The following article by Roger Holland, Founder & Managing Partner of a leading property advisory firm, published in the latest issue of OCA Magazine, provides an insight on Central Asia’s growing real estate market: For many, the housing and wider real estate markets have had a miserable year. Interest costs have increased alongside inflation of
The European Union and the five Central Asian countries reaffirmed their strong political commitment to strengthening engagement and deepening cooperation during the 20th EU-Central Asia Ministerial meeting, chaired by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, on March 27 in Ashgabat. The Foreign Ministers of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as Deputy
Navruz originated in Central Asia and a number of Eastern countries in ancient times, when Zoroastrianism reigned here. Gradually, it acquired its own forms and outlines. It was enriched by new customs, rituals, and the experience of everyday life and it turned into a tradition. The answer to the question about the age of Navruz
An educational and amusement theme park, SilkRoadLand, may appear in Uzbekistan, becoming the world’s first oriental edutainment park and an attractive tourist destination. The following article by Taina Kaunis, originally published in the latest issue of OCA Magazine, reveals the details of this fascinating project: The modern world, despite certain economic and political tensions, supports
A grand event dedicated to the celebration of International Nowruz Day took place at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris on March 18. The event was attended by UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay, heads of diplomatic missions, staff of the UNESCO Secretariat, and representatives of the Kyrgyz diaspora in France, the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry reported. The Ambassador
On March 16, the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to the United Kingdom, Ulan Djusupov, participated in a roundtable discussion on Central Asia and a cultural program organized by Cambridge University with the support of the embassies of Central Asian countries. The roundtable gathered ambassadors of Central Asian countries, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Lord John
On March 18, Kazakhstan’s capital hosted the first meeting of the Association of Investors of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states. The founding meeting was attended by representatives of government agencies, as well as more than 20 investment agencies and funds of the SCO member states, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported. The participants of
A presentation of the new 54th issue of OCA Magazine was held in London on March 8th as a part of the Navruz celebration. The event brought together representatives of creative professions and diplomats from the embassies of Central Asian countries. The new issue of the magazine focuses on the economic issues of the region
On March 12, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Jozef Síkela concluded a strategic visit to Turkmenistan, reinforcing the EU’s commitment to expanding cooperation under the Global Gateway strategy. The visit focused on the EU’s role in strengthening Turkmenistan’s integration into regional and global economic networks, particularly in transport connectivity, renewable energy, and trade facilitation, the
A delegation of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) met with representatives of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at the IRENA headquarters in Abu Dhabi on March 11. During the meeting, the organizations discussed cooperation in the development of renewable energy in Central Asia within the framework of two platforms – IRENAClimate Investment Platform (CIP) and IRENA Energy Transition Accelerator
In the following article published in the latest issue of OCA Magazine, the magazine’s Editor-in-Chief, Nick Rowan, analyzes the investment landscape and offers forecasts for the future state of investment in Central Asia and the CIS: Things are moving fast in Central Asia and the former Soviet Union (CIS) countries. The investment landscape has undergone
Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Japan Yerlan Baudarbek-Kozhatayev on March 5 held a meeting with Hiromasa Nakano, Minister of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan. The Ambassador introduced the current status and prospects of the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR or Middle Corridor) as one of the key multimodal transit corridors connecting
The UN General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution on the establishment of the UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for Central Asia and Afghanistan. The document was initiated by Kazakhstan on behalf of the Central Asian states. 152 UN member states supported the resolution as co-sponsors, which underlines the high significance of
Afghanistan’s Ministry of Energy and Water says that 70% of the CASA-1000 electricity transmission project in Afghanistan has been completed, TOLOnews reported. According to the ministry, if the World Bank provides the necessary funding, the Afghan government is prepared to complete the remaining work on this project. This major regional project, which connects Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan,
KTZ Express, a subsidiary of Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), and major Chinese operator Yiwu Timex have discussed expanding cooperation in the field of international transportation with a focus on the development of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) and new logistics services for deliveries to Central Asian countries, the KTZ press
The Eurasian Creative Guild (ECG), with the support of the Embassy of Uzbekistan in London and ORZU Arts, is organizing a vibrant celebration of Navruz, a spring festival that embodies the rich cultural heritage of Eurasia. This special event will welcome the arrival of spring, a time of renewal and inspiration, and showcase the beauty
The Council of the European Union (EU) has appointed Mr Eduards Stiprais as the new EU Special Representative for Central Asia. Stiprais will take up his duties on 1 March 2025 with an initial mandate of two years, succeeding Terhi Hakala. According to the European Council, the task of the new Special Representative will be to promote relations between
The Council of the European Union (EU) has announced that the President of the European Council, António Costa, along with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, will be travelling to Uzbekistan for the first-ever EU-Central Asia summit on 3-4 April 2025, with the participation of the presidents of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan’s state news agency TDH reported that on February 10, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty (People’s Council) of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had a telephone conversation with President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian. Berdimuhamedov informed about the agreement with Türkiye’s BOTAŞ company on the transit of
A freight train, loaded with communication equipment and other products, departed from southwest China’s Chongqing city on February 10 and is expected to arrive in Afghanistan in 12 to 15 days, Xinhua reported. This marked the inauguration of a new direct freight train route, which passes through Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, between Chongqing and Afghanistan. In
