The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Ambassador Jan Braathu, concluded his official visit to Uzbekistan on November 16. During the visit, he held a series of high-level meetings focused on the ongoing reform of the media regulatory framework, the impact of digital transformation on journalism, and the implementation of OSCE commitments. Representative
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $56.4 million program to help Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan boost their capacity to respond to disasters. Both countries are vulnerable to disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, but lack the fiscal capacity and risk transfer mechanisms to effectively respond to hazards. The Risk-Layered Disaster Relief Finance Program will enhance their
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on November 18 met with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to reaffirm the strength of ADB’s partnership with Uzbekistan and to commemorate 30 years of development cooperation. “ADB is proud to celebrate three decades of partnership with Uzbekistan,” said Mr. Kanda. “We remain committed to supporting reforms that broaden
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Minister of Water Resources of Uzbekistan Shavkat Khamrayev have signed an intergovernmental agreement on the joint management and rational use of transboundary rivers and canals. The agreement, signed on November 15 in Tashkent, establishes mechanisms for cooperation on transboundary rivers and canals that provide
At a high-level segment of the UN Climate Change Conference (CoP30) in Belém, Brazil, Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, underscored Central Asia’s acute vulnerability to climate change, noting accelerating land degradation and diminishing water resources. He reported that regional temperatures have already risen by 2.2 °C and that
The 44th annual meeting of the Berlin Eurasian Club took place in Brussels last week, focusing on the theme “The Middle Corridor and Global Gateway.” The discussions centered on Kazakhstan’s growing role in shaping a new architecture of transport connectivity between Europe and Asia. The meeting brought together representatives of government from Kazakhstan and the
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Turkmenistan, in cooperation with the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, last week organized the International Startup Forum 2025 within the framework of the Turkmentel–2025 Exhibition and International Conference in Ashgabat. This event marked a significant milestone in advancing Turkmenistan’s innovation and digital transformation agenda, UNDP Turkmenistan reported. The
On November 11, Bishkek hosted the 26th meeting of the Kyrgyz-Russian Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Humanitarian Cooperation, co-chaired by Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, and Alexey Overchuk, Deputy Prime Minister of Russia. According to Kasymaliev, Russia is a reliable ally and strategic partner of Kyrgyzstan. Russia
On November 13, the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan organized the first meeting of the Council of Ministers of Trade and Investment of the Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan in Tashkent. The event was aimed at strengthening regional cooperation in trade, investment, and industrial collaboration. The meeting was attended by Laziz Kudratov,
Specialists from Uzbekistan have arrived in Kyrgyzstan to prepare a master plan for an “Uzbekistan-Kyrgyzstan Friendship Garden.” The Kyrgyz Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry says it has allocated a 50-hectare land plot in the village of Bash-Kara-Suu near Bishkek for the project with a preliminary cost of $500,000. The funding will be
On November 11, Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda met with Turkmenistan President Serdar Berdimuhamedov in Ashgabat to strengthen ADB’s long-standing partnership with Turkmenistan and discuss ways to deepen cooperation in support of the country’s sustainable and inclusive growth. The visit marks the 25th anniversary of the ADB–Turkmenistan partnership and coincides with the country’s
The Central Asian-German Institute for the Protection of Ecosystems and Biodiversity has officially opened at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty. The new institute’s goal is the scientifically based development of initiatives aimed at ensuring ecosystem sustainability and preserving biodiversity in Central Asian countries. The institute will serve as a platform for strengthening environmental cooperation
The European Union and Turkmenistan held their 24th Joint Committee on November 7 in Ashgabat. The two sides exchanged on the progress made in the relations between the EU and Turkmenistan, particularly, in the areas of trade, connectivity, energy and environment, and a number of other areas of cooperation, according to the Delegation of the European
Based on international studies, researchers have concluded that Samarkand’s history spans at least 3,000 years. The previously recognized age of the city—2,750 years—has been revised, and the official age of Samarkand has now been recognized as 3,000 years. This was announced at the international conference titled “Samarkand: A 3000-Year Legacy” held as part of the
A policy dialogue held last week marked a key milestone in Uzbekistan’s efforts to implement Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, advancing the country’s participation in international carbon markets and access to global climate finance. Organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Turkmenistan has announced the approval of its new Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2026–2030, marking the next phase of partnership with the Turkmen Government, civil society, the private sector, and international development partners. Building on the successful results of the previous programme cycle, the new CPD reinforces UNDP’s commitment
Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan and Central Asia’s largest city, has been included in the list of “The Best Places to Go in Asia in 2026” by the international travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler. According to the magazine, “Tashkent has reinvented itself time and again—shaped first by Silk Road merchants, then by Arab dynasties and later Russian
On November 5, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov and Prime Minister of Belarus Alexander Turchin, who was on an official visit to Kazakhstan, discussed further development of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. The parties reviewed plans to increase bilateral trade turnover, deepen cooperation in investment, industry, agriculture, the digital industry and artificial intelligence, as
On November 4, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the second World Summit for Social Development, held in Doha. The forum was attended by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, as well as heads of state and government, representatives of international and regional organizations. In
Starting January 1, 2026, citizens of the United States of America will be able to enter Uzbekistan without a visa for a period of up to 30 days. This measure is established by Presidential Decree of November 3, 2025, aimed at further strengthening Uzbek–American relations and creating favorable conditions for the development of cooperation in