The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is helping to improve water security and ensure a sustainable water supply in the Kyrgyz Republic by providing up to €17 million for infrastructure upgrades in the north of the country. The financial package consists of a Bank loan of up to €7.6 million and a similar-sized
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $250 million policy-based loan to support the Government of Uzbekistan’s efforts to strengthen institutional frameworks for climate transition, enhance links and interaction of climate change adaptation priorities, and accelerate climate change mitigation actions. The Accelerating the Climate Transition Program will support the Government of Uzbekistan in three reform areas:
According to the Open Doors report, a comprehensive resource on international student mobility, the number of international students in the United States reached an all-time high of more than 1.1 million (1,126,690) during the 2023/2024 academic year—a 7% increase from the previous year. Students from Uzbekistan also contributed significantly to this growth, with an 11.9%
Turkmenistan remains the only state in Central Asia with no free economic zones operating in the country. Although the Law on Free Economic Zones (FEZs) was enacted in Turkmenistan in October 2017, no free economic zones are known to be in operation, according to the U.S. Department of State’s 2024 Investment Climate Statements: Turkmenistan. The
Tajikistan may join a green corridor between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan, Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma said during the COP29 summit in Baku. “This is a very interesting project, although our colleagues have not yet approached us with an official proposal. It is obvious that such initiatives are of great importance
The U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan announced a new partnership with the Cultural Heritage Agency of Uzbekistan and Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation to support the conservation and restoration of the Sher-Dor Madrasah in Samarkand. The proposal submitted by the Cultural Heritage Agency of Uzbekistan was selected during a global competition and constitutes the largest
Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) said that a pilot tourist train, Jibek Joly (Silk Road), will depart on November 16 from Almaty on the route Almaty-Turkestan-Tashkent-Almaty. The duration of the tour will be 5 days — from November 16 to 20. A total of 115 tourists will go on the first trip,
Director Carrie Kendall from Great Britain presented her new short documentary film, From Havering to Burabay, about Kazakhstan’s Burabay National Park. Created as part of her participation in the international festival “Voices of Friends: Poetry & Art,” the film became a real cultural bridge between the two countries. The film was shot over the course
At the Kazakhstan-Serbian Business Forum held in Belgrade on November 12, Ulugbek Orazov, deputy general director for commerce of KTZ Express JSC (a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy), presented the company’s key initiatives aimed at developing infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, which
On November 13, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held a government meeting on the development of the industry of rare and rare earth metals. Kazakhstan is home to one of the world’s three full-cycle plants for the production of beryllium and scandium, and one of the world’s four tantalum and niobium production facilities. According to
The Swiss project “Medical Education Reforms in the Kyrgyz Republic” presented the results achieved over the last 10 years at the conference dedicated to its finalization on November 12 in Bishkek. Local and international partners and donors at the conference discussed the achievements of the project and also future perspectives and sustainability of the results
On November 12, Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov took part in the opening of Korkyt Ata airport’s new terminal in Kyzylorda. The launch of the new terminal will increase the capacity of the air harbour from 300 thousand to 2 million passengers per year. The renovated Korkyt Ata terminal meets the high standards of the
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Government of Kazakhstan have moved a step closer toward the possible early retirement of a coal plant in Kazakhstan under the bank’s Energy Transition Mechanism (ETM) program. Under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed at COP29 by ADB and Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy, the two sides will work toward a
The parties signed the relevant agreement at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) held in Baku. Kazakh Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Nurlan Baybazarov noted that this is the largest project financed by the Islamic Development Bank in its history, the press service of the Kazakh Government reported. In addition, the Islamic Development
The Kazakh Foreign Ministry has said that starting from November 18, 2024, Kazakhstan is implementing updated visa regulations aimed at creating favorable conditions for business immigrants, skilled professionals, and travelers. The new measures include: – B9 Visa – for representatives of sought-after professions, which allows further registration of a residence permit; – Digital Nomad Visa
On November 10-11, a delegation from Uzbekistan, led by Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade Laziz Kudratov, visited Qatar. The Uzbek delegation participated in the inaugural meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation and attended the Uzbek-Qatari Business Forum, engaging in discussions with leaders from Qatar’s key companies. In his opening remarks at the Commission
In Xi’an (China), Yerzhan Yelekeyev, the Chairman of the Board of JSC National Company Kazakh Invest, took part in the opening ceremony of the office of Shaanxi Baosheng Silk Road Construction Engineering Co., Ltd, an independent partner of the national company in China. The Chinese company has opened a representative office within the framework of a cooperation
Member countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program have endorsed a new Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) and launched the CAREC Climate and Sustainability Project Preparatory Fund (CSPPF) to strengthen regional collaboration on climate resilience, low-carbon growth, and sustainable development. The endorsement took place at the 23rd CAREC Ministerial Conference held in Astana on
Germany has deported a Tajik anti-government activist to Dushanbe despite warnings by rights groups and opposition politicians that he may face torture and imprisonment if returned to Tajikistan, RFE/RL reported. Dilmurod Ergashev, 40, was handcuffed and had a black bag put over his head upon arrival in Tajikistan on November 7, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported on X, citing
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Ipak Yuli Bank have signed a 625 billion Uzbek sum loan (equivalent to about $50 million) to enhance access to financing for urban micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Uzbekistan. A majority of loan proceeds will be allocated to support financial inclusion for MSMEs, 60% outside the capital
