The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Civil Defence and Rescue Operations Directorate under the Ministry of Defence of Turkmenistan, has launched the national component of the regional project Strengthening the System for Region-wide Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia. Funded by the Government of Japan, the initiative is being implemented across all
The Jizzakh Open Air–2026 International Tourism Festival was held on June 27–28 on the shores of Lake Aydarkul, one of the most picturesque natural attractions in the Jizzakh Region of Uzbekistan, according to the country’s Tourism Committee. The prestigious event was jointly organized by the Jizzakh Regional Administration, the Tourism Committee, the Ministry of Culture,
Central Asia has a complex risk profile, and earthquakes are among the most prominent hazards. Tajikistan is no exception, with the 1949 Khait and the 1989 Gissar earthquakes illustrating the country’s high seismic exposure, according to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Tajikistan. On July 13, UNDP and the Executive Body of State Authority of
This year, the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan is bringing that history to life. In celebration of this milestone, the U.S. Embassy organized a series of Founders Museum exhibitions and related programs across Turkmenistan. Across all five regions of Turkmenistan,
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
Representatives of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, the City of Osh, the Government of Japan, the Centre for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), technical institutions, academia, civil society and development partners gathered in Osh on 10 July to launch a new regional initiative aimed at strengthening disaster risk
On July 9, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Steve Daines, a member of the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and Senator from the state of Montana, who arrived in Turkmenistan on a visit. Senator Daines conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from President Donald Trump to the Turkmen head of state. President
Nostalgia can become a source of strength, but it is time to stop pushing away those who have long acted as our unofficial ambassadors. I am standing in the reception hall of the Uzbek embassy in a European capital. An inspiring speech is being delivered in Uzbek. There are nearly one hundred people in the
Delegates from Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as leading scientists and experts from countries across Europe and Asia, attended the International Summer School “Glacier Study, Conservation and Climate Change Adaptation” (IPROMO) in the city of Naryn, Kyrgyzstan between 24 June and 7 July. The school served as a platform for consolidating scientific
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, has completed the installation of two solar photovoltaic systems at the Yoloten Etrap Hospital in Mary Velayat, marking an important step towards more resilient, sustainable, and climate-smart healthcare services. With a combined capacity of 30 kilowatts, the
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Uzbekistan have reaffirmed their commitment to improving water security, strengthening climate resilience, and supporting more sustainable use of water resources across the country, according to UNDP Uzbekistan. The commitment was highlighted during a high-level meeting between Mr. Haoliang Xu, UNDP Associate Administrator, Ms. Ivana Živković,
From 7 to 11 July, Uzbekistan is hosting the First International Forum of Islamic Civilization, “The Path of Peace, Tolerance and Enlightenment,” across Tashkent, Samarkand, and Termez, bringing together leading scholars, religious figures, representatives of international organizations, and experts from around the world, according to the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan. The official opening ceremony took
The Central Asian C909 Flying Hospital Mission, organized as part of China’s airborne health Silk Road initiative, was launched in Almaty last week, aimed at bringing high-quality ophthalmic services to medically underserved regions in Belt and Road partner countries. This is the first such project in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, implemented in partnership between Al-Farabi
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Green Climate Fund (GCF) are launching a new program to strengthen the resilience of water systems in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan in response to growing climate pressures on water resources and services. The Resilient Water Systems program, which combines €100 million of loans from the EBRD and
A “Republic of Kazakhstan – United States of America” Business Roundtable was held in Astana last week, bringing together representatives of government agencies, the business community, international corporations, financial institutions, and expert circles from both countries. The event served as an important platform for discussing a new stage of Kazakhstan-U.S. economic cooperation based on investment,
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
As part of his official visit to Turkmenistan on July 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev was received by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. During the meeting, the Kazakh Foreign Minister conveyed warm greetings and best wishes on behalf of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Kosherbayev underscored the special importance
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved financial support for the Government of Uzbekistan to improve learning outcomes in primary schools across six regions and to help students acquire the foundational skills needed to access more productive and better-paid jobs in adulthood. The financial package includes $100 million in concessional financing from the International
From June 26-27, the U.S. Army Civil-Military Support Element (CMSE), in partnership with the Red Crescent Society of Kyrgyzstan (RCSK) and the American Corner in Naryn, helped improve eye health in Naryn through a comprehensive medical intervention and education program called “Naryn Eye”. A group of U.S. Army medical providers began a Medical Civic Action
The Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan last week marked the successful completion of the project “Enhancing the Capacities of Surkhandarya Region to Educate and Train Afghan Citizens.” The milestone was celebrated during a vibrant Career Festival and closing