Kazakhstan ranks fourth in terms of the number of enterprises with foreign capital in Uzbekistan, following China, Russia, and Turkiye, Dunyo information agency reported citing data from the Uzbek National Statistics Committee. As of December 1, 2025, 1,199 enterprises with Kazakh capital were operating in Uzbekistan. The majority of Kazakh-invested enterprises are concentrated in trade,
In 2026, Kazakhstan has assumed the chairmanship of the Union of Turkic Chambers of Commerce and Industry (TCCI). The role was held by Azerbaijan last year. The transition of the chairmanship took place during the 3rd General Assembly of the TCCI, held on January 8 in Astana. This shift coincided with a period of steady
According to the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, the country’s external debt as of October 1, 2025 totaled $75.4 billion. This includes $37.4 billion of government external debt and $38 billion of borrowings by private and state-owned enterprises without a government guarantee (corporate debt). According to international classifications, Uzbekistan’s government debt level
In 2025, QazTrade, a subordinate organization of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, continued implementing its export acceleration program. The program aims to comprehensively prepare Kazakhstani companies for entering foreign markets and covers the entire exporter journey: from initial assessment and training to supporting negotiations and concluding export contracts, according to the Ministry.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is promoting further growth in domestic production of pharmaceutical products in Uzbekistan by supporting the operations of leading local manufacturer Nika Pharm. Nika Pharm will use the EBRD loan of up to US$ 20 million to restructure its balance sheet and upgrade equipment and facilities in
In an interview with local TV channels, published on the official presidential website, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev said that an important achievement in Azerbaijan’s foreign policy in 2025 was the country’s election as a full member of the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia. “From a geographical point of view,
The Center for Economic Research and Reforms has released an analysis of poverty levels and household incomes in Uzbekistan for 2025, Dunyo official information agency reported. The analysis was prepared based on a study conducted by the National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan in collaboration with the World Bank. According to the study, the poverty rate
In 2025, Afghanistan’s foreign trade significantly increased compared to the previous year, despite challenges and restrictions on trade routes, TOLOnews reported. According to the country’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the total value of Afghanistan’s exports and imports reached $13.932 billion, including $1.807 billion in exports and $12.125 billion in imports. Akhundzada Abdulsalam Jawad, spokesperson
In an interview with the Turkistan newspaper, published on the official presidential website, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that in 2025, the country’s economy grew by more than 6 percent, with GDP surpassing $300 billion and per capita exceeding $15,000. “These are record high figures not only for our country but for the entire region,”
Kyrgyzstan’s non-observed (shadow) economy, excluding the agricultural sector, accounted for 19.5% of GDP in 2024, marking a 0.3% increase from 2023’s 19.2% but a 0.7% decrease from 2022’s 20.2%, according to the latest data from the National Statistical Committee. The Committee reports a steady decline in the shadow economy’s share of GDP over recent years, estimated
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is helping to meet growing demand for industrial infrastructure in the renewable energy and logistics sectors in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia by supporting the operations of Sarens Kazakhstan. The EBRD’s loan of up to €25 million (in KZT equivalent) to Sarens Kazakhstan, a fully owned
For the first time ever, pomegranates, quinces, and persimmons from Uzbekistan have been exported to the United Kingdom as part of the latest shipment of Uzbek agricultural products, official information agency Dunyo reported. A total of three tons of produce was delivered via Uzbekistan Airways on the Tashkent-London route late in December. The exporter responsible
In his New Year’s greetings to the people of Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev declared 2026 the “Year of Development of the Mahalla and Society.” In Uzbekistan, mahalla means a neighborhood or local community and is a key part of civil society. Mirziyoyev stated that in the new year, “we will improve the infrastructure of thousands
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has published the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends 2025/2026 report, focusing on foreign direct investment dynamics across countries in the region. According to the report, by the end of 2025 Kazakhstan became the largest recipient of investment in new (greenfield) projects in
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is helping micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Uzbekistan to improve their access to green finance and promote green innovation by providing fresh funds under its Uzbekistan Green Economy Financing Facility II (GEFF II Uzbekistan). An EBRD loan of up to US$30 million (€25.7 million) under
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has presented its Macroeconomic Outlook for the Bank’s member states for 2026–2028. EDB analysts expect aggregate GDP growth across the seven member states to reach 2.3% in 2026, with most countries maintaining high levels of economic activity. In 2026, GDP growth is projected at 5.3% in Armenia, 1.8% in Belarus,
On December 26, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the Uzbek parliament and the people of Uzbekistan. According to the President, significant achievements have been made in all spheres in 2025. For the first time in the country’s history, gross domestic product exceeded $145 billion, exports increased by 23 percent, reaching $33.4 billion, and the gold reserves exceeded
Kazakhstan has marked 10 years of membership in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Over this period, the country’s exports increased from USD 46 billion to USD 82 billion, while foreign trade nearly doubled — from USD 76 billion to USD 142 billion. Kazakhstan’s gross domestic product grew by more than USD 100 billion during its
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Bank Arvand have signed a grant agreement to invest approximately €445,000 in a new initiative empowering people in rural Tajikistan to transform remittance flows from relatives abroad into sustainable economic opportunities. The REMIT PRIME Central Asia Programme brings together IFAD, the European Union, and other lenders to increase access to remittances and build
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing a loan of up to €25 million to Orzax Central Asia – a newly established subsidiary of Orzax Türkiye – for the construction and operation of a greenfield food supplement production facility in the Turkestan region of Kazakhstan. The new facility will be Orzax Türkiye’s
