Welcome to the Caspian Daily, where you will find the 10 most important things you need to know on Caspian Sea Region. We appreciate ideas, reports, news and interesting articles. Send along to Caspian[at]moderndiplomacy.eu or on Twitter: @DGiannakopoulos
1As Western central banks continue their manipulation of the gold price in order to prop up flagging fiat currencies, two of the world’s largest bullion hoarders are fashioning their own gold market which will function outside the dollar system. This new approach is connected closely with the China-led New Silk Road project and the Shanghai-based Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). In May 2015 Beijing announced it had established a state-run gold investment fund, aiming to bolster China’s role in global gold trade. The new initiative is a part of China’s ambitious One Belt and One Road plan. The “Silk Road Gold Fund” will invest in mining projects in the regions along the New Silk Road encouraging central banks of its members to increase their holdings in the precious metal. [mining.com]
2Russia, Iran Plan To Expand Military Cooperation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says the Kremlin plans to develop military and technical cooperation with Iran after international sanctions against Tehran are lifted under a nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Lavrov made the remarks following talks in Moscow with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on August 17. Russian media reports said the two discussed the possible delivery of S-300 surface-to-air missiles from Russia to Iran and new contracts to build nuclear power plants in Iran.
3Trans-Caspian transport route: what does it mean for Azerbaijan? The member-states of the Trans-Caspian international transport route will be able to earn $1 billion in freight transportation for the first few years, Akif Mustafayev, TRACECA (Europe-Caucasus-Asia) transport cooperation program national secretary on Azerbaijan, told Trend News. The profit of Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey as a result of the transportation via this route will increase in the future. “The train has arrived from China to Azerbaijan, but it is necessary that this route gets extended through Georgia and Turkey, and then further to Europe,” he said. “Work is currently underway in this regard, and the arrival of the first train gives hope that the work will be completed in the near future.”In general, as the national secretary said, all the projects realized recently, including the construction and reconstruction of the railway in Azerbaijan, the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway’s section and a new international seaport in Alat, are aimed at high-level cargo transportation from China to Europe.
4Azerbaijan’s model of interfaith harmony. The Valley Outreach Synagogue, one of the most influential Jewish synagogues in Los Angeles, hosted a presentation on Azerbaijan on August 14, 2015. Attended by over 500 members of the Synagogue, the event featured Nasimi Aghayev, Azerbaijan’s Consul General in Los Angeles. Synagogue’s Spritual Leader Rabbi Ron Li-Paz noted that during the turbulent times of religious intolerance and violence in various parts of the world, especially in the Middle East, Azerbaijan stands out as a beacon of tolerance, interfaith harmony and secularism. He called Azerbaijan “a ray of hope in the darkness” and an exemplary model of religious tolerance and acceptance.
5Iran’s energy ministry and the State Agency on Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources (SAARES) are set to enter into a deal on enhancing generation of renewable energies, a deputy energy minister said. Houshang Falahatian was quotes by shana as saying on Tuesday that Iran plans to add 1,000mg it to power generation by renewables. Once sealed, Azeri companies active in the field of renewable energies will start cooperating with MAPNA group in Iran for developing projects for generation of power from renewable energy resources.
6Goods transfered from Central Asian countries to Bandar Abbas – port by Persian Gulf in southern Iran – will recieve 35 percent transfer discount, Hossein Ashouri, an official with Iran’s railroad organization said. He added that Iran also gives 40 percent discount to the transfer of goods from Central Asia to Pakistan via the Iranian railroad, IRNA news agency reported August 17. The official further said that a two-way discount is also to be given to the transfer of goods between Iran’s northeastern border city of Sarakhs and Turkey.
7Russian energy company Rosneft said on Monday it had registered to take part in the 13th licensing round organised by Brazilian national energy agency Agencia Nacional do Petroleo, Gas Natural e Biocombustiveis. Rosneft said that 10 oil basins and blocks, located onshore and offshore, would be put up for sale at the licensing round.
8More than 700 Russian and foreign companies from 30 countries will put their products on display at the MAKS-2015 aerospace show. According to exhibition director, 40 Iranian companies are also due to showcase their products and achievements in MAKS-2015, including Iran Air Show, Qom International Airport, and Sharif Hamrah Pazhouhan Science and Technology Co. Unlike previous years, Iranian firms and companies have been provided with a larger space in the exhibition this year. Several satellites and launchers, jet engines, navigation systems, helicopters and airplanes are among the Iranian products to go on display in MAKS-2015.
9Yuan’s devaluation to impact Kazakh economy. The decision of the world’s second-largest economy – China – to devalue its national currency has unsettled global financial markets. Sabit Khakimjanov, the director of research at the Halyk Finance JSC, believes that the depreciation of the yuan might increase the likelihood for the devaluation of Kazakhstan’s national currency, the tenge. “First, yuan’s depreciation will further strengthen overvaluation of tenge. This is certainly an additional handicap for Kazakh producers, but when considering the fact that tenge has greatly overvalued against the ruble by 20-25 percent in real terms, the devaluation of yuan by 2 percent is relatively not too big,” he told local media. Several experts consider the devaluation of yuan as a positive factor for Kazakh exporters; while others claim that the depreciation of the Chinese currency not will have any impact on either the Kazakh economy, or the tenge, as Kazakhstan is not a rival of China. [Azernews]
10Three days for Constitution Day in Kazakhstan. This year, Kazakhstan celebrates the 20 years anniversary of the Constitution. The anniversary of the Constitution will be celebrated along with the 20th anniversary of the Assembly of People of Kazakhstan.
