Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry has begun the first-ever agronomic testing of citrus and olive crops, including oranges, mandarins, olives, and kumquats (a type of orange). Seedlings have been brought from Turkey for experimental planting in the Kadamjai district of Kyrgyzstan’s southernmost Batken region, where the agro-climatic conditions are most favorable
Under the auspices of the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, the Astana International Forum 2025 will take place from May 29 to 30, as it continues its mission of fostering cross-border dialogues on international diplomacy and cooperation. Against a backdrop of global disruption and polarization, the Forum will bring together government leaders, business executives, and
During the opening ceremony of the 20th Western China International Fair, Afghanistan’s acting Foreign Minister, Amir Khan Muttaqi, stated that the Islamic Emirate has created a secure environment for investment in Afghanistan, TOLOnews reported. Muttaqi said that foreign traders and investors can confidently conduct business in the country, adding that Afghanistan, with its vast natural
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the government of China, through the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA), will provide nutritious school meals to more than 100,000 children in Kyrgyzstan. This marks CIDCA’s first multilateral initiative in the country and in Central Asia through its Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund. To launch
As Kazakhstan has experienced growing energy deficit, with the gap between electricity production and consumption reaching 2.4 billion kilowatt-hours in 2024, the country has prioritized the development of renewable energy sources (RES) for ensuring sustainable energy supply and combating climate change. According to the Ministry of Energy, the share of electricity generated from RES in Kazakhstan
Director for Asia and Pacific at the European Commission Directorate General for International Partnerships Mr Peteris Ustubs participated in a Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor Coordination Platform strategic roundtable for the private sector hosted by the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan in Tashkent on May 22. Business leaders, international banks and government representatives discussed how
On May 21, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Agriculture Aidarbek Saparov and Ms. Sun Meijun, head of China’s General Administration of Customs, signed a Protocol on Inspection, Quarantine and Food Safety Requirements for Import and Export of Poultry Meat between Kazakhstan and China. The document allows Kazakh poultry meat exports to China. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Institute, and the London Stock Exchange Group have published a joint report, “The Future of Islamic Finance in Central Asia”. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the current status and prospects of Islamic finance in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. According to the
The World Bank has approved a $200 million concessional credit for a project that aims to reduce water losses and increase the energy efficiency of irrigation systems across five regions of Uzbekistan — Karakalpakstan, Bukhara, Kashkadarya, Namangan, and Surkhandarya. The government of Uzbekistan will co-finance the project with $23.2 million. This project marks the first
The 16th meeting of the Kazakhstan-German Business Council took place in Astana on May 21 with the participation of First Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Roman Sklyar. The event brought together representatives of key ministries and leading members of Kazakhstan’s business community. “Our platform is in high demand and has proven to be very effective.
To help drive Kyrgyzstan’s transition to clean energy and meet its growing demand for renewables, the OSCE organized a joint initiative in Bishkek focused on both high-level policy dialogue and technical training. This effort was carried out in partnership with the Kyrgyz State Technical University (KSTU) and the Bulan Institute for Peace Innovations, the OSCE
The Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan and the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography of the Chinese Academy of Sciences have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the Research Center for Ecology and Environment of Central Asia, which will be located at the Central Asian University of
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University to launch joint initiatives in the academic and scientific spheres. According to the ministry, the parties agreed to organize academic exchanges, including scholarships and research internships in such areas as
The number of Kyrgyz labor migrants in Russia has significantly decreased in recent years. Today, about 600,000 Kyrgyz citizens are in labor migration, including 379,000 in Russia, compared to 680,000 in 2020, according to Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Labor, Social Security and Migration Bakyt Darmankul uulu. Over the past 30 years, hundreds of thousands of
Between May 19 and 21, the Uzbek city of Termez is hosting the first meeting of the Termez Dialogue on Connectivity between Central and South Asia, entitled “Building a Common Space of Peace, Friendship and Prosperity”. The event was organized by the Institute for Strategic and Regional Studies under the President of Uzbekistan, the Ministry
Marat Bashimov, a member of the Mazhilis (lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament), has sent a letter to the country’s Prosecutor General Berik Asylov about the need for “extended confiscation.” Bashimov believes that it is time for the Kazakh authorities to tighten legislation on the return of illegally obtained assets, the fight against corruption and money
An inauguration ceremony was held on May 15 in the city of Antalya for the opening of the Manas Park, a symbol of Kyrgyz-Turkish friendship. The park was established as a gesture of deep respect for the rich historical and cultural heritage of the Kyrgyz people, as well as to further strengthen the friendly ties
Kazakhstan and the World Bank have reaffirmed their commitment to joint efforts aimed at the restoration of the North Aral Sea. On May 16, at the Kokaral dam in Kazakhstan’s Kyzylorda region, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Nurzhan Nurzhigitov met with Sameh Wahba, the Regional Director for Sustainable Development at the Europe and Central Asia
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $100 million concessional credit to support Uzbekistan’s efforts to enhance integration of renewable energy into its electricity distribution networks and improve supply reliability in priority regions. Uzbekistan’s Regional Electric Power Networks (REPN) will provide $50 million in co-financing. This marks the World Bank’s first-ever Program-for-Results (PforR) financing in
The European Union is allocating €200,000 to help mitigate the impact of the serious measles situation on the most vulnerable populations, particularly children, in Kyrgyzstan. The funding will benefit around 70,000 people in some of the most affected areas, including the capital of Bishkek and the second most populated city of Osh, according to the
