Central Asian currencies under pressure amid fears of Russian economic meltdown

Heavy economic sanctions against Russia are creating currency crises for Central Asian countries. In Kazakhstan, the National Bank has changed the rules surrounding trading after a fall in the value of the Kazakhstani Tenge. In the neighbouring Kyrgyz Republic the President has also issued warnings about pressure on the Kyrgyzstani Som.

With the war in Ukraine unfolding, the sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU, the US, and other Western nations are causing grave economic pains in Kazakhstan. On Monday (28 February), the National Bank of Kazakhstan and the Kazakhstan Stock Exchange (KASE) announced a change in trading rules. Currency exchanges in the Tenge-Dollar currency pair would begin at 15:00 Nur-Sultan time in the Frankfurt Auction Format. The change in rules is, according to the National Bank, due to “the need to minimize pressure from external geopolitical factors on the foreign exchange market.” The statement also made clear that these measures are temporary. However, the National bank also said that they are considering completely suspending exchange currency trading. The National Bank has spent $104 million to maintain the value of the Tenge. Nevertheless, at the time of writing, the value of the currency has fallen 7.6% to a low of 493/$1. The close ties between Russia and Kazakhstan mean that any drop in the Russian economy will have negative spillover effects in Kazakhstan.

In Kyrgyzstan, President Sadyr Japarov today (28 February) said that “[Kyrgyzstan] might be facing a big pressure on the national currency in the near future.” As Kyrgyzstan, like other Central Asian countries, imports the vast majority of the energy needs from Russia, the rise in the price of fuel has caused further issues for its economy. President Japarov also stated that the “prices of flour and other cereals have increased significantly”. In a Facebook post in Kyrgyz, the President announced that Kyrgyzstan will now offer people Gold in exchange for the Kyrgyzstani Som as a response to the falling value of the Kyrgyz currency, “There are no restrictions, including for export abroad, and no fee will be charged. We have created such conditions. Save your capital better with gold instead of paper money.” In the same social media post, the President said that the Cabinet of Ministers has developed an “anti-crisis action plan.”

Central Asian economies continue to suffer from the fallout of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and its governments will have to carefully manage the cascading consequences of increasing Western Sanctions and a prolonged conflict in Eastern Europe.

 
Sources: CommonSpace.eu with AKIpress (Bishkek), Tengrinews (Nur-Sultan), and other media outlets
Picture: President Sadyr Japarov (AKIpress)

Related articles

Editor's choice
News
Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell tells the European Parliament that the situation in Afghanistan was critical, but the EU will remain engaged

Borrell underlined that the European Union will make every effort to support the peace process and to remain a committed partner to the Afghan people. "Of course, we will have to take into account the evolving situation, but disengagement is not an option.  We are clear on that: there is no alternative to a negotiated political settlement, through inclusive peace talks.
Editor's choice
News
In Tbilisi, Stoltenberg reaffirms NATO support for Georgia's territorial integrity

In Tbilisi, Stoltenberg reaffirms NATO support for Georgia's territorial integrity

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg continued his tour of the South Caucasus on Monday (18 March 2024), meeting with President Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of Georgia in Tbilisi. “Georgia is one of NATO’s closest partners. We highly appreciate your substantial contributions to NATO missions and operations and we fully support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia,” Mr Stoltenberg said. He called on Russia to reverse the recognition of Georgian territories South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states and added that Russia’s organisation of elections in occupied parts of Georgia and Ukraine is completely illegal. “Russia’s presidential election was clearly neither free nor fair,” Mr Stoltenberg said. The Secretary General welcomed Georgia’s substantial contributions to NATO operations and support to Ukraine. Georgia is hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees and providing crucial humanitarian and financial aid. “Russia persists in its pursuit of imperial ambitions. And in Ukraine, the situation on the battlefield remains difficult,” he said. “But, with our support, Ukraine has pushed back - destroying or damaging a significant part of Russia’s Black Sea fleet,” allowing Ukraine to re-open grain shipping that is vital for their economy and for global food security. The Secretary General will conclude his three day visit to the South Caucasus in Yerevan on Tuesday, meeting with President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia. On Sunday and Monday, he met Azerbaijan’s leadership in Baku.

Popular

Editor's choice
News
In Tbilisi, Stoltenberg reaffirms NATO support for Georgia's territorial integrity

In Tbilisi, Stoltenberg reaffirms NATO support for Georgia's territorial integrity

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg continued his tour of the South Caucasus on Monday (18 March 2024), meeting with President Salome Zourabichvili and Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze of Georgia in Tbilisi. “Georgia is one of NATO’s closest partners. We highly appreciate your substantial contributions to NATO missions and operations and we fully support Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. South Ossetia and Abkhazia are part of Georgia,” Mr Stoltenberg said. He called on Russia to reverse the recognition of Georgian territories South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states and added that Russia’s organisation of elections in occupied parts of Georgia and Ukraine is completely illegal. “Russia’s presidential election was clearly neither free nor fair,” Mr Stoltenberg said. The Secretary General welcomed Georgia’s substantial contributions to NATO operations and support to Ukraine. Georgia is hosting thousands of Ukrainian refugees and providing crucial humanitarian and financial aid. “Russia persists in its pursuit of imperial ambitions. And in Ukraine, the situation on the battlefield remains difficult,” he said. “But, with our support, Ukraine has pushed back - destroying or damaging a significant part of Russia’s Black Sea fleet,” allowing Ukraine to re-open grain shipping that is vital for their economy and for global food security. The Secretary General will conclude his three day visit to the South Caucasus in Yerevan on Tuesday, meeting with President Vahagn Khachaturyan and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan of Armenia. On Sunday and Monday, he met Azerbaijan’s leadership in Baku.