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
On May 14, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on measures to expand industrialized intensive orchards across the country’s regions. Uzbekistan is consistently implementing measures to develop fruit and vegetable cultivation, expand the production of export-oriented products, and increase rural incomes. Today, the country has 572,600 hectares of orchards and vineyards, generating annual exports worth
Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, met with the leadership of Vision Invest and SUEZ to discuss the implementation of a project aimed at establishing a high-tech industrial waste management cluster in Uzbekistan, the National Committee reported. The project
On May 13, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev approved proposals to ensure high-quality and safe passenger services, as well as increase the efficiency of the Tashkent metro. The growth in the population and the number of visitors to the capital, the expansion of the city, and increasing demand for public transport require taking metro development to a new
Kazakhstan’s economy is expected to remain resilient over the medium term, though growth is set to moderate following a period of strong demand-led expansion, according to the World Bank’s latest report Kazakhstan Economic Update, Strengthening Skills to Unlock Productivity. After a robust 6.5 percent expansion in 2025 — driven by strong domestic consumption and a one-off boost