The Asian Development Bank (ADB) issued its first Disaster Relief Bond (DRB) offerings, also known as catastrophe bonds, as part of its regional Risk-Layered Disaster Relief Finance Program which aims to reduce the financial impact of natural hazards and climate-related shocks. The bonds are designed to protect against severe disasters and provide quick liquidity to Kyrgyzstan and
The World Bank on May 1 approved a new grant to expand economic opportunities for women in Tajikistan, with expected benefits reaching up to 20,000 people, including unemployed men and women, people living in rural and peri-urban communities, and economically vulnerable women across the country. The Tajikistan Women’s Economic Empowerment Project (TWEEP) is expected to
On April 28, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon received the Special Envoy of the US President for South and Central Asia, Sergio Gor. During the conversation, the parties discussed a wide range of issues related to the current state and prospects of cooperation between the two countries, including in the areas of economy and
The United States and Tajikistan have signed a five-year bilateral health cooperation Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), marking the first such MOU concluded under the Trump Administration’s America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS) in South and Central Asia, according to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe. Working with Congress, the Department of State intends to provide $38 million in U.S. global health assistance through this bilateral
On April 24, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon put into operation Unit No. 7 of the Nurek Hydropower Plant in the city of Nurek. Modernization began in October 2024. As part of this project, the main equipment of the hydropower unit was completely renewed, and modern technologies that meet international requirements were introduced. Financing
On 23 April, high-level representatives of the European Union, its EU Member States, the Central Asian countries and international financial institutions convened in Astana, Kazakhstan, for the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) High-Level Meeting on Water, Energy and Climate Change in Central Asia, the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan reported. Participants
On April 22, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in a meeting of the Council of the Heads of Founder States of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS). The event, chaired by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, was also attended by President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali
At the Regional Environmental Summit (RES) in Astana on April 22, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, convened a high-level plenary session titled “Central Asia Initiative – Harmony with Nature for Sustainable Development of the Region,”
Tajikistan has set a quota for recruiting migrant workers from Afghanistan, TOLOnews reports with reference to Tajik media. According to reports, Tajikistan has approved the recruitment of 520 Afghan workers for the current year, of whom 420 will be employed in the capital, Dushanbe. Tajik media report that Tajikistan plans to recruit nearly 5,500 foreign
Tajikistan’s economic growth is expected to remain strong in 2026 and 2027, driven mainly by industry and services, according to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) latest forecast. Stronger industrial competitiveness leading to greater value addition will support long term growth and job creation. The country’s gross domestic product is projected to expand by 7.3% this
On March 26, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon held talks in a narrow format in Tashkent, followed by the first meeting of the Supreme Interstate Council. The President of Uzbekistan noted that the state visit of the President of Tajikistan marks a landmark event and represents another important step
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has proposed a balanced “middle path” strategy that could provide a solid foundation for the modernization of Central Asia’s power sector. This approach would ensure reliable and affordable energy supply, significantly reduce the carbon footprint, and enable a smooth energy transition that benefits the region’s economy and meets climate commitments.
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
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
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on March 4 met with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to reaffirm ADB’s commitment to help the government achieve resilient, diversified, and inclusive growth for more and better jobs. “ADB is planning around $1.1 billion in support over 2026–2028 to strengthen infrastructure, improve competitiveness, and make social services better
Afghanistan’s trade with Central Asian countries increased significantly in 2025 compared to 2024, with imports rising by 43% and exports growing by 77%, TOLOnews reported citing statistics from the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Afghanistan’s imports increased from $1.679 billion in 2024 to $2.399 billion in 2025, while exports rose from $122 million to
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Zou Jiayi recently visited founding AIIB members Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, conveying her intent to ensure AIIB’s future direction remains grounded in country needs and strong partnerships. These visits, part of a “listening tour” Zou is undertaking since she took office in January, highlighted Central Asia’s position as
On February 26, London hosted a meeting of foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries and the United Kingdom under the “Central Asia + UK” (CA5+UK) framework. The ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including opportunities for economic growth, expanding trade and investment cooperation, and joint efforts to strengthen regional connectivity
UTK International Logistics Co. Ltd., a joint venture established in China with the participation of Uzbekistan’s Uztemiryulkonteyner JSC, has launched the first pilot container train from China to Tajikistan. This project is a practical step toward implementation of agreements aimed at deepening regional cooperation, reached by presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan in Dushanbe in
On February 4-5, Bishkek is hosting the B5+1 Forum, bringing together officials and business leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and the United States to explore investment opportunities and deepen economic ties, RFE/RL reported. Among the forum’s most visible participants is US Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Ambassador Sergio Gor, who told