Diplomacy has long extended beyond embassy walls and formal negotiations. It also lives through personal encounters, the exchange of books and conversations that help countries understand one another more deeply. In London, our publisher and founder of Silk Road Media, Marat Akhmedjanov, met Dr Mohammad Faisal, an experienced Pakistani diplomat who served as High Commissioner
In autumn 2014, the first World Nomad Games were held on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan. A new international project was taking its first steps, and no one yet knew what the future would hold. OCA Magazine, published in London since 2009, became a media partner of the inaugural Games. We dedicated the
The fifth Burabay International Short Film Festival (BISFF) took place in Shchuchinsk from 12 to 14 August 2026. Founded by the British media holding Silk Road Media and curated by Eurasian Creative Guild (London), the festival brought together filmmakers and guests from more than 20 countries across Europe, Asia, North America, and South America. For
Until recently, Central Asia remained one of the least familiar regions of the world for most people in Latin America. If the names Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Uzbekistan were known at all, they were usually associated with geography, sports, or occasional news headlines. Today, that is beginning to change. Growing trade and economic ties, new international
On Friday, 7 August 2026, the Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), with the support of the Yunus Emre Institute – Buenos Aires, hosted a special screening of the acclaimed Kyrgyz historical film Kurmanjan Datka: Queen of the Mountains. The cultural event brought together representatives of Buenos Aires’ creative, cultural and international communities for an evening dedicated
When discussing the international careers of Argentine footballers and coaches, attention usually turns to Europe, Mexico, the United States, or the Middle East. Yet in recent years, another destination has been steadily emerging on Argentina’s football map: Central Asia. As of August 2026, at least seven Argentine players and coaches are working in professional clubs
The organizers have announced filmmakers whose works have been selected for the Burabay International Short Film Festival (BISFF) 2026. BISFF was founded by the Silk Road Media holding (London) in partnership with Eurasian Creative Guild (London) and is part of an international network of festivals and screenings covering the UK, Europe, and Latin America. The
We are living through a profound shift in the relationship between education and work — and nowhere is that shift more consequential than in Central Asia. Artificial intelligence is not coming to education. It is already here. It is in the assignments students submit, the tools employers use to screen candidates, and increasingly in the
International investor interest in Central Asia and the Caucasus is rising rapidly, according to a new Investor Perception Report released by Montfort Eurasia. New data shows that interest from US and UK investors in the region has tripled since 2023 – despite lingering concerns over political stability and investment security. Investors showed particular interest in
The more time passes after the Issyk-Kul Forum held in Kyrgyzstan in June, the more I realize that its greatest value was not found in the official sessions or ceremonial speeches. It was found in the people, the ideas, and the honest conversations that continued long after the formal programme had ended. Chingiz Aitmatov’s legacy
THE SILK ROAD’S NEW REALITY In 2013, China’s newly nominated President Xi Jinping gave a much-heeded speech in Astana, Kazakhstan’s brushed-up capital. His main concern focused on nothing less than how to invigorate the ancient Silk Roads, “in order to promote people-to-people friendship”. After eleven years, in 2024, jointly with Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev, Xi Jinping
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on July 1 reviewed proposals to develop Uzbekistan’s transport and logistics system and make more effective use of the country’s transit potential. Today, Uzbekistan has broad opportunities to become a major land transport hub connecting East and West. Four thousand kilometers of international transit corridors pass through the country’s territory, and the
Music truly knows no borders. During his visit to Paraguay, Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder of the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press and patron of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), had the pleasure of meeting one of the country’s most distinguished musicians and one of the leading figures in Latin American classical music, Maestro Diego Sánchez
The “Investing in Central Asia: Opportunities and Partnerships” session dedicated to attracting capital from the Gulf countries and China was held on the second day of the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Annual Meeting and Business Forum in Almaty last week. Ruslan Dalenov, Deputy Chairman of the EDB Management Board, noted that the Bank envisages five
The Third International Uyghur Forum was held in Berlin from 11 to 13 June 2026, bringing together Uyghur scholars, writers, human rights advocates, policymakers, and representatives of Uyghur organizations from around the world. The event was organized by the World Uyghur Congress and the Uyghur Center for Democracy and Human Rights. Representing Uyghur PEN, renowned
On June 23, the European Commission launched the Connectivity Agenda Platform and concluded agreements with international financial institutions expected to mobilise up to €2 billion for strategic connectivity investments in the Black Sea region and the South Caucasus, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan reported. The Platform was unveiled at a high-level
One of the most memorable events of my Latin American journey was the meeting with Paraguay’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rubén Ramírez Lezcano, in the capital city of Asunción. Ramírez Lezcano is one of the country’s most influential diplomats and has served as Paraguay’s Foreign Minister since 2023. This visit became my first official trip
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is facilitating more fluid cargo and passenger traffic flows along the Trans-Caspian Corridor, the EU’s Global Gateway flagship initiative, and supporting the establishment of sustainable transport connections in Central Asia by helping to finance the completion of upgrades to a key transport route in western Kazakhstan. The
Forty years after its establishment, the legendary Issyk-Kul International Forum is returning to Kyrgyzstan. The 40th-anniversary Issyk-Kul International Forum will take place from June 18 to 21 in Bishkek and on the shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. Founded in 1986 by legendary writer Chingiz Aitmatov, the forum has brought together outstanding scientists, writers, philosophers, public figures
British publisher and public figure Marat Akhmedjanov has been awarded a medal from the International Organization of Turkic Culture, TÜRKSOY, which unites the states of the Turkic world and is dedicated to preserving their shared historical and cultural heritage. The award was presented in recognition of Akhmedjanov’s long-standing contribution to the development of literature, culture,