Since the beginning of 2026, 3,335 ethnic Kazakhs have returned to Kazakhstan and officially received kandas status, a designation for ethnic Kazakhs returning to their historical homeland. In total, since gaining independence in 1991, 1,168,200 ethnic Kazakhs have resettled in Kazakhstan for permanent residence, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. Almost half of
For Tajikistan, the accelerating loss of glaciers is a deeply existential issue. The country is home to more than 60 percent of Central Asia’s glaciers, which cover around 6 percent of its territory and serve as a critical freshwater source for the region. These glaciers sustain agriculture, hydropower, ecosystems, and the livelihoods of millions of
On March 23–24, the city of Samarkand will host the “Dishes of the East” festival for the first time. The event is organized to widely promote the rich traditions of Eastern cuisine, showcase its unique flavors and cooking culture at the international level, as well as to support the development of gastronomic tourism and increase
The European Union and the International alliance for the protection of heritage (ALIPH) have launched 29 cultural heritage projects across Central Asia to safeguard endangered tangible and intangible heritage from the impact of climate change, following a highly successful Call for Projects that elicited 233 applications. This initiative is co-funded for a total of EUR 1.5 million, wherein
In settlements located near former uranium mines, the third phase of a project aimed at minimizing environmental risks, improving emergency preparedness, and strengthening the socio-economic potential of pilot communities has begun. The activities are carried out within the framework of the project “Stakeholder Engagement for Uranium Legacy Remediation in Central Asia. Phase III,” implemented by
The capital theatre this week hosted the annual Nauryz Ball attended by heads of foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Kazakhstan. The event, organized as part of the Nauryznama decade, served as a platform for cultural diplomacy, symbolizing unity, creation, and renewal, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. Opening the gala evening, Aida
On March 17, the official opening ceremony of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan took place with the participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The Islamic Civilization Center, in its grandeur and scale, is one of the largest complexes in the world for the study and popularization of history, culture, and Islamic civilization. It was built
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is supporting the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Kazakhstan, including those owned or led by young people or women, and helping to improve access to green technologies by providing a financing package of up to US$ 200 million (€172.4 million) in
The Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation says eight shipments of domestic products and goods are scheduled to be exported through the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, TOLOnews reports. The shipments, weighing 18 tons in total, include dried fruit, pressure cookers, cooking spices, and beverages. According to the ministry, from now on three to four export
One of the world’s leading magazines specializing in travel and culture, Condé Nast Traveler, included the city of Tashkent and the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan in its list of the best destinations to visit in June in the article titled “The Best Places to Visit in June, From Route 66 to Uzbekistan,” the Center reported on
The Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, has ratified the agreement on a strategic partnership between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan in developing and transporting green energy. The agreement was signed by Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Ilham Aliyev in November 2024, on the sidelines of the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. According to
An Uzbek–Japanese Environmental Business Forum titled “Promoting Sustainable Development through Bilateral Cooperation in Uzbekistan” was held in Tashkent on March 11. The event aimed to strengthen cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan in the fields of environmental protection, sustainable infrastructure and green technologies, according to the Uzbek National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. During the
On March 11, the United States concluded a deportation flight to Uzbekistan, returning 72 Uzbekistani nationals who do not have legal authorization to remain in the United States, the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan said in a press release. This flight is the latest in a series of ongoing actions as the United States secures its borders. Since
Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, held a videoconference with Yerlan Nysanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, as well as an in-person meeting with Beibut Atamkulov, Kazakh Ambassador to Uzbekistan, to discuss Uzbek-Kazakh cooperation in the
Starting April 1, 2026, the minimum purchase amount for receiving a value-added tax (VAT) refund for foreign citizens in Uzbekistan will be lowered from 1 million soums ($82) to 300,000 soums ($25), according to a presidential decree of March 5, Fergana News Agency reported. The Tax Free system—a partial VAT refund for foreign citizens purchasing
The International Fund for Agricultural Development, the European Union, and Hamkorbank, launched a landmark program to boost rural entrepreneurship and expand financial inclusion targeting nearly 4,000 remittance-receiving households and returnees — migrant workers that came back to their place of origin — in Uzbekistan, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan reported. Through a
The official opening ceremony of the INNO Science Park, established in cooperation between Uzbekistan and Hungary, was held in the Jizzakh region on March 6, the Uzbek government’s website reported. The event was attended by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of Uzbekistan Kongratbay Sharipov, Deputy Governor of Jizzakh region Zafar Azimov, Ambassador
On March 5 and 6, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, held a seminar entitled “National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy: Shaping Joint Solutions for Sustainable Development.” The event was organized within the framework of the regional initiative supporting the development of a National AI Strategy and was facilitated by international experts from
A project to create artificial glaciers is being implemented in the Batken region in southern Kyrgyzstan with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The FAO recently organized an informational event to assess the results of the artificial glacier technology implementation in the region, according to FAO Kyrgyzstan. Representatives
A round table discussion on the Kuvasoy City Master Plan was held in Kuvasoy in Uzbekistan’s Fergana region on March 4, bringing together representatives of local and national authorities, development partners, urban planning experts, the private sector, civil society, and media to discuss the city’s future spatial, economic, and environmental development, the United Nations Development