British publisher and public figure Marat Akhmedjanov has been awarded a medal from the International Organization of Turkic Culture, TÜRKSOY, which unites the states of the Turkic world and is dedicated to preserving their shared historical and cultural heritage. The award was presented in recognition of Akhmedjanov’s long-standing contribution to the development of literature, culture,
In recent years, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Uzbekistan has been growing significantly. According to the Uzbek Tourism Committee, following the introduction of a visa-free regime, the tourist flow from China increased 3.5-fold. In the first five months of 2026, 178,121 Chinese citizens visited Uzbekistan, 78% more compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 9, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on measures to expand the adoption of digital solutions and artificial intelligence technologies in the mining and geology sector. The mining and geology sector plays an important role in the country’s economy. In 2025, enterprises in the sector accounted for 20 percent of total industrial output. Artificial
Construction of the first container ship with a capacity of 780 TEUs for Kazakhstan has begun at Azerbaijan’s Baku Shipyard. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Transport, the project is a collaboration between the national maritime shipping company Kazmortransflot and Abu Dhabi Ports Group. It will build two modern container ships designed for transporting containerized
The United States and Uzbekistan on June 3 marked the restoration of the Sherdor façade at Samarkand’s Registan Square. The project, which is being implemented between 2025 and 2028, is supported by a grant of $500,000 from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) — the largest AFCP award ever granted in Uzbekistan, according
Kyrgyzstan’s airlines have been removed from the European Union’s Air Safety List, the Kyrgyz presidential press service announced on June 8. According to the press service, Kyrgyzstan was notified by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport that all air carriers certified in the country had been removed from the list, which includes airlines
On June 8, the Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, met with the US Assistant Secretary of Commerce, David Fogel. The parties discussed the current status and future prospects for expanding bilateral trade, economic, investment, and industrial cooperation. It was emphasized that the United States remains a key partner for Uzbekistan, with
From May 30 to June 6, Samarkand became a global platform for discussing the key environmental challenges of our time, hosting the Eighth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and the 71st GEF Council Meeting. For the first time in history, the Assembly was held in Central Asia, bringing together representatives from 186 countries,
The first concert of Aseman band and the come-back of its establisher Arash Barez took place in Paris on June 5, introducing Afghanistan music to Europe. Aseman is a multicultural ensemble formed by distinguished artists from Afghanistan and Japan, who live in Paris, created to bring Afghan music (silenced in the only country where music
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the government of Kazakhstan are extending their long-term strategic partnership that will help to boost investment and drive forward reforms in the country, the EBRD said. The enhanced partnership framework arrangement (EPFA) between the EBRD and Central Asia’s largest economy was signed at the Bank’s 35th Annual
Over 5.352 million international tourists arrived in Uzbekistan during the first five months of 2026. More than 1.3 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan in May alone, according to the country’s Tourism Committee. This represents an increase of 1.148 million visitors, or 27.3 percent, compared to the same period last year. The sustained growth highlights Uzbekistan’s emergence as one of the fastest-growing
Companies owned and managed by women, households and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Tajikistan will have new growth opportunities and better access to green technologies and climate adaptation measures thanks to fresh funds provided by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The financing package of up to US$ 15 million (€12.9 million)
A traditional Kazakh chapan presented to British publisher and cultural entrepreneur Marat Akhmedjanov, founder of Hertfordshire Press and co-founder of the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), during commemorative events marking the 275th anniversary of the renowned spiritual leader Beket Ata in Kazakhstan’s Mangystau region, has become an unexpected symbol of cultural diplomacy in the United Kingdom.
Mountains are not passive backdrops to human history; they are dynamic, living systems that have shaped civilizations, economies, and ecosystems for millennia. Nowhere is this more evident than in Central Asia, home to some of the world’s most formidable ranges—the Pamirs, Tian Shan, Hindu Kush, Altai, and Ural. These mountains are more than geological formations;
As part of the OpenAI delegation’s visit to Kazakhstan, a meeting was held with Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of Kazakhstan, Zhaslan Madiyev. The parties discussed cooperation in the field of artificial intelligence, the implementation of joint educational initiatives, the deployment of ChatGPT Edu tools, as well as future
On the sidelines of the Eighth Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Samarkand, the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched a new initiative, “Supporting Implementation of the Stockholm Convention through the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste in Uzbekistan,” aimed at strengthening
On June 4, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Russia Vladimir Putin launched the construction of the first power unit of an integrated nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. The ceremony, held via video conference, was attended by Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Mirziyoyev expressed his gratitude to
On June 3, on the sidelines of the 71st meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council, the Government of Uzbekistan, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), officially launched the preparatory phase of the Nature4Health Uzbekistan initiative. The launch marks Uzbekistan’s official accession to the second phase of Nature4Health (N4H)
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan will gain more access to long-term financing following IFC’s commitment of up to $10 million to Highland Central Asia Fund II. The investment will support job creation, private sector growth, and the development of the region’s private equity market, said IFC, a member of the World
The World Bank Group’s Board of Directors on June 3 discussed a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for the Republic of Tajikistan for fiscal years 2026–2032. The new framework supports Tajikistan’s efforts to accelerate economic transformation, strengthen resilience, and improve living standards through private sector-led growth leading to job creation. The CPF brings together the full