Until recently, Central Asia remained one of the least familiar regions of the world for most people in Latin America. If the names Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, or Uzbekistan were known at all, they were usually associated with geography, sports, or occasional news headlines. Today, that is beginning to change. Growing trade and economic ties, new international
On July 31, the Kyrgyz resort city of Cholpon-Ata hosted an informal meeting of the heads of state of Central Asia and Azerbaijan. The meeting was attended by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kyrgyzstan Sadyr Japarov, President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov, and President
As part of his state visit to Georgia, the President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov held talks with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in Tbilisi on July 17. On the previous day, Berdimuhamedov participated in the Turkmen-Georgian Business Forum intended to facilitate the expansion of bilateral trade and economic ties. During the talks, the leaders emphasized
The European Union and the five countries of Central Asia — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan — on July 16 held the 13th meeting of their annual High-Level Political and Security Dialogue in Brussels. The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Secretary-General for Political Affairs at the European External Action Service, Olof Skoog, with participation
A delegation of Turkmenistan is participating in the events of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York under the auspices of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), dedicated to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, according to the Turkmen Foreign Ministry.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Civil Defence and Rescue Operations Directorate under the Ministry of Defence of Turkmenistan, has launched the national component of the regional project Strengthening the System for Region-wide Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia. Funded by the Government of Japan, the initiative is being implemented across all
This year, the United States marks the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Embassy in Turkmenistan is bringing that history to life. In celebration of this milestone, the U.S. Embassy organized a series of Founders Museum exhibitions and related programs across Turkmenistan. Across all five regions of Turkmenistan,
On July 9, President Serdar Berdimuhamedov received Steve Daines, a member of the United States Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources and Senator from the state of Montana, who arrived in Turkmenistan on a visit. Senator Daines conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from President Donald Trump to the Turkmen head of state. President
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan, has completed the installation of two solar photovoltaic systems at the Yoloten Etrap Hospital in Mary Velayat, marking an important step towards more resilient, sustainable, and climate-smart healthcare services. With a combined capacity of 30 kilowatts, the
As part of his official visit to Turkmenistan on July 1, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev was received by the President of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdimuhamedov. During the meeting, the Kazakh Foreign Minister conveyed warm greetings and best wishes on behalf of the President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. Kosherbayev underscored the special importance
The Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan Business Forum, which brought together representatives of government agencies, business circles, and industry organizations from both countries, was held in Astana as part of the 14th meeting of the Intergovernmental Kazakh-Turkmen Commission. Participants discussed prospects for expanding trade, economic, and investment cooperation, as well as specific measures to increase mutual trade, according to
A ceremony to present the Dostlug (Friendship) oil tanker in an online format was held on June 22 with the participation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov. The Dostlug tanker, gifted by Azerbaijan to Turkmenistan, was built at the Baku Shipyard. The tanker has an overall length of 141
Central Asia and Mongolia will remain resilient to geopolitical shocks and record the highest growth rates of the EBRD countries of operation in 2026 and 2027, according to the latest Regional Economic Prospects report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The economies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are projected to grow by 5.6 per cent
In Central Asia, much of the conversation still revolves around oil, logistics, borders, and geopolitical influence. Yet the most decisive resource of the region’s future is neither hydrocarbons nor transit corridors. It is water. Stripped of diplomatic language, the reality is stark: the region is entering a phase where the Soviet-era water management system –
Of course, the transition of the Former Soviet Republics from Communism to Market Economy witnessed a dramatic fall in infrastructure spending. Consequently, different republics progressed at different speeds, though with an increasing realization that such spending is necessary to develop their economies. Ironically, it is their western counterparts who are arguably underinvesting in their own
The International Labour Organization (ILO), in partnership with the European Union (EU) and national stakeholders, have launched the project “Promoting decent work and preventing child and forced labour in Turkmenistan”. Running from 2026 to 2027 and funded by the EU, the ILO-implemented initiative aims at addressing child labour and forced labour while promoting decent work,
Turkmenistan has put into operation a new dry cargo vessel, Gadamly. This historic event is expected to strengthen Turkmenistan’s position in the Caspian Sea region as an important transport and transit corridor. Built at the Balkan Shipyard in Turkmenbashi city in collaboration with Koryo Shipbuilding Industry Technology (Republic of Korea), Gadamly is designed for the
Content creators and information professionals took part in a series of training workshops which were held in Ashgabat from 29 April to 6 May. Each workshop attracted around 30 participants, including content creators, media professionals, educators, and students, all interested in enhancing creative ideas, raising professional standards, and promoting the responsible use of modern digital
An informal summit of the Council of Heads of State of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will be hosted by Kazakhstan on 15 May 2026 in Turkistan, the spiritual capital of the Turkic World, under the theme “Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development.” The summit will bring together the heads of state and government of
The collapse of the Soviet Union is rarely seen as a deliberate project. Rather, it is viewed as a crisis or a chain of events that spiralled out of control. Yet, when the early years of independence across the post-Soviet space are examined through the lens of sustainable development, it becomes clear that this period