International Affairs TKM

UNDP and Turkmenistan mark World Wetlands Day with roundtable on digital monitoring and climate resilience

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan, together with the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan and the Scientific Information Center of the Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD), organized a roundtable dedicated to World Wetlands Day under the theme “Scaling Climate-Resilient Practices through Digitalization of Land and Water Monitoring” on February 9

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International Affairs UZB

Uzbekistan identifies priorities for strategic partnership with AIIB

On February 10, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a delegation of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), headed by its new President, Zou Jiayi. The parties discussed practical issues related to expanding the strategic partnership between Uzbekistan and the AIIB. In recent years, multifaceted cooperation with the bank has been developing dynamically. The

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International Affairs UZB

IsDB finances road reconstruction, education project in Uzbekistan

Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Djamshid Kuchkarov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, have signed financing agreements to advance critical infrastructure and social development in Uzbekistan. Ahead of the signing, the two leaders held bilateral talks to discuss the expansion of the IsDB–Uzbekistan

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International Affairs KG

Kyrgyzstan allowed to export honey to EU

The European Commission has approved Kyrgyz honey for export to the European Union and added it to the EU’s official import list, according to the Delegation of the European Union to the Kyrgyz Republic. The decision confirms that Kyrgyzstan’s control and certification system meets EU standards and opens new market opportunities for local honey producers.

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International Affairs KZ UZB

EU supports space agency competition in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan for young STEM entrepreneurs

Late in January, over 200 participants in the STEM field – 100 in each country – participated in a mentored event called the Act in Space Hackathon. This year for the first time in Central Asia, the European Union (EU) through the Connectivity for Central Asia (C4CA) program organized the national editions in Kazakhstan and

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International Affairs KG

Kyrgyzstan promotes Central Asia as a unified tourist destination

Erdenet Kasymov, Director of the Department of Tourism at Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce, believes that tourism is a sector where regional integration in Central Asia could yield rapid and visible results. He presented a vision for the region as a unified tourism destination, speaking at the second B5+1 Business Forum of Central Asia

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International Affairs UZB

Uzbekistan drops in international IQ ranking

At the beginning of 2026, Uzbekistan ranked 75th out of 137 countries in terms of the average IQ, according to the International IQ Test portal. The country’s average IQ is 96.51, Tashkent Today reported. This represents a drop in the ranking compared to 2025, when Uzbekistan ranked 69th. Among the Central Asian countries, the rankings

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International Affairs KZ UZB

Karakalpak activist leaves Kazakhstan to avoid extradition to Uzbekistan

The last ethnic Karakalpak with Uzbek citizenship who was facing possible extradition to Uzbekistan has left Kazakhstan for a Western country, according to the Kazakhstan International Bureau for Human Rights and Rule of Law. Karakalpak activist Rasul Zhumaniyazov was detained in Astana last March at the request of Uzbekistan. Zhumaniyazov had received offers from Tashkent

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International Affairs KZ

Kazakhstan participates in Critical Minerals Ministerial in Washington

On February 4, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev took part in the inaugural Critical Minerals Ministerial Conference at the invitation of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The event was attended by representatives from more than 50 countries and executives of Kazakhstan’s mining companies, and featured remarks by U.S. Vice President JD

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International Affairs KZ

Does Kazakhstan really need Alatau City?

Two years ago, Kazakhstan launched the project of Alatau City, intended to become a platform for the implementation of advanced technologies, a magnet for investors, and a generator of public wealth. Economist Aidar Alibayev shared his opinion on the mega-project’s prospects with Orda.kz. “How did the idea of ​​Alatau City appear? Initially, there was talk

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International Affairs KZ RU

IT specialist deported from Kazakhstan to Russia, arrested on treason charges

Alexander Kachkurkin, a 25-year-old DevOps engineer and IT developer who had been living in Almaty for the past few years, has been deported from Kazakhstan to Russia, where he was detained right upon the plane’s arrival on treason charges, the rights project Первый отдел (Department One) reported. Kachkurkin was born and raised in Crimea. After

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International Affairs UZB

South Korea may stop issuing visas for Uzbek citizens due to illegal migration

South Korea may suspend the issuance of visas for Uzbekistan citizens if the share of illegal migrants reaches 10%, according to Alisher Abdusalomov, the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to South Korea, Tashkent Today reported. Currently, 9% of Uzbek citizens in Korea stay there illegally. The Ambassador emphasized that many Uzbeks who arrive in Korea for study

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International Affairs UZB

Uzbekistan loses measles elimination status

The World Health Organization (WHO) has clarified media reports saying that Uzbekistan has lost its measles-free status, and explained that measles transmission has resumed in the country since 2019, while rubella elimination status remains in place, Daryo reports. WHO’s conclusions are based on evaluations by the European Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella Elimination,

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International Affairs KZ

Kazakhstan ranked among countries with lowest cuisine score

Kazakhstan has been ranked among the countries with the lowest national cuisine score in the world, according to the World Population Review, which published a ranking of the cuisines of 99 countries. The ranking was an attempt to answer the question: What country has the best food? In 2025, Kazakhstan scored 3.9 points, ranking 92nd.

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International Affairs UZB

Uzbekistan recognized as country with largest number of Islamic historic cities

Uzbekistan has been officially recognized by the organization ASIA Records as the Asian country with the most UNESCO-listed Islamic historic cities, according to the Uzbek Tourism Committee. Representatives of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan and the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Malaysia took part in the award ceremony held in Kuala Lumpur. Under this recognition, Samarkand,

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International Affairs KZ TJK UZB

Jibek Joly tourist train will connect Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan

From March 20 to 25, 2026, the international tourist train Jibek Joly will connect Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan as part of a single cultural and educational route. For the first time in the project’s history, the route has been extended to Dushanbe, according to Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ). The journey will

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International Affairs UZB

Uzbekistan and Latvia establish air cargo route

An event was held on January 28 at Riga International Airport to mark the launch of cargo flights by the Uzbek airline Flykhiva on the Tashkent–Riga route, Dunyo information agency reported. As part of the event, a ceremonial reception was held for the airline’s first cargo plane arriving in the Latvian capital. The event was

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International Affairs KG

EU and UN Women launch initiative to strengthen Kyrgyzstan’s efforts against gender‑based violence

The European Union and UN Women officially launched the Zero Violence Against Women and Girls (Zero VAWG) initiative at an inception and signing event held on 23 January in Bishkek. The event brought together senior representatives of the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic, development partners, and UN agencies to reaffirm their shared commitment to preventing

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International Affairs UZB

Uzbekistan scales up the ‘Islands of Integrity’ approach with EU and UNDP support

Uzbekistan has launched the second phase of the “Islands of Integrity” anti-corruption methodology, expanding a local governance approach that has already shown practical results in several regions of the country, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan reported. The launch took place in Turtkul District and brought together national and international partners, including the

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International Affairs KZ

Kazakhstan and Israel expand investment, trade, and economic cooperation

On January 27, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev held talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel Gideon Sa’ar, who arrived in Astana on an official visit. The sides discussed the current state and prospects for the development of political dialogue, trade, economic and investment ties, cooperation in the field of tourism,

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