According to a new study by World Weather Attribution (WWA), in March 2025, Central Asia experienced an unusually intense heatwave, with temperatures reaching record highs across the region, reaching 30.8°C in Jalalabad in Kyrgyzstan, 29.4°C in Namangan and 29.1°C in Fergana in Uzbekistan, and minimum temperatures of 18.3°C in Shahdara, making it the hottest March night in
The 21st meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) on Ethnic Germans in Kazakhstan on April 9 in Berlin discussed the issues of supporting ethnic Germans, strengthening cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Kazakhstan and Germany. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko and Germany’s Federal Government Commissioner for Matters Related to Ethnic German Resettlers
An ambitious project to grow olive trees and produce olive oil has taken an important step forward in Kazakhstan. On April 4, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture, Aidarbek Saparov and President of Georgia’s Global Olive Corporation, George Svanidze signed a memorandum of cooperation on the project and agreed to develop a roadmap determining the timetable and
From October 2024 to April 1, 2025, Uzbekistan supplied 12.6 billion cubic meters of irrigation water to Kazakhstan, 1.7 billion cubic meters more than planned. Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov announced this at an international climate forum in Samarkand, Uzbekistan on April 5. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources
The Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and the energy ministries of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan on April 4 signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to support the Feasibility Study for the Caspian Green Energy Corridor Project. The MOU establishes a high-level framework for cooperation, focusing on the development of a
Production of John Deere agricultural machinery and equipment has been officially launched at the Localization Center of the AGROMASH plant in the northern Kazakh city of Kostanay. John Deere is a world leader in the production of agricultural machinery, and the beginning of its manufacturing in Kazakhstan, the largest agricultural producer in Central Asia,
On April 4, the first-ever Central Asia-European Union Summit was held in Samarkand, chaired by the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The EU was represented by the President of the European Council António Costa and the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. Together with President Mirziyoyev, Central Asian countries were represented by
OCA Magazine, published in London since 2009, is calling on universities across the Eurasian region to participate in a special issue titled OCA Magazine: Education 2025. The initiative aims to showcase the educational and human resource potential of Central Asia and the CIS countries, while also attracting experts and media attention to promote education in
On April 2, the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan and the Russian Academy of Sciences officially opened the Kazakh-Russian Center for Advanced Technologies in the Agro-Industrial Complex. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture, the new center will be located in Almaty and will operate in close cooperation with leading research institutes of Kazakhstan
The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, in collaboration with Zhasyl Damu JSC, and with the support of the World Bank, has launched the Partnership for Market Implementation Project aimed at advancing Kazakhstan’s carbon market and supporting the country’ transition to green and resilient growth, the World Bank reported. Kazakhstan has been a
The President of Slovenia, Nataša Pirc Musar, paid an official visit to Kazakhstan from March 31 to April 1. Following her negotiations with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the two leaders adopted a joint statement reaffirming their strong commitment to further strengthening and diversifying partnership between Kazakhstan and Slovenia. The two presidents agreed to broaden cooperation in
As part of the AlmatyFair.ai exhibition, a signing ceremony was held on March 28 for an investment agreement between the Government of Kazakhstan and Singapore-based GK Hyperscale Ltd for the construction and operation of two hyperscale data centers. The agreement was signed by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiyev, and
The following article by Roger Holland, Founder & Managing Partner of a leading property advisory firm, published in the latest issue of OCA Magazine, provides an insight on Central Asia’s growing real estate market: For many, the housing and wider real estate markets have had a miserable year. Interest costs have increased alongside inflation of
The European Union and the five Central Asian countries reaffirmed their strong political commitment to strengthening engagement and deepening cooperation during the 20th EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting, chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on March 27 in Ashgabat. The Foreign Ministers of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Deputy
Xinjiang Lihua (Group) Co., Ltd., one of the largest cotton-industry companies in China, is building a cotton-textile cluster in the Turan special economic zone in the Turkestan region of southern Kazakhstan. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture, the project is developing a full production cycle — from cotton cultivation to the production of finished
Cardiff University has announced the establishment of a new campus in Astana, Kazakhstan, set to open later this year. This milestone marks a significant step in the university’s ongoing global development and its commitment to delivering world-class education in Central Asia. According to the Kazakh Ministry of Science and Higher Education, Cardiff University Kazakhstan will
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing a loan of up to US$ 10 million to Empire Manufacturing Kazakhstan (EMK) that will enable the company to begin coffee production at modernized facilities and create jobs. The EBRD’s senior loan will help EMK commission, build and equip a new coffee-processing facility
According to the Kazakh Ministry of Agriculture, over the past five years, Kazakhstan’s agricultural exports have grown by 51%, reaching $5.1 billion in 2024. The geography of exports covers 66 countries. The main sales markets remain the neighboring countries of Central Asia, Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) countries (Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia), as well as
On March 18, Kazakhstan’s capital hosted the first meeting of the Association of Investors of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states. The founding meeting was attended by representatives of government agencies, as well as more than 20 investment agencies and funds of the SCO member states, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. The participants of
On March 17, as part of his official visit to Japan, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu held a meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan Takeshi Iwaya. The parties discussed key issues of enhancing political dialogue, as well as deepening trade, economic, investment, and cultural ties. The
