The National Statistical Committee of Kyrgyzstan has published data of the country’s economic development in 2025. In 2025, gross domestic product (GDP) growth was 11.1%. Industrial production grew by 10.6%, driven by a 1.7-fold growth in pharmaceutical production, increase in the production of rubber, plastic, and construction materials by 35.7%, wood, paper, and printing products
Kazakhstan registered 4,400 new companies or branches with foreign participation in 2025, driven primarily by businesses from China and Uzbekistan, Kursiv reported citing data from Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics. As of January 1, 2026, Kazakhstan had about 63,900 legal entities and branches with foreign participation. Among countries that opened more businesses or joint ventures
On January 20, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the achieved results and priority tasks for 2026 in the sphere of digital technologies development. In recent years, the country has been implementing consistent measures to develop the digital economy, digitalize public services, and form an innovative ecosystem. According to foreign experts, in 2024-2025, the total
China-Central Asia economic and trade cooperation made considerable progress in 2025, with the total value of trade in goods reaching $106.3 billion, an increase of 12% compared to the previous year, Xinhua news agency reported citing the Chinese Ministry of Commerce. The trade volume between China and Central Asia exceeded the $100-billion mark for the
The Innovative Center for the Development of Unmanned Aviation has officially opened at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) in Almaty. The project is a collaboration between KazNU and Aerial Solutions LLP. The new center will focus on domestic development and production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), establish training and production laboratories and a test site,
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is continuing to support Tajikistan’s transition from traditional carbon-intensive transport models to environmentally friendly and sustainable mobility by providing a €10 million financing package for a large-scale modernisation of public transport in Bokhtar, the administrative centre of the Khatlon region. The package consists of a
On January 19 in Tashkent, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni, who made a stopover in the Uzbek capital. The leaders reviewed practical aspects of further strengthening the Uzbek-Italian strategic partnership and expanding multifaceted cooperation, noting the consistent implementation of agreements reached at the highest level
The first cross-Caspian Sea China-Central Asia freight train from north China’s Tianjin Municipality to Baku, Azerbaijan, departed on January 19, carrying goods such as stainless steel pipes and household appliances, Xinhua reported. The train, operated by China Railway Beijing Group, will leave China via Khorgos Port in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, traverse Kazakhstan,
The demand for workforce in Kazakhstan significantly exceeded supply at the end of 2025. According to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, in December, employers posted 109,600 job vacancies on the Enbek.kz online job exchange, while job seekers submitted 71,500 resumes. Compared to November, the number of job openings increased by 8.4% (+8,500), while
Hideki Tanabe is a senior international development expert who stood at the origins of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Tajikistan. Having completed his tenure as the first Head of JICA’s independent office in the country, which he led since its establishment in 2017, he played a key role in integrating Japanese technical assistance
In line with the key objectives set for the development of the tourism sector through 2030, Uzbekistan plans to increase tourism’s share in the country’s gross domestic product from the current 3.5% to 7%. This will drive economic growth in related sectors and create new jobs, according to the Tourism Committee. In addition, a sharp
Chinese and Uzbek archaeologists have found early city walls constructed and modified between the 3rd century BC and the 10th century AD at the ancient city of Kuva in Uzbekistan, Xinhua reported. Located in the Fergana Valley in eastern Uzbekistan, the Kuva site, now spanning about 110,000 square meters, used to be a very important
The National Research Center for Infectious Diseases (NRCID) was officially opened in Almaty on January 16. It is a key facility established on the instruction of the Head of State to strengthen the country’s biological security system. The establishment of the Center became a systemic response to the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and
The prestigious business magazine Business Holistic in Uzbekistan has published an article entitled “Marat Akhmedjanov: Building bridges between Eurasia and the world.” The article features Marat Akhmedjanov, a publisher, public figure, cultural diplomat, and the founder and head of the British media holding Silk Road Media – the only media group in the UK that
At a government meeting on January 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to link cultural projects with tourism development objectives. It was noted that in 2025, the number of tourists visiting Uzbekistan exceeded 11 million, exports of tourism services reached $4.8 billion, and the number of countries whose citizens are eligible for visa-free travel
On January 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired an expanded meeting on the activities of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Uzbek diplomatic missions abroad. The President emphasized that in the current global environment, an ambassador is not just a person who conducts political dialogue. An ambassador is a state representative who attracts investment and technologies,
Tajikistan is set to implement its first large-scale solar energy project with a total installed capacity of 500 MW. On January 13, an investment agreement was signed between the Government of Tajikistan and Ayon Energy LLC for the construction and commissioning of two photovoltaic power plants: a 250 MW solar power plant in Asht district
Kazakhstan’s state-owned railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has secured up to $300 million equivalent in Swiss-franc-denominated financing from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and Standard Chartered (SC) for a project aimed at strengthening Kazakhstan’s rail efficiency and increasing its role as a regional transit hub, according to IFC.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it continues to invest in renewable energy power generation and in the safe and reliable connection of variable renewables to Uzbekistan’s power grid by organizing a financing package of up to US$195.5 million (€168.5 million) for the construction and operation of a 300 MW greenfield solar
On January 14, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed plans on increasing energy efficiency. According to international experts, Uzbekistan is among the most energy-intensive countries. In particular, almost 50 percent of the final energy consumption in the country accounts for the buildings, and the energy consumption per square meter is several times higher than in European countries.
