To increase access to finance for small businesses and women entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan, IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, has signed an agreement with Hamkorbank, the country’s third largest private lender, to provide a loan of up to $50 million. With 35 percent of the funding earmarked for women-run businesses, this initiative is
This operation will provide budgetary support to help the Kyrgyz government implement a comprehensive program of reforms aimed at ensuring a sustainable energy supply, enhancing social service delivery, and strengthening fiscal sustainability and the business environment, the World Bank said. With aspirations to move the country toward an upper-middle-income status by 2030, the Kyrgyz government
A transit container train with Kazakh wheat has arrived in the Chinese port of Lianyungang. This is the first of eight trains loaded with wheat destined for Vietnam and shipped via a multimodal route through China. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture, the train consists of 62 containers weighing a total of 1,700 tons.
A new project aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving energy efficiency in schools, hospitals, and public transportation has been launched in Uzbekistan. The initiative is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan, with support from the Government of Japan and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan. The project
The European Union and Turkmenistan held their seventeenth annual Human Rights Dialogue on 17 June in Brussels. According to the Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan, discussions took place in an open and constructive atmosphere. The agenda contained a broad range of topics, including rule of law, fundamental freedoms, and gender equality. The EU
The QS World University Rankings 2026 have been published, with 20 Kazakhstani universities featured – a testament to the rising quality of higher education in the country. New entrants include Shakhmardan Yessenov Caspian University of Technology and Engineering, M. Kozybayev North Kazakhstan University, and Shakarim University of Semey, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Science
The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology and Technical Supervision of the Kyrgyz Republic, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has launched a new project to enhance the capacity of national financial institutions to access and deploy green and climate finance. The initiative is aligned with the Kyrgyz Republic’s National Development Programme 2040
From 16 to 18 June, the Border Management Programme in Central Asia (BOMCA 10), funded by the European Union (EU), in cooperation with UNICEF, organised a seminar in Tashkent to strengthen child protection systems in Uzbekistan’s border regions, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan reported. Bringing together representatives of the National Agency for
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
