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 Hertfordshire Press Award for outstanding achievements in shaping and promoting the literary heritage of the Eurasian countries in the international space took place on November 29 during the 8th international festival Eurasian Creative Week in Greenock, Scotland. The festival events and awards ceremony brought together creative people and diplomats from 15 countries. Literary figures
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
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $22.58 million small expenditure financing facility (SEFF) that will support activities to boost project readiness and make project implementation more efficient and sustainable in Kyrgyzstan. The financing includes a $13.36 million concessional loan and a $9.22 million grant from the Asian Development Fund. It will fund project preparatory
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
On November 29, at the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade, the Investment Agreement for the construction of a 300 MW solar power plant and a 75 MW energy storage system in the Karmana district of the Navoi region of Uzbekistan was signed. The ceremony was attended by Laziz Kudratov, Minister of Investment, Industry
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, the opening ceremony of the IX European Film Festival took place at the National Palace of Cinema Arts in Tashkent. This year marks the 30th anniversary of official relations between the European Union and Uzbekistan, and the IX European Film Festival has become one of the crucial events dedicated to this important
The European Film Festival, held as part of the European Union Culture Days in Ashgabat, concluded this week. The festival, implemented in collaboration with the “European Film Festival” Project, the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, the Embassy of France, and the French Institute in Turkmenistan, opened with the animated film Icarus and the Minotaur, which
On November 28, an Uzbek-Turkish business forum was held in Tashkent as part of the visit of a delegation of Turkish business circles headed by Chairman of the Ostim united industrial zone Orhan Aydin. It was attended by Uzbek Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade Akram Aliyev and heads of more than 200 large
Kyrgyzstan and German companies have signed an investment agreement on a project to build and operate two floating solar power plants on the surface of the reservoir of Kyrgyzstan’s largest Toktogul hydroelectric power plant. The agreement was signed on November 26 between the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers and Sonnenenergie, a.s., AB Progressio GmbH, and LTI
On November 27, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting to discuss the current state of attracting foreign investment and plans for the next year. It was stated at the meeting that over the past 10 months, Uzbekistan has attracted more than $26 billion in foreign investment, a 1.7-fold increase compared to last year. These
On November 27, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a state visit to Kazakhstan. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev called Putin’s visit a historic event that marks an important milestone in the development of Kazakh-Russian relations. “For Kazakhstan, Russia is a strategic partner and a reliable ally. We are united by unbreakable bonds of friendship, centuries-old good
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
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) says it is launching three Women’s Creative Labs in At-Bashy, Kochkor, and Kyzart villages in Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region. These Labs will be run by the Public Foundation “Alliance of Trainers and Consultants – PF ATiK” and the Public Association “Naryn Center for Economic Development”. The Women’s Creative Lab is
Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has announced that the first return container train along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) departed on November 24 from Baku, Azerbaijan to Xi’an, China via Kazakhstan. The train, consisting of 62 containers with petroleum coke, will travel along the TITR after reverse loading and will return
Air Products, a world-leading industrial gases company, and the U.S. Embassy in Tashkent announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a state-of-the-art Makerspace in Qarshi, Uzbekistan. On November 26, U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick and Air Products Vice President for Central Europe and Central Asia Vaclav Harant officially signed the
The Days of European Culture commenced in Ashgabat on November 18, organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Turkmenistan in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture of Turkmenistan, European Union Member States, including the Embassy of Germany and the Embassy of France in Turkmenistan, and the French Institute in Turkmenistan. From 18 to
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is helping one of Uzbekistan’s first digital financial institutions, TBC Bank Uzbekistan (TBC UZ), to expand its services and provide lending to micro and youth-led or owned businesses as well as women entrepreneurs across the country. A senior loan of up to US$10 million (€9.1 million equivalent)
The U.S. Government’s Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Public Organization Ilmhona, and other international and private donors, on November 23 hosted the Regional Tech Jam Forum 2024 in Dushanbe. Since its inception in 2021, Tech Jam has become an important platform for young professionals, IT experts, and industry leaders to connect
