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
The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM), Ambassador Jan Braathu, concluded his official visit to Uzbekistan on November 16. During the visit, he held a series of high-level meetings focused on the ongoing reform of the media regulatory framework, the impact of digital transformation on journalism, and the implementation of OSCE commitments. Representative
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $56.4 million program to help Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan boost their capacity to respond to disasters. Both countries are vulnerable to disasters, such as earthquakes and floods, but lack the fiscal capacity and risk transfer mechanisms to effectively respond to hazards. The Risk-Layered Disaster Relief Finance Program will enhance their
Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Masato Kanda on November 18 met with Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to reaffirm the strength of ADB’s partnership with Uzbekistan and to commemorate 30 years of development cooperation. “ADB is proud to celebrate three decades of partnership with Uzbekistan,” said Mr. Kanda. “We remain committed to supporting reforms that broaden
Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Kazakhstan Nurzhan Nurzhigitov and Minister of Water Resources of Uzbekistan Shavkat Khamrayev have signed an intergovernmental agreement on the joint management and rational use of transboundary rivers and canals. The agreement, signed on November 15 in Tashkent, establishes mechanisms for cooperation on transboundary rivers and canals that provide
At a high-level segment of the UN Climate Change Conference (CoP30) in Belém, Brazil, Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of Uzbekistan, underscored Central Asia’s acute vulnerability to climate change, noting accelerating land degradation and diminishing water resources. He reported that regional temperatures have already risen by 2.2 °C and that
