Major companies from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have shown interest in investing in Afghanistan’s oil and gas mines, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported citing the country’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum. Homayoon Afghan, spokesperson for the ministry, says they welcome foreign companies to invest in Afghanistan’s oil and gas mines. According to Mr. Afghan, recently two large
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on May 24 approved a $100 million concessional loan for Uzbekistan to implement the Innovative Social Protection System for Inclusion of Vulnerable People (INSON) Project. The project aims to improve access to and quality of social services for vulnerable people in Uzbekistan. The project is also co-financed by a
The Central Asian Women Leaders’ Caucus Meeting concluded on 23 May in Bishkek. The event, centred on “The role of women in the economies of Central Asia: leadership for promoting digital, social, and environmental innovation,” brought together women leaders from across the region to strategize and commit to enhancing women’s roles in these critical sectors, the
The World Bank Group, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), and the Government of Uzbekistan have signed a financial package to fund a 250-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant with a 63-MW battery energy storage system (BESS). The project aims to expand clean and reliable electricity access to approximately 75,000 households, the World Bank said
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Labor Migration Agency on May 17 called on the Central Asian nation’s citizens who may have broken laws in Russia to avoid travel to neighboring Kazakhstan, citing Kazakh-Russian agreements on joint efforts against crime, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. According to the agency, Uzbeks registered in Russia’s database as violators will be arrested if they cross
Alisher Kadyrov, the leader of the National Revival party and vice-speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Uzbek parliament, has proposed that those who do not know the Uzbek language should not work in the civil service and should not be able to use government services in Uzbekistan, Radio Ozodlik reported. Kadyrov made such comments
According to the latest Regional Economic Prospects (REP) report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Central Asian economies in 2024 are expected to see growth slowing to 5.4 percent. However, a rebound to 5.9 percent is expected in 2025. The report notes that intermediated trade with Russia, which had been a significant growth
The Special Representative of Uzbekistan’s President, Ismatullah Irgashev, and the Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, Ilkhom Makhkamov, arrived in Kabul on May 12, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported. During a meeting with the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate (the Taliban administration of Afghanistan), Ilkhom Makhkamov stated that Uzbekistan supports the Islamic Emirate’s
In 2024, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan commemorates Europe Day and 30 years of partnership between the European Union and Uzbekistan. To mark this significant milestone, a public festival and concert celebrating “30 Years of European Union – Uzbekistan Partnership” will take place on 18 May at the Tashkent Botanical Garden, the EU
The Supreme Court of Uzbekistan has exonerated posthumously 198 individuals convicted by the Soviet regime in the 1920s-1930s for “counter-revolutionary actions, armed uprisings, terrorism, banditry and espionage, and anti-Soviet activities,” RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. The Supreme Court announced on May 6 its decision to exonerate the men, many of whom were sentenced to death and others who were
