In October 2024, the Eurasian Development Bank’s (EDB) Fund for Digital Initiatives allocated the first tranche for a project to establish a National Digital Investment Platform in Kazakhstan. The project aligns with the digital agenda of EDB member states — Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan, aiming to accelerate the development of the digital
Digitalization of customs administration and cargo transportation is becoming a key priority for Kazakhstan as it seeks to strengthen its position in the international arena and become a leading player in the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). Effective digitalization and integration with international trade routes can provide Kazakhstan with significant economic advantages, Rosreporter writes in an
As the world becomes increasingly polarized and the authority of multilateral international institutions weakens, the role of middle powers is increasingly growing, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said on October 17 at the plenary session of the Astana Think Tank Forum, entitled “Middle Powers in a Changing Global Order”. “While major powers are consumed by rivalry
The “Strengthening Financial Resilience and Accelerating Risk Reduction in Central Asia” program (SFRARR) – funded by the European Union (EU) and implemented by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR) and the World Bank – hosted a final regional forum in Almaty on October 14-15. The event marked the conclusion of a five-year effort to
On October 2-11, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent, in partnership with The University of Chicago held a two-week workshop in Tashkent’s State Museum of History on the preservation of cultural heritage for ten conservators and museum professionals from the National Museums of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan. The workshop was conducted by expert conservators
On October 11, Ashgabat hosted an international conference, entitled “Interconnection of Times and Civilizations – the Basis of Peace and Development,” celebrating the 300th anniversary of the great Turkmen poet and thinker Magtymguly Pyragy (1724-1807). The high-level forum was attended by President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian,
The Turkish Ministry of National Education has announced changes to the history curriculum — the term “Central Asia” will be replaced with “Turkestan”. This was reported by the official website of Turkey’s TRT television and radio company. The report cites Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who emphasized the importance of the unity of the Turkic
The Central Asian Forum of Women Farmers, held on 8 October in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, emphasized the significant achievements of women in local agribusiness. At the same time, it highlighted the challenges they encounter in this key sector of the economy, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) reported. The Forum brought together officials
The Forum of the Central Asian Women’s Dialogue “Women, Peace and Security: The Role of Women in Strengthening Peace and Security in the Central Asian region and Afghanistan” was held in Bishkek last week. It focused on the key role of women in strengthening peace and security in Central Asia and Afghanistan. The meeting aimed
The European Union and Turkmenistan held a high-level event on October 3 in Ashgabat that launched the Coordination Platform of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor. This Corridor aims to strengthen connectivity by developing transport routes between Central Asia and the European Union. The event brought together the European Union, representatives of the countries along the Trans
On October 3, 15 years ago, the Agreement on the Establishment of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-Speaking States was signed in the city of Nakhchivan, which later evolved into the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The Organization of Turkic States currently comprising Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, with Hungary and the Turkish Republic
An exhibition, The Silk Roads, opened on September 26 at the British Museum in London, showcasing rare artifacts from Uzbekistan’s museum collections, among other exhibits. Saida Mirziyoyeva, Assistant to the President of Uzbekistan, attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition and said: “It is a great honor for me to participate in the opening of
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport said that the first meeting of the joint Kazakh-Chinese working group on cargo transportation along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) on September 25 agreed on the projected volumes of cargo transportation from China to Europe via Kazakhstan along the route until the end of 2029. The TITR, also known as
The 4th International Festival ‘Voices of Friends: Poetry & Art 2024,’ organized by the British non-profit organization Eurasian Creative Guild (London), was held in the city of Shchuchinsk and the village of Burabay in Kazakhstan’s Borovoye resort area on September 15-18. The event brought together more than 50 poets, prose writers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers
On September 18, Kazakhstan Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held the first meeting of the Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) under the chairmanship of Kazakhstan. The meeting with the heads of delegations of the participating countries of the Fund considered the issues of joint use of transboundary water resources, as
The 2nd summit of Central Asian countries and Germany was held on September 17 in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana. Chaired by Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the meeting was attended by Federal Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat
Kazakhstan’s national railways company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy says that 200 container trains from China have passed through the Kazakh port of Aktau since the beginning of 2024, compared to 11 trains last year. The Aktau port is a transit hub on the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. The TITR
In the first five months of the current solar year (which begins on March 21), Afghanistan has conducted trade worth nearly $700 million with Central Asian countries, TOLOnews reported with reference to the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad, spokesperson for the ministry, said that trade between Afghanistan and Central Asian
The Government of Japan and UN Development Programme (UNDP) have agreed upon a new $4.9 million project, “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risk and Climate Change in Central Asia”. The signing ceremony was held on September 11 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The project aims to enhance urban resilience to climate-driven risks in Central Asia by utilizing regional collaborative mechanisms and national transformational strategies, fostering sustainable
Central Asia’s high mountains are critical to the well-being of communities throughout the region and beyond. At the same time, the area is already facing significant climate-related security risks with impacts on the livelihoods of rural mountain and downstream communities that are dependent on agriculture, pastures, and forests. As these risks are shared across the
