Kazakhstan’s Efforts in Planting Forests on Aral Sea In 2025 Kazakhstan will continue a large-scale project to restore the ecosystem on the dried bottom of the Aral Sea, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources said. The project involves KATCO, a joint venture between the French state-owned company Orano and Kazakhstan’s national atomic company Kazatomprom,
Understanding Uzbekistan Investment Law Changes On January 23, the Senate (upper house) of the Oliy Majlis (Uzbek parliament) approved a new edition of the Law “On Investments and Investment Activities”. Developed jointly with experts from the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation, the document ensures that investment legislation complies with international standards, including the
Kazakhstan’s IT services export surpasses $470 million According to Kazakhstan’s Minister of Digital Development, Innovation and Aerospace Industry, Zhaslan Madiyev, during the first 9 months of 2024, IT export of Kazakhstan amounted to $471 million, 26% more than for the same period of 2023. The goal is to reach $1 billion in 2026. Astana Hub
Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s Vision for Poultry Farming Plans On January 21, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was reported on plans for the development of poultry farming and the effective use of pastures. These sectors play a crucial role in ensuring food security and the availability of food products. The goal for this year is to increase poultry
Kyrgyzstan Sanctions: Discussions on Removal Progress On January 22, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic Meder Abakirov invited U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Lesslie Viguerie to a meeting to discuss issues related to the inclusion of Kyrgyzstan’s Keremet Bank, Gazprom Neft Asia LLC, and Munai Myrza CJSC in the U.S. sanctions
U.S. Secretary of State Advocates for Kazakhstan Repeal The recent comments of Marco Rubio, the new U.S. Secretary of State under the Donald Trump administration, regarding the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, a law that imposes restrictions on trade with several countries in Central Asia, raise hopes that the new U.S. administration will take steps to repeal this
On January 20, Laziz Kudratov, the Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, met with Dr. Akihiko Tanaka, the President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Uzbek minister highly appreciated JICA’s significant contribution to the dynamic development of the Uzbek-Japanese strategic partnership, as well as the Agency’s steadfast commitment to the implementation
Speaking at a government meeting on January 17, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon ordered the government to ensure the country’s economic growth of at least 8% in 2025, his press service reported. Rahmon instructed to focus on transitioning to a green economy, accelerating the digitization of all sectors of the national economy, and expanding non-cash
The Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, Arman Shakkaliyev and Jiangsu SOHO Holdings Group Co. Ltd. from Jiangsu Province in east China have agreed on the establishment of a multifunctional center in the Kazakh capital, Astana, the Ministry of Trade and Integration reported. The new center will facilitate the development of Kazakh-Chinese trade and
New Bus Routes Connecting Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan The Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan plans to organize passenger bus services from Uzbekistan’s regions to cities in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia, and China. The planned bus routes are: To Kazakhstan: Bukhara – Turkestan Urgench – Aktau Fergana – Almaty To Kyrgyzstan: Andijan – Osh Andijan – Jalalabad
Kyrgyzstan’s New Action Plan on Business and Human Rights The Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic has approved the Programme of Implementation of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights for 2025-2027 and an Action Plan for its implementation. This makes Kyrgyzstan the 21st country in the world and the first in Central
The Satpayev City Court in Kazakhstan has sentenced a native of Kazakhstan’s Ulytau region to four and a half years in prison for his participation in the Russian-Ukrainian military conflict. The man served in Russian private military company Wagner, which fought in Ukraine on the side of the Russian Federation, Orda.kz reported. According to the
With the support of the European Union and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), GIZ Tajikistan is launching a new campaign as part of the Building a System of Integrated Primary Healthcare in Tajikistan (BaSIC) project aimed at raising awareness about HIV and tuberculosis (TB), the Delegation of the European Union to
On January 17, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was reported on new approaches to ensuring population’s employment and poverty reduction. This year it is planned to ensure employment of 5.2 million Uzbek citizens and bring 1.5 million people out of poverty. For the first time 60 districts and cities will become territories free of poverty and
In Addis Ababa last week, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan, Asein Isaev, held talks with representatives of African countries, including Kenya, Botswana, Liberia, Mali, Guinea, Libya, Madagascar, Guinea-Bissau, Somalia, and Eswatini. Isaev emphasized the growing role of Africa in the global economy and international relations. In this context, Kyrgyzstan is interested
The Kazakh Ministry of Transport has reported that in 2024, the railway cargo transportation between Kazakhstan and China reached an all-time high of more than 32 million tons. Kazakhstan’s rail exports to China increased by 1 million tons to 13.7 million tons. The main export items were iron and non-ferrous ore, ferrous and non-ferrous
During his first visit to Tajikistan on January 16, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Masoud Pezeshkian held negotiations with the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon. Welcoming the high-ranking guest, Rahmon noted that “the people of Tajikistan and Iran are united by an inextricable historical, cultural and civilizational commonality”. The leaders discussed expansion
On January 16, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Roman Vassilenko met with British Ambassador to Kazakhstan Kathy Leach. The parties reviewed the results of the two countries’ interaction in 2024, highlighting the meeting between President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Prime Minister Keir Starmer on the sidelines of COP29 in Baku. The discussion also focused
On January 15, in Abu Dhabi, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed Al Nahyan held talks to discuss key issues of further deepening Uzbek-Emirati relations of friendship and multifaceted cooperation, including in political, trade and economic, investment, innovation, cultural, humanitarian and other priority spheres. The parties emphasized
On January 15, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced that it imposed sanctions on Kyrgyzstan’s Keremet Bank for its role in Russia’s scheme to evade U.S. sanctions imposed following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. According to the Treasury Department, since at least summer 2024, officials at Keremet Bank have coordinated with Russian officials and
