Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Edil Baisalov has suggested Bishkek reassess its visa-free regime for Americans following the imposition of visa bond requirements for Kyrgyz citizens traveling to the United States. The United States has included Kyrgyzstan in a list of countries subject to visa bonds. Visa applicants from these countries are
The United States has included Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan in a list of countries subject to visa bonds. Visa applicants from these countries are required to post visa bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the U.S., according to a notice published on the U.S. State Department’s travel website. For Turkmenistan, the measure took effect on
Kyrgyzstan’s non-observed (shadow) economy, excluding the agricultural sector, accounted for 19.5% of GDP in 2024, marking a 0.3% increase from 2023’s 19.2% but a 0.7% decrease from 2022’s 20.2%, according to the latest data from the National Statistical Committee. The Committee reports a steady decline in the shadow economy’s share of GDP over recent years, estimated
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has presented its Macroeconomic Outlook for the Bank’s member states for 2026–2028. EDB analysts expect aggregate GDP growth across the seven member states to reach 2.3% in 2026, with most countries maintaining high levels of economic activity. In 2026, GDP growth is projected at 5.3% in Armenia, 1.8% in Belarus,
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan have launched a regional project, “Strengthening the System for Region-Wide Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia.” The new project, within the framework of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue, aims to enhance disaster resilience at both national and regional levels over two years, focusing
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon were awarded with the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize at a ceremony held at the Saint Petersburg State Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory on December 21. The prestigious award was presented in the presence of the President of the Russian
On December 20 in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed the Presidents of the five Central Asian countries as she hosted the first Summit of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue (CA+JAD) at the leader’s level. Prime Minister Takaichi highlighted the importance and potential of the Central Asian region, including its geopolitical significance as
On December 16, London hosted an event commemorating the great Kyrgyz writer Chingiz Aitmatov. Organized by the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press, which has specialized in translating and publishing works of classic and contemporary authors from Central Asia for nearly twenty years, the event was attended by over 80 guests from England, Kyrgyzstan, Scotland, Australia,
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce of the Kyrgyz Republic, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kyrgyzstan, has begun developing the country’s first unified methodology for master planning growth hubs. To implement the Programme of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic on the formation and development of growth hubs
The cover story of the latest issue of OCA Magazine’s special edition, OCA People, features Mariiam Tobokelova, an outstanding Kyrgyz musician and komuz player, and a veteran member of the Eurasian Creative Guild (London). OCA Magazine is a quarterly magazine published in London since 2009 by Silk Road Media Group with the support of the Eurasian Creative Guild. After
Governments of five Central Asian countries could raise GDP per capita by 6 to 14 percent above projected levels by 2050 by increasing investments in children’s health, education, and development, according to a new report released by UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. According to “Generation 2050 in Central Asia,” the Central Asian region has
The World Bank Group has released the Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) for the Kyrgyz Republic providing a comprehensive roadmap toward helping the country reach its socio-economic goals and build economic resilience. Kyrgyzstan continues to experience more frequent and intense storms and landslides, severe heat waves, and droughts, which present real costs to the
At a meeting in Ashgabat in mid-November, the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan approved water distribution quotas for the 2025-2026 non-growing season (from October 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026) for the Syr Darya and Amu Darya river basins. The Amu Darya and Syr Darya are the two
The Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan (LEA) on December 2 in Tashkent hosted the Model Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), bringing together students, experts, practitioners, and representatives of international organizations for a full-day simulation focused on strengthening cross-border anti-corruption cooperation. The event was organized
On December 1, the world marked World AIDS Day under the global theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” emphasizing the need for sustained political leadership, international cooperation, and human-rights-based approaches to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Kyrgyzstan is making confident strides in the fight against HIV: expanding testing coverage, introducing modern treatment drugs,
The 3rd EU–Central Asia Economic Forum demonstrated the growing momentum of the partnership between the European Union and the countries of Central Asia. Coming after the recent first-ever EU–Central Asia Summit in Samarkand and the EU–Central Asia Ministerial meeting in Ashgabat, the Forum in Tashkent on November 26 became the next major milestone in a
Moscow and Bishkek have reaffirmed allied relations and strategic partnership during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s state visit to Kyrgyzstan on November 26. Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov welcomed the Russian leader saying that Russia has been and remains a strategic ally of Kyrgyzstan, its reliable partner and true friend. According to Japarov, Russia remains one of Kyrgyzstan’s main trading partners, accounting for 22% of
A major new environmental initiative has been launched in response to increasing pressure on Central Asia’s water and land resources, the growing impacts of climate change, land degradation, and more frequent droughts. The Central Asian Water and Land Nexus (CAWLN) Program, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the National Committee of
On November 22, a meeting of water and energy ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan was held in Almaty. The ministers agreed on further water and energy cooperation. Given the low water level in the reservoir of Kyrgyzstan’s Toktogul hydropower plant (HPP), the meeting participants decided to support each other with mutual electricity supplies and
As part of the High-Level Dialogue on enhancing the strategic impact of the 20th Conference of the Parties to CITES, a signing ceremony was held for the Samarkand Declaration and the Regional Cooperation Action Plan for 2026–2032 to support the sustainable use of wildlife and plant resources and combat illegal trade in wild animals and
