The Kazakh national epic Narqyz, created in the early 20th century by the prominent akyn Nurpeis Baiganin and published in English in 2024, has received a personal letter of gratitude from His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, William. This marks the first time in history that a work of Kazakh oral literature translated into
U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick and Farkhod Makhmudov, Founder and Shareholder of OSON Holding (Brio Group), signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in January 2025 to launch a new public-private partnership to expand support for the U.S. State Department’s entrepreneurship activities. Through this partnership, OSON will contribute $50,000 to sponsor a new cohort of
The government of Uzbekistan’s Karakalpakstan autonomous region has unveiled a comprehensive agricultural development program aimed at revitalizing the region’s economy and improving food security. The new initiative, which includes investments totaling over $50 million, will focus on enhancing irrigation infrastructure, introducing modern farming techniques, and expanding the cultivation of high-value crops. Investing in Irrigation Infrastructure
A Kazakh delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister–Minister of Foreign Affairs Murat Nurtleu arrived in Washington, D.C. on June 12 for an official visit. Nurtleu held a substantive meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The parties engaged in a detailed discussion of key bilateral issues, including political and economic cooperation, energy, trade, and
Hertfordshire Press is proud to present the captivating children’s book series “Adventures of the Spirit of Time” by the talented Gulchehra-begim Makhmudova, introduced in collaboration with Tomaris Uzbek Ladies Society. This unique series invites young readers to travel through time, exploring the rich tapestry of history, culture, and legendary heroes of Central Asia. With warmth
For the first time ever, Kazakhstan entered the club of the world’s top 10 largest sunflower oil exporters, taking 8th place in 2024, according to the country’s Ministry of Trade and Integration. Kazakhstan exports sunflower oil to neighboring Central Asian countries and China, with plans to expand the exports to Middle East countries. Kazakhstan has
Today, Kyrgyzstan is almost entirely dependent on the import of mineral fertilizers for its agricultural sector, which employs a significant portion of the country’s population and ensures its food security and export revenues. To resolve the problem, the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry has prioritized switching from mineral fertilizers to a wider
Late in May, the Library of the Mary Velayat (province) hosted a Book Fair organized by the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan, the Government of Turkmenistan, and Mary American Corner. The Book Fair featured an exhibit of English-Turkmen bilingual editions of American classics and an extensive American literature collection for children and young adults as well as
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is contributing to greater efficiency of Uzbekistan’s irrigation system by providing a sovereign loan of up to $250 million (€240 million) to the Ministry of Water Resources of Uzbekistan for upgrades to 110 pumping stations across the country. Used by the irrigation system in 10
On June 11, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov held a meeting with Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic Robert Fico, who arrived in Kazakhstan on his first official visit. The parties discussed the development of trade and economic cooperation, the Kazakh government’s press service reported. “Slovakia is a reliable partner of Kazakhstan in the
The World Bank says it has approved additional financing from the International Development Association (IDA) to benefit local communities, including youth, women, and vulnerable groups, in the Districts of Republican Subordination, Khatlon region, and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) of Tajikistan. The $25 million grant will extend the Tajikistan Socio-Economic Resilience Strengthening Project (SERSP), which uses
In the current challenging environment, we are focusing our primary attention on maintaining economic stability in Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated in his address to the Fourth Tashkent International Investment Forum on June 10. According to Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product has doubled over the past eight years, and the country has set a goal
On June 8-10, a delegation of the Council of the European Union’s Working Party on Eastern Europe and Central Asia (COEST) paid a visit to Kazakhstan. The visit, which included the cities of Aktau and Astana, marked an important milestone in the development of the Kazakhstan–EU dialogue, reaffirming both sides commitment to deepening their strategic
The high-level meeting on June 8 in the city of Nice, France to launch the International Decade for Action on Cryospheric Sciences, 2025-2034, was opened by Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon, as the head of a leading country in promoting the issues of water, climate and glaciers’ preservation. In his speech, Rahmon stated that Tajikistan is
The IV Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) opened in Uzbekistan’s capital on June 9, marking a key event in the regional investment agenda. The forum has brought together leading international investors, government representatives, financial institutions, and business leaders. In 2025, the forum is being held on an unprecedented scale, with investment projects across strategically important sectors
On June 9 in Astana, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with President of Bulgaria Rumen Radev, who arrived in Kazakhstan on an official visit. As emphasized by the Kazakh President, Radev’s visit with a high-level delegation opens new prospects for strengthening bilateral cooperation. Tokayev noted the steady growth in trade turnover and the potential for
The Uzbekistan–U.S. Business Forum was held in Tashkent on June 9. The event was organized by the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan together with the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (AUCC). More than 150 representatives from the business and government sectors of both countries participated in the event, including around 100 leading U.S.
The 4th Ministerial Meeting of the Central Asia–India Dialogue was held in New Delhi on June 6. The meeting focused on main areas of partnership between the Central Asian countries and India, covering such fields as transport and logistics, regional cooperation, counter-terrorism, and the development of advanced technologies. The foreign ministers adopted a Joint Statement
Kyrgyzstan’s Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibrayev last week met with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) officials in Manila to discuss the bank’s participation in the country’s energy projects, including the construction of the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP), an ambitious regional initiative being jointly undertaken by Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. During the meeting, the ADB expressed its
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov on June 5 held a meeting with Joaquim Nunes de Almeida, Director for Mobility and Energy-Intensive Industries at the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG GROW) of the European Commission. The meeting focused on prospects for deepening the partnership between Kazakhstan and the
