At the Regional Environmental Summit (RES) in Astana on April 22, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan and the NBSAP Accelerator Partnership, convened a high-level plenary session titled “Central Asia Initiative – Harmony with Nature for Sustainable Development of the Region,”
The Regional Ecological Summit 2026 (RES), under the theme “A Shared Vision for a Sustainable Future,” has commenced in the capital of Kazakhstan. The event is aimed at developing a comprehensive policy framework and practical instruments for the protection, restoration and shared use of ecosystems, water and land resources, as well as for the conservation
The Kazakhstan Low-Altitude Economy (KazLAE) Industrial Research Center was officially opened at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty on April 17. The Center was designed as an innovative platform for developing unmanned aviation, aero-mobility, and intelligent control systems. It will develop digital solutions, conduct joint research in artificial intelligence and industrial technologies, and train highly
On April 23–24, the international gastronomic festival “99 Dishes from Aral Fish” will take place at the Karateren ethno-tourism complex, located in the Takhtakupyr district of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the Uzbek Tourism Committee announced. The event aims to widely promote the unique potential of the Aral Sea region’s gastronomic tourism on the international stage,
Uzbekistan will hold an international running marathon titled “In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great” in order to widely promote Uzbekistan’s sports tourism potential on the international stage, enhance the attractiveness of its regions, and increase the flow of both foreign and domestic tourists, the country’s Tourism Committee has announced. The marathon will begin on
A project to construct a new Silk Road Museum in Samarkand was considered at a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on April 17. The museum’s exhibition will bring together more than 6,000 unique exhibits, including archaeological materials and works of fine and applied art. The museum will span 9 hectares and include spaces for
On April 14 in Tokyo, Kyrgyz Minister of Labor, Social Security and Migration Kanat Sagynbayev met with Hideharu Maruyama, Commissioner of the Immigration Services Agency of Japan to discuss the current state and prospects of Kyrgyz-Japanese cooperation in labor migration, specifically the Specified Skilled Worker program attracting foreign workers to fill labor shortages in certain
The Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan, in partnership with the Embassy of France in Turkmenistan, the French Institute in Turkmenistan, and the Embassy of Ukraine in Turkmenistan, opened the exhibition “The Worst Anniversary Ever” at the Nadar Gallery of the French Institute in Turkmenistan on 13 April. The exhibition will remain open to
Tajikistan has set a quota for recruiting migrant workers from Afghanistan, TOLOnews reports with reference to Tajik media. According to reports, Tajikistan has approved the recruitment of 520 Afghan workers for the current year, of whom 420 will be employed in the capital, Dushanbe. Tajik media report that Tajikistan plans to recruit nearly 5,500 foreign
In recent years, investors from the Eurasian region have shown growing interest in Afghanistan with a focus on transport and energy infrastructure, as the country has the potential to become an important link between Central and South Asia. Afghanistan remains a net importer of investment from Eurasian countries, with the total volume of FDI stock from these
With the aim of widely promoting the rich tourism potential of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, showcasing the region’s historical and cultural heritage, as well as the opportunities for ecological and ethnographic tourism, and creating an effective platform for dialogue between local and international partners, the first Destination Forum of Karakalpakstan will be held on April
On April 9, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals aimed at developing e-commerce and establishing bonded warehouse operations in Uzbekistan. Over the past eight years, the volume of e-commerce in the country has grown twentyfold, reaching $1.3 billion. The number of digital platforms exceeds 120. As a result of expanded self-employment opportunities and simplified licensing and taxation
The Cloudwards analytical project published the Internet Freedom by Country in 2026 report. It analyzed data from various sources across four key categories to measure how easy it really is for netizens in each country to access online sites and services. These categories include torrenting, adult content, political and civic content, and VPN accessibility. The
The project of the Zangezur Corridor was high on the agenda of the second meeting of heads of government of the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) held in Baku, Azerbaijan on April 2. Founded in 2009 to foster comprehensive cooperation among Turkic-speaking nations, the OTS includes Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, and
Kazakhstan has approved regulations for equipping shelters for the population protection. The new standard covers basements, underground parking lots, and other subterranean spaces, according to the press service of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan. In Kazakhstan, a new standard for shelters in case of emergencies has come into effect from January 1,
UN Tourism Secretary-General Shaikha Al Nowais visited the city of Samarkand, as part of her official visit to Uzbekistan, where she took part in the opening of the UN Tourism Thematic Office “Tourism on the Silk Road”, according to the Uzbek Tourism Committee. One of the key highlights of the program was the official inauguration
On April 5, 2026, Tashkent will host the 8th Tashkent International Marathon. This prestigious sporting event, held for eight consecutive years, has become one of the largest sports events in the country. More than 15,000 participants from over 30 countries are expected to take part, the Tourism Committee has announced. The marathon is an international
Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport on March 30 launched a direct passenger route to Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent, the first non-stop passenger service from the southern Chinese city to Central Asia, Xinhua reported. The airport said the route, operated by Uzbekistan Airways, marks its first new international route launched this year. The service will run once a
From May 31 to June 5, 2026, the international exhibition of environmental technologies, Eco Expo Central Asia 2026, will take place in Samarkand. The event will be held in parallel with the 8th Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), giving it particular significance and ensuring a high level of international participation, Uzbekistan’s National Committee
With the financial support from the European Union, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and European Investment Bank (EIB) have supported the construction and commissioning of a new wastewater treatment plant in Uzgen, Kyrgyzstan. The facility, delivered under the “Rehabilitation of Water Supply and Sewerage Systems in Uzgen” project, will provide 10,000 residents