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,
On December 24, Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon visited the Ministry of Defense and remotely put into operation a tank training area of the Harbmaydon training ground and four border outposts on the Tajik-Afghan border. The new border outposts were built for the first time in this mountainous and difficult-to-access area of the state border with Afghanistan,
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
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Bank Arvand have signed a grant agreement to invest approximately €445,000 in a new initiative empowering people in rural Tajikistan to transform remittance flows from relatives abroad into sustainable economic opportunities. The REMIT PRIME Central Asia Programme brings together IFAD, the European Union, and other lenders to increase access to remittances and build
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Eskhata Bank Open Joint Stock Company have signed agreements to strengthen access to green finance for Tajikistan’s micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)—essential drivers of job creation and inclusive economic growth. Under the agreements, ADB will provide a local currency loan equivalent to $10 million to Eskhata Bank, boosting the bank’s
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
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $3 million grant to strengthen Tajikistan’s capacity for glacier monitoring and hazard forecasting. The grant comes from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR) financed by the Government of Japan through ADB. “Glaciers and snow are vital for water supply, agriculture, and hydropower, yet rapid melting
U.S. Chargé d’affaires, a.i. Carson Relitz Rocker emphasized the strategic importance of critical minerals and rare earths in the global economy at the 2nd Annual International Mining and Metallurgical Investment Forum in Dushanbe last week, according to the U.S. Embassy in Tajikistan. Chargé Relitz Rocker highlighted Tajikistan’s abundant mineral resources as a key opportunity for sustainable
The European Union and Tajikistan on December 10 marked the successful completion of two newly constructed pipelines in the city of Istiklol (formerly Taboshar), an important milestone under the EU’s long-standing commitment to improving environmental safety and addressing uranium legacy sites in Central Asia, the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan reported. The opening ceremony,
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
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 Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $50 million grant to support the Government of Tajikistan in advancing key structural reforms that promote green jobs, particularly for women. The grant, funded through ADB’s Asian Development Fund (ADF) under subprogram 2 of the Enabling Climate-Responsive Business Environment Improvement Program, strengthens economic diversification, improves fiscal governance and transparency, accelerates
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
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
The Digital Media Forum in Dushanbe this week brought together local and international experts, journalism students, bloggers, and digital innovators. Participants discussed pressing issues in modern digital journalism, from fact-checking and protecting audiences from online fraud to ethical and moral challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence. One of the key speakers was Amie
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
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $17 million in grant financing to help Tajikistan digitalize and modernize livestock farming, helping people earn more and improve access to nutritious food. The financing includes a $14 million grant from the Asian Development Fund and a $3 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $56.4 million program to help Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan boost their capacity to respond to disasters. Both countries are vulnerable to disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, but lack the fiscal capacity and risk transfer mechanisms to effectively respond to hazards. The Risk-Layered Disaster Relief Finance Program will enhance their
On November 16, the seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia was held in Tashkent under the chairmanship of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The summit was attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali
