At the Russia–Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum in Omsk on 25 July, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered one of the more striking diplomatic interventions in the debate over the Russia–Ukraine war. Speaking directly to Vladimir Putin, he suggested freezing the conflict and returning to negotiations under an updated “Istanbul 2.0” framework. The importance of the proposal lies
On July 24, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov took part in the first meeting of the Council of Heads of Regions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which was held in the Kazakh city of Aktau. Bektenov noted that Kazakhstan attaches special importance to the comprehensive development of strategic
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the plenary session of the 22nd Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum, “Forming a Global Logistics Ecosystem: New Horizons for Russia-Kazakhstan Cooperation.” The Forum was held in Omsk, Russia on July 24–25. Its participants included deputy prime ministers, heads of ministries and departments, heads of regions of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, and representatives of business and expert communities of both countries. On the sidelines
At the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, Republic of Korea on July 25, a decision was adopted to inscribe the “Rock Mosques and Associated Sacred Sites of Mangystau” on the UNESCO World Heritage List, according to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry. The newly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage property comprises five rock-cut mosques: Beket Ata, Shopan Ata,
On July 24–25, Samarkand hosted the prestigious International sister cities forum for the first time. The main objective of the forum was to further strengthen long-standing friendly and partnership relations with sister cities abroad, promote the exchange of experience among cities, and establish promising joint projects, according to Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee. The international event brought
Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous republic at the heart of Central Asia, is emerging as one of the region’s most dynamic higher education markets. With a population of 7.4 million, a growing economy, and expanding international enrolment, the country is beginning to position higher education not merely as a social sector but as a strategic economic industry.
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on July 22 took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Center for Future Technologies, which will be built adjacent to Cyber University in Nurafshon. Transforming Uzbekistan into a regional IT hub is one of the priority objectives of the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy. Cyber University was established by a Presidential Decree dated 20 January
On July 23, the headquarters of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) hosted the first-ever meeting of the Kazakhstan–Morocco Business Council in Casablanca. The event brought together Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov, President of CGEM Mehdi Tazi, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Morocco Saulekul Sailaukyzy, and representatives of companies from Kazakhstan and Morocco. Deputy
In recent years, Iran and Uzbekistan have emerged as two of Afghanistan’s main trading partners amid disruptions in Afghanistan’s trade relations with Pakistan, TOLOnews reported. According to available data, Afghanistan’s annual trade volume with Iran has reached $3.3 billion, while trade with Uzbekistan has risen to $1.7 billion. Iran is one of Afghanistan’s principal suppliers
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is supporting the development of businesses owned or led by young people or women entrepreneurs in Tajikistan by providing a financing package of up to US$ 15 million (€12.9 million) to the country’s largest private lender, Bank Eskhata. The financing package consists of the following components:
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, on July 22 held an inception workshop in Astana dedicated to the official launch of three strategic projects implemented under the FAO–Kazakhstan Partnership Programme (FKPP). The workshop marked the beginning of the practical implementation of projects aimed
On July 22, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev officially launched construction of the new Tashkent–Samarkand highway. The president emphasized the project’s importance for strengthening the transport and logistics potential of New Uzbekistan. Once the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the Trans-Afghan railway are commissioned, Uzbekistan will become a key link in the shortest overland corridor connecting the Pacific Ocean
The Research Center for Ecology and the Environment of Central Asia hosted a presentation and exhibition entitled “Advanced Practices in Establishing an Ecological Shelterbelt in Inner Mongolia”, organized at the initiative of the Forestry Agency under the National Committee of Uzbekistan on Ecology and Climate Change in cooperation with the National Forestry and Grassland Administration
On July 20-21, as part of the state visit of Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to Mongolia, the first meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission of Tajikistan and Mongolia on Trade and Economic Issues, the Tajik-Mongolian Business Forum, and the Days of Tajik Culture in Mongolia were held in Ulaanbaatar. On July 21, Rahmon met with the
At a Government meeting on July 21, Minister of Industry and Construction Yersaiyn Nagaspayev reported on the current state and prospects for the development of Kazakhstan’s automotive industry. “If in 2010-2019 the foundations of the automotive industry were laid in the country and the production volume increased from 3 thousand to 50 thousand units, then
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, says it is providing the first ever investment under the Catalytic First Loss Guarantee (CFLG) Program to Ipak Yuli Bank, a long-standing parter of IFC in Uzbekistan, to support eligible micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), specifically microenterprises, climate-related businesses, and women-owned enterprises. This landmark transaction will provide financial
The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a project to support transboundary water cooperation across Central Asia. It will help countries attract additional investment in water management and conservation and strengthen their collective capacity to manage shared water resources. Around 40 million people across Central Asia are expected to benefit from the
Global interest in travel to Uzbekistan continues to grow. According to data from the international travel company Expedia Group, the number of travel-related searches for Uzbekistan increased by 54% in June compared to the same period last year. At the same time, the number of confirmed bookings also rose, indicating that growing traveler interest is
On July 20, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed measures to further improve drinking water supply and sewerage services. In recent years, the volume of investment attracted to the sector has increased tenfold, reaching $2.7 billion. As a result, the share of the population with access to centralized drinking water supply has risen from 63 percent in
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Mercury Properties (the management company of MP Solutions LLP) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to implement the second phase of construction of the Mercury Logistics warehouse hub in the village of Kokozek, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan. The document was signed by Sergey Paseko, Executive Director — Deputy Head of