According to the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan, over the past five years, 24 regulatory legal acts have been adopted and 20 information systems have been modernized to combat the shadow economy. As a result, the share of the non-observed economy in GDP decreased from 17.58% in 2023 to 15.69%
Diplomacy has long extended beyond embassy walls and formal negotiations. It also lives through personal encounters, the exchange of books and conversations that help countries understand one another more deeply. In London, our publisher and founder of Silk Road Media, Marat Akhmedjanov, met Dr Mohammad Faisal, an experienced Pakistani diplomat who served as High Commissioner
Buenos Aires, 15 September 2026. The second screening of the historical drama Kurmanjan Datka: Queen of the Mountains took place at the welcoming atmosphere of Chaijana Restaurant, bringing together an audience interested in history, culture and the remarkable diversity of Central Asia. The event was organised by the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), represented in Latin
On September 16, the first Central Asia–Republic of Korea Summit took place in Seoul. The event, chaired by President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung, was attended by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and President of
On September 15 in Seoul, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung. Tokayev noted the progressive dynamics of the development of bilateral cooperation. “Last year, we had our first telephone conversation, during which we agreed to continue developing our strategic partnership based on mutual trust
On September 14 in Seoul, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with President Lee Jae Myung of the Republic of Korea. The leaders discussed the further development and deepening of the Uzbek-Korean strategic partnership. Mirziyoyev emphasized that over the years, the Republic of Korea has become a reliable friend and one of Uzbekistan’s most important
In January–August 2026, 9.1 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan, representing a 21.1 percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to the country’s Tourism Committee. While 7.7 million tourists visited the country during the first seven months of the year, 1.4 million tourists arrived in Uzbekistan in August alone. The most significant increases in tourist arrivals
On 10 September, a special screening of “A New Look: Uzbek Fashion Following Independence,” a documentary by young British filmmaker Dan Akhm exploring the development of fashion in independent Uzbekistan, took place in London with the support of the Eurasian Creative Guild. The film was introduced by Silk Road Media Adviser Taina Kaunis. The screening
On September 10, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed investment projects aimed at improving the waste management system, waste processing, and electricity generation from solid waste in Uzbekistan. The meeting noted that consistent measures are being taken in Uzbekistan to ensure environmental sustainability, process household waste, and reduce the burden on landfills. An important role in this
Kazakhstan and China have launched a joint digital platform for trading grain and agricultural products. The new tool is expected to increase Kazakh agricultural exports to China, a key market for Kazakhstan. The platform was inaugurated on September 5 as part of the Kazakh delegation’s participation in the 8th China Grain Trade Conference, according to
Kyrgyzstan’s great cultural festival attracted genuine public enthusiasm. Yet transport failures, overcrowding, ticketing disorder and complaints from competitors revealed how far the organisation lagged behind the spectacle. The VI World Nomad Games closed in Kyrgyzstan on 6 September after a week of equestrian sport, traditional wrestling, music, crafts and national celebration. The Games produced memorable
On September 8, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić held talks in Belgrade. At the beginning of the meeting, Mirziyoyev emphasized that the first visit by the President of Uzbekistan to Serbia will go down in history as the beginning of a new stage in relations between the two countries.
The governments of Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan have signed a Transit Trade Agreement aimed at expanding bilateral trade and strengthening the economic partnership between the two countries. The document aims to develop transport and logistics links, simplify transit and customs procedures, and expand Kyrgyzstan’s ability to use Pakistan’s seaports, including Karachi, Bin Qasim, and Gwadar, according
A new Center for Contemporary Arts officially opened in Tashkent on September 6. The Center for Contemporary Arts is a flagship project of the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation. The center was established at the initiative of the Head of State, reflecting the country’s consistent efforts to develop culture, support the creative community, and
In 2025, Kazakhstan’s trade turnover with the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) amounted to 72.6 billion US dollars. In 2024, this figure was $67.7 billion, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration. Kazakhstan’s exports to the SCO countries amounted to 30.7 billion dollars, while imports totaled 41.8 billion dollars. Kazakhstan’s
On September 2, the Uzbek premiere of the short documentary film “A New Look: Uzbek Fashion Following Independence” by British director Dan Akhm took place in Tashkent. A special screening, timed to coincide with the celebration of the 35th anniversary of Uzbekistan’s independence, was held at the Human House Gallery with the support of the
The United Nations General Assembly on August 31 adopted the resolution entitled “International Day of Greening the Planet,” initiated by Kazakhstan, proclaiming 22 April as the International Day of Greening the Planet. The initiative to establish the International Day was put forward by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the general debate of the 80th
The Uzbek cities of Tashkent and Samarkand have become members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Green Cities Network, according to the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan. According to certificates issued by the Secretariat of FAO’s Green Cities Initiative at FAO Headquarters in Rome on 20
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov and Chinese President Xi Jinping signed a joint declaration of the People’s Republic of China and the Kyrgyz Republic on the high-quality development of the comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era and a bilateral treaty on permanent good-neighborliness, friendship and cooperation after their talks in Bishkek on August 31, Xinhua
On August 30, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, who arrived in Uzbekistan on a state visit. The leaders emphasized the historic significance of the visit, which marks the elevation of relations between Uzbekistan and India to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership. The talks focused