Energy and Economy 

Kazakhstan Aims to Become a Digital Hub

On June 9, during the 35th plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council (FIC), Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev discussed Kazakhstan’s potential in the emerging digital market. He highlighted the UN’s decision to establish the United Nations Digital Solution Centre for Sustainable Development of Central Asia in Kazakhstan. The council focused on this emerging market and Kazakhstan’s capabilities in the spheres of artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data, and other digital industries. 

Source: Astana Times

Kazakhstan Declares a State of Emergency over the Caspian’s Declining Sea Levels

On June 8, the Ecology Ministry of Kazakhstan declared a state of emergency over the declining sea water levels of the Caspian Sea. Although authorities have long known of the slowly falling sea water levels, this is the first time Kazakhstan’s Ecology Ministry has officially recognized the crisis. 

Source: Eurasianet

WTO Director General Addresses Global Trading System Challenges at the Astana International Forum

Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala highlighted challenged and proposed solutions in her address at the Astana International Forum (AIF) on June 9. A particular challenge, according to Okonjo-Iweala, is geopolitical tensions that lead to fragmentation of global trade. If the world were to split into two trading blocs, the result would be a 5 percent loss in real GDP long-term, according to WTO calculations. “Let’s be cautious, because if the world trading system fragments, that could be very costly for the entire global economy,” Okonjo-Iweala cautioned.

Source: Astana Times

Security and Policy
 

Azerbaijan to Buy Italian Military Aircraft

On June 8, Leonardo, an Italian aerospace defense company, announced that it has reached an agreement with Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry for Baku to purchase C-27J military transport aircraft. “Initially linked to the energy sectors, the collaboration between Italy and Azerbaijan is now also extended to defense industry products,” the partially state-owned company stated in its press release. Azerbaijan is most likely to use the purchased aircraft for military purposes - for transportation of materiel and ammunition. 

Source: Eurasianet

Russian Imports of Key Electronics Are Back to Pre-Invasion Levels According to U.S. Department of State Sanctions Coordinator 

According to U.S. Department of State sanctions coordinator Jim O’Brien, “By the start of this year, Russia was able to reimport key categories of electronics at about pre-war levels.” O’Brien said Russia has been able to circumvent sanctions on microchips and integrated circuits that are critical to weapons manufacturing by buying from other countries that import from Europe. O’Brien called out five countries in particular (Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Georgia, the United Arab Emirates, and Armenia) that have aided Russia in sanction circumvention. 

Source: Politico

Uzbekistan and Italy Sign a Strategic Partnership Agreement

On June 8, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, met in Rome to discuss agreements on economics, security, defense, and culture. As part of this meeting, Mirziyoyev and Meloni signed a strategic partnership agreement, aimed to “write a new chapter of friendship between our nations.”

Source: Decode 39

Erdogan to Visit Azerbaijan

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is expected to embark on his first foreign trip to the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Azerbaijan on June 13, following his reelection in the May 28 runoff polls. While in Azerbaijan, Erdoğan is expected to hold talks with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, before addressing the public.

Source: Hürriyet Daily News

Sources: Astana Times, Decode 39, Eurasianet, Hürriyet Daily News, Politico