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.
This year Kazakhstan will continue diversifying its agricultural crop areas to reduce its reliance on wheat monoculture and expand the area under highly profitable crops for processing into products with higher added value. At a government meeting on January 13, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Azat Sultanov announced that in 2026, the total area under crops
Kyrgyzstan has taken another step in the provision of its citizens with subsidized mortgage housing. In a ceremony on January 12, attended by President Sadyr Japarov, new owners received the keys to 1,080 mortgaged apartments as part of the second phase of the Muras residential complex construction in Bishkek. It is a project of the
To expand the coverage of geological exploration of the country’s territory using modern geological prospecting methods, the Government of Kazakhstan is launching a new stage of subsoil research this year at a more detailed scale. Twenty projects were developed last year to carry out geological surveying at a scale of 1:50,000 over a total area
On January 12, the President of Uzbekistan issued the Resolution “On measures for the establishment of the Fergana tourist and recreational zone.” The decision aims to effectively utilize the tourism potential of Fergana District, activate the resource capacity of mountainous areas, widely involve the local population in service and entrepreneurial activities, increase the district’s investment
In 2025, Kazakhstan’s automotive industry demonstrated its best performance ever. The country produced 171,144 vehicles of all types (passenger cars, buses, and trucks), a 17.8% increase compared to the previous year (145,290), according to the Kazakhstan Automobile Union. Passenger cars traditionally dominated the production, with 158,944 vehicles manufactured in 2025, up 19%. Production of commercial
On January 13, a meeting of Uzbekistan’s Security Council chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussed priority tasks for ensuring the country’s security and further strengthening its defense capabilities. The President pointed to the need to revise the country’s Defense Doctrine adopted eight years ago. He said that the new Defense Doctrine should ensure that the
Kazakhstan ranks fourth in terms of the number of enterprises with foreign capital in Uzbekistan, following China, Russia, and Turkiye, Dunyo information agency reported citing data from the Uzbek National Statistics Committee. As of December 1, 2025, 1,199 enterprises with Kazakh capital were operating in Uzbekistan. The majority of Kazakh-invested enterprises are concentrated in trade,
On January 12, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed plans of the country’s oil and gas company, Uzbekneftegaz, to increase natural gas reserves and production volumes, as well as to intensify geological exploration. In 2026, Uzbekneftegaz must increase the daily production of natural gas from 66 million cubic meters to 70 million cubic meters and produce not
In 2025, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway company, transported for export 11 million tons of grain, a record high volume over the past 10 years and a 33% increase compared to 2024, according to KTZ. Grain export transportation to Central Asian countries increased by 30%, reaching 6.3 million tons. Exports to Kyrgyzstan
The official opening ceremony of the 240 MW Khizi-Absheron wind power plant, constructed by Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power, was held on January 8 in Baku, Azerbaijan’s state news agency AZERTAC reported. Approximately $340 million in foreign investment has been attracted for the project. The plant’s annual electricity generation is expected to reach 1 billion kilowatt-hours,
A new investment attraction mechanism, the “Availability Payment,” has been introduced in Kazakhstan to accelerate the development of industrial zones and create sustainable conditions for the long-term presence of investors. The pilot project is being implemented in West Kazakhstan Region on the territory of the Eurasia Cross-Border Trade Center industrial zone, where 17 investment projects with the participation of foreign investors are
A large-scale series of trainings aimed at strengthening anti-corruption practices at the regional level has concluded in Uzbekistan. Covering all 14 regions of the country, the initiative enhanced the practical capacities of territorial anti-corruption councils, developed region-specific recommendations, and laid the groundwork for subsequent action plans to reduce corruption risks, increase transparency, and strengthen public
On January 11, Uzbekistan celebrated the Day of Nature Reserves and National Parks. This date serves as a reminder of the importance of preserving nature, rare species of plants and animals, as well as natural landscapes and ecosystems. According to the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, the total area of protected natural territories
Kyrgyzstan’s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers Edil Baisalov has suggested Bishkek reassess its visa-free regime for Americans following the imposition of visa bond requirements for Kyrgyz citizens traveling to the United States. The United States has included Kyrgyzstan in a list of countries subject to visa bonds. Visa applicants from these countries are
