The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has taken a major step in strengthening its presence in Central Asia, made possible through the strong support of and cooperation with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change. On December 2, the two parties signed a Host Country Agreement, formalizing the establishment of an
Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has announced that the first return container train along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) departed on November 24 from Baku, Azerbaijan to Xi’an, China via Kazakhstan. The train, consisting of 62 containers with petroleum coke, will travel along the TITR after reverse loading and will return
Tajikistan may join a green corridor between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan, Tajik Minister of Energy and Water Resources Daler Juma said during the COP29 summit in Baku. “This is a very interesting project, although our colleagues have not yet approached us with an official proposal. It is obvious that such initiatives are of great importance
Director Carrie Kendall from Great Britain presented her new short documentary film, From Havering to Burabay, about Kazakhstan’s Burabay National Park. Created as part of her participation in the international festival “Voices of Friends: Poetry & Art,” the film became a real cultural bridge between the two countries. The film was shot over the course
At the Kazakhstan-Serbian Business Forum held in Belgrade on November 12, Ulugbek Orazov, deputy general director for commerce of KTZ Express JSC (a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy), presented the company’s key initiatives aimed at developing infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor, which
Member countries of the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) Program have endorsed a new Climate Change Action Plan (CCAP) and launched the CAREC Climate and Sustainability Project Preparatory Fund (CSPPF) to strengthen regional collaboration on climate resilience, low-carbon growth, and sustainable development. The endorsement took place at the 23rd CAREC Ministerial Conference held in Astana on
On November 6, Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, hosted the 11th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). The summit was chaired by Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov and attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Uzbekistan
The 17th “Central Asia – Republic of Korea” Cooperation Forum took place in Seoul on November 4. The forum addressed key areas of partnership between Central Asian countries and the Republic of Korea, focusing on sectors such as transport and logistics cooperation, energy collaboration, digital transformation, and environmental issues, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. In
Climate finance, infrastructure, agriculture, and micro and smaller businesses in Central Asia were just some of the areas that benefited from strong funding from IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, over the last fiscal year. The funds, coupled with advisory support, are helping to increase private sector participation, create jobs, boost financial inclusion,
President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev paid a state visit to Mongolia from October 28 to 29. Tokayev held talks with President of Mongolia Ukhnaa Khurelsukh, after which the two leaders signed a Joint Declaration on Strategic Partnership between their countries. Kazakhstan and Mongolia decided to deepen their cooperation in the following five main areas: 1.
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic on October 27 hosted the E-Commerce Expo 2024, a milestone event aimed at accelerating digital transformation across Central Asia. Organized with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the event attracted over 600 participants, including business leaders, government officials, entrepreneurs, and representatives from international
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
