Azerbaijan: June 2017 deflation reaches 1%

The prices of consumer goods and tariffs for services decreased by 1% in Azerbaijan in June compared to May, the country’s State Statistics Committee said. The prices of foodstuffs decreased by 2.5% during the reporting period, while the prices of non-food items and paid services increased by 0.1%. The prices of consumer goods and tariffs…

Kyrgyzstan: alcohol excise duty to grow

The Ministry of Economy proposes to raise the excise tax on all alcohol in Kyrgyzstan by 10 soms. The ministry submitted the draft government resolution for discussion. The background statement to the document says that excise tax rates for wine stock, wine, cognac and sparkling wine remained unchanged since March 2013, beer – since June…

Turkmenistan: Tashkent and Ashgabat mull issues of expanding cooperation

Central Asian states, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, which traditionally enjoy fruitful and successful cooperation, voiced commitment to deepen the ties. Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Foreign Minister of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov discussed the expansion of practical Uzbek-Turkmen cooperation. The sides discussed the expansion of cooperation between the countries, as…

Belarus: exports up in January-May 2017

In January-May Belarus’ export of goods and services went up by 20.6% YoY, to $13.553 billion, according to the website of the National Bank of the Republic of Belarus. In January-May Belarus’ foreign trade in goods and services amounted to $26.841 billion (up by 18.1% YoY). Export of goods and services totaled $13.553 billion (up…

Kyrgyzstan: foreign investments down in 2016

Foreign investment in Kyrgyzstan fell by a half from $1,573.2 billion in 2015 to $814,000 in 2016, the National Statistics Committee reported. Manufacturing industries accounted for a third of direct investments. Also, a significant share of investments is taken by geological exploration (20.3%), financial intermediation and insurance (22%). There was less direct foreign investment from…