Afghanistan’s trade with Central Asian countries reached more than $1.27 billion in the first five months of 2026, including around $74 million of Afghanistan’s exports, TOLOnews reported citing the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce. According to the ministry, dried fruits, fresh fruits, talc stone, vegetables, medicinal plants, and various types of juice are among
EuroChem, a leading Russian and global fertilizer producer headquartered in Switzerland, has launched a new sulfuric acid plant in the Zhambyl region of Kazakhstan with a production capacity of 800,000 tons per year. The new facility is part of EuroChem’s broader investment project in Kazakhstan. The Phase I included the launch of a phosphate ore
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan have signed a memorandum of cooperation under the Technical Assistance Fund (TAF). The document is aimed at supporting exports, product certification and the development of non-financial instruments for Uzbek businesses. TAF funds will be used for projects that help local
Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports to China increased by 82.4% in the first three months of this year, reaching $550 million. In 2025, Kazakh exports grew by 35.3% to $1.43 billion. This was announced at a meeting between Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture Yermek Kenzhekhanuly and Liu Huanxin, head of China’s National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration
Afghanistan’s economy continues to grow modestly – with real GDP estimated at 4.8 percent — despite regional tensions and border closures, driven in part by strong domestic demand and the return of millions of Afghans to the country. Yet this growth is not translating to better living standards or higher incomes. Rapid population growth of
Kazakhstan has launched the Rain Enforcement Program aimed at increasing water levels in reservoirs and providing more irrigation water to farmlands in the country’s arid southern region that experiences chronic water shortages and limits during summer growing seasons. According to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the program is designed to mitigate drought
Kyrgyzstan and China have launched a strategic project aimed at increasing coal exports to China. Kyrgyz and Chinese officials last week attended a time capsule-laying ceremony in the village of Nura in the southern Osh region to mark the official launch of the project with a total investment of $430 million. The project is being
Today, Uzbekistan stands among the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in Central Asia. The sector reached USD 1.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 1.8–2.2 billion by 2027, according to the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. Market development is supported by 32.7 million internet users, the widespread adoption of digital payment solutions, and the steady expansion of logistics
Local officials in Afghanistan’s Bamyan say Uzbekistan’s private sector is planning to invest in potato production in the province, TOLOnews reported. A delegation led by the head of Uzbekistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Private Investment, during a meeting with the Bamyan governor, pledged to cultivate 40 metric tons of potato seeds on agricultural land in
The Third Uzbekistan–China Interregional Forum is being held on May 21 and 22, in China’s Xi’an. Under the theme “Shared Modernization through High-Quality Development,” the forum has brought together nearly 2,000 participants, including representatives from ministries and agencies, regional administrations, academic circles, business associations, leading companies, and entrepreneurs from both nations, according to the Uzbek
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has signed a $70 million investment loan agreement with Uzum, Uzbekistan’s largest digital ecosystem, to accelerate the expansion of Uzum’s FinTech business, one of the leading and fastest-growing players in Uzbekistan’s burgeoning digital finance market. The agreement marks the Bank’s first-ever investment in Uzbekistan since the country joined the organization
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Ministry of Finance of Tajikistan have signed an agreement to finance the construction of the first section of the Labijar–Kalai-Khumb highway. The project is of strategic importance for the development of the country’s transport infrastructure; it will strengthen transport links between the districts of republican subordination and the
In the first quarter of 2026, Kazakhstan’s foreign trade reached $32.9 billion, an increase of 10.5% compared to $29.8 billion in the same period last year, according to the Ministry of Trade and Integration. The growth confirms the increasing role of high value-added products in the country’s exports, which grew by 9.4% to $18 billion
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has officially opened its representative office in Uzbekistan. The opening of the representative office in Tashkent was a logical step following Uzbekistan’s accession to the EDB in 2025. The Bank is now commencing full‑scale investment operations in the country. Nikolai Podguzov, Chairman of the EDB Management Board, stated: “In the
Kazakhstan is taking steps to support products labeled “Made in Kazakhstan” not only in retail chains but also online platforms. The Ministry of Trade and Integration has prepared legislative amendments strengthening the rules for promoting domestic goods both in offline retail trade and e-commerce. According to the proposed legislation, online marketplaces will be required to
Kazakhstan has begun exporting its oilseed products to Iran through the Caspian Sea in a move capable to increase supplies and diversify export routes, according to the Ministry of Agriculture. The first shipment of rapeseed oil was sent from the Kazakh port of Aktau, marking an important step in strengthening Kazakhstan’s position in oilseed
Specialists from Russia and Uzbekistan are currently conducting technical and economic studies for the trans-Afghan railway project, TOLOnews reported citing Russian Railways. The project aims to establish a railway corridor linking Central and South Asia through Afghanistan. Sergey Pavlov, First Deputy General Director of Russian Railways, said during a meeting of the Railway Transport Council
The World Bank Group’s Board of Directors on May 14 discussed a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF) for Kazakhstan for fiscal years 2026–2031, aimed at supporting the country’s transition toward a more diversified, competitive, and resilient economy. The framework is structured around three outcomes: 1) strengthening connectivity and infrastructure services; 2) enhancing resilience through improved natural
Of course, the transition of the Former Soviet Republics from Communism to Market Economy witnessed a dramatic fall in infrastructure spending. Consequently, different republics progressed at different speeds, though with an increasing realization that such spending is necessary to develop their economies. Ironically, it is their western counterparts who are arguably underinvesting in their own
According to a study by the Scientific Research Institute of Family and Gender, in 2025, there were an average of 175 divorces per 1,000 families in Uzbekistan. Experts note that this figure is significantly lower than international standards, confirming the stability of family values in the country, Tashkent Today reported. Comparison with some post-Soviet countries