Ramiz Mammad Lee, MPA, PMP®

Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem has experienced significant growth in 2024, jumping 88 spots in the global rankings to secure the 110th position, surpassing Ethiopia. With a population of 37 mn and Tashkent ranking 3rd in Central Asia, the country’s startup landscape is rapidly expanding, supported by government initiatives and a young, tech-savvy population. As Uzbekistan continues to develop its tech ecosystem, Plug and Play, a global innovation platform, is playing a pivotal role in connecting local startups with international markets. During Uzbekistan’s ICT Week, Sascha Karimpour, Partner at Plug and Play and Co-Founder of Plug and Play Uzbekistan, sat down with Daryo’s Tawney Kruger to discuss Plug and Play’s involvement in nurturing Uzbekistan’s startup ecosystem A critical factor in Uzbekistan’s growth is the abundance of young, well-educated talent. Tashkent’s universities produce more than 125,000 graduates annually, including over 25,000 specializing in IT. This growing talent pool has attracted the attention of global investors and corporations looking for skilled workers in the region. “Uzbekistan is on the rise,” Karimpour said, emphasizing the value of its growing workforce. “The government is really behind this topic. Without their drive, nothing would happen.” Many locals are also multilingual, providing startups with the linguistic skills necessary to expand globally. This young, diverse talent pool has become an essential component of the country’s ability to foster startups in industries like FinTech, EdTech, and software development. Uzbekistan’s rapid digitalization has played a crucial role in accelerating the startup ecosystem. Since the early 2000s, the government has prioritized ICT development, significantly expanding its digital infrastructure. By 2022, the country’s fiber-optic network had grown sixfold, reaching 118,000 kilometers. These advancements support the government’s broader “Digital Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy, which aims to boost digital transformation across key sectors, including e-government and the digital economy. Uzbekistan has also made considerable strides in digital public services. As of 2022, 70% of government services were provided electronically through the country’s e-government platform, which hosts 307 services. These technological advancements are paving the way for further growth in the startup sector, particularly in industries like FinTech and EdTech. FinTech and EdTech are two of the most promising sectors in Uzbekistan’s startup landscape. Tashkent ranks #1 in Central Asia for FinTech startups and #4 in EdTech, underscoring the country’s potential as a tech hub in the region. Karimpour is particularly excited about the future of FinTech in Uzbekistan, revealing that Plug and Play is launching a dedicated FinTech program in 2025. “For FinTechs from Uzbekistan or internationally, there’s so much opportunity in the country to do business,” Read more: https://lnkd.in/dMTTMZ5h

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Introduction: The Holy Land of Armenia. Background: World’s First Christians’. Armenia is a landlocked country in Southwestern Asia or Eurasia. It is situated at the gateway between Western Asia and Eastern Europe and is bordered by Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, and Turkey. Located in the Lesser Caucasus Mountains, Armenia is a mountainous region with fast-flowing rivers. Geography: Area total : 29,743 sq km land: 28,203 sq km water: 1,540 sq km Climate: highland continental, hot summers, cold winters Natural resources small deposits of gold, copper, molybdenum, zinc, bauxite People and Society: Population: total: 2,976,765 Ethnic groups: Armenian 98.1%, Yezidi 1.1%, other 0.8% (2022 est.) Languages: Armenian (official) 97.9%, Kurmanji (spoken by Yezidi minority) 1%, other 1.1%; note - Russian is widely spoken (2011 est.) Religions: Armenian Apostolic Christian 95.2%, other Christian 1.6%, other 0.9%, none 0.6%, unspecified 1.7% (2022 est.) Population growth rate: -0.42% (2024 est.) Government type: parliamentary democracy; note - constitutional changes adopted in December 2015 transformed the government to a parliamentary system Capital: name: Yerevan Executive branch: chief of state: President Vahagn KHACHATURYAN (since 13 March 2022) head of government: Prime Minister Nikol PASHINYAN (since 10 September 2021) Legislative branch: summary: unicameral National Assembly (107 seats) Diplomatic representation in the US chief of mission: Ambassador Lilit MAKUNTS (since 15 September 2021) Diplomatic representation from the US chief of mission: Ambassador Kristina A. KVIEN (since 21 February 2023) Economy Economic overview EEU-and CIS-member state but seeking more EU and US trade; business-friendly growth environments; stable monetary regime but vulnerable demand economy; key copper and gold exporter; persistent unemployment; large diaspora and remittances Real GDP (purchasing power parity) $57.728 billion (2023 est.) $53.108 billion (2022 est.) $47.165 billion (2021 est.) Real GDP per capita $20,800 (2023 est.) $19,100 (2022 est.) $16,900 (2021 est.) Exports $14.13 billion (2023 est.) $10.038 billion (2022 est.) $5.012 billion (2021 est.) Exports - partners Russia 41%, UAE 9%, China 7%, Georgia 4%, Switzerland 4% (2022) Exports - commodities copper ore, gold, diamonds, tobacco, iron alloys (2022) Imports $14.279 billion (2023 est.) $10.186 billion (2022 est.) $6.12 billion (2021 est.) Imports - partners Russia 23%, UAE 19%, China 10%, Georgia 5%, Iran 5% (2022) Imports - commodities postage stamps/documents, cars, broadcasting equipment, refined petroleum, natural gas (2022) Flag: Three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue, and orange; the color red recalls the blood shed for liberty, blue the Armenian skies as well as hope, and orange the land and the courage of the workers who farm it. Last updated: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 #Armenia

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Cooperation between the Central Asian nations is crucial for future development in innovation, Executive Director of IT PARK Uzbekistan Abdulahad Kuchkarov said during the "INMerge" Innovation Summit, organized by PASHA Holding for the fourth time, in Baku today Kuchkarov noted that today's global competition extends beyond the region. "A few years ago, countries competed against each other, but now I believe that the states of Central Asia and the Caucasus are competing with South Asia, Africa, and Europe for foreign investment. Here we see Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan presenting startups from both ecosystems on the same platform. If we talk about Uzbekistan alone, it has 37 million people, and Kazakhstan has 20 million. But if we consider our region, Central Asia and the Caucasus, it totals over 100 million people. The main advantage of the region for attracting investment is its young talent. In all the countries of the region, whether it's Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, or Azerbaijan, there are many talented young individuals," Kuchkarov noted. He added that creating educational infrastructure and programs for young professionals is key, as is developing infrastructure for companies and students, enabling them to pursue their development and work on new projects. This summit, organized by PASHA Holding, aims to contribute to the development of the innovation ecosystem in the country, bringing together startups and investors to provide opportunities for collaboration, as well as creating a platform for exchanging ideas and experiences among all participants in the innovation ecosystem. https://lnkd.in/dZMZZmVE

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🚀 Advancing PPP in #Turkmenistan: Key Takeaways from Visit to #Uzbekistan 🚀 Just wrapped up an intensive week with Turkmenistan’s delegation in Uzbekistan, where we shared insights and practices in public-private partnerships (#PPP). Supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), we explored crucial elements like institutional support, project feasibility, risk allocation, and the importance of transparency and stability in attracting investment. The main takeaway? Building a supportive and flexible environment isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s essential for creating PPPs that truly benefit all stakeholders. Uzbekistan’s experience shows just how impactful it can be in accelerating investor engagement and developing sustainable infrastructure. #PPP #Investment #AsianDevelopmentBank #Infrastructure #BestPractices #PPPExpertiseEurasia

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The Zangazur Corridor is a proposed transport route connecting mainland Azerbaijan to its Nakhchivan exclave, passing through Armenia’s southern Syunik region. This corridor is part of a broader regional infrastructure plan following the 2020 Karabakh war, with Azerbaijan advocating for its development under agreements brokered by Russia. Lately, Russia has demonstrated support for the Zangazur Corridor, seeing it as a way to boost regional connectivity, solidify its influence in the South Caucasus, and diversify its transport routes due to the imposed Western sanctions. Moscow views this corridor as a strategic link between Europe and Asia, and so do Azerbaijan and Turkey, aligning it with their geopolitical and economic interests. However, Iran is vehemently opposed to the project. Tehran sees the corridor threatening its regional influence, fearing it could cut off direct land access to Armenia and disrupt its trade routes. Additionally, Iran worries about increasing Turkish and Azerbaijani influence in the region, which could shift the balance of power along its northern borders. This was probably the case because Iran agreed to a transit route connecting western Azerbaijan with its exclave of Nakhchivan through Iran via a bridge over the Aras that connects the two countries. This geopolitical tug-of-war underscores the complex dynamics at play, as regional powers vie for influence in the Caucasus, with the Zangazur Corridor at the heart of the dispute. In this dispute, Armenia is a stubborn neighbor working for its own harm. It must overcome its anger and try to abate hostility against this project. On the other hand, Armenia’s opposition to the Zangazur Corridor could be a strategic mistake. The corridor presents a unique regional connectivity and economic growth opportunity, potentially turning Armenia into a key transit hub between Europe and Asia. Blocking it may isolate Armenia further and deepen economic challenges while Azerbaijan and Turkey strengthen their positions. Instead of resisting, Armenia could benefit from engaging in dialogue and leveraging the corridor for its advantage. Hopefully, Armenia will be able to reestimate the advantage of the Zangazur project for the whole region. #Zangazur #Zangazurcorridor #peaceagreement #azerbaijan #Karabakh

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3,000 employees of government bodies of Uzbekistan, as well as khokims (heads of regions) and their deputies, will undergo advanced training in the field of AI On December 27, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev familiarized himself with the presentation of the plan for the development of artificial intelligence and telecommunications technologies The strategy «Uzbekistan-2030» sets the task of turning the country into a regional IT hub. In recent years, $3 billion has been invested in this industry. The number of IT enterprises with foreign capital has increased by 8.5 times compared to 2017 and exceeded 1000. Today, every tenth enterprise in the sector is an international company. If seven years ago there were only 12 exporting enterprises in the country, then this year there are already 650. By the end of the year, the volume of exports of information technology and telecommunications services is expected to exceed $900 million. According to the press service of the president, more than 20 projects have already been implemented based on artificial intelligence, another 70 projects have been developed in areas and large enterprises. As a result, the index of assistance to artificial intelligence rose by 17 positions in Uzbekistan. In October, the Strategy for the Development of Artificial Intelligence Technologies until 2030 was adopted by the decree of the President of Uzbekistan. It uses measures to increase the share of software products and services based on AI, expand technical employment and improve human resources. About the meeting of plans of ministers of digital technologies in China for next year. In particular, «cloud» data centers will be launched in the Bukhara, Fergana and Tashkent regions. To support startups, artificial intelligence laboratories are opening at the Tashkent University of Information Technologies and Inha University. As directed, 3,000 heads of state bodies, as well as khokims and their deputies, will undergo advanced training in this area. The task of increasing the number of projects based on artificial intelligence to 100, the volume of software products and services - to 50 million dollars has been set for responsible tasks.

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The USAID/UKaid State-Owned Enterprise Reform Activity (SOERA) organized a strategic session for the leadership of the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU). Over 25 SPFU leaders, including the top management, convened to discuss and set strategic priorities for 2025-2028, update the organization’s mission, and define specific targets for the coming years.   Key Focus Areas Identified:    🔷 Accelerating Privatization  🔷 Reforming State Property Management  🔷 Addressing Legacy Issues   🔷 Digitalizing SPFU Processes   🔷 Strengthening Institutional Capacity    During the session, SPFU management also conducted a thorough assessment of the organization’s strengths, gaps, and challenges. This strategic session is a significant milestone in transforming SPFU’s management system and was highly praised by participants for incorporating best international practices.   Further workshops and training sessions are planned to continue strengthening the institution and support ongoing changes.  #SOERANews  

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The international conference on “Impact of anthropogenic factors and climate change on Karabakh's ecosystems” will be held in Shusha city on September 30, Trend reports. According to the Institute of Dendrology of the Ministry of Science and Education of Azerbaijan, the conference is timed to coincide with COP29. Furthermore, it is noted that the main purpose of the conference is to discuss climate change and its impact on the environment together with scientists and biologists, as well as the exchange of international experience. The 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,000-80,000 foreign guests. The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. A total of 198 countries are parties to the convention. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn. Read more: https://lnkd.in/dJ4Dxsa9

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The Embassy of Armenia in Georgia publishes the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia "The Embassy of Armenia in Georgia publishes the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Georgia. The statement says that official Baku's response to the Armenian-French military-technical cooperation causes astonishment. The statement mentions that having an army capable of fighting and armed with modern military equipment is the sovereign right of any country. "The Republic of Armenia recognizes the territorial integrity and inviolability of borders of all its neighbors. Armenia and Azerbaijan agreed at the highest level to recognize each other's territorial integrity and sovereignty based on the 1991 Alma-Ata Declaration. The Republic of Armenia adheres to this principle and has no ambitions beyond the internationally recognized territory of 29,743 square kilometers. The Republic of Armenia proved its approach in practice by implementing the delimitation initiative of four villages of Tavush region of the Republic of Armenia and Gazakh region of the Republic of Azerbaijan. We call on Azerbaijan to end its occupation of vital territories of more than 30 villages of the Republic of Armenia. The practice of Azerbaijan, which conveniently predicts regional escalations in every case, is suggestive and comes to justify the analyzes conducted by a number of centers that Azerbaijan will do everything to hinder the process of concluding a peace agreement with Armenia, in order to launch a new aggression against the Republic of Armenia after the COP29 summit in Baku in November 2024. We draw the attention of the international community to this, as well as to the fact that the proposal to conclude the official Yerevan peace agreement in 1 month was left unanswered by the official Baku side", - reads the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, which is distributed by the Embassy of Armenia." The Azerbaijan stated echoed that of the Russian Federation: “Paris is provoking another round of armed confrontation in the South Caucasus, and they are doing it in different ways. This [French artillery weapon sale] is another step,” Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told journalists on Wednesday. Her comments echoed a statement from Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry, which accused France of “pursuing a policy of militarization and geopolitical intrigue” in the region, and of “preventing the normalization of relations” between Yerevan and Baku, according to the Moscow Times. #Armenia #France #Azerbaijan #Russia

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The President of Uzbekistan noted at the summit of the Organization of Turkic States that global geopolitical processes have become even more complex, and the countries of the region "comprehensively feel the negative impact" of various threats and challenges. He called on countries to take a unified position, including on the conflict in the Middle East There is no way to justify the unprecedented humanitarian tragedy in the Gaza Strip and Lebanon, the devastating attacks against civilians, especially the deaths of innocent children, the elderly and women,” said Shavkat Mirziyoyev. He added that the only way to resolve this conflict is to create an independent state of Palestine with its capital in East Jerusalem based on the 1967 borders in accordance with international acts and resolutions. The President also reminded that the organization should remain focused on Afghanistan. "We believe that when solving the acute problems of Afghanistan, it is imperative to consider issues of providing assistance to the current government, broadly involving this state in regional economic processes, and implementing social and infrastructure projects," he said. The head of Uzbekistan called the Charter of the Turkic World, adopted at the summit, a historical document, on the basis of which the countries will achieve "even greater consolidation of the Turkic world," "increase its authority," and take cooperation to a new level. The President also outlined a number of priority areas of cooperation within the organization. Uzbekistan proposed adopting the Treaty on Strategic Partnership, Eternal Friendship, and Brotherhood of the Turkic State. “The demand for capital and its cost in the global financial market is growing. The conditions for issuing long-term and “green” loans to developing countries are becoming more complicated... We must pay serious attention to the introduction of financial instruments. We consider it necessary to consider the issues of activating the work of the Turkic Investment Fund, creating, on our initiative, the Turkic Development Bank,” the head of Uzbekistan proposed. Efficient use of transport corridors. “Optimization of transit tariffs along the Middle Corridor, simplification of border crossing processes, creation of modern logistics systems and joint operators fully meet our common interests,” the president said. He called on countries to sign a multilateral agreement on the transition to electronic document management in transportation and their mutual recognition. Development of the concept of the digital Turkic world. “This concept will serve the mutual exchange of advanced experience and achievements of our countries in the IT sphere, the creation of digital systems of innovation, infrastructure and science, large data centers,” noted Shavkat Mirziyoyev. https://lnkd.in/gp_UJNMh

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SME's & startups Business Opportunities: I am writing to draw a comparison with the United States, which is a leading country in business, focusing primarily on the perspectives of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and start-ups. 1. Market Size: Azerbaijan is extremely small for business. If you're looking for mass-market business opportunities, it's advisable to look at larger markets. By comparison, the United States has a population 30 times larger than Azerbaijan and a gross domestic product nearly 300 times greater, providing ample opportunities for everyone. 2. Public Sector Influence: Globally, a significant portion of income for businesses, especially start-ups, comes from the public sector and public tenders. In Azerbaijan, when a small company offers a service or product, key personnel are often poached by those in the public sector. This situation is similar in the private sector as well. Bureaucrats often fail to understand that the effectiveness of those creating new products and services relies on their independence from bureaucratic tasks. 3. Purchasing Practices: In Azerbaijan, neither the public sector nor large enterprises typically purchase services and products from small companies unless there are "special" conditions, interests, or support involved. There is a prevailing fear of making mistakes, leading buyers to opt for more expensive products from foreign companies or large corporations. Conversely, in countries like the United States, mistakes are common, and while small companies may fail, there is a culture of overcoming fear and giving these companies a chance. 4. Regulatory Environment: Despite what some may say, the legislation, taxes, and conditions in Azerbaijan are not conducive to start-ups and new businesses. For instance, terminating an employee after officially hiring them is complex and often requires paying compensation or undergoing a lengthy process. Taxes are also significant, leading to inefficient use of capital and resources for start-ups that operate on their own income. In contrast, in more business-friendly environments, hiring and firing are more flexible, allowing for better resource management. 5. Investment Culture: Some may suggest attracting investors as a solution. However, in Azerbaijan, if you sell a 5% share, investors often demand control over 95% of your business. The lack of a mature investment culture hinders the formation of new businesses. 6. Competitive Landscape: Azerbaijan lacks real, competitive big businesses, which in turn stifles the development of new SMEs. It should be noted that there are exceptions to these observations. However, statistically, these exceptions do not significantly alter the overall situation.

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🌍 Expanding Horizons: Strengthening Uzbekistan-Latvia Partnership 🇺🇿🇱🇻 Chairman of the "Uzcharmsanoat" Association, Akbar Sultanov, held a productive meeting with Vladimir Galperin, Honorary Consul of Uzbekistan in Latvia and a board member of the Uzbek-Latvian Chamber of Commerce, to discuss opportunities for deeper collaboration. Key highlights: ✅ Boosting Exports to the EU: The growing demand for Uzbek leather products in the European market was a central focus. ✅ Strategic Storage Facilities: By early 2025, two major warehouses (4000 m² total) will open in Riga and Liepaja, available free of charge for Uzbek companies to store and ship goods. ✅ Exploring New Markets: Discussions on exporting Uzbek gelatin to Latvia could pave the way for broader access to Scandinavian and Baltic markets. 🤝 The meeting concluded with the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between "Uzcharmsanoat" and the Uzbek-Latvian Chamber of Commerce, marking a significant step toward stronger trade relations. #Uzbekistan #Latvia #InternationalTrade #LeatherIndustry #EUmarket #Logistics #GlobalExpansion #BusinessDevelopment #Partnerships

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Hamas is still teaching hatred to Gazan children NOW! As we speak glossy violent learning materials for children are being produced and distributed in Gaza. Designed and printed presumably with the ample donation money collected since 7/10 for crisis in Gaza. The colorful and appealing in it’s cartoon-like design materials teach even bolder hatred, incite bloodier brutality, and demand young children to commit JIHAD. It’s happening NOW and this demonstrates perfectly the real intentions and priorities of Hamas for Gazans. Those who call for ceasefire call just as Hamas does for all Gazans to sacrifice their children and the next generation. They teach very young children to never recognize Israel, commit genocide against all Israelis, and ethnically cleanse the Israeli State. You care about Gaza? Pray for IDF to eliminate Hamas and their conduits such as UNRWA and extremists Imams. Demand that your governments stop supporting hateful learning materials like these so that ordinary Gazans and their children can change, wake up and embrace the idea of long-lasting co-existence alongside Israel. And then maybe the peace will be possible because despite it all Israel still wants peace - because we truly love our children and want them to have a peaceful future!

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The Armenian Weekly, "Overshadowed by COP29, Armenian climate solutions deserve a spotlight,” by Anya Jemal, 10/22/2024 "While global leaders will soon descend on Baku, Azerbaijan, for this year’s 29th Conference of the Parties (COP) ... little discussion will be had about Azerbaijan’s neighbor to the west and its place in those discussions. Armenia, a country whose indigenous people of Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh) were forcibly displaced a year ago by Azerbaijan itself, not only deserves a seat at global discussions on climate change but also a platform to highlight its success stories in climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience. "Azerbaijan’s uninitiated attacks on Artsakh and Armenia since 2020 have resulted in over 7,000 military and 170 civilian deaths from the 44-Day War in 2020, an estimated 1,225 killed and wounded between the 2020 ceasefire and September 16, 2023, at least 200 deaths from Azerbaijan’s attack on Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) on September 19, 2023, and the total ethnic cleansing of its 120,000 residents, and at least four incursions into Armenia’s internationally recognized borders. "Armenia ranks on the higher end both in its vulnerability and resilience to climate change but lower when it comes to disaster risk. Armenia ranks 50 out of 118 countries in the ND-GAIN Index, making it “well positioned” to adapt to climate change but not without areas of improvement. In terms of disaster risk, Armenia ranks 75 out of 191 countries in the INFORM Risk Index, placing it at medium risk to humanitarian disasters and crises with a high risk from earthquakes, droughts and epidemics. "By 2090, temperatures in Armenia are expected to increase by 35-40% more than the global average. Change in precipitation is expected to vary and is highly dependent on geography and elevation, but a decline in average monthly precipitation is expected, as is an increase in extreme rainfall events... Higher incidences of drought are expected not only due to a reduction in precipitation but also the disappearance of the Caucasus Glaciers and poor water management. "The projected changes to Armenia’s natural environment will heavily impact Armenia’s agricultural sector. Agriculture is one of the most important economic sectors in Armenia, employing 22% of the country’s labor force as of 2023. The majority of Armenia’s farmers live and work in rural communities... Rural farmers lack access to financial security, resources, education and training, making them the most susceptible demographic to climate risks as well as the least prepared to adapt... "Facing the challenges of combating climate change, Armenia deserves greater attention for its success stories in the fields of reforestation, biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture… "Azerbaijan’s renewable energy projects for Nagorno-Karabakh have come at the cost of genocide and destruction of historically and culturally significant Armenian sites."

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Startup started by Kazakh student attracts $100,000 investment 17-year-old Almaty schoolboy, founder of Pleep startup Mark Inger, has attracted $100,000 in investment from Impala Partners. Together with a team of young entrepreneurs, he has developed an ecosystem for creating and managing artificial intelligence assistants for small and medium-sized businesses. How does Pleep work? The startup offers entrepreneurs a service that takes only 15 minutes to create an artificial intelligence assistant. No special knowledge of artificial intelligence is required. The entrepreneur only needs to answer 7 questions about his business. Then Pleep independently sets up the model, prompts and all the settings necessary for the high-quality operation of the artificial intelligence assistant.

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I appeared on #Azerbaijan's "Modern Talking" with @Rasim Babayev to discuss a variety of latest developments. We touched on: - the unclear direction of the US #Elections2024 - #Azerbaijan's demands on #Armenia in terms of the #Zangezur corridor, constitutional changes, and other implementations required for finalizing a permanent peace agreement. - #Iran's interests and concerns in #Zangezur - Is #Armenia really turning away from #Russia? Contradictory political/#military and economic policies. - US view on Yerevan's turn to the West - and a blind spot towards the continuing #Russian influence. - Is the Armenian #Lobby in the US behind the latest downturn in Baku-Washington relations, including a push for renewed #sanctions, and the shutdown of the #USAID operations in Baku? - What's to make of the pro-Russian parties in #Georgia? - Will US use economic influence to stop the rise of #Russia and #China in the #SouthCaucasus, including #Georgia? - Was the Marshall Plan behind the Soviet Union control of its various republics and consequent influence in various part of the world? - Why is US development aid and investment interest tied to the push for pro-#LGBTQ policies in socially conservative countries? - What's the outlook for the #MiddleEast and the war in #Ukraine under #Trump vs. under #KamalaHarris? ... and much more!

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