On November 22, a meeting of water and energy ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan was held in Almaty. The ministers agreed on further water and energy cooperation. Given the low water level in the reservoir of Kyrgyzstan’s Toktogul hydropower plant (HPP), the meeting participants decided to support each other with mutual electricity supplies and
As part of the High-Level Dialogue on enhancing the strategic impact of the 20th Conference of the Parties to CITES, a signing ceremony was held for the Samarkand Declaration and the Regional Cooperation Action Plan for 2026–2032 to support the sustainable use of wildlife and plant resources and combat illegal trade in wild animals and
On 24 November, the official opening ceremony of the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) took place in Samarkand. CITES CoP20 marks the first large-scale session of the Convention ever held in Central Asia. The forum has brought together more
Turkey’s Alarko Holding has inaugurated a large tomato greenhouse complex, ALSERA KZ, in Shymkent in south Kazakhstan. The opening ceremony on November 20 was attended by Kazakh Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov and Izzet Garih, Alarko’s Chairman of the Board. Saparov emphasized that Turkey is one of Kazakhstan’s key partners in the agricultural sector, with 14
In order to create convenience for tourists, organize their meaningful recreation and free walking in each region, the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan creates car-free zones across the country. Such zones have been created in the historical center of the city of Bukhara on the section from the cultural heritage site Toqi Telpakfro‘shon to the parking
In recent years, Uzbekistan has significantly expanded efforts to attract tourists from China — one of the world’s largest tourism markets. The year 2025 was declared the “Year of Uzbekistan Tourism in China.” Throughout the year, tourism roadshows were held in major Chinese cities and provinces, and Uzbekistan presented its national stand at major tourism
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved $17 million in grant financing to help Tajikistan digitalize and modernize livestock farming, helping people earn more and improve access to nutritious food. The financing includes a $14 million grant from the Asian Development Fund and a $3 million grant from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment of the Republic of Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation for Flood Forecasting and Prevention through the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technology. The document was signed during Korea International Water Week in Daegu, South Korea.
On November 13, London’s Shaw Theatre welcomed the Kazakh company The Arts Stage, presenting The Black Cloak, based on Georgy Khugaev’s play and directed by Askhat Mayemirov. The performance became one of the standout events of the autumn theatre season, reminding us that profound theatre does not need loud effects to feel contemporary. The play
On November 18, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the improvement of the system of external labor migration and organization of migration processes in line with international standards. Thanks to the systematic work carried out in Uzbekistan in recent years to ensure the organized employment of citizens abroad, the labor market is diversifying, with citizens
The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) have signed a financial agreement on the project “Developing a Business Ecosystem for Sustainable Irrigation in Kazakhstan.” The Bank is providing a $3.5 million grant to launch an initiative aimed at modernizing and strengthening the irrigation
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Ambassador Jan Braathu, concluded his official visit to Uzbekistan on November 16. During the visit, he held a series of high-level meetings focused on the ongoing reform of the media regulatory framework, the impact of digital transformation on journalism, and the implementation of OSCE commitments. Representative
According to the latest figures published by the National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan, the country’s foreign trade continues to decline, with a decrease in both exports and imports. In January-September 2025, Kyrgyzstan’s foreign trade totaled $11.3 billion, an 8.3% decrease compared to the same period in 2024. Exports decreased by 25.7% and amounted to $2.1
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) is supporting further modernization at Tashkent Pipe Plant (TPP), Uzbekistan’s leading private producer of prefabricated steel products, by extending a $20 million loan financing the expansion of the company’s production facilities. This financing will provide TPP with necessary working capital and enable it to ramp up production of
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $56.4 million program to help Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan boost their capacity to respond to disasters. Both countries are vulnerable to disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, but lack the fiscal capacity and risk transfer mechanisms to effectively respond to hazards. The Risk-Layered Disaster Relief Finance Program will enhance their
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on November 18 met with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to reaffirm the strength of ADB’s partnership with Uzbekistan and to commemorate 30 years of development cooperation. “ADB is proud to celebrate three decades of partnership with Uzbekistan,” said Mr. Kanda. “We remain committed to supporting reforms that broaden
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Minister of Water Resources of Uzbekistan Shavkat Khamrayev have signed an intergovernmental agreement on the joint management and rational use of transboundary rivers and canals. The agreement, signed on November 15 in Tashkent, establishes mechanisms for cooperation on transboundary rivers and canals that provide
At a high-level segment of the UN Climate Change Conference (CoP30) in Belém, Brazil, Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, underscored Central Asia’s acute vulnerability to climate change, noting accelerating land degradation and diminishing water resources. He reported that regional temperatures have already risen by 2.2 °C and that
The 44th annual meeting of the Berlin Eurasian Club took place in Brussels last week, focusing on the theme “The Middle Corridor and Global Gateway.” The discussions centered on Kazakhstan’s growing role in shaping a new architecture of transport connectivity between Europe and Asia. The meeting brought together representatives of government from Kazakhstan and the
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan, in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, last week organized the International Startup Forum 2025 within the framework of the Turkmentel–2025 Exhibition and International Conference in Ashgabat. This event marked a significant milestone in advancing Turkmenistan’s innovation and digital transformation agenda, UNDP Turkmenistan reported. The
