The United States Government has established the Trans-Caspian Enterprise Fund (TCEF), a non-profit investment fund committed to private sector development across the South Caucasus and Central Asian region. Capitalized with $201 million from the U.S. Government to mobilize private investment along the Trans-Caspian Trade Route, the Fund will invest in businesses and infrastructure that can
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) says it acts as a senior co-lender in the financing of Almaty International Airport as part of a syndicate arranged by Bank of America. The total financing will amount to $670 million, with the EDB contributing $100 million. Almaty International Airport is the largest aviation hub in Central Asia and
Kazakhstan’s national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, has announced the launch of the Women’s Carriage service on an international train route for the first time. Starting October 1, 2026, the service will be available in the daily train operating on the Almaty–Tashkent route. “The international Almaty–Tashkent route is vital for developing passenger travel between Kazakhstan
On September 16, the first Central Asia–Republic of Korea Summit took place in Seoul. The event, chaired by President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae Myung, was attended by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and President of
The governments of Kyrgyzstan and Pakistan have signed a Transit Trade Agreement aimed at expanding bilateral trade and strengthening the economic partnership between the two countries. The document aims to develop transport and logistics links, simplify transit and customs procedures, and expand Kyrgyzstan’s ability to use Pakistan’s seaports, including Karachi, Bin Qasim, and Gwadar, according
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and international developer Griffin Partners have signed a credit agreement to finance the first stage of construction of the Griffin Logopark Almaty warehouse complex. The document is a logical continuation of the memorandum of understanding signed by the parties in June 2026 on the sidelines of the EDB Annual Meeting and Business
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,
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
On July 22, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev officially launched construction of the new Tashkent–Samarkand highway. The president emphasized the project’s importance for strengthening the transport and logistics potential of New Uzbekistan. Once the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway and the Trans-Afghan railway are commissioned, Uzbekistan will become a key link in the shortest overland corridor connecting the Pacific Ocean
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
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
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
Negotiations were held in Beijing between the Civil Aviation Committee of the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan and the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) on expanding cooperation in civil aviation. The parties agreed to increase the number of regular passenger flights for air carriers of both countries from 124 to 152 per week. The
The KTZE – Khorgos Gateway dry port at the Kazakh-Chinese border has expanded its cargo handling capacity following the commissioning of nine 1520 mm gauge sorting tracks and an uncoupling repair facility. The new infrastructure, launched in September 2025, raised the terminal’s transshipment capacity from 540,000 to 800,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) per year, marking
A ceremony for signing a BOT agreement (Build-Operate-Transfer) on the transfer of a land plot in the port of Shahid Rajaee (Bandar Abbas) for the construction of a Kazakh transport and logistics terminal was held at the Ports and Maritime Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration. On the Kazakh
KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), is providing the pilot transportation of passenger cars in specialized containers along the international route Chongqing (China) – Dostyk (Kazakhstan) – Vorsino (Russia). According to KTZ, the project is being implemented as part of cooperation between China Railway Container Transport Corporation (CRCT),
During a state visit to Georgia on July 3, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze. The leader of Uzbekistan noted that his state visit to Georgia, the first by a President of Uzbekistan in more than two decades, holds special significance for elevating Uzbek-Georgian relations to a
THE SILK ROAD’S NEW REALITY In 2013, China’s newly nominated President Xi Jinping gave a much-heeded speech in Astana, Kazakhstan’s brushed-up capital. His main concern focused on nothing less than how to invigorate the ancient Silk Roads, “in order to promote people-to-people friendship”. After eleven years, in 2024, jointly with Kazakhstan’s President Tokayev, Xi Jinping