IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, says it is providing the first ever investment under the Catalytic First Loss Guarantee (CFLG) Program to Ipak Yuli Bank, a long-standing parter of IFC in Uzbekistan, to support eligible micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), specifically microenterprises, climate-related businesses, and women-owned enterprises. This landmark transaction will provide financial
The World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a project to support transboundary water cooperation across Central Asia. It will help countries attract additional investment in water management and conservation and strengthen their collective capacity to manage shared water resources. Around 40 million people across Central Asia are expected to benefit from the
Global interest in travel to Uzbekistan continues to grow. According to data from the international travel company Expedia Group, the number of travel-related searches for Uzbekistan increased by 54% in June compared to the same period last year. At the same time, the number of confirmed bookings also rose, indicating that growing traveler interest is
On July 20, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed measures to further improve drinking water supply and sewerage services. In recent years, the volume of investment attracted to the sector has increased tenfold, reaching $2.7 billion. As a result, the share of the population with access to centralized drinking water supply has risen from 63 percent in
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Mercury Properties (the management company of MP Solutions LLP) have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to implement the second phase of construction of the Mercury Logistics warehouse hub in the village of Kokozek, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan. The document was signed by Sergey Paseko, Executive Director — Deputy Head of
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Board has approved a USD 30 million climate adaptation project that will directly benefit 73,500 people and help vulnerable communities in Tajikistan strengthen resilience to climate change and protect food security and livelihoods, according to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Implemented in partnership with the Committee for Environmental
During his visit to Shanghai from July 15–17, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, participated in the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), and witnessed the signing of more than 70 Kazakh-Chinese commercial documents worth over $15 billion. Over the past twenty years, China has come to Kazakhstan primarily for oil,
The organizers have announced filmmakers whose works have been selected for the Burabay International Short Film Festival (BISFF) 2026. BISFF was founded by the Silk Road Media holding (London) in partnership with Eurasian Creative Guild (London) and is part of an international network of festivals and screenings covering the UK, Europe, and Latin America. The
On July 17, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed projects aimed at developing Uzbek culture and arts, and promoting them on the international stage. In particular, the exhibition “Uzbekistan: Heritage in Motion” is planned to be held at the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha in September 2026, while the international archaeological exhibition “Global Antiquity,” featuring unique
As part of his state visit to Georgia, the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov held talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi on July 17. On the previous day, Berdimuhamedov participated in the Turkmen-Georgian Business Forum intended to facilitate the expansion of bilateral trade and economic ties. During the talks, the leaders emphasized
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Integrity Logistics Ltd. have signed a Memorandum of Intent and Cooperation to prepare and implement an investment project for the construction of a Class “A” transport and logistics complex in the city of Alatau, Almaty Region, Kazakhstan. The project envisages the construction of a Class “A” transport and logistics
The European Union and the five countries of Central Asia — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — on July 16 held the 13th meeting of their annual High-Level Political and Security Dialogue in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the European External Action Service, Olof Skoog, with participation
Is this the Asian century in higher education? On the numbers alone, it may well be. More than half of the world’s university students are already in Asia, and that share is set to grow as ageing industrialised democracies give way demographically to younger populations in countries such as India, Indonesia, and across Central Asia.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev met on July 16 in Shanghai, where Tokayev arrived to attend the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance. During the meeting, Xi said that the China-Kazakhstan permanent comprehensive strategic partnership has maintained strong momentum, demonstrating enormous potential for cooperation and
On July 16, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov held a meeting with representatives of the Austrian dairy cooperative Berglandmilch and the Greek company Desserta Hellas. The parties discussed prospects for establishing dairy production in Kazakhstan. The project is being developed within the framework of the Kazakhstan-Greece bilateral investment agenda. Various implementation models are
As part of a working visit to Kyrgyzstan, Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Akkulov held meetings with the management of Kyrgyzstan’s Asman Airlines and Aero Nomad Airlines. The parties explored opportunities to expand air connectivity between Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, develop joint tourism products, and increase the flow of tourists between the two countries,
Freight traffic between Kazakhstan and China reached 18.7 million tons in the first half of 2026, an increase of 9% compared to the same period last year, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Transport. Growth was observed in both directions. Seven million tons of freight were transported from China to Kazakhstan in the first six
On July 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev listened to reports on the implementation of agreements reached during his visit to Belarus to expand cooperation between regions of both countries. During Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Belarus on July 8-9, agreements were reached to increase mutual trade to $2 billion, as well as to implement 310 joint projects
Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan Abdulaziz Akkulov held a meeting with Eduard Kubatov, Director of the State Agency for Tourism Development of Kyrgyzstan to discuss further strengthening of bilateral cooperation in tourism, increasing mutual tourist flows, developing new joint tourism products and cross-border travel routes, and creating additional economic opportunities for the regions
A delegation of Turkmenistan is participating in the events of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, according to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry.