Author: Akiner Balbay

Israel’s FIBA Champions League side and State Cup holder Hapoel Jerusalem on Sunday announced the signing of former NBA player Maurice Ndour, who has also played in China. The 31-year-old Senegalese played college basketball at Monroe College and Ohio University, before joining EuroLeague side Real Madrid for one season, with whom he won Spanish league and cup titles in 2016. He then signed with the New York Knicks, where he averaged 3.1 points and 2 assists in 32 NBA games. In 2017 he returned to Europe, playing for UNICS Kazan, Valencia Basket and Rytas Vilnius. In 2021 he joined the…

Uzbekistan plans to raise the limit for consolidated state budget deficit from current 3 percent to 5 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2023, a draft presidential decree announced on Tuesday said. The draft document published for public discussion is a part of the larger draft presidential decree on the implementation of the Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy. The draft strategy proposes ensuring 5.3 percent to 5.5 percent of GDP growth this year and keep inflation within 9 percent to 9.5 percent. Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy contains 100 goals in 5 areas, including increasing GDP to 160 billion U.S. dollars and bring per capita…

Uzbekistan’s IT sector keeps growing rapidly and setting new records. The state is successfully unlocking its potential and creating more opportunities to draw in foreign businesses. IT Park Uzbekistan makes a significant contribution to the development of IT. Data for the first half of 2023 depicts ongoing positive dynamics in the IT sector. Volume Of Export Exports for the 1st half of 2023 exceeded the annual exports of 2022. The volume of exports of IT Park residents increased by 2.7 times compared to the 1st half of last year and reached $145.3 million. It is important to note that exports…

According to the Statistics Agency under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in 2022, the share of information and communication technology (ICT) services in Uzbekistan’s economy was 1.7%. The added value of ICT services consists of communication services – 66.5%, computer programming, consulting and other related services – 19.4%, data hosting and processing services, Web portals – 7.0%, repair of computers and communication equipment – 4.7%, software release – 2.4%. In accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan IT-Visa is granted for up to 3 years. It gives an advantage to receive education and medical services on the terms provided for citizens of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the…

The Kazakh lowcost airline FlyArystan has suspended check-in fees at airports for international flights after the air company introduced charges on Aug. 3, while online check-in remains free, reported Kazinform on Aug. 4. “When launching this service for international flights, the low-cost airline encountered unforeseen obstacles and temporarily suspended the launch until the issues were resolved. The airline will refund passengers who purchased a paid check-in service at the airport,” the air carrier said in a statement. FlyArystan remains committed to this service and its digitalization strategy, which aims to develop the aviation industry in Kazakhstan. “After the announcement of the launch…

Business executives from Kazakhstan and Afghanistan signed 15 agreements, including nine for the supply of oil, worth $190.8 million at the Kazakh – Afghan business forum on Aug. 3. The dialogue platform laid the ground for new projects, trade and economic cooperation, bringing together over 300 participants, including officials, business leaders, and manufacturers from both countries. Welcoming the participants, Serik Zhumangarin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Integration, reaffirmed that Kazakhstan stands for the development of Afghanistan as an independent, neutral, united, peaceful, democratic, and prosperous state and is interested in maintaining the existing trade, economic, transport, logistics…

Internet use has tripled in Kazakhstan from 356 petabytes in 2018 to 1,000 petabytes in 2022, reported the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations and Aerospace Industry on Aug. 3. During the recent meeting with the executives of mobile operators, Kazakh Minister of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry Bagdat Mussin instructed to improve the quality of the internet to address numerous complaints from users about the low speed and quality of the network. Mobile operators will hold a briefing on tariffs and internet quality on Aug. 11 in the Central Communications Service. Representatives of mobile operators and the ministry will…

The Minister of Defense Bakhodir Kurbanov hosted the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Korea Lee Jong-sup on Tuesday. According to the Ministry of Defense, the ministers discussed the ways to advance cooperation in the military area and promising areas of partnership. During the visit, the military delegation of the Republic of Korea visited the Academy of the Armed Forces of Uzbekistan, where they got acquainted with the activities and infrastructure of the educational institution. Visits to a number of other sites are also planned.

Turkey abruptly stopped the transit of sanctioned goods to Russia this month as the European Union and the US pressure allies to support measures imposed over President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The government ordered a halt to transit of such goods via Turkey from March 1 in compliance with sanctions, said a senior Turkish official, speaking on condition of anonymity. “The cargo clearance system in Turkey simply stopped working,” said Ekaterina Lazutkina, co-owner of Vendor Cargo, a Moscow-based door-to-door shipping, customs clearance and general freight company that works through Turkey. The customs system now blocks goods destined for Russia,…

Industrial Development Fund (IDF) will be set up under the Uzbekistan Fund for Reconstruction and Development (UFRD). This is provided for by the president’s July 21 decree. The IDF will get US$1 billion in funds, including $200 million from the UFRD in 2023-2024. The Fund is allowed to attract funds from external sources, in the future – from new sources. 2 trillion soums will be contributed annually from the state budget for infrastructure costs Starting from 2024, as well as 15 million US dollars in equivalent for expenses on subsidies and compensations provided to the Fund. At the expense of…