On December 12, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev participated in an International Forum in Ashgabat dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the proclamation of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality, the International Day of Neutrality, and the declaration of 2025 as the “International Year of Peace and Trust”. The event, chaired by President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, was
On December 11, Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian participated in the Kazakh-Iranian Business Forum in Astana. Tokayev reported that last year, bilateral trade exceeded $340 million. “We agreed to significantly increase trade turnover between our countries, with the goal of reaching $1 billion initially and $2 billion in the next stage.
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $250 million loan for Uzbekistan to support a program aimed at expanding equitable access to student financing in higher education and in technical and vocational education and training (TVET) (the EduImkon Program). Over the next three years, this program will help strengthen the student financing support
On December 10, the United States celebrated the handover of its 16th shipment of food assistance to Uzbekistan, continuing long-standing cooperation in health and humanitarian support, the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent said. The latest delivery includes 131 metric tons of vitamin- and mineral-fortified lentil and vegetable mix valued at $448,000 and is set to benefit
The European Union has disbursed a EUR 7 million grant to the Government of Uzbekistan in support of the continued implementation of the country’s Agricultural Development Strategy 2020–2030. The announcement was made by EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan Toivo Klaar during his meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov. The meeting provided an opportunity to
The European Union and Tajikistan on December 10 marked the successful completion of two newly constructed pipelines in the city of Istiklol (formerly Taboshar), an important milestone under the EU’s long-standing commitment to improving environmental safety and addressing uranium legacy sites in Central Asia, the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan reported. The opening ceremony,
Kazakhstan’s Satbayev University, a technical university located in Almaty, has signed an agreement with the French energy company Total and the University of Lorraine for the launch of an educational program at Satbayev University to train personnel for the Mirny wind energy project in the Zhambyl region. The document was signed by Samgat Yermekbayev, First
Great Britain’s Kurash wrestlers produced some fine performances at the Paris International Tournament, achieving a gold and a bronze medal. This prestigious event, held in honour of the birthday of the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, took place under the embracing shadow of the historic Eiffel Tower. The iconic tower was beautifully lit for the
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is extending a financing facility of up to US$ 50 million (€43 million) to Ipak Yuli Bank to support micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Uzbekistan, improving access to green finance and stimulating green innovation. The package consists of two complementary components designed to
Governments of five Central Asian countries could raise GDP per capita by 6 to 14 percent above projected levels by 2050 by increasing investments in children’s health, education, and development, according to a new report released by UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund. According to “Generation 2050 in Central Asia,” the Central Asian region has
The Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan on December 3 hosted the presentation of the National Integrity System Assessment (NISA) of Uzbekistan — a comprehensive study evaluating the country’s anti-corruption framework and its alignment with international standards. The event gathered over 80 participants, including senior representatives of the Government of Uzbekistan, such as the Ministry of Justice, General Prosecutor’s Office, Supreme Court
At a meeting in Ashgabat in mid-November, the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan approved water distribution quotas for the 2025-2026 non-growing season (from October 1, 2025 to April 1, 2026) for the Syr Darya and Amu Darya river basins. The Amu Darya and Syr Darya are the two
The Law Enforcement Academy of the Republic of Uzbekistan (LEA) on December 2 in Tashkent hosted the Model Conference of the States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC), bringing together students, experts, practitioners, and representatives of international organizations for a full-day simulation focused on strengthening cross-border anti-corruption cooperation. The event was organized
Kazakhstan is strengthening its position as a key educational hub in Eurasia with 35,075 international students from 88 countries studying in the country’s universities in 2025, 11% more than in 2024, according to the Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Most of the international students are from India (9,959), Turkmenistan (9,089), Uzbekistan (4,136), China (3,367),
In recent months, the issue of air quality in Tashkent has become a focus of public attention. Some news outlets and social media reported that emissions from greenhouses located on the Kazakh side of the border may be one of the causes of the Tashkent smog. This suggestion has sparked widespread controversy as environmental issues
The 3rd Meeting of the Basin Dialogues in the Amu Darya and Syr Darya River Basins began in Tashkent on December 2 within the framework of the regional program “Climate-sensitive Water Resources Management in Central Asia,” the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan reported. The purpose of the meeting was to strengthen partnerships, establish
During the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) in Samarkand, a meeting took place between Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President on Ecology and Chair of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, and Amna bint Abdullah Al-Dahak Al
The International Organization of Turkic Culture (TÜRKSOY) has declared the historical city of Andijan in Uzbekistan the ‘Cultural Capital of the Turkic World’ for 2026. Andijan has taken over the prestigious title from the city of Aktau in Kazakhstan, which held the title throughout 2025. TÜRKSOY Secretary General Sultan Raev stated: “Aktau has brought together the
The SMART Driving Technology engineering center has been inaugurated at D. Serikbayev East Kazakhstan Technical University, marking a new stage in the development of the Luban Workshop project at the university. Launched in 2023 as a key project of cooperation between Kazakhstan and China in the field of engineering education, the Luban Workshop at the
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan have signed a Statement of Intent to join efforts under the Partnership for Action on Green Economy (PAGE) initiative, UNDP Uzbekistan reported. The document was signed by Mr. Anas Fayyad Qarman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, and
