Azerbaijan: external debt over $7 billion

Azerbaijan’s external debt stood at $7,172.6 million (12,208.5 million manats) as of July 1, which accounts for 18.9% of the country’s GDP, said Azerbaijani Ministry of Finance. The statistics on borrowings include direct liabilities of the Azerbaijani government and contingent liabilities for loans attracted under state guarantee. Azerbaijan’s external debt consists mainly of funds raised…

Uzbekistan: former deputy PM named UzAir head

Uzbekistan’s former Deputy Prime Minister Ulugbek Rozukulov has been appointed the director general of the country’s national airline Uzbekistan Airways, a source in the airline’s management reported on August 24. Uzbekistan Airways was earlier headed by Valeriy Tyan. Uzbekistan Airways is a flag carrier airline in Uzbekistan and is wholly owned by the state. It…

Turkmenistan to cultivate diverse gas markets

Turkmenistan-China gas relationship may be viewed as one country’s over-dependence on another, Sean Roberts, an expert on Central Asia and Associate Professor of the Practice of International Affairs, said commenting on the construction of Tajik section of the Turkmenistan-Uzbekistan-Tajikistan-Kyrgyzstan-China gas pipeline launched last month. “On one hand, it is easy to understand why Central Asia…

Latvia: pressure on cost increase to be enormous

Pressure on the increase of costs in the next several years will be enormous, and there are worries about the government’s ability to withstand that, said Fiscal Discipline Council’s member Andzs Ubelis. According to him, the government’s recently approved outlook on economic growth this year of 3.7% is realistic and satisfactory. Latvia’s economy is expected…