The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors have approved $120 million for Developing a Sustainable Finance Market for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Kyrgyz Republic project. This landmark initiative will be co-financed by a $50 million loan from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). With a total funding of $170 million, the project aims
Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov last week met with the President of PGI Management Joan Viladomat to discuss cooperation in the development of ski tourism in the Almaty mountain cluster and modernization of its infrastructure to adapt to international standards. Joan Viladomat told about his company’s projects in a number of countries. Today the company
On the 5th and 6th of April, the heart of Karakalpakstan — the city of Nukus — hosted the inaugural Aral Culture Summit, a landmark event bringing together intellectuals, artists, environmentalists, and representatives of international organisations to rethink the role of culture in the age of climate challenges. Where the waves of the Aral Sea
Kyrgyzstan’s creative industries are beginning to play an increasingly important role in the country’s economy, although their contribution to gross domestic product is still very small. This has led to the creation of the Creative Industries Park, which opens up new opportunities for the development of sectors such as design, advertising, cinema and architecture, reads
The international exhibition Central Asian Business Expo-2025 was held in the United States, bringing together major international companies, investors, and government representatives. The Uzbek delegation, led by Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov, showcased the country’s ongoing digital transformation and investment potential in the IT sector. Throughout the event, bilateral meetings were conducted with a
Construction of an industrial park by China’s Fufeng Group, specializing in deep corn processing, was officially launched in the Zhambyl region in south Kazakhstan on April 16. According to Kazakh Invest national investment promotion company, the project is being implemented in the Shu district near the Jibek Joly special economic zone (SEZ). The
In 2024, Kyrgyzstan received foreign direct investment (FDI) totaling $872.6 million, compared to $844.9 million in 2023, according to the National Statistical Committee. Most of the investments came from China (23.9%), Russia (22.7%), Turkey (10.2%), Luxembourg (8.8%), Kazakhstan (5.7%), the Netherlands (4.9%), Azerbaijan (3.4%), and other countries (20.4%). Compared to 2023, the inflow of FDI
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), is launching an experience-sharing project for energy professionals from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Named “Supporting Sustainable Energy Development in Central Asia by Expanding Sub-Regional and Cross-Country Cooperation Through the Exchange of Competencies
On April 16, Kuwait hosted the Third Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Strategic Dialogue between the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Central Asia. The meeting was attended by the leadership of foreign ministries of Central Asian countries and six countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council — the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab
During a visit to Japan on April 15, Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov met with representatives of the Japanese business community. From the Japanese side, the meeting was attended by the heads and representatives of the Turkmen-Japanese Economic Committee, Mitsubishi Corporation, Sumitomo Corporation, Komatsu Ltd., Toyo Engineering Corporation, Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd., Sanko Seikа Co. Ltd.,
Lusine Aleksanyan is a maxillofacial surgeon and a young author from Armenia. Her book, “And a Butterfly Soared,” was published in 2024 in the UK, following her victory in a literary competition organized by the Eurasian Creative Guild. Here below is an article about this talented person, originally published by OCA Magazine: The best investment
Kazakhstan’s national atomic company Kazatomprom has announced the signing of a landmark agreement with ČEZ, a. s. on the supply of Kazakh natural uranium concentrates for the Temelín nuclear power plant in the Czech Republic. The supply of Kazakh uranium during the next seven years can cover approximately one-third of uranium needs for Westinghouse-manufactured fuel
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing a working capital loan of up to $6 million (€5.7 million) to UzCarlsberg, boosting the company’s operational efficiency and contributing to higher food safety standards in Uzbekistan. UzCarlsberg, which has been a client of the Bank since 2022 and is the country’s only
On April 14, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic between Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Erkinov and the delegation of UK Export Finance (UKEF) headed by Ms. Shebnem Alp. The meeting was also attended by British Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Nicholas Bowler. The parties discussed key areas of
On April 6, the British holding Silk Road Media and the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan signed a cooperation agreement aimed at developing the international tourism brand of this autonomous region in northwestern Uzbekistan. The signing ceremony was held as part of the Aral Culture Summit in Nukus, emphasizing the importance of
The Migration Committee at Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population has conducted a study of the latest climate changes and their influence on migration processes in the country, Kazinform news agency reports. In the modern world, climate change is becoming one of the major factors influencing population mobility. Rising global temperatures,
Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has signed the country’s new Water Code, aimed at more efficient use and protection of water resources. Developed by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the new code is based on five basic principles: The new code introduces the concept of “water security,” which guarantees the protection of citizens and
On April 14, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev attended a presentation of the master plan of the Sea Breeze Uzbekistan international tourist center. It was earlier reported that Azerbaijani businessman Emin Agalarov and several other large investment companies plan to build an international tourist center, Sea Breeze Uzbekistan, on the shore of the Charvak reservoir in
Chairman of the Management Board of national investment promotion company Kazakh Invest, Yerzhan Yelekeyev last week met with President of China’s Shanghai SUS Environment Co., Ltd. Long Jisheng to discuss the construction of a waste-to-energy (WtE) plant in Almaty. Shanghai SUS Environment is a leading global provider of environmental and energy solutions and the number one company in
Taking an additional step towards empowering young women from Central Asia and Afghanistan to play an active role in peacebuilding and conflict resolution, the Young Women 4 Peace: Empowering Central Asian Young Women Initiative arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from 8 to 10 April. Bringing together regional voices and perspectives to promote peace and security through youth leadership
