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
Between 25 and 27 November, European Commissioners Jozef Síkela and Marta Kos will be in Uzbekistan to advance the development of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor aimed at linking Europe and Central Asia within 15 days. The Corridor is a flagship initiative of the EU’s Global Gateway investment strategy in the region to foster prosperity and stability in Central Asia,
Senior officials from across Central Asia gathered on November 23 in Samarkand for a high-level ministerial meeting on “Central Asia’s Commitment to Snow Leopard and Mountain Landscape Resilience: From Policy to Practice — Monitoring, Funding, and Action for Regulated Wildlife Trade.” The event took place ahead of the 20th meeting of the Conference of the
As part of the High-Level Dialogue on enhancing the strategic impact of the 20th Conference of the Parties to CITES, a signing ceremony was held for the Samarkand Declaration and the Regional Cooperation Action Plan for 2026–2032 to support the sustainable use of wildlife and plant resources and combat illegal trade in wild animals and
On 24 November, the official opening ceremony of the 20th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES CoP20) took place in Samarkand. CITES CoP20 marks the first large-scale session of the Convention ever held in Central Asia. The forum has brought together more
In recent years, Uzbekistan has significantly expanded efforts to attract tourists from China — one of the world’s largest tourism markets. The year 2025 was declared the “Year of Uzbekistan Tourism in China.” Throughout the year, tourism roadshows were held in major Chinese cities and provinces, and Uzbekistan presented its national stand at major tourism
The Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment of the Republic of Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation for Flood Forecasting and Prevention through the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technology. The document was signed during Korea International Water Week in Daegu, South Korea.
The Kazakh Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan, and the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) have signed a financial agreement on the project “Developing a Business Ecosystem for Sustainable Irrigation in Kazakhstan.” The Bank is providing a $3.5 million grant to launch an initiative aimed at modernizing and strengthening the irrigation
