In March, as part of a tour of Latin America, Marat Akhmedjanov, the founder of the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press and the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), had an important meeting in Montevideo with the Ambassador of Armenia to Uruguay, Mariam Gevorgyan. The conversation was lively and to the point, focused on real opportunities and
As of the end of 2025, Kazakhstan’s external debt reached a record high of almost $182 billion, ranking.kz reported citing data from the National Bank. Over the year, the country’s external debt increased by a record 10.4%—the largest increase in the last 17 years. Prior to 2025, the country’s external debt dynamics were moderate, characterized
With the aim of widely promoting the rich tourism potential of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, showcasing the region’s historical and cultural heritage, as well as the opportunities for ecological and ethnographic tourism, and creating an effective platform for dialogue between local and international partners, the first Destination Forum of Karakalpakstan will be held on April
Valmont Industries, a leading global irrigation machinery manufacturer, plans to localize production of precision irrigation equipment (Valley brand) in Kazakhstan. The project was discussed on April 9 by Kazakh Agriculture Minister Aidarbek Saparov and Philipp Schmidt-Holzmann, Valmont’s Regional Vice President, Eurasia & Latin America. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Saparov emphasized that the development
At the invitation of the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on April 11 arrived in Uzbekistan on a working visit. Mirziyoyev met with Tokayev in Bukhara to discuss further strengthening Uzbek-Kazakh relations of friendship, strategic partnership, and alliance. The leaders noted that regular informal regional meetings have become a
Uzbekistan’s economic growth is projected to remain robust at 6.7% in 2026 and edge up to 6.8% in 2027, following an exceptionally strong expansion of 7.7% in 2025, according to the latest forecasts from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2026. Growth accelerated in 2025, exceeding expectations as strong performance
Tajikistan’s economic growth is expected to remain strong in 2026 and 2027, driven mainly by industry and services, according to the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) latest forecast. Stronger industrial competitiveness leading to greater value addition will support long term growth and job creation. The country’s gross domestic product is projected to expand by 7.3% this
The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision has announced that a new resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers has significantly increased fines for harming wildlife in Kyrgyzstan. The measure is aimed at preserving biodiversity and strengthening the fight against poaching. According to the new regulations, the fine for illegally hunting ibex has tripled
Economic growth in Kyrgyzstan is projected to moderate from an estimated 11.1% in 2025, but remain strong at 8.9% in 2026 and 8.4% in 2027, according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2026, the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) flagship economic publication. Growth is expected to ease as construction and trade normalize, while domestic demand remains
On April 9, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals aimed at developing e-commerce and establishing bonded warehouse operations in Uzbekistan. Over the past eight years, the volume of e-commerce in the country has grown twentyfold, reaching $1.3 billion. The number of digital platforms exceeds 120. As a result of expanded self-employment opportunities and simplified licensing and taxation
Uzbekistan’s solar and wind power plants generated a total of 911.7 million kWh of electricity in March 2026, up 9.7 percent year on year, Xinhua reported citing Uzbek media. The output represented an increase of 92.1 million kWh compared with the same period last year, according to data released by the Ministry of Energy. Of
Kazakhstan continues to increase grain exports, confirming the strong demand for Kazakh agricultural products in foreign markets. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, from September 2025 to March 2026 (since the beginning of the current 2025-2026 marketing year), Kazakhstan exported 9.9 million tons of grain and flour in grain equivalent, a more than a million-ton
Sometimes history comes full circle. In the year marking the 690th anniversary of Amir Timur, born on 9 April 1336, it feels especially meaningful to reflect not only on the great commander and empire builder himself, but also on how his image continues to live on in world literature, translation, and publishing. Back in 2010,
On April 7, Tashkent hosted the official launch of the “100 Products Accelerator” Program, designed to facilitate the entry of domestic goods into global markets, according to the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. The opening ceremony was attended by Ilzat Kasimov, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade. This initiative is implemented in
Construction of a world-class film studio, Dala Stage, has begun in the town of Kaskelen in the Almaty region. According to the press service of the Almaty region’s governor, one of the most notable moments at the project’s groundbreaking ceremony was the delivery of a time capsule from Jackie Chan, which was transported by helicopter.
The head of the State Tax Service estimates the shadow economy in Kyrgyzstan as currently standing at approximately 12%. Almambet Shykmamatov told local media that efforts to bring businesses out of the shadows are ongoing, and that this does not include punitive measures. According to the latest data from the National Statistical Committee, Kyrgyzstan’s non-observed (shadow)
The Cloudwards analytical project published the Internet Freedom by Country in 2026 report. It analyzed data from various sources across four key categories to measure how easy it really is for netizens in each country to access online sites and services. These categories include torrenting, adult content, political and civic content, and VPN accessibility. The
A Government meeting on April 7 chaired by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov discussed issues of developing coal energy and implementing the National Project on Coal-Fired Power Generation. Bektenov noted that the project provides for the commissioning of about 8 GW of additional capacity over 5 years through the construction of 8 new power
On April 6, Special Envoy for South and Central Asia Sergio Gor attended the first meeting in Washington D.C. of the U.S.-Uzbekistan Business Investment Council alongside Uzbekistan’s Head of the Presidential Administration Ms. Saida Mirziyoyeva. Speaking at the meeting, Special Envoy Gor stated, “President Trump understands the importance of Central Asia, and especially Uzbekistan, in
The project of the Zangezur Corridor was high on the agenda of the second meeting of heads of government of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 2. Founded in 2009 to foster comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking nations, the OTS includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and