In recent years, Uzbekistan has significantly expanded efforts to attract tourists from China — one of the world’s largest tourism markets. The year 2025 was declared the “Year of Uzbekistan Tourism in China.” Throughout the year, tourism roadshows were held in major Chinese cities and provinces, and Uzbekistan presented its national stand at major tourism
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $17 million in grant financing to help Tajikistan digitalize and modernize livestock farming, helping people earn more and improve access to nutritious food. The financing includes a $14 million grant from the Asian Development Fund and a $3 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment of the Republic of Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation for Flood Forecasting and Prevention through the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technology. The document was signed during Korea International Water Week in Daegu, South Korea.
On November 13, London’s Shaw Theatre welcomed the Kazakh company The Arts Stage, presenting The Black Cloak, based on Georgy Khugaev’s play and directed by Askhat Mayemirov. The performance became one of the standout events of the autumn theatre season, reminding us that profound theatre does not need loud effects to feel contemporary. The play
On November 18, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the improvement of the system of external labor migration and organization of migration processes in line with international standards. Thanks to the systematic work carried out in Uzbekistan in recent years to ensure the organized employment of citizens abroad, the labor market is diversifying, with citizens
The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) have signed a financial agreement on the project “Developing a Business Ecosystem for Sustainable Irrigation in Kazakhstan.” The Bank is providing a $3.5 million grant to launch an initiative aimed at modernizing and strengthening the irrigation
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Ambassador Jan Braathu, concluded his official visit to Uzbekistan on November 16. During the visit, he held a series of high-level meetings focused on the ongoing reform of the media regulatory framework, the impact of digital transformation on journalism, and the implementation of OSCE commitments. Representative
According to the latest figures published by the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the country’s foreign trade continues to decline, with a decrease in both exports and imports. In January-September 2025, Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade totaled $11.3 billion, an 8.3% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Exports decreased by 25.7% and amounted to $2.1
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting further modernization at Tashkent Pipe Plant (TPP), Uzbekistan’s leading private producer of prefabricated steel products, by extending a $20 million loan financing the expansion of the company’s production facilities. This financing will provide TPP with necessary working capital and enable it to ramp up production of
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $56.4 million program to help Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan boost their capacity to respond to disasters. Both countries are vulnerable to disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, but lack the fiscal capacity and risk transfer mechanisms to effectively respond to hazards. The Risk-Layered Disaster Relief Finance Program will enhance their
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on November 18 met with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to reaffirm the strength of ADB’s partnership with Uzbekistan and to commemorate 30 years of development cooperation. “ADB is proud to celebrate three decades of partnership with Uzbekistan,” said Mr. Kanda. “We remain committed to supporting reforms that broaden
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Minister of Water Resources of Uzbekistan Shavkat Khamrayev have signed an intergovernmental agreement on the joint management and rational use of transboundary rivers and canals. The agreement, signed on November 15 in Tashkent, establishes mechanisms for cooperation on transboundary rivers and canals that provide
At a high-level segment of the UN Climate Change Conference (CoP30) in Belém, Brazil, Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, underscored Central Asia’s acute vulnerability to climate change, noting accelerating land degradation and diminishing water resources. He reported that regional temperatures have already risen by 2.2 °C and that
The 44th annual meeting of the Berlin Eurasian Club took place in Brussels last week, focusing on the theme “The Middle Corridor and Global Gateway.” The discussions centered on Kazakhstan’s growing role in shaping a new architecture of transport connectivity between Europe and Asia. The meeting brought together representatives of government from Kazakhstan and the
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan, in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, last week organized the International Startup Forum 2025 within the framework of the Turkmentel–2025 Exhibition and International Conference in Ashgabat. This event marked a significant milestone in advancing Turkmenistan’s innovation and digital transformation agenda, UNDP Turkmenistan reported. The
On November 17, negotiations were held between President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Tashkent. It was emphasized that the current state visit will become a significant step toward further strengthening the Uzbek-Turkmen relations of friendship, good-neighborliness and strategic partnership. Uzbek-Turkmen trade turnover has nearly doubled in recent years, exceeding
Historian Maral Tompiev has discovered a previously unknown peak which he believes may be the highest point in Saryarka, or the Kazakh Uplands, in Central Kazakhstan, Liter.kz reported. Tompiev had encountered descriptions of the Karkaraly Mountains numerous times in the works of travelers of the Imperial Russian Geographical Society in the mid-19th century and in
The investment fund Central Asia Capital and the Ministry of Education and Science of Kyrgyzstan have signed an agreement launching the Central Asia Startup program, the first large-scale project to develop entrepreneurship and technology startups in Kyrgyzstan. According to Central Asia Capital, the program aims to support aspiring entrepreneurs, develop an innovation ecosystem, and foster
On November 16, the seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia was held in Tashkent under the chairmanship of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The summit was attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali
The second meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan was held in Tashkent on November 15, co-chaired by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Mirziyoyev stated that Kazakh-Uzbek relations have now reached the highest level of a strategic partnership and alliance. The parties discussed new areas of cooperation and
