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
On December 1, the world marked World AIDS Day under the global theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” emphasizing the need for sustained political leadership, international cooperation, and human-rights-based approaches to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Kyrgyzstan is making confident strides in the fight against HIV: expanding testing coverage, introducing modern treatment drugs,
Kazakhstan has the best education level in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), with 276 out of every 1,000 Kazakhstani citizens holding a university degree, according to an analysis of Finprom.kz based on data from the CIS Statistical Committee. The CIS unites most of the former republics of the Soviet Union. Russia is second with
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are launching new air routes and developing joint tours along the Silk Road. Starting December 1, Kazakhstan’s SCAT Airlines will begin operating three new regular flights connecting the historical Kazakh city of Turkestan and the Uzbek cities of Bukhara, Urgench (Khiva), and Samarkand. Flights will operate three times a week. According to
On November 27, Tashkent hosted the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor (TCTC) and Connectivity Investors Forum with the participation of the European Union, South Caucasus and Central Asian countries, Türkiye, International Development Banks, the private sector and regional partners. The Forum demonstrated how the EU’s Global Gateway strategy is moving from vision to delivery, with new investments designed
From 26 November to 24 December, a series of training sessions is taking place across all 14 regions of Uzbekistan, including the Republic of Karakalpakstan, aimed at strengthening the role of territorial anti-corruption councils. The program is organized by the Anti-Corruption Agency, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), funded by the European Union, and supported
On the sidelines of the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20), an event was held dedicated to the presentation of the Atlas of Environmental Changes of Uzbekistan. It brought together representatives of government agencies, international organizations, research institutes, and the
A side event titled “Saiga Antelope: New Challenges” was held in Samarkand, organized by the National Committee of Uzbekistan for Ecology and Climate Change together with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan. The event took place within the framework of the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade
A major new environmental initiative has been launched in response to increasing pressure on Central Asia’s water and land resources, the growing impacts of climate change, land degradation, and more frequent droughts. The Central Asian Water and Land Nexus (CAWLN) Program, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by the National Committee of
The Digital Media Forum in Dushanbe this week brought together local and international experts, journalism students, bloggers, and digital innovators. Participants discussed pressing issues in modern digital journalism, from fact-checking and protecting audiences from online fraud to ethical and moral challenges associated with the use of artificial intelligence. One of the key speakers was Amie
