedonia 

Following a visit by the Organization for Security and Cooperation (OSCE) chair and Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, Kazakhstan and North Macedonia have agreed to increase export commodities and mutual sales by $350 million. Both countries also discussed the possibility of a visa-free agreement and the potential for increased cooperation in technology, energy, agriculture, mining, and tourism sectors. 

Source: Azernews

Security and Politics

 

Kazakhstan and Kuwait Reaffirm Partnership

On August 10, Kazakhstan and the State of Kuwait celebrated the 30th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations. Omar Alkanderi, the Ambassador of Kuwait, discussed their bilateral relations in an interview, noting that “Kazakhstan can play a crucial role in building solid cooperation between the region and the Gulf countries.”

Source: Astana Times

Numerous High-Level Visits between Kyrgyzstan and China to Occur

On August 14, the Foreign Ministry of Kyrgyzstan announced that Li Qiang, Premier of China's State Council, would soon visit Kyrgyzstan. Along with Li’s visit, Kyrgyz Minister of Foreign Affairs of Jeenbek Kulubaev and Ambassador of China Du Dewen noted that there would be numerous upcoming high-level bilateral visits, including Kyrgyz Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic Akylbek Japarov’supcoming official visit to China’s Xinjiang region. 

Source: AKI Press

Turkmenistan Hosts Caspian Sea Conference

On August 12, Turkmenistan hosted a scientific conference dedicated to the Caspian Sea in the Avaza tourism zone, titled "The Caspian Sea is a Sea of Peace and Friendship." Along with officials from the Turkmen government, including Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, the conference was attended with active participation by the embassies of Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Turkmenistan’s Foreign Ministry explained that the conference “emphasized that Turkmenistan is an active participant in important processes in the Caspian region, and demonstrates commitment to the ideas of peace, harmony and mutually beneficial cooperation.”

Source: AKI Press

Sources: AKI Press, Astana Times, Azernews, Caspian News, PR Newswire, Reuters