The Euronews television channel opened its regional office in Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, on December 18. The opening ceremony was attended by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Euronews Pedro Vargas and the Minister of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan Aida Balayeva, Orda.kz reported with reference to the press service of the Ministry of
During the 4th Uzbekistan Country Platform roundtable on 17 December, over 90 participants from Uzbekistan’s government and international development partners discussed progress on key reforms in the education, skills development and TVET, i.e., technical and vocational education and training, sectors, crucial for aligning the workforce with labour market needs and advancing the Strategy “Uzbekistan 2030”,
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has been appointed as a transaction advisor to the Ministry of Preschool and School Education and the Ministry of Economy and Finance to support the delivery of high-quality preschool education via public–private partnerships (PPPs) in Jizzakh, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya and Tashkent regions in Uzbekistan. ADB is already providing similar advisory services
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has inaugurated a newly rehabilitated water supply system in Tajikistan’s Jomi District, bringing safe and reliable drinking water to 1,860 residents from 309 households. This is a part of the USAID Rural Water Supply activity, which is revitalizing water systems in 12 communities across Tajikistan through innovative public-private
After launching a four-day train tour in November connecting the cities of Almaty, Turkestan, and Tashkent, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), Kazakhstan’s national railway company, has announced the launch of another train tour, “Jibek Joly (Silk Road) 2.0,” along the route Almaty-Turkestan-Tashkent-Samarkand-Shymkent-Almaty. The first train on this route will depart on January 2 and return to
At the 9th meeting of the Working Party on the Accession of Uzbekistan on December 5 and 6, a high-level government delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev reaffirmed the country’s strong intention to swiftly advance negotiations with World Trade Organization (WTO) members, with a view to completing the process by 2026. The high-level
On December 11, Tashkent hosted the first Uzbekistan-Croatia Business Forum, marking a significant milestone in strengthening trade, economic, and investment ties between the two countries. The forum was co-chaired by the Minister of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, and the Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, Gordan Grlić Radman. The
On December 10, Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu held a working meeting with a group of ambassadors of Arab countries accredited in Kazakhstan. The meeting discussed ways to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, and a constructive exchange of views on the international and regional issues. Particular attention was
Afghanistan’s National Development Company says that Phase 2 of the Qoshtepa Canal construction project is 81% complete, TOLOnews reported. Nabiullah Arghandiwal, spokesperson for the National Development Company, said: “The construction process is progressing rapidly with advanced machinery and work teams. The embankments of the canal are also 67% complete, and all work is being carried
On December 9, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan hosted a ceremony to appoint the second group of “Goodwill Ambassadors of Kazakhstan,” with the participation of First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Akan Rakhmetullin. This project, initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, aims to foster dialogue between cultures and peoples, while enhancing the country’s visibility
The opening of a weather station for the early warning system aimed at protecting the Fergana Valley from climate risks and potential natural disasters was held on December 9 in Batken. This weather station is one of four planned for launch in the region. Similar stations will soon be operational in the pilot communities of
On December 4–5, a meeting of the European Union’s Working Group on the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP+) was held in Brussels. The event brought together representatives from 28 EU member states and, for the first time, a delegation from Uzbekistan, represented by the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade (MIIT). During the meeting, the
A side event titled “International Agency for Biological Security: Progress and Prospects in the Context of the Institutionalization of the BWC” organized by the Permanent Mission of Kazakhstan to the United Nations in Geneva was convened on December 4 at the Palais des Nations. Held on the sidelines of the Working Group on the Strengthening
The Academy of Creative Professions, supported by the U.S. Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic, on December 6 hosted a closing event where fourteen of the most talented participants of Graphic Design and Social Media Marketing (SMM) courses showcased their new skills as part of a competition. A jury of project representatives and private companies selected first-,
On December 3, during the One Water Summit in Riyadh, the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan and the World Bank signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing water resource management and promoting environmental sustainability. This MoU, signed following the meeting between President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and World Bank Group
Deputy Prime Minister–Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Murat Nurtleu participated in the 28th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Member States of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) in Mashhad, Iran on December 3. From January 1, 2025, the ECO chairmanship will pass from Iran to Kazakhstan for one year. During the
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has taken a major step in strengthening its presence in Central Asia, made possible through the strong support of and cooperation with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change. On December 2, the two parties signed a Host Country Agreement, formalizing the establishment of an
From 30 November to 1 December, the Regional Consultative Meeting of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) to discuss the establishment of the United Nations Special Programme for the Aral Sea Basin (UNSPAS) was held in Ashgabat. The proposal to establish the UN Special Programme for the Aral Sea Basin
The Global Coalition on Primary Health Care (PHC), announced by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana in October 2023, has started its work in Geneva. In this connection, foreign ambassadors and deputy permanent representatives last week welcomed the initiative of Kazakhstan and discussed ways to promote it. The Coalition aims to reorient global health
On November 27, over 40 representatives from Central Asia, OSCE executive structures, UN entities and civil society organizations gathered for the Second Meeting of the Central Asia Regional Expert Council (REC) on the Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees. The REC was inaugurated in Tashkent in May 2024 upon President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s initiative. The
