Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, speaking at the First International Environmental Conference in the city of Manzherok (Altai, Russia), highlighted the issue of the Caspian Sea’s shallowing as one of the key regional challenges, his press office reported. Bektenov emphasized that environmental security is not merely part of the global “green” agenda, but a
From 1 to 18 July, the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe organized the first-ever Summer School of Journalism for 20 aspiring journalism students and young media professionals from across Tajikistan. The three-week intensive training aimed to strengthen their foundational reporting skills and prepare the next generation of journalists for a rapidly evolving media environment. Participants
A networking session with representatives of the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) was held in Almaty last week at the regional office of the Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Kazakh Invest reported. The session brought together business representatives from both countries, including KADIN, Atameken’s regional office, the Foreign Trade Chamber, as well as
In recent years, Central Asia has experienced not merely a surge of interest in music, but a cultural renaissance in which music itself becomes a pivotal element in educational reform, social transformation, and soft power projection. At the heart of this process lies not only the revival of genres once confined to folklore, but also
According to the latest data for 2025, Kazakhstan’s largest city and business capital, Almaty, has become the absolute leader among the country’s regions in terms of foreign trade volume. The city’s trade turnover totaled $7.2 billion, including $1.3 billion of exports, 12.4% more than a year earlier, according to the Ministry of Trade and Integration.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is facilitating the introduction of upland rice in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, which will reduce water consumption by up to 40% compared to traditional rice cultivation. On May 27, 2025, with UNDP assistance, the first seed samples of 15 varieties of upland rice were provided to the Scientific-Production Association
The President of Mongolia, Ukhnaagiin Khurelsukh, arrived on a state visit to Tajikistan. On July 24, the President of Tajikistan, Emomali Rahmon welcomed the President of Mongolia and the official delegation of this country and expressed confidence that today’s fruitful exchange of views will give a positive impetus to the process of strengthening and expanding
Kazakhstan is launching a unique project – GeoLab Eurasia, the first internationally certified full-cycle rock analysis laboratory in Central Asia. The new scientific and industrial center will enable high-precision analysis of ore composition and quality in accordance with international standards such as NI 43-101, JORC, and ISO/IEC 17025, according to Kazakh Invest. Establishing a modern
KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has established a new multimodal transportation route with the first container train from Shanxi Province (China) to Azerbaijan along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) through Kazakhstan. According to KTZ, the train, consisting of 50 containers with photovoltaic modules weighing more than
Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Meder Abakirov received Bady Kebir, the founder of the international equestrian rally Gallops, which is taking place in Kyrgyzstan from July 21 to 26 with the participation of about 100 horse riding and equestrian sports enthusiasts from all over the world. Abakirov noted with satisfaction the holding of a
To help expand access to finance for small and medium enterprises and women entrepreneurs, IFC — a member of the World Bank Group — is investing $15 million in a private bond issuance by Demir Kyrgyz International Bank (DemirBank), a leading commercial bank in the Kyrgyz Republic. According to IFC, proceeds from the bond will
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), in close partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and with the financial support of the European Union (EU), hosted a regional coordination meeting of Aarhus Centres and key stakeholders from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan on 17–18 July in Khujand, Tajikistan. As part of the
On July 22, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Jizzakh region and reviewed the operations of the Zaamin Technopark special industrial zone. The head of state initiated the construction of this complex on June 27 of last year. Within the framework of the project, which spans 400 hectares, a total of 31 investment projects worth $1.2
Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has announced the launch on September 19 of a new season of its train tour, Jibek Joly (Silk Road) 5.0, connecting major cities in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. During the 6-day tour, passengers will travel along the route Almaty – Turkestan – Otrar – Samarkand – Bukhara –
Trade between Kyrgyzstan and China grew by an impressing 44.7% in 2024 and reached $5.3 billion, with exports from Kyrgyzstan to China increasing to $2.04 billion, 93 times higher than in 2023, Deputy Chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers Bakyt Torobayev said during a meeting with a high-level delegation from China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous
Construction of a new transport and logistics complex, Tobyl, was officially launched in the city of Kostanay in northern Kazakhstan on July 16. According to the government’s press service, the facility will become a key point in the implementation of the country’s transit strategy and will be integrated into international transport corridors linking Kazakhstan to
The European Union and Tajikistan on July 18 initialed an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), marking a significant step forward in deepening bilateral relations and strengthening long-term cooperation, the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan reported. The EPCA represents a modern and ambitious framework for EU–Tajikistan relations, reflecting shared values and interests in areas
Italian agricultural organization Unione Coltivatori Italiani (UCI), which unites over 300,000 farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs and agro processors, plans to implement an investment project in Kazakhstan for the cultivation and advanced processing of industrial hemp for subsequent production of textiles, construction materials, and pharmaceuticals. The project was discussed during an online meeting on July 17 between
Azamat Kozhanov, Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Kazakh Invest national company, held a meeting with John M. Bek, Chairman of the Board of South Korean engineering company YPP Corporation. During the meeting, the parties signed a framework agreement on cooperation for the implementation of a green hydrogen production project in Kazakhstan, according to Kazakh
The two largest Central Asian countries have embarked on a higher education spree. In Uzbekistan since 2020 almost 100 new universities have opened, swelling the number of BA candidates in the country by some 400,000. In Kazakhstan, hardly a week goes by without an announcement from the Ministry of Education ballyhooing the opening of another
