The United Nations Development Programme in partnership with the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic officially launched the Kyrgyzstan SDG Investor Map. The SDG Investor Map is a market intelligence tool that identifies priority investment opportunities aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the country’s national development priorities. It provides
A ceremony to launch the new production line at the Kant Cement Plant, the construction of which began in spring 2024, was held on June 16 in Kyrgyzstan. One year later, the plant begins operations on a renewed, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient platform, the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) reported. The project involved the construction of a
Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 17 called on China and Central Asian countries to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and forge ahead toward the goal of building a China-Central Asia community with a shared future, Xinhua reported. Xi made the remarks in his keynote speech at the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana
The Second Central Asia – China Industrial and Investment Cooperation Forum was held in Astana on June 16. The main goal of the forum was to develop and strengthen economic ties between the Central Asian countries and China, attract mutual investments, establish joint production facilities, and promote cooperative projects in the strategic sectors of the region’s economy.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said on June 16 that China stands ready to work with Kazakhstan to contribute more to regional and world peace and development, Xinhua reported. Xi made the remarks when meeting with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ahead of the second China-Central Asia Summit in Astana. Xi emphasized that China and Kazakhstan should
The Kazakh national epic Narqyz, created in the early 20th century by the prominent akyn Nurpeis Baiganin and published in English in 2024, has received a personal letter of gratitude from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, William. This marks the first time in history that a work of Kazakh oral literature translated into
U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick and Farkhod Makhmudov, Founder and Shareholder of OSON Holding (Brio Group), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in January 2025 to launch a new public-private partnership to expand support for the U.S. State Department’s entrepreneurship activities. Through this partnership, OSON will contribute $50,000 to sponsor a new cohort of
The government of Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan autonomous region has unveiled a comprehensive agricultural development program aimed at revitalizing the region’s economy and improving food security. The new initiative, which includes investments totaling over $50 million, will focus on enhancing irrigation infrastructure, introducing modern farming techniques, and expanding the cultivation of high-value crops. Investing in Irrigation Infrastructure
A Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister–Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu arrived in Washington, D.C. on June 12 for an official visit. Nurtleu held a substantive meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The parties engaged in a detailed discussion of key bilateral issues, including political and economic cooperation, energy, trade, and
Hertfordshire Press is proud to present the captivating children’s book series “Adventures of the Spirit of Time” by the talented Gulchehra-begim Makhmudova, introduced in collaboration with Tomaris Uzbek Ladies Society. This unique series invites young readers to travel through time, exploring the rich tapestry of history, culture, and legendary heroes of Central Asia. With warmth
For the first time ever, Kazakhstan entered the club of the world’s top 10 largest sunflower oil exporters, taking 8th place in 2024, according to the country’s Ministry of Trade and Integration. Kazakhstan exports sunflower oil to neighboring Central Asian countries and China, with plans to expand the exports to Middle East countries. Kazakhstan has
Today, Kyrgyzstan is almost entirely dependent on the import of mineral fertilizers for its agricultural sector, which employs a significant portion of the country’s population and ensures its food security and export revenues. To resolve the problem, the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry has prioritized switching from mineral fertilizers to a wider
Late in May, the Library of the Mary Velayat (province) hosted a Book Fair organized by the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan, the Government of Turkmenistan, and Mary American Corner. The Book Fair featured an exhibit of English-Turkmen bilingual editions of American classics and an extensive American literature collection for children and young adults as well as
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is contributing to greater efficiency of Uzbekistan’s irrigation system by providing a sovereign loan of up to $250 million (€240 million) to the Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan for upgrades to 110 pumping stations across the country. Used by the irrigation system in 10
On June 11, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico, who arrived in Kazakhstan on his first official visit. The parties discussed the development of trade and economic cooperation, the Kazakh government’s press service reported. “Slovakia is a reliable partner of Kazakhstan in the
The World Bank says it has approved additional financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to benefit local communities, including youth, women, and vulnerable groups, in the Districts of Republican Subordination, Khatlon region, and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) of Tajikistan. The $25 million grant will extend the Tajikistan Socio-Economic Resilience Strengthening Project (SERSP), which uses
In the current challenging environment, we are focusing our primary attention on maintaining economic stability in Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated in his address to the Fourth Tashkent International Investment Forum on June 10. According to Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product has doubled over the past eight years, and the country has set a goal
On June 8-10, a delegation of the Council of the European Union’s Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) paid a visit to Kazakhstan. The visit, which included the cities of Aktau and Astana, marked an important milestone in the development of the Kazakhstan–EU dialogue, reaffirming both sides commitment to deepening their strategic
The high-level meeting on June 8 in the city of Nice, France to launch the International Decade for Action on Cryospheric Sciences, 2025-2034, was opened by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, as the head of a leading country in promoting the issues of water, climate and glaciers’ preservation. In his speech, Rahmon stated that Tajikistan is
The IV Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) opened in Uzbekistan’s capital on June 9, marking a key event in the regional investment agenda. The forum has brought together leading international investors, government representatives, financial institutions, and business leaders. In 2025, the forum is being held on an unprecedented scale, with investment projects across strategically important sectors
