Afghanistan’s modern political history cannot be understood without examining the intersection of war, ethnicity, and state identity. From the Soviet invasion in 1979 to the return of the Taliban in 2021, Afghanistan has repeatedly experienced ruptures that have reshaped not only its political system, but also its internal ethnic balance. At the centre of this
Representatives of the Government of Uzbekistan, the Government of Japan, the Republic of Karakalpakstan, development partners, and local stakeholders gathered in Tashkent this week for the inception workshop of the recently launched project “Strengthening Water Resource Governance and Resilience to Climate Change in the Aral Sea Region,” UNDP Uzbekistan reported. Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan have signed a memorandum of cooperation under the Technical Assistance Fund (TAF). The document is aimed at supporting exports, product certification and the development of non-financial instruments for Uzbek businesses. TAF funds will be used for projects that help local
During his state visit to Kazakhstan on May 28, President of Russia Vladimir Putin held talks with President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana. The presidents signed the Joint Statement on the Seven Foundations of Friendship and Neighborliness between the Peoples of Russia and Kazakhstan. Tokayev and Putin attended presentations of joint Kazakh-Russian projects. The heads of state viewed video reports on industrial cooperation, the launch of two-way cargo shipments using autonomous trucks
When we watch a cult movie, we usually remember the actors, the director, or the studio behind it. But behind every great film stands an entire team of professionals without whom real cinema simply could not exist. A few years ago in Hollywood, I had the chance to meet exactly such people. In this photo
As part of the international tourism exhibition ITB China, the Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Akkulov, held a meeting with the Vice President of Trip.com Group, Edison Chen. Trip.com Group is one of the world’s leading online aggregators of travel services and has more than 500 million users. The platform works with
Representatives of government institutions, civil society organizations, academia, the media, and international partners gathered in Tashkent on May 25 for a roundtable to discuss the research study “Gender and Corruption in Uzbekistan: Towards Transformational Change.” The research was completed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Agency, with the financial support of
Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to China increased by 82.4% in the first three months of this year, reaching $550 million. In 2025, Kazakh exports grew by 35.3% to $1.43 billion. This was announced at a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Yermek Kenzhekhanuly and Liu Huanxin, head of China’s National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration
Uzbekistan’s private sector has signed trade agreements and memorandums of understanding worth more than $5 billion with Afghanistan over the past eight months, TOLOnews reported citing the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI). These agreements cover sectors including fresh and dried fruits, precious and semi-precious stones, coal, cement, carpets, cotton, raw materials, food products,
Afghanistan’s economy continues to grow modestly – with real GDP estimated at 4.8 percent — despite regional tensions and border closures, driven in part by strong domestic demand and the return of millions of Afghans to the country. Yet this growth is not translating to better living standards or higher incomes. Rapid population growth of
Kazakhstan has launched the Rain Enforcement Program aimed at increasing water levels in reservoirs and providing more irrigation water to farmlands in the country’s arid southern region that experiences chronic water shortages and limits during summer growing seasons. According to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the program is designed to mitigate drought
Kyrgyzstan and China have launched a strategic project aimed at increasing coal exports to China. Kyrgyz and Chinese officials last week attended a time capsule-laying ceremony in the village of Nura in the southern Osh region to mark the official launch of the project with a total investment of $430 million. The project is being
Today, Uzbekistan stands among the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in Central Asia. The sector reached USD 1.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 1.8–2.2 billion by 2027, according to the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. Market development is supported by 32.7 million internet users, the widespread adoption of digital payment solutions, and the steady expansion of logistics
A two-day national seminar titled “Working with Labour Migrants: Theoretical and Practical Approaches for Safe Adaptation and Ethics-Based Recruitment” kicked off on May 25 in the framework of EU-funded regional project PROTECT “Improving Migration Management and Migrant Protection in selected Silk Routes and Central Asian Countries”, implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan and the Government of Japan have signed an agreement to launch a new US$3 million joint initiative to support Kazakhstan in addressing the declining water levels of the Caspian Sea through improved water governance and monitoring, and regional cooperation, UNDP Kazakhstan reported. This initiative promotes environmental resilience,
Kazakhstan has officially received the status of the only country in Central Asia free from foot and mouth disease (FMD), according to the Ministry of Agriculture. On May 22 in Paris, the World Assembly of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) approved that a zone of Kazakhstan, namely its North-West and Central regions, has
On May 21-23, government representatives, international organizations, tourism professionals, civil society organizations, and local communities gathered in Min-Kush village for the Touristic Forum “Development of Min-Kush Village through Sustainable Tourism – Revival of Forgotten Cities,” UNDP in Kyrgyzstan reported. The forum served as a platform to discuss sustainable tourism, local economic development, and new opportunities
On May 22, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the launch ceremony of a nationwide movement aimed at promoting a culture of reading in Uzbekistan. Mirziyoyev noted that the world is changing rapidly, with digital technologies, modern gadgets, and artificial intelligence becoming increasingly integrated into everyday life. In such complex conditions, the most important advantage
Local officials in Afghanistan’s Bamyan say Uzbekistan’s private sector is planning to invest in potato production in the province, TOLOnews reported. A delegation led by the head of Uzbekistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Private Investment, during a meeting with the Bamyan governor, pledged to cultivate 40 metric tons of potato seeds on agricultural land in
An international symposium, titled “The Golden Horde as a Model of Steppe Civilization: History, Archaeology, Culture, and Identity,” took place in Astana last week, bringing together leading Kazakh and international scholars and experts to comprehensively understand the historical legacy of the Golden Horde (the Ulus of Jochi) and its role in shaping civilizational processes in