Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on 15 October met Uzbekistan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov and signed a $200 million loan agreement to modernize the country’s electricity distribution system, cut power losses, and improve reliability as electricity demand rises, the Bank said. “A reliable power supply is
Kazakhstan has approved a national standard for pasteurized camel milk. The standard establishes uniform product requirements and aims to help domestic enterprises expand their product range and develop exports. The document will come into force on November 1, 2026, according to the Ministry of Trade and Integration. In Kazakhstan, camel milk has traditionally been used
As part of Uzbekistan’s ongoing efforts to develop domestic tourism, make travel more affordable for the population and improve transport connectivity between regions, fares for domestic air travel have been reduced by up to 20 percent, according to the country’s Tourism Committee. In line with the instructions of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, particular attention is being
The opening ceremony of “Khiva – Youth Capital of the Turkic World 2026” was held on 12 October in Khiva, Uzbekistan. Nuru Guliyev, Deputy Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), addressed the ceremony and highlighted the importance of Khiva’s designation in strengthening youth cooperation across the Turkic World. He emphasized that the
As part of his working visit to Italy on October 7, Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliev chaired the 10th meeting of the Intergovernmental Kazakhstan–Italy Working Group on Industrial and Economic Cooperation and Exchanges and held meetings with the heads of Italian companies and business associations, according to the Ministry of Trade
Government representatives, the European Union, international financial institutions, development partners and private-sector representatives met in Tashkent on 30 September for the Second National Conference on the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) in Uzbekistan. The conference examined how investment and reforms can strengthen Uzbekistan’s role in sustainable connectivity between Central Asia and Europe, the Delegation of the
The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe has provided six Unmanned Aerial Systems to the National Guard of Tajikistan to help the country secure its borders. The Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), valued at $2.3 million, will enable the National Guard to engage in persistent monitoring in support of counterterrorism operations, the embassy said. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires, a.i.
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
A new international tourism association, Umrah Plus, has been established in Uzbekistan. The main objective of the new international organization is to combine Umrah pilgrimage with Uzbekistan’s rich historical, cultural and religious heritage, increase the number of foreign pilgrims visiting the country, and promote Uzbekistan’s potential in pilgrimage tourism on international markets. Representatives of the
The Kazakhstan-Denmark Business Forum was held on October 1 in Konaev with the support of NC KAZAKH INVEST JSC and the Akimat of Almaty Region as part of the official visit of Lars Løkke Rasmussen, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Denmark, to Kazakhstan. More than 100 representatives of government agencies, development
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
Growth across Central Asia and Mongolia remained strong, at 5.9 per cent year on year, in the first half of 2026, according to the latest Regional Economic Prospects report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The Bank forecasts growth in Central Asia and Mongolia to remain robust at 5.8 per cent in 2026
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $43.27 million grant financing package to help Tajikistan build a more integrated health system that can better prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks, natural hazard-related health risks, and cross-border health threats. The project will also support primary health care reforms and introduce integrated health and social protection services
Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkaliyev on 22 September held a meeting with the UK Government’s Trade Envoy to Azerbaijan and Central Asia, Lord John Alderdice. The parties discussed bilateral trade, expansion of Kazakh exports, development of industrial cooperation, investment, and scientific-educational collaboration, according to the Ministry of Trade and Integration. By
According to the latest analytical data from UN Tourism, published in the World Tourism Barometer, Uzbekistan recorded the highest growth in international tourist arrivals among European destinations in January–June 2026, according to the country’s Tourism Committee. The number of international tourist arrivals to Uzbekistan increased by 25% compared with 2025, demonstrating the country’s continued strengthening
The Central Asia+Italy Business Platform Forum took place in Astana on September 18, where B5+ITALY was officially launched. The platform has already outlined specific areas for further cooperation: increasing non-commodity exports from Kazakhstan to Italy, launching joint production facilities, developing regional trade and logistics hubs, and expanding direct transport links, according to the Kazakh Ministry
A new virology laboratory of the National Center of Expertise under the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan was officially inaugurated on September 10 in the city of Turkistan. The lab was established by the Government of Kazakhstan as part of the country’s Pandemic Fund project, with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) and
According to the State Revenue Committee of the Ministry of Finance of Kazakhstan, over the past five years, 24 regulatory legal acts have been adopted and 20 information systems have been modernized to combat the shadow economy. As a result, the share of the non-observed economy in GDP decreased from 17.58% in 2023 to 15.69%
Diplomacy has long extended beyond embassy walls and formal negotiations. It also lives through personal encounters, the exchange of books and conversations that help countries understand one another more deeply. In London, our publisher and founder of Silk Road Media, Marat Akhmedjanov, met Dr Mohammad Faisal, an experienced Pakistani diplomat who served as High Commissioner