15:15 - 1.08.2024

---

August 1, Fineko/abc.az. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida plans to announce an economic aid package for Central Asian countries. The program envisages creation of a new trade route through the Caspian Sea, which will connect the region with Europe, ABC.AZ reports, referring to The Japan Times.

Kishida will present the plan at a meeting with the leaders of the five Central Asian states in Kazakhstan. The PM will visit Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Mongolia on August 9-12.

The paper writes that the initiative is aimed at strengthening Japan's ties with the region, where the positions of China and Russia are traditionally strong. Tokyo expects the new export route will provide the Central Asian countries with greater economic independence.

In addition to transport infrastructure, the Japanese plan stipulates assistance in the field of decarbonization of the economy. The use of technologies of Japanese companies and loans in the processing of natural gas is expected.