Nostalgia can become a source of strength, but it is time to stop pushing away those who have long acted as our unofficial ambassadors. I am standing in the reception hall of the Uzbek embassy in a European capital. An inspiring speech is being delivered in Uzbek. There are nearly one hundred people in the
KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), is providing the pilot transportation of passenger cars in specialized containers along the international route Chongqing (China) – Dostyk (Kazakhstan) – Vorsino (Russia). According to KTZ, the project is being implemented as part of cooperation between China Railway Container Transport Corporation (CRCT),
Delegates from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as leading scientists and experts from countries across Europe and Asia, attended the International Summer School “Glacier Study, Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation” (IPROMO) in the city of Naryn, Kyrgyzstan between 24 June and 7 July. The school served as a platform for consolidating scientific
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, has completed the installation of two solar photovoltaic systems at the Yoloten Etrap Hospital in Mary Velayat, marking an important step towards more resilient, sustainable, and climate-smart healthcare services. With a combined capacity of 30 kilowatts, the
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on July 8 arrived in Minsk on an official visit. On July 9, Mirziyoyev and President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko held tête-à-tête talks, followed by expanded talks with members of their official delegations. At the beginning of the meeting, President Mirziyoyev noted that Uzbek-Belarusian multifaceted relations had reached a qualitatively
Kazakh Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov met with a delegation of leading Asian companies—Full Vision Capital (FVC), Towngas, and EcoCeres. During the talks, the parties discussed prospects for attracting investment in the country’s agro-industrial complex, the introduction of modern environmental technologies, and the implementation of joint high-value-added projects. Particular attention was paid to a project to
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Uzbekistan have reaffirmed their commitment to improving water security, strengthening climate resilience, and supporting more sustainable use of water resources across the country, according to UNDP Uzbekistan. The commitment was highlighted during a high-level meeting between Mr. Haoliang Xu, UNDP Associate Administrator, Ms. Ivana Živković,
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, says it is investing in Umai Group, Kyrgyzstan’s largest grocery retailer, to create more and better jobs, improve food distribution, and expand access to affordable, quality food across the country. Umai Group is the country’s leading grocery retailer, with more than 24 years of experience in developing
On July 7, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon, inaugurated the Antimony Metallurgical Plant of the Talco Gold Closed Joint-Stock Company in the Sughd Province. The enterprise is equipped with modern production technologies, and its annual capacity is up to 5 thousand tons of processing and production of antimony metal. The commissioning of this production
Uzbekistan plans to transform Samarkand into an environmentally sustainable, climate-resilient, and modern green city in Central Asia. The “Green Samarkand” model was reviewed during a government meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on July 6. Under this model, specific environmental targets are planned to be achieved in Samarkand by 2030. These include preventing the emission
From 7 to 11 July, Uzbekistan is hosting the First International Forum of Islamic Civilization, “The Path of Peace, Tolerance and Enlightenment,” across Tashkent, Samarkand, and Termez, bringing together leading scholars, religious figures, representatives of international organizations, and experts from around the world, according to the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan. The official opening ceremony took
The Central Asian C909 Flying Hospital Mission, organized as part of China’s airborne health Silk Road initiative, was launched in Almaty last week, aimed at bringing high-quality ophthalmic services to medically underserved regions in Belt and Road partner countries. This is the first such project in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, implemented in partnership between Al-Farabi
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) are launching a new program to strengthen the resilience of water systems in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in response to growing climate pressures on water resources and services. The Resilient Water Systems program, which combines €100 million of loans from the EBRD and
Uzbekistan can unlock significant private investment, create more and better jobs, and accelerate its transition to a more competitive, private sector-led economy by advancing reforms in logistics, tourism, and pharmaceuticals, according to IFC, a member of the World Bank Group. A new Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD) for Uzbekistan, released by the World Bank Group,
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is contributing to the development of sustainable and ecologically responsible mining and processing in Kazakhstan by supporting the operations of its long-term client Solidcore Resources (SR), an AIFC-listed company and the country’s leading gold producer. The EBRD will provide a loan of up to US$ 300
Presidential Representative for Special Assignments Bakyt Torobayev recently visited the modernized Junda (Zhongda) oil refinery and ordered its management to increase motor fuel production in an effort to reduce Kyrgyzstan’s dependence on gasoline imports. Junda is Kyrgyzstan’s largest oil refinery, located in the town of Kara-Balta, 60 kilometers west of Bishkek. The refinery is undergoing
International investor interest in Central Asia and the Caucasus is rising rapidly, according to a new Investor Perception Report released by Montfort Eurasia. New data shows that interest from US and UK investors in the region has tripled since 2023 – despite lingering concerns over political stability and investment security. Investors showed particular interest in
During a state visit to Georgia on July 3, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze. The leader of Uzbekistan noted that his state visit to Georgia, the first by a President of Uzbekistan in more than two decades, holds special significance for elevating Uzbek-Georgian relations to a
A “Republic of Kazakhstan – United States of America” Business Roundtable was held in Astana last week, bringing together representatives of government agencies, the business community, international corporations, financial institutions, and expert circles from both countries. The event served as an important platform for discussing a new stage of Kazakhstan-U.S. economic cooperation based on investment,
The more time passes after the Issyk-Kul Forum held in Kyrgyzstan in June, the more I realize that its greatest value was not found in the official sessions or ceremonial speeches. It was found in the people, the ideas, and the honest conversations that continued long after the formal programme had ended. Chingiz Aitmatov’s legacy