Despite being landlocked, Central Asia has turned into a key transit hub in Eurasia due to its strategic location at the heart of the vast continent and the implementation of major transport infrastructure projects. According to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), from 2020 to 2024 transit freight volumes through the Central Asian region increased by
U.S. President Donald Trump’s meeting with the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia in August culminated in the signing of a trilateral Joint Declaration, which, among others, envisions the U.S. entering the South Caucasus region as the primary driver of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) project, according to an article published by
The Arts Stage Theatre invites everyone to the unique premiere of the play “The Black Cloak”, where legendary animals come to life on the British stage, revealing the secrets of human nature. Expect incredible acting transformations, a story filled with passion and pain — about devotion and honour — and a magical journey through past
Over the past 34 years of independence after the breakup of the Soviet Union, Central Asia has faced problems that require joint efforts for their solution. These include water and energy shortages, access to the sea and international transport routes, environmental risks, and instability in Afghanistan. In recent years, however, Central Asian countries have strengthened
At the summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) on October 7 in Gabala, Azerbaijan, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed a number of initiatives aimed at strengthening the unity of the Turkic world and enhancing its role in global politics, the economy, and humanitarian development. Mirziyoyev proposed to hold in Samarkand the first joint
From November 29 to December 2, 2025, the Borovoe resort (Burabay, Kazakhstan) will shine with the spirit of a Christmas fairy tale as it will host the 5th festival Voices of Friends, a place where art meets magic. The Voices of Friends V will feature author’s concerts, film festivals, art exhibitions, and master classes that
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is contributing to the optimization of international transport routes by supporting upgrades of key port infrastructure in Kazakhstan. A financial package of up to €45 million provided by the EBRD and the European Union will finance an increase in cargo handling capacity at the port of Aktau, Kazakhstan’s
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Export-Import Bank of India (India Exim Bank) have released a joint research report, entitled ‘Exploring Trade and Investment Relations between India and Central Asia: Unlocking Economic Benefits’. The report analyzes the untapped potential of cooperation between the two dynamically growing economic centers. The report lists Central Asia and
On September 17, in Astana, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev spoke at the opening of the VIII Congress of the Leaders of World and Traditional Religions, a unique platform for open discussion of key challenges of our time. Tokayev noted that the territory of Kazakhstan has historically been a crossroads of cultures and a place of
The volume of trade between Central Asian countries and the Gulf states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) reached $3.3 billion in 2024, an increase of 4.2 times since 2020, according to the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). Imports to Central Asian countries from the Gulf states accounted for 80% of
Late in August, a presentation of a new book of children’s author from Uzbekistan Elena Makarova took place in London as part of the Eurasian Literature Day. The event gathered authors and other creative persons from Europe and Asia thanks to the coordination of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London). Makarova, the winner of the Open
In the first half of 2025, cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) reached 2.3 million tons, 7% more than in the same period in 2024, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Transport. The TITR, also known as the Middle Corridor, links China and Europe via Kazakhstan and the Caspian Sea. Over the
As part of the high-level meeting “Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Europe – Cooperation for Common Development”, a panel session was held on “Climate Challenges in Central Asia and the European Union: New Opportunities for Transregional Cooperation.” The session brought together former President of Montenegro Filip Vujanović, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan
The Afghan Ministry of Mines and Petroleum announced that the contract for the exploration and extraction of the Mes Aynak copper mine in Logar province has been extended for another 15 years, TOLOnews reported. This project was handed over to China’s MCC company 17 years ago, but significant progress in its extraction has yet to
Hertfordshire Press is proud to announce the release of Naked Nimbus, the third novel by acclaimed author Shahsanem Murray. This highly anticipated work follows her earlier successes “Cold Shadows” and “Finding the Holy Path”, both available on Amazon and discovery-bookshop.com. In Naked Nimbus, Murray tells the story of Arthur, a young and ambitious artist haunted
This year, the Voices of Friends: Poetry & Art almanac takes on a special resonance. Its pages are dedicated to the anniversaries of two great enlighteners whose legacy bridges cultures and eras — Abai Kunanbaev, the Kazakh poet, thinker, and reformer, and Igor Savitsky, the legendary collector and guardian of Central Asian art. This almanac
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce reports a significant increase in trade between Afghanistan and China. According to the ministry, trade between the two countries reached $541 million in the first seven months of this year, TOLOnews reported. A large share of Afghanistan’s imports from China includes cotton textiles, solar panels, electronic devices, and mobile
The special issue of OCA Magazine dedicated to the Jizzakh region of Uzbekistan caught the attention of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, as evidenced by a letter from the Prime Minister’s office. “When the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom holds a copy of OCA Magazine and sends a letter with feedback to
Addressing the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries in Turkmenistan on August 5, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke for the need of coordinated action to expedite the development of international transport corridors and infrastructure. Mirziyoyev advocated accelerating the preparation and implementation of the Uzbekistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan railway construction project. “Converging this promising corridor with the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan
On August 5, the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries opened in Awaza, Turkmenistan, bringing together global leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders under the theme “Driving Progress through Partnerships”. This landmark event aims to address the unique challenges faced by the world’s 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs), home to over 600 million people, and accelerate
