The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in close partnership with the municipality of Ashgabat, and with the participation of the Ministry of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan, organized an inception workshop as part of a regional project titled “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risks and Climate Change in Central Asia”, funded by the Government of
Recently, Uzbek economist Behzod Khoshimov stated that it will take Uzbekistan 30 years to catch up with Kazakhstan in terms of economic development. In the article below, Ulysmedia.kz tried to understand whether Khoshimov is right and why this old rivalry still determines the region’s development. The rivalry between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan began during the Soviet
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Executive Body of the State Authority of the City of Dushanbe have officially launched a new regional project aimed at making Dushanbe safer, greener, and more resilient to climate and disaster risks, UNDP Tajikistan reported. The ‘Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risk and Climate Change in Central
A Kazakh company, Kazakhmys Barlau, has begun exploration operations in Afghanistan’s mining sector, TOLOnews reported. The company has described Afghanistan as a promising location for mineral extraction and stated that the country possesses high-purity reserves of lead and zinc. At the same time, the Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, referring to the close ties
Kazakhstan’s National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC has announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Slovenské elektrárne a.s. (SEAS), Slovakia’s largest electricity producer, reflecting the mutual interest of both parties in developing long-term cooperation in nuclear energy sector. SEAS generates over 70% of Slovakia’s total electricity supply and operates two nuclear power plants
IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — says it is investing up to $3 million in local currency equivalent to Kompanion Bank, one of the leading community development banks in Kyrgyzstan, to provide financing for micro and small enterprises (MSEs) across the country. With 40 percent of the loan proceeds allocated to
On July 13–14, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov paid a visit to Bulgaria. He held talks with President Rumen Radev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov, heads of relevant ministries, as well as representatives of leading companies and financial institutions of the country. At the center of the
On July 13, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a meeting of the State Organizing Committee for the preparations for the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, which will be held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone from August 4 to 8.
To expand access to finance for micro and small enterprises, including women entrepreneurs across Kazakhstan, IFC (a member of the World Bank Group) and Arnur Credit have signed a local currency loan agreement of $10 million-equivalent. With 40 percent of the funding earmarked for women-run businesses, the financing includes a $5 million-equivalent local currency loan
The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are joining hands to protect communities living near uranium legacy sites in Kyrgyzstan. On July 8, UNDP delivered three fully equipped computer workstations to the Department of Tailings under the Ministry of Emergency Situations, contributing to the country’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to emergencies in radiation-prone zones. This
Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu paid a working visit to Afghanistan. On July 10 in Kabul, the Kazakh Foreign Minister held a meeting with the Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar. The parties discussed prospects for cooperation in trade, transit, and agriculture,
Kazakhstan and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) have signed a Protocol of Intent providing for financing of up to USD 1.1 billion for the implementation of priority infrastructure projects. The document was signed following a meeting between Advisor to the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Nurlan Baibazarov and President of the Islamic Development Bank, Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser.
On July 11, the EU and the countries of Central Asia — Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — held the 12th meeting of the annual High-Level Political and Security Dialogue, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The Dialogue took place in the context of increased engagement between Central Asia and the European Union, following up
Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana lags behind Almaty, the country’s largest city in terms of key development aspects, Energyprom.kz reports with reference to the Oxford Economics Global Cities Index 2025. Astana is on the 276th position among a thousand cities in the ranking, and Almaty ranks 258th. Astana is behind Almaty in such categories as the quality
In recent years, Uzbekistan has become an increasingly important cultural and economic crossroads in Central Asia, attracting diplomats, international organizations, and businesses from around the world. As the country opens its doors to greater international engagement, the need for high-quality Uzbek language education has never been more pressing. Meeting this need is Methodica, a pioneering
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supports the Kyrgyz Republic in implementing its national priorities for reducing plastic waste, including the introduction of separate waste collection and recycling, a phased ban on single-use plastics, the development of a circular economy, the promotion of biodegradable alternatives, and raising environmental awareness among the population, UNDP in Kyrgyzstan
A closing seminar was held for the comprehensive project titled “Media Education and Fact-Checking: Promoting Critical Thinking and Information Literacy”, implemented by the “Yuksalish” Movement with financial support from the European Union. The event presented key achievements of the project, including proposals to strengthen the professional capacity of media professionals and to improve the legal framework
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing funds to develop sustainable transportation solutions in the city of Osh in Kyrgyzstan. This is the second project under the EBRD Green Cities programme, which the city joined in May 2025. Home to more than 450,000 people and known as the country’s southern capital, Osh
The Almosi Valley, an integrated mountain agropastoral system in Tajikistan, has become the first Central Asian addition to the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The system was formally designated under FAO’s flagship program during a meeting of the GIAHS Scientific Advisory Group held from
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan, the Akimat of Kyzylorda Region, and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) organized the First National Urban Forum of Kazakhstan (NUF2025) in Kyzylorda on July 8. The event brought together representatives of central and local government bodies, international organizations, the expert community, and the private sector. Held
