The capital theatre this week hosted the annual Nauryz Ball attended by heads of foreign diplomatic missions and international organizations accredited in Kazakhstan. The event, organized as part of the Nauryznama decade, served as a platform for cultural diplomacy, symbolizing unity, creation, and renewal, according to the Kazakh Foreign Ministry. Opening the gala evening, Aida
On March 17, the official opening ceremony of the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan took place with the participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The Islamic Civilization Center, in its grandeur and scale, is one of the largest complexes in the world for the study and popularization of history, culture, and Islamic civilization. It was built
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is supporting the development of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Kazakhstan, including those owned or led by young people or women, and helping to improve access to green technologies by providing a financing package of up to US$ 200 million (€172.4 million) in
The Afghan Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation says eight shipments of domestic products and goods are scheduled to be exported through the Lapis Lazuli Corridor, TOLOnews reports. The shipments, weighing 18 tons in total, include dried fruit, pressure cookers, cooking spices, and beverages. According to the ministry, from now on three to four export
One of the world’s leading magazines specializing in travel and culture, Condé Nast Traveler, included the city of Tashkent and the Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan in its list of the best destinations to visit in June in the article titled “The Best Places to Visit in June, From Route 66 to Uzbekistan,” the Center reported on
The Mazhilis, the lower house of Kazakhstan’s parliament, has ratified the agreement on a strategic partnership between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan in developing and transporting green energy. The agreement was signed by Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, and Ilham Aliyev in November 2024, on the sidelines of the COP29 summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. According to
An Uzbek–Japanese Environmental Business Forum titled “Promoting Sustainable Development through Bilateral Cooperation in Uzbekistan” was held in Tashkent on March 11. The event aimed to strengthen cooperation between Uzbekistan and Japan in the fields of environmental protection, sustainable infrastructure and green technologies, according to the Uzbek National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. During the
On March 11, the United States concluded a deportation flight to Uzbekistan, returning 72 Uzbekistani nationals who do not have legal authorization to remain in the United States, the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan said in a press release. This flight is the latest in a series of ongoing actions as the United States secures its borders. Since
Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, held a videoconference with Yerlan Nysanbayev, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, as well as an in-person meeting with Beibut Atamkulov, Kazakh Ambassador to Uzbekistan, to discuss Uzbek-Kazakh cooperation in the
Starting April 1, 2026, the minimum purchase amount for receiving a value-added tax (VAT) refund for foreign citizens in Uzbekistan will be lowered from 1 million soums ($82) to 300,000 soums ($25), according to a presidential decree of March 5, Fergana News Agency reported. The Tax Free system—a partial VAT refund for foreign citizens purchasing
The International Fund for Agricultural Development, the European Union, and Hamkorbank, launched a landmark program to boost rural entrepreneurship and expand financial inclusion targeting nearly 4,000 remittance-receiving households and returnees — migrant workers that came back to their place of origin — in Uzbekistan, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan reported. Through a
The official opening ceremony of the INNO Science Park, established in cooperation between Uzbekistan and Hungary, was held in the Jizzakh region on March 6, the Uzbek government’s website reported. The event was attended by the Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovations of Uzbekistan Kongratbay Sharipov, Deputy Governor of Jizzakh region Zafar Azimov, Ambassador
On March 5 and 6, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Communications of Turkmenistan, held a seminar entitled “National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategy: Shaping Joint Solutions for Sustainable Development.” The event was organized within the framework of the regional initiative supporting the development of a National AI Strategy and was facilitated by international experts from
A project to create artificial glaciers is being implemented in the Batken region in southern Kyrgyzstan with the support of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The FAO recently organized an informational event to assess the results of the artificial glacier technology implementation in the region, according to FAO Kyrgyzstan. Representatives
A round table discussion on the Kuvasoy City Master Plan was held in Kuvasoy in Uzbekistan’s Fergana region on March 4, bringing together representatives of local and national authorities, development partners, urban planning experts, the private sector, civil society, and media to discuss the city’s future spatial, economic, and environmental development, the United Nations Development
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Secretariat of the Framework (Tehran) Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, and the Ministry of Environmental Protection of Turkmenistan, recently held an inception seminar to mark the launch of the Regional Project “Addressing
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on March 4 met with Tajikistan President Emomali Rahmon to reaffirm ADB’s commitment to help the government achieve resilient, diversified, and inclusive growth for more and better jobs. “ADB is planning around $1.1 billion in support over 2026–2028 to strengthen infrastructure, improve competitiveness, and make social services better
Afghanistan’s trade with Central Asian countries increased significantly in 2025 compared to 2024, with imports rising by 43% and exports growing by 77%, TOLOnews reported citing statistics from the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce. Afghanistan’s imports increased from $1.679 billion in 2024 to $2.399 billion in 2025, while exports rose from $122 million to
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) President Zou Jiayi recently visited founding AIIB members Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan, conveying her intent to ensure AIIB’s future direction remains grounded in country needs and strong partnerships. These visits, part of a “listening tour” Zou is undertaking since she took office in January, highlighted Central Asia’s position as
In 2025, Uzbek citizens were the third-largest group among detained illegal migrants in Turkey, Fergana Information Agency reports with reference to data from the Turkish migration authorities. In 2025, Turkish authorities detained 13,683 Uzbek citizens, compared to 11,521 in 2024, when Uzbekistan was fourth. The increase continues since 2022. While 4,817 Uzbek citizens were detained