The volume of trade between Central Asian countries and the Gulf states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) reached $3.3 billion in 2024, an increase of 4.2 times since 2020, according to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). Imports to Central Asian countries from the Gulf states accounted for 80% of
To support Tajikistan’s smaller businesses, strengthen support for women entrepreneurs, improve energy efficiency, and boost housing finance, IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is providing a $5 million loan in local currency to the country’s Bank Arvand. This long-term financing will allow Bank Arvand, an IFC partner since 2019, to ramp
On September 8 in Tashkent, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received the President of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) Gianni Infantino. The FIFA President congratulated the Uzbek leader and the people of Uzbekistan on the historic event – the Uzbek national football team reaching the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States.
A delegation of the largest U.S. trade mission in Central Asia visited Mangystau region as part of its visit to Kazakhstan. The visit aimed to familiarize with the region’s investment potential and the advantages of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or the Middle Corridor), according to Kazakh Invest national company. A roundtable was held
On September 8, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered his annual state-of-the-nation address, “Kazakhstan in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: Key Tasks and Their Solutions through Digital Transformation.” The head of state presented an ambitious program of reform centered on digital transformation, investment modernization, global connectivity, and institutional renewal. Tokayev announced the creation of a new Ministry of Artificial
The European Union has announced the arrival of Mr Radosław Darski, as the new EU Ambassador to Tajikistan. Ambassador Darski brings a wealth of diplomatic experience and expertise in European policy, regional cooperation, and international relations. With a distinguished career spanning over two decades, Ambassador Darski has held key positions within the European External Action
On the eve of the International Day of Clean Air for Blue Skies, observed annually on 7 September, an open dialogue titled “Clean Air, Healthy Citites and Climate Resilience” was held at Tashkent’s Central Eco Park. The event was organized by the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, the International Public
On September 5, a telephone conversation was held between the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the United States of America Donald Trump. Practical aspects of further strengthening Uzbek-American relations of strategic partnership and expanding mutually beneficial cooperation were reviewed in detail, according to the press service of the Uzbek president. President Trump
In Astana on September 4, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov held a meeting with representatives of leading US companies visiting Kazakhstan as part of a US trade mission. The parties discussed the status of ongoing and prospective projects, as well as the expansion of American companies’ presence in the Kazakh market.
Over the past three years, the value of high-tech exports from Kazakhstan has increased almost threefold. In 2024, the export of such products reached $7.3 billion, compared to $2.5 billion in 2021, finprom.kz reported with reference to the Bureau of National Statistics. Over these years, many of the goods exported by Kazakhstan have increased in
On September 4, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation of measures for creating a value-added chain in agriculture. In the past years, the areas planted with cotton and grain have been reduced and reoriented towards food crops, 160 thousand hectares of new orchards and vineyards have been planted, and 1.5 thousand projects in the
On September 4 in Astana, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov and Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Foreign Ministry of Kazakhstan Gabidulla Ospankulov held a meeting with Chairman of the State Great Khural of Mongolia Dashzegvi Amarbaysgalan and members of the Mongolian parliamentary and business delegation. The parties discussed the
On September 3, Cardiff University (Wales) officially opened Cardiff University Kazakhstan in Astana, its first overseas branch campus and the only campus of the prestigious Russell Group of UK research universities in Central Asia. The event became a milestone in the development of educational partnership between Kazakhstan and the UK. At the opening ceremony, Kazakh
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has handed over mobile laboratory equipment to the Karakalpak Republican Center for Agricultural Services under the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan. This initiative enables farmers in the Aral Sea region to make science-based decisions and adapt to climate change, transforming the agricultural service system and enhancing farmers’ potential in one of
On September 3 in Astana, Chairman of the Investment Committee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, Gabidulla Ospankulov, held a meeting with representatives of the U.S. trade mission led by Senior Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Khurshid Choksi. The parties discussed prospects for expanding bilateral economic ties, implementing investment projects
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy and China Energy Engineering Group have signed agreements on the construction of a large solar power plant with a capacity of 300 MW in the Sauran district of the Turkestan region in southern Kazakhstan. The Investment Agreement and the Power Purchase Agreement were signed on September 2 as part of the
India’s Deccan Gold Mines Ltd (DGML) announced significant progress towards production at its Altyn Tor Gold Project in Kyrgyzstan, the first Indian-owned gold production facility in Central Asia, The Times of India reported. The project develops the Solton-Sary deposit, located at an altitude of 3,500-3,600 meters above sea level in the Naryn region, 355 km from
Late in August, a presentation of a new book of children’s author from Uzbekistan Elena Makarova took place in London as part of the Eurasian Literature Day. The event gathered authors and other creative persons from Europe and Asia thanks to the coordination of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London). Makarova, the winner of the Open
On September 2, in Beijing, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev took part in the opening ceremony of the Cultural Center of Kazakhstan in China. In his speech, Tokayev noted that this is a historic event reflecting the genuine respect of the Kazakh people for the Chinese people. This is also a sign of China’s friendly attitude
In Beijing on September 2, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Ministry of National Economy of Kazakhstan agreed to establish a multi-year rolling pipeline, a strategic framework that charts a course for up to $6 billion in infrastructure investments between now and 2029. Konstantin Limitovskiy, Chief Investment Officer, Region 2, AIIB, and Shakhrat
