The opening ceremony of “Khiva – Youth Capital of the Turkic World 2026” was held on 12 October in Khiva, Uzbekistan. Nuru Guliyev, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), addressed the ceremony and highlighted the importance of Khiva’s designation in strengthening youth cooperation across the Turkic World. He emphasized that the
Government representatives, the European Union, international financial institutions, development partners and private-sector representatives met in Tashkent on 30 September for the Second National Conference on the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) in Uzbekistan. The conference examined how investment and reforms can strengthen Uzbekistan’s role in sustainable connectivity between Central Asia and Europe, the Delegation of the
The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe has provided six Unmanned Aerial Systems to the National Guard of Tajikistan to help the country secure its borders. The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), valued at $2.3 million, will enable the National Guard to engage in persistent monitoring in support of counterterrorism operations, the embassy said. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i.
The United States Government has established the Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund (TCEF), a non-profit investment fund committed to private sector development across the South Caucasus and Central Asian region. Capitalized with $201 million from the U.S. Government to mobilize private investment along the Trans-Caspian Trade Route, the Fund will invest in businesses and infrastructure that can
A new international tourism association, Umrah Plus, has been established in Uzbekistan. The main objective of the new international organization is to combine Umrah pilgrimage with Uzbekistan’s rich historical, cultural and religious heritage, increase the number of foreign pilgrims visiting the country, and promote Uzbekistan’s potential in pilgrimage tourism on international markets. Representatives of the
Kazakhstan’s national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, has announced the launch of the Women’s Carriage service on an international train route for the first time. Starting October 1, 2026, the service will be available in the daily train operating on the Almaty–Tashkent route. “The international Almaty–Tashkent route is vital for developing passenger travel between Kazakhstan
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $43.27 million grant financing package to help Tajikistan build a more integrated health system that can better prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks, natural hazard-related health risks, and cross-border health threats. The project will also support primary health care reforms and introduce integrated health and social protection services
Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliyev on 22 September held a meeting with the UK Government’s Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, Lord John Alderdice. The parties discussed bilateral trade, expansion of Kazakh exports, development of industrial cooperation, investment, and scientific-educational collaboration, according to the Ministry of Trade and Integration. By
According to the latest analytical data from UN Tourism, published in the World Tourism Barometer, Uzbekistan recorded the highest growth in international tourist arrivals among European destinations in January–June 2026, according to the country’s Tourism Committee. The number of international tourist arrivals to Uzbekistan increased by 25% compared with 2025, demonstrating the country’s continued strengthening
A new virology laboratory of the National Center of Expertise under the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan was officially inaugurated on September 10 in the city of Turkistan. The lab was established by the Government of Kazakhstan as part of the country’s Pandemic Fund project, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and
In January–August 2026, 9.1 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan, representing a 21.1 percent increase compared with the same period last year, according to the country’s Tourism Committee. While 7.7 million tourists visited the country during the first seven months of the year, 1.4 million tourists arrived in Uzbekistan in August alone. The most significant increases in tourist arrivals
Kyrgyzstan’s great cultural festival attracted genuine public enthusiasm. Yet transport failures, overcrowding, ticketing disorder and complaints from competitors revealed how far the organisation lagged behind the spectacle. The VI World Nomad Games closed in Kyrgyzstan on 6 September after a week of equestrian sport, traditional wrestling, music, crafts and national celebration. The Games produced memorable
The United Nations General Assembly on August 31 adopted the resolution entitled “International Day of Greening the Planet,” initiated by Kazakhstan, proclaiming 22 April as the International Day of Greening the Planet. The initiative to establish the International Day was put forward by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev during the general debate of the 80th
The Uzbek cities of Tashkent and Samarkand have become members of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Green Cities Network, according to the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of Uzbekistan. According to certificates issued by the Secretariat of FAO’s Green Cities Initiative at FAO Headquarters in Rome on 20
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
China has unilaterally simplified visa requirements for Kyrgyzstan citizens in a move that will further deepen mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries and make tourism, business, investment, and trade more convenient and efficient, according to Chinese officials. China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced that effective August 20, 2026, nationals of Kyrgyzstan will be
The first Critical Minerals Forum of Tajikistan and Korea took place in Seoul on August 12 to help identify practical projects and connect Tajikistan’s vast resource potential with Korea’s expertise and technologies for mineral exploration and development. The forum brought together senior Tajik government officials and representatives of the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy
On August 17, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Liaoning Normal University branch in Uzbekistan and the Confucius Institute in Khiva. A new educational complex has been built as part of a project implemented jointly with the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation, Urgench State University, and China’s Liaoning Normal University. The complex includes academic
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
SABIS International School–Astana has officially opened in Kazakhstan’s capital. The opening ceremony was attended by Victor Saad, President and Chief Executive Officer of SABIS; Talgat Yeshenkulov, Vice-Minister of Science and Higher Education of Kazakhstan; Bakytzhan Zhumagulov, President of the National Engineering and Technical Academy of Kazakhstan; and Kassymkhan Sengazyev, Head of the Astana City Education