Japan announces economic aid package to Central Asia

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will hold a meeting with the leaders of five Central Asian countries in Kazakhstan in August to announce a package of economic assistance to the region. This information was reported by The Japan Times, citing Japanese government officials.

"Kishida is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia from August 9-12. The economic package aims to establish a trade route, promote decarbonization, and encourage people-to-people exchanges. It is expected to be part of the joint statement to be announced after the Six-Party Summit in Kazakhstan," the report stated.

According to the aid plan, Japan will assist in establishing a trade route connecting Central Asia and Europe without involving Russia, utilizing the Caspian Sea. Through this initiative, Japan hopes to provide the region with a stable export route, thereby fostering economic independence.

"In the field of decarbonization, technologies and loans from Japanese companies are expected to be used for measures such as assisting in the processing of natural gas. Japan is planning to receive skilled workers from the region for exchange," the report added.

Tokyo aims to aid the region, which maintains strong ties with powerful countries such as China and Russia, in achieving sustainable economic development.

"The five Central Asian countries—Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan—are ex-Soviet states that maintain strong security ties with Russia but have become somewhat estranged from Moscow due to its incursion into Ukraine.

Central Asia is a key geopolitical region between East Asia and Europe and is rich in natural resources such as gas. China has been expanding its economic influence in the region in recent years, and the United States and the European Union are also seeking to strengthen ties," The Japan Times reported.

It should be noted that the arrival of Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Central Asia was announced in June. At that time, it was revealed that the purpose of his visit was to participate in the summit with the leaders of the five countries in the region.