On January 8, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon signed a decree declaring 2025-2030 the “Years of Digital Economy and Innovation Development”. According to a commentary to the presidential decree published on Rahmon’s official website, during the Years of Digital Economy and Innovation Development, Tajikistan will take steps towards digitalization of the national economy and the development of
Late in December, Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Bakyt Torobayev held a meeting on the fulfillment of the government’s plan of priority measures to improve air quality in the capital city of Bishkek for 2024-2025. The plan was approved in February 2024 and included measures to provide the population with high-calorie coal
Afghanistan’s trade volume in 2024 exceeded $12 billion, with a 38-percent increase in imports year-on-year and a 4-percent decrease in exports, Xinhua reported with reference to the country’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry. “Afghanistan’s total trade stood at 12.42 billion dollars in 2024, of which the country’s export volume reached 1.8 billion dollars, while imported
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan has reported that it is releasing water from the country’s reservoirs to make room for receiving snowmelt water in case of flooding next spring. In the spring of 2024, Kazakhstan’s western and northern regions suffered from unprecedented floods caused by the rapid snowmelt. According to
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) said that on December 19, 2024 it approved a multiphase program with a total financing envelope of USD500 million, and Phase 1 Loan of USD270 million, to support Tajikistan in completing the Rogun Hydropower Plant Project (Rogun HPP). With a projected installed capacity of 3,780 megawatts, Rogun HPP will provide
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has been reported on measures to ensure employment of the population and increase incomes in mahallas (neighborhoods) with the participation of banks. A total of 5.2 million people are planned to be employed in 2025, of which more than 3 million with the assistance of banks. Agreements on cooperation to provide
In the era of rapid technological progress, information technology permeates all spheres of life. IT technologies are a competitive advantage in today’s global market. Kazakhstan, being at the forefront of the digital transition, is dynamically developing its IT sector, making it one of the drivers of its economic growth. The export of IT services has
More than 500 people in the agricultural sector will benefit from advanced cattle management, fodder cultivation, and artificial insemination initiatives supported by the U.S. government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The new partnerships drive economic growth in the south of the Kyrgyz Republic by strengthening the dairy value chain and livestock breeding.
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has released its 2024 report on investments in the region. According to the report, Kazakhstan attracted $15.7 billion in new projects, securing its position as the leading destination for investments in the North and Central Asia region, Kazakh Invest reported. In 2024,
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum has signed a contract for the construction of a major cement production plant in Logar with a Chinese company that also has an Afghan partner, TOLOnews reported. Hedayatullah Badri, acting minister of mines and petroleum, stated during the contract signing ceremony that approximately $145 million will be invested in
As of 20 December 2024, the “Work in the EAEU” mobile app, developed by the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Fund for Digital Initiatives, has launched public and commercial services for migrant workers in Uzbekistan. This enables individuals seeking employment in Uzbekistan to access the necessary services directly from their smartphones, the EDB said. The Eurasian
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Qazaq Green Renewable Energy Association (Qazaq Green) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to facilitate research and exchange information on renewable energy projects, among other initiatives. The document was signed by Azamat Tyuleubai, Senior Managing Director and Head of the EDB Project Unit, and Nurlan Kapenov, Chairman of
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), represented by Ruslan Dalenov, Vice Chairman of the Management Board, and Karaganda Energotsentr, a 100% subsidiary of Kazakhstan Utility Systems, represented by Flyur Garipov, General Director, have signed a 13-year, US $240 million long-term loan agreement to finance the modernization and expansion of Karaganda Combined Heat and Power Plant 3
On December 23, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on the priority tasks for 2025 to utilize additional opportunities and increase investments and employment in the northwestern region of Karakalpakstan. A project office will be established to develop three main areas in Karakalpakstan – agriculture, industry, and tourism. The office will analyze the growth
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is increasing the reliability and sustainability of Uzbekistan’s electricity supply by helping to finance the construction of a new high-voltage transmission line connecting the country’s north-western and south-western regions. The EBRD is issuing a sovereign loan of up to US$ 66.4 million (€63.9 million) to the
The World Bank has approved $3.5 million in financing for Uzbekistan in the form of a payment guarantee to support the country’s development of renewable energy. This support will secure the obligations of the state-owned National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan JSC to purchase electricity from a new 100-megawatt (MW) solar power plant to be constructed
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Hamkorbank have signed a 625 billion Uzbek sum (equivalent to about $50 million) loan to enhance access to financing to rural micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Uzbekistan. A majority of the loan will be allocated to support financial inclusion for MSMEs outside the capital of Tashkent. At
The World Bank has approved a $350 million International Development Association (IDA) grant as part of the first phase of a program to help Tajikistan finance the completion of the Rogun Hydropower Plant (HPP) Project. With a projected installed capacity of 3,780 Megawatts, the Rogun HPP will provide about 10 million people in Tajikistan with better
The World Bank has approved a comprehensive project to enhance digital services and improve digital skills in Tajikistan, including dedicated interventions targeting rural areas. The initiative aims to improve the delivery of digitally-enabled public services and boost digital literacy, fostering a more inclusive and resilient economy. The Tajikistan Digital Foundations Project, with a total funding of
Russia’s state-owned atomic company Rosatom is selling its stakes in uranium deposits in Kazakhstan to Chinese-owned companies as the Central Asian nation looks to avoid any international sanctions against Russian-linked assets and a sign of China’s growing influence in the region, RFE/RL reported. Kazatomprom, the world’s largest producer of uranium, said Uranium One Group —
