Day: April 30, 2025

A new drone manufacturing facility is set to open in Uzbekistan by the end of 2025, as part of a joint project with the Russian company “Transport of the Future,” a developer of unmanned aerial systems. The announcement was made by the company’s Director General, Yuri Kozarenko, during the INNOPROM Central Asia industrial exhibition in Tashkent on April 28, according to TASS.

Kozarenko stated that his company had conducted a market analysis and identified robust demand for civilian drones across the region. “We believe that tens of thousands of drones can already be used effectively in the market,” he said. The joint venture is currently under construction and is expected to be fully operational by the end of this year.

In its first phase, the plant is projected to produce drones valued at over $100 million. Approximately 50% of production will be localized in Uzbekistan, encompassing design, assembly, and the development of systems for drone applications across multiple sectors.

Kozarenko also noted that the company is collaborating with Russia’s aviation regulator and Uzbekistan’s Civil Aviation Agency to ensure the safe and efficient deployment of drones. This includes the development of supporting infrastructure and regulatory frameworks.

Education and Innovation as Strategic Priorities

As part of the broader initiative, Kozarenko endorsed the creation of a joint scientific and technical council on unmanned systems. He emphasized the council’s potential role in shaping both current operations and long-term market development.

He further highlighted the importance of investing in education and skills development. “Businesses should understand the value of investing in human potential,” he said.

“Transport of the Future” plans to expand its cooperation with Uzbekistan through additional projects focused on technology sharing and joint development.

As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, the INNOPROM exhibition also featured an announcement on the launch of construction for Uzbekistan’s first small-capacity nuclear power plant.

Construction of a 12-kilometer tunnel has commenced in Kyrgyzstan’s Jalal-Abad region, marking a significant milestone in the development of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, a strategically important transport corridor aimed at linking East and West.

At the groundbreaking ceremony on April 29, Kyrgyz Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Bakyt Torobayev emphasized the railway’s broader significance. “This project is not only of infrastructural importance. It opens the way to improving the quality of life, economic growth, and strengthening ties between regions and peoples. It will create new opportunities for trade, investment, industrial development and logistics, provide thousands of jobs, and give a powerful impetus to the economies of our countries,” he said.

A Major Infrastructure Undertaking

The railway will span 523 kilometers, with over 300 kilometers passing through Kyrgyzstan. In addition to the current tunnel project, two more large tunnels are planned in the Naryn and Jalal-Abad regions. The project involves challenging terrain and extensive engineering work, including the construction of 46 bridges and 27 tunnels.

The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway was officially launched during a ceremony in Jalal-Abad on December 27, 2024.

Once completed, the route will connect Kashgar (China), Torugart, Makmal, and Jalal-Abad (Kyrgyzstan), and Andijan (Uzbekistan). The railway is expected to have an annual cargo capacity of up to 15 million tons.

Currently, neither Kyrgyzstan nor Uzbekistan has a direct railway connection with China. At present, Central Asia’s only rail link to China passes through Kazakhstan, underscoring the significance of this long-anticipated trilateral project.

The Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan plans to introduce body cameras for emergency medical personnel by the end of 2025, in a move aimed at increasing their protection amid rising incidents of violence. Health Minister Akmaral Alnazarova announced the initiative during a government briefing.

“As for protection, we will introduce video badges that will record everything that happens. We have issued a corresponding order. Local authorities will have to allocate funds. I think we will carry out this work in stages by the end of this year,” said Alnazarova, as quoted by Zakon.kz.

According to the minister, the pilot initiative may later be expanded to other categories of healthcare workers, including doctors and nurses in outpatient clinics. Alnazarova noted that body cameras are intended to deter both aggressors and healthcare workers from misconduct.

In parallel, the Ministry of Health has proposed criminal penalties for assaults on medical personnel while on duty. The proposal has received support from the Prosecutor General’s Office, the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Response to Violence Against Medical Staff

Kazakhstan has witnessed a series of alarming assaults on healthcare professionals in recent years. In Almaty, a gynecologist was struck with a mobile phone by a patient; in Kokshetau, intensive care doctors were attacked by the parents of a child; and in Talgar, relatives of a deceased person assaulted medical staff attempting to retrieve the body. Victims have sustained severe injuries, including fractures and traumatic brain injuries.

One of the most tragic incidents occurred in Almaty, where gastroenterologist Yuri Shumkov was shot and killed at point-blank range by a patient dissatisfied with his diagnosis. The suspect fled but was later apprehended. In another shocking case in the Aktobe region, a young doctor participating in the government’s “With a Diploma to the Village” program was brutally beaten and raped.

From Promises to Policy

Alnazarova initially announced plans for body cameras in December 2024, following a violent attack in Kostanay in which a paramedic was assaulted by relatives of a deceased woman. The ministry subsequently began drafting legal and physical protection measures for healthcare workers.

“We want to ensure that our employees can work safely, using the experience of law enforcement agencies. This will be regulated at the regulatory level,” the minister stated at the time.

Additional proposals under discussion include health insurance coverage for personnel at high risk of assault, aimed at compensating for physical harm and emotional trauma sustained while on duty.