Tajikistan: NBT predicts further price hike under pressure on the national currency’s exchange rate

The National Bank of Tajikistan (NBT) predicts further food price hike under the pressure on the exchange rate of the national currency, the somoni, against the dollar (USD). Tajik central bank forecasts that prices for imported food products will begin to rise starting from the second quarter (April-June). The NBT specialists say negative inflation expectations…

Tajikistan: AKFED buys Tcell from Telia

The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) has added another telecoms operator to its portfolio by buying Telia Company’s 60% stake in Tajikistan operator Tcell. AKFED already owned the other 40% and is reportedly paying just $27.7 million for the rest. AKFED owns Afghanistan’s Roshan mobile operator, which in turn also owns Smart Telecom,…

Kazakhstan: economy gradually adjusting to oil price shock

The international rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Kazakhstan’s Long-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) at ‘BBB’ with Stable Outlooks. The issue ratings on Kazakhstan’s senior unsecured foreign-currency bonds have also been affirmed at ‘BBB’, Fitch said. The Short-Term Foreign- and Local-Currency IDRs have been affirmed at ‘F2’. The Country Ceiling has been…