Based on recent economic consensus from institutions like the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the European Central Bank (ECB), and the World Economic Forum (WEF) as of early 2026, globalization is not entirely “over,” but it is undergoing a profound structural shift. Economists generally agree that the era of hyperglobalization has stagnated—a trend accelerated by the
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is helping to create favourable conditions for the growth and development of domestic pharmaceutical production in Uzbekistan by supporting the operations of its long-term client, Samarkand England Eco-Medical (SEEM). The Bank is providing a loan of up to €20 million to SEEM and its sister-company, Bayan
During his visit to Asunción, the Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan, Laziz Kudratov, was received by the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña. The parties discussed the phased opening of markets on a reciprocal basis and the expansion of mutual market access for goods from both countries, according to the Uzbek government’s website.
On February 26, London hosted a meeting of foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries and the United Kingdom under the “Central Asia + UK” (CA5+UK) framework. The ministers discussed a wide range of bilateral and regional issues, including opportunities for economic growth, expanding trade and investment cooperation, and joint efforts to strengthen regional connectivity
Brussels is concerned about the sharp increase in the deliveries of European industrial and radio equipment to Russia through Kyrgyzstan over the past year, David O’Sullivan, the European Union’s special envoy on sanctions, said at a briefing in Bishkek on February 26. In his words, this equipment is not manufactured in Kyrgyzstan, but imported from
Kazakhstan ranked as low as 77th out of 89 countries in U.S. News & World Report’s 2024 Best Countries for a Comfortable Retirement rankings, Energyprom.kz reports. The rankings are drawn from an international survey of nearly 17,000 people and highlight countries according to the perceptions of a subset of about 5,900 respondents in their mid-40s and older.
From 31 May to 6 June 2026, Samarkand will host the VIII Assembly of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), one of the largest international events in the field of environmental protection and climate action. Holding an event of this scale in Uzbekistan will be a landmark step in strengthening the country’s position on the global
On February 25 in London, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Yermek Kosherbayev took part in a roundtable meeting with representatives of the British business community. The British side was represented by Acting Minister of State for Business and Trade and Co-Chair of the UK side of the Kazakhstan-UK Intergovernmental Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific, Technical
On February 25, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals for the development of urbanization processes and the expansion of green areas in Tashkent. In recent years, the economy and agglomeration of the capital have been developing dynamically, and the permanent population of Tashkent has exceeded 3.1 million. It is projected that the city’s population will
In 2025, Kazakhstan’s foreign trade turnover, according to preliminary data, reached $143.9 billion—$1.8 billion more than in 2024. Compared to 2020, trade turnover increased by two-thirds, according to finprom.kz. Exports in 2025 amounted to $79 billion—slightly below the 2024 level and the 2022 peak. Imports, on the contrary, continued to grow: from $38.9 billion in
On March 1, 2026, Uzbekistan will officially launch a state rainfall induction project. The initiative, approved by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, aims to combat drought and water shortages in the Tashkent region, drawing on the experience of France, China, and Saudi Arabia. The technique is expected to increase precipitation by 10–20%, ensuring agricultural stability, Tashkent Today
A dialogue between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the country’s youth took place on February 24. More than 60,000 young people participated in the meeting via studios in Karakalpakstan, across the regions, and in the city of Tashkent. The president noted that the country’s more than 22 million young people represent a powerful economic, social, and
The European Union Delegation to Turkmenistan and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan last week held a joint press briefing to review the results of EU-Turkmenistan cooperation in 2025 and to outline strategic priorities for 2026. EU Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Beata Peksa, underlined that 2025 delivered tangible results across priority sectors including connectivity, green
The IshKadr Academy Digital Skills Development Center has officially opened in the Khazarasp district of Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region. The center was established within the framework of the joint project of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) “Empowering Youth to Embrace the Digital Economy and Digital Entrepreneurship,”
In 2025, Uzbekistan’s public debt increased by $6.6 billion or 16.5%, reaching $46.9 billion. In the fourth quarter of the year alone, the debt grew by $2.9 billion, Tashkent Today reports. The country’s external debt amounted to $39.8 billion, an increase of $6.1 billion over the year. Domestic debt increased to $7 billion (+$542 million
There’s a growing discussion on social media that Kazakhstanis have allegedly started buying pork more often due to high prices of beef, which is almost twice as expensive. Social-media users claim the price difference has defined the consumer choice. Orda.kz investigated whether this is true. According to a meat vendor, “It’s not that everyone has
Chairman of Kyrgyzstan’s Cabinet of Ministers Adylbek Kasymaliev on February 20 attended the capsule-laying ceremony marking the launch of construction of the Tamchy Special Financial Investment Territory, a special legal and regulatory jurisdiction located on the northern shore of Lake Issyk-Kul. Kasymaliev emphasized that the Tamchy zone is intended to become an international financial center,
Uzbekistan ranked 104th out of 123 countries in the EF English Proficiency Index 2025, the world’s largest ranking of countries and regions by English skills based on test results of 2.2 million adults, Tashkent Today reported. Uzbekistan’s score 429 is significantly below the global average score of 488. Compared to the previous year, the country lowered
On February 20, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a meeting to define priority tasks for the socio-economic development of the Republic of Karakalpakstan. It was noted that due to its vast territory and mineral reserves, Karakalpakstan has considerable economic and investment potential. Tangible changes have taken place in Karakalpakstan’s economy in recent years. Eight years ago, the
Since the beginning of 2026, employers have posted 102,700 job vacancies and job seekers have submitted 162,400 resumes on the Enbek.kz online job exchange in Kazakhstan, according to the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection. The number of job seekers exceeds the number of vacancies, with an average of 1.58 resumes per vacancy. Over 80%
