On World Nature Conservation Day, July 28, Uzbekistan officially launched ECODATA, an electronic geo-information database for biodiversity and protected natural areas. The platform is a product of the Aral Sea Wetlands project, which is implemented by the National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change together with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and funded by
A special screening of “Kurmanjan Datka: Queen of the Mountains,” one of the most significant historical films from Central Asia, will take place in Buenos Aires, Argentina on August 7. Director Sadyk Sher-Niyaz tells the extraordinary story of Kurmanjan Datka, one of Kyrgyzstan’s most revered historical figures. In the 19th century, her courage, leadership, wisdom,
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has arrived in Kyrgyzstan on a state visit on July 30. In Cholpon-Ata, the president of Uzbekistan will also participate in the informal Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan. Here in Cholpon-Ata, Mirziyoyev held talks with President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov to
The Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan has finalized the report on the country’s export in January–June 2026, excluding gold exports. According to the report, Uzbekistan’s exports totaled $14.4 billion in January–June 2026. Compared to the same period last year, exports increased by 32.2% ($3.5 billion). The main drivers of export growth were:
On 29 July, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, the European Union (EU), and the Government of Kazakhstan officially launched the project “Advancing Local Governance Reform in Kazakhstan” at the first meeting of the Project Steering Committee in Astana, according to UNDP Kazakhstan. The meeting brought together representatives of the Ministry of National
On July 28, Bishkek hosted the Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan Business Forum titled “Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan: Industrial Cooperation, Investment and Trade.” The event was attended by Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic and Minister of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry Erlist Akunbekov, Director of the National Investment Agency under the President of
Construction of two plants worth a total of $305 million has begun in Kazakhstan’s Zhambyl Region. Zhambyl Region Akim Erbol Karashukeyev participated in a capsule-laying ceremony at the construction site of a solid waste disposal plant and a metallurgical plant, which will be built in the Taraz Industrial Zone, according to Kazakh Invest. The solid
Astana witnessed its first-ever demonstration flight of an air taxi based on an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft on July 24. The demonstration marked another milestone in the implementation of Kazakhstan’s Urban Air Mobility (UAM) development project, according to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. The demonstration featured the AutoFlight Prosperity eVTOL,
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting on priority tasks in the fuel and energy sector. The Head of State noted that over the past ten years, large-scale reforms have been carried out in the energy sector. As a result, $23 billion in foreign investment has been attracted to the sector, and power generation facilities with
Amid growing global demand for gastronomic and wellness tourism, Uzbekistan continues to develop modern tourism products. The next step in this direction will be an international vegan cuisine festival, which will be held on July 30 by the country’s Tourism Committee and the Embassy of India in Uzbekistan. According to the Tourism Committee, the development
On July 25, Kyrgyzstan launched the operation of the Balykchy-Kochkor railway line and Kochkor station in the Naryn region. The new 63-km line is the first stage of the Balykchy – Kara-Keche – Makmal railway construction project. At the opening ceremony, President Sadyr Japarov said that the new line will be extended from Kochkor to
At the Russia–Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum in Omsk on 25 July, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev delivered one of the more striking diplomatic interventions in the debate over the Russia–Ukraine war. Speaking directly to Vladimir Putin, he suggested freezing the conflict and returning to negotiations under an updated “Istanbul 2.0” framework. The importance of the proposal lies
On July 24, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Abdulla Aripov took part in the first meeting of the Council of Heads of Regions of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, which was held in the Kazakh city of Aktau. Bektenov noted that Kazakhstan attaches special importance to the comprehensive development of strategic
Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Russian President Vladimir Putin took part in the plenary session of the 22nd Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Cooperation Forum, “Forming a Global Logistics Ecosystem: New Horizons for Russia-Kazakhstan Cooperation.” The Forum was held in Omsk, Russia on July 24–25. Its participants included deputy prime ministers, heads of ministries and departments, heads of regions of the Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, and representatives of business and expert communities of both countries. On the sidelines
At the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee in Busan, Republic of Korea on July 25, a decision was adopted to inscribe the “Rock Mosques and Associated Sacred Sites of Mangystau” on the UNESCO World Heritage List, according to Kazakhstan’s Foreign Ministry. The newly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage property comprises five rock-cut mosques: Beket Ata, Shopan Ata,
On July 24–25, Samarkand hosted the prestigious International sister cities forum for the first time. The main objective of the forum was to further strengthen long-standing friendly and partnership relations with sister cities abroad, promote the exchange of experience among cities, and establish promising joint projects, according to Uzbekistan’s Tourism Committee. The international event brought
Kyrgyzstan, a mountainous republic at the heart of Central Asia, is emerging as one of the region’s most dynamic higher education markets. With a population of 7.4 million, a growing economy, and expanding international enrolment, the country is beginning to position higher education not merely as a social sector but as a strategic economic industry.
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on July 22 took part in the groundbreaking ceremony for the Center for Future Technologies, which will be built adjacent to Cyber University in Nurafshon. Transforming Uzbekistan into a regional IT hub is one of the priority objectives of the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy. Cyber University was established by a Presidential Decree dated 20 January
On July 23, the headquarters of the General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises (CGEM) hosted the first-ever meeting of the Kazakhstan–Morocco Business Council in Casablanca. The event brought together Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov, President of CGEM Mehdi Tazi, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Morocco Saulekul Sailaukyzy, and representatives of companies from Kazakhstan and Morocco. Deputy
In recent years, Iran and Uzbekistan have emerged as two of Afghanistan’s main trading partners amid disruptions in Afghanistan’s trade relations with Pakistan, TOLOnews reported. According to available data, Afghanistan’s annual trade volume with Iran has reached $3.3 billion, while trade with Uzbekistan has risen to $1.7 billion. Iran is one of Afghanistan’s principal suppliers