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
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
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
According to the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, the country’s external debt as of October 1, 2025 totaled $75.4 billion. This includes $37.4 billion of government external debt and $38 billion of borrowings by private and state-owned enterprises without a government guarantee (corporate debt). According to international classifications, Uzbekistan’s government debt level
In 2025, QazTrade, a subordinate organization of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, continued implementing its export acceleration program. The program aims to comprehensively prepare Kazakhstani companies for entering foreign markets and covers the entire exporter journey: from initial assessment and training to supporting negotiations and concluding export contracts, according to the Ministry.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is promoting further growth in domestic production of pharmaceutical products in Uzbekistan by supporting the operations of leading local manufacturer Nika Pharm. Nika Pharm will use the EBRD loan of up to US$ 20 million to restructure its balance sheet and upgrade equipment and facilities in
At a government meeting on January 6, Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov stated that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has declared 2026 the Year of Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan, and the government’s main goal is to introduce advanced technologies into all sectors of the economy, according to primeminister.kz. According to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and
The Center for Economic Research and Reforms has released an analysis of poverty levels and household incomes in Uzbekistan for 2025, Dunyo official information agency reported. The analysis was prepared based on a study conducted by the National Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan in collaboration with the World Bank. According to the study, the poverty rate
In 2025, Afghanistan’s foreign trade significantly increased compared to the previous year, despite challenges and restrictions on trade routes, TOLOnews reported. According to the country’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the total value of Afghanistan’s exports and imports reached $13.932 billion, including $1.807 billion in exports and $12.125 billion in imports. Akhundzada Abdulsalam Jawad, spokesperson
Uzbekistan continues to strengthen its investment momentum: the total volume of utilized investments reached $43.1 billion in 2025, marking a 24% increase compared to the previous year. A significant share was represented by $38.2 billion in foreign direct investment, along with $4.9 billion from international financial institutions, according to the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry
From January to November 2025, Uzbekistan’s exports totaled $30.9 billion, a 26.2% increase compared to the same period the previous year, Dunyo information agency reported citing data from the National Statistics Committee. The top 10 export destinations of Uzbekistan were: Russia ($4 billion), China ($1.9 billion), Afghanistan ($1.3 billion), Kazakhstan ($1.3 billion), Turkey ($1 billion),
Kyrgyzstan’s non-observed (shadow) economy, excluding the agricultural sector, accounted for 19.5% of GDP in 2024, marking a 0.3% increase from 2023’s 19.2% but a 0.7% decrease from 2022’s 20.2%, according to the latest data from the National Statistical Committee. The Committee reports a steady decline in the shadow economy’s share of GDP over recent years, estimated
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is helping to meet growing demand for industrial infrastructure in the renewable energy and logistics sectors in Kazakhstan and across Central Asia by supporting the operations of Sarens Kazakhstan. The EBRD’s loan of up to €25 million (in KZT equivalent) to Sarens Kazakhstan, a fully owned
For the first time ever, pomegranates, quinces, and persimmons from Uzbekistan have been exported to the United Kingdom as part of the latest shipment of Uzbek agricultural products, official information agency Dunyo reported. A total of three tons of produce was delivered via Uzbekistan Airways on the Tashkent-London route late in December. The exporter responsible
In his New Year’s greetings to the people of Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev declared 2026 the “Year of Development of the Mahalla and Society.” In Uzbekistan, mahalla means a neighborhood or local community and is a key part of civil society. Mirziyoyev stated that in the new year, “we will improve the infrastructure of thousands
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Alibek Kuantyrov and Deputy Chairman of the Management Board of Kazakh Invest National Company JSC Madiyar Sultanbek on December 30 held a working meeting with Xu Jie, General Director of Xinjiang Lihua (Group) Co., Ltd., according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. During the meeting, the parties discussed the
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has released a new report, entitled “China and the Eurasian Region: Analysis of Investment Flows based on EDB Monitoring of Mutual Investments”. The report provides detailed information on mutual foreign direct investments (FDI) between China and 13 countries of the Eurasian region (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Mongolia,
Mobile services are becoming a key channel for accessing public services: since the beginning of 2025, Kazakhstani citizens have received more than 51.5 million services online, almost half of which were delivered via the eGov Mobile application, according to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development. As of today, around 90% of public services
On December 30, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inspected energy facilities under construction on the territory of New Tashkent, which is currently under construction. The modern trigeneration technology allows to simultaneously ensure the city with the heating and cooling, spending twice less energy than traditional sources. Production processes in traditional heating plants or cooling systems are
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) has published the Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends 2025/2026 report, focusing on foreign direct investment dynamics across countries in the region. According to the report, by the end of 2025 Kazakhstan became the largest recipient of investment in new (greenfield) projects in
