In July 2025, the Almosi Valley in the foothills of Hissar in Tajikistan made history: the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) officially recognized it as part of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) network. This marks the first GIAHS designation among all countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States. We
There is a noticeable decline in emigration from Kazakhstan. In the first four months of 2025, 1.7 thousand people left the country for permanent residence abroad, 2.8 times fewer than in the same period last year (4.8 thousand), Ranking.kz reported with reference to data from the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan. Immigration dynamics also
In a fresh move to strengthen transport cooperation between Afghanistan and Turkmenistan, a major agreement and contract have been signed for the development and investment in Torghundi Port, TOLOnews reported. According to the agreement, the dry port of Torghundi in Afghanistan’s Herat province will be expanded with an initial investment of $5 million. The project
U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick on July 30 joined officials from the Uzbek State Customs Committee and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the Office of Military Cooperation (OMC) to celebrate two significant milestones in the ongoing partnership between the United States and Uzbekistan. These initiatives underscore the shared commitment to enhancing border
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan, in close partnership with the Government of Turkmenistan, has officially concluded the project “Strengthening National Capacity for Seismic Risk Assessment, Prevention and Response to Potential Earthquakes,” marking a significant milestone in the country’s disaster risk reduction efforts, UNDP Turkmenistan reported. Spanning from 2018 to 2025, the project has played
Some thirty-five students from Turkmenistan’s institutions of higher education participated in an OSCE organized workshop entitled “Youth Negotiation on Climate, Security and Co-operation: OSCE Best Practices” that took place in Ashgabat on July 29. The OSCE Centre in Ashgabat organized this event to build practical negotiation and diplomacy skills of youth representatives who have been
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
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
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
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
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
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 –
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
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in close partnership with the municipality of Ashgabat, and with the participation of the Ministry of Construction and Architecture of Turkmenistan, organized an inception workshop as part of a regional project titled “Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risks and Climate Change in Central Asia”, funded by the Government of
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Executive Body of the State Authority of the City of Dushanbe have officially launched a new regional project aimed at making Dushanbe safer, greener, and more resilient to climate and disaster risks, UNDP Tajikistan reported. The ‘Enhancing Urban Resilience to Disaster Risk and Climate Change in Central
On July 13–14, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investments, Industry and Trade Laziz Kudratov paid a visit to Bulgaria. He held talks with President Rumen Radev, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport Grozdan Karadjov, heads of relevant ministries, as well as representatives of leading companies and financial institutions of the country. At the center of the
On July 13, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov held a meeting of the State Organizing Committee for the preparations for the Third United Nations Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, which will be held in the Avaza National Tourist Zone from August 4 to 8.
The European Union and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are joining hands to protect communities living near uranium legacy sites in Kyrgyzstan. On July 8, UNDP delivered three fully equipped computer workstations to the Department of Tailings under the Ministry of Emergency Situations, contributing to the country’s capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to emergencies in radiation-prone zones. This
Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu paid a working visit to Afghanistan. On July 10 in Kabul, the Kazakh Foreign Minister held a meeting with the Acting Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan for Economic Affairs Abdul Ghani Baradar. The parties discussed prospects for cooperation in trade, transit, and agriculture,
