WoE: Uzbekistan's people problem with Eugene Chausovsky of Stratfor

bne IntelliNews

The initial excitement about the changes taking place in Uzbekistan since Uzbek president Shavkat Mirziyoyev took over two years ago are starting to wear off as the enormity of the challenge becomes clear. There is no lack of good ideas coming out of Tashkent, or even enthusiasm. What is lacking is the people to put those ideas in place. However, progress is being made, especially in some of the easier sectors to transform like textiles. Mirziyoyev also has a difficult geopolitical game to play as he tries to repair relationships with his Central Asian neighbours and at the same time has to balance the interests of Russia and China that sandwich the region. bne IntelliNews editor-in-chief Ben Aris sat down with Eugene Chausovsky, the senior Eurasia analyst with US think tank Stratfor who is just back from Tashkent on a fact finding mission to discuss the issues. Ben Aris, editor-in-chief, bne IntelliNews Eugene Chausovsky, senior Eurasia Analyst with Stratfor