Central Asia

Over 1.188,2 billion soms were spent on social benefits in Kyrgyzstan in 2008, press service of the Kyrgyz Labor and Social Development Ministry reported.

Kyrgyz state budget surplus comes to 1.564,7 billion soms in 2008, the National Statistic Committee informed referring to the Central Treasury under the Kyrgyz Finance Ministry.

Kazakhstan is planning to increase uranium extraction by 40% in 2009 up to 11.9 thousand tons, said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Sauat Mynbayev.

Trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan grew almost by 50% to US$132.3 million in 2008.

Official welcoming ceremony of visiting President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguli Berdimuhamedov was held at Durmen presidential residence.

Kazakhstan needs major expansions to handle the spike in oil exports expected once the offshore Kashagan field enters full production, Chevron informed.

Gross regional product of Navoi region increased by 8.1% in 2008, a meeting of the deputies of Navoi region said at the meeting.

Kyrgyzstan is likely to tighten legal requirements for non-governmental organizations. The idea to modernize the legal control system over non-profit organizations’ activity was voiced by the Kyrgyz members of parliament Iskhak Masaliev, Arapai Tolonov and Nurgazy Aidarov.

The macroeconomic situation in Turkmenistan remains stable despite global financial crisis, vice prime minister Tuvakmammed Japarov said at a government meeting on 20 February.

“We think that Manas airbase closure may not have positive effect on situation in Afghanistan,” the EU Special Representative for Central Asia Pierre Morel said at the narrow format meeting with Kyrgyz journalists that took place in Hyatt hotel in Bishkek Friday.