The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

Kazakhstan and its European partners unveiled four transport deals worth a combined $462 million on June 22, giving President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Belgium a concrete outcome on Eurasian connectivity. The package was presented at the business conference “Strengthening EU-Kazakhstan Connectivity: Perspectives and Strategic Potential of the Middle Corridor.” The...

Kazakhstan-Canada Relations

Beyond Resources: Ambassador Kussainov on Kazakhstan and Canada’s Partnership in AI, Education, and Innovation

FIFA World Cup

Portugal vs Uzbekistan: The White Wolves Face the Ronaldo Circus in Houston

Uzbekistan’s World Cup has moved north, from the thin air of Mexico City to the sealed dome of Houston's NRG Stadium, where Portugal, Cristiano Ronaldo and a crowd of number seven shirts await. On paper, the move should help. The roof at Houston’s NRG Stadium will remain closed throughout the...

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Out Now

Tashkent International Investment Forum

Digital Diplomacy and Soft Power at TIIF 2026

At the Tashkent International Investment Forum 2026, a panel on “Digital Diplomacy and Soft Power” examined how governments use online platforms, artificial intelligence and direct public communication to shape their international reputation and attract investment. Vladimir Norov, Uzbekistan’s former foreign minister, former secretary-general of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and current...

EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation

Tokayev Heads to Brussels as Kazakhstan and EU Seek Progress on Trade, Minerals and Transport

Humanitarian Aid

Kazakhstan Afghanistan Ties Expand With Aid, Medicine and Trade Talks

A Kazakhstani delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin visited Kabul on June 19-21, combining humanitarian aid, medical cooperation, education and trade talks with Afghanistan’s Taliban-led authorities. Kazakhstan has long treated Afghanistan as a central regional issue, arguing that stability and economic integration there...

Kazakh Coalitions, Kyrgyz Security Signals, and Uncovering Disinformation Networks in Central Asia

00:00 / 00:00

Sunkar Podcast

Kazakhstan to Host 2027 Table Tennis World Championships

00:00 / 00:00

Opinions

Opinion: The Amu Darya Stress Test – Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the Politics of Agricultural Adaptation

Zamirbek Minbaev

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s New Income Growth Plan – Administrative Measures Against Market Realities

Igor Klevtsov

Opinion: Central Asia’s Shift from Silk Road Romance to Infrastructure Finance – What the June Forums Are Building

Dr. Magsud Mammadov

UNDP Opinion: Central Asia – Shared Wildlife, Shared Landscapes, Shared Responsibility

UNDP Representatives in Kazakhstan, Katarzyna Wawiernia, Kyrgyzstan, Alexandra Solovieva, Tajikistan, Sudipto Mukerjee, Turkmenistan, Narine Sahakyan, Uzbekistan, Akiko Fujii.

Opinion: Beyond Multivectorism – What Kyrgyzstan’s UN Security Council Win Really Shows

Zamirbek Minbaev

Opinion: Eurasia’s New Corridors Are More Than a Transit Race

Aidar Borangaziyev

Opinion: Silk Seven or the OTS? Central Asia May Not Have to Choose

Ken Moriyasu

Opinion: How AI Is Reshaping the Global Image of Nations

Sergey Akhmetov

Opinion: Middle Powers and the “Voice of the Region” – Is Central Asia Becoming a Coordinated Actor?

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: UK’s C6 Engagement and the Opportunity for British Geostrategic Renewal

Matthew Davies

Opinion: The Southern Dimension of the Middle Corridor – Afghanistan’s Role in Eurasia’s New Logistics Landscape

Timur Serikuly

Opinion: Kazakhstan, Oil, the Iran War and Dutch Disease

Charles McLean

Business & Economy

International Monetary Fund

IMF Growth Forecast for Uzbekistan Warns of Inflation and Global Risks

Uzbekistan’s economy performed strongly in 2025, with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) reporting growth across sectors. Inflation fell and the fiscal deficit narrowed. The Fund urged policymakers to keep monetary policy tight and continue reforms as geopolitical tensions and global uncertainty add risks. Uzbekistan’s real GDP expanded by 7.7% in 2025, driven by strong domestic consumption and investment. The unemployment rate fell by 0.7 percentage points from the previous year to 4.8%. Growth was supported by rapid expansion in services and construction. Consumer price inflation declined from 9.8% at the end of 2024 to 7.3% at the end of 2025....

Middle Corridor

Kazakhstan and European Partners Announce $462 Million Middle Corridor Agreements in Brussels

Nuclear Power

Central Asia’s Nuclear Push: Uzbekistan Starts Construction as Kazakhstan Plans at Least Three Plants

Minerals

Kazakhstan Afghanistan Mining Talks Focus on Aquamarine and Zinc

Tashkent International Investment Forum

Digital Diplomacy and Soft Power at TIIF 2026

Chinese Investment

Chinese Investment in Uzbekistan Surpasses $8 Billion This Year

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with a delegation of leading Chinese companies and financial institutions on the sidelines of the Tashkent International Investment Forum. The meeting focused on new investment projects in energy, mining, infrastructure, and finance. The Chinese delegation was led by Wang Hongzhi, head of China’s National Energy Administration. It included executives from China Energy Engineering Corporation, China Datang, Sinoma Energy Conservation, China Southern Power Grid, China CAMC Engineering, China National Nuclear Corporation, and State Nuclear Uranium Resource Development. Representatives of the Export-Import Bank of China and Bank of China also attended. According to Uzbekistan’s presidential press service, the...

Remittances

Kazakhstan Remains Far Less Remittance-Dependent Than Its Neighbors

Money transfers from abroad play very different roles in different economies. In some countries, funds sent by labor migrants are a key source of household income. In Kazakhstan, however, their impact remains minimal. That is the conclusion reached by analysts at Finprom.kz. According to the study, the volume of international money transfers through remittance systems in Kazakhstan continues to decline. In January-April 2026, around $376.3 million was sent abroad from Kazakhstan, compared with $388.8 million in the same period last year. Inflows from other countries also decreased, from $138.2 million to $128.8 million. Kazakhstan has traditionally sent significantly more money...

New Development Bank

Uzbekistan and BRICS New Development Bank Agree on $4.5 Billion Joint Project Portfolio

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has held talks with Dilma Rousseff, president of the New Development Bank (NDB), who arrived in Tashkent to take part in the Tashkent International Investment Forum. According to Uzbekistan’s presidential press service, Mirziyoyev and Rousseff discussed prospects for expanding cooperation with the NDB, including the implementation of agreements reached during previous negotiations. Rousseff praised Uzbekistan’s economic reforms and said the bank was ready to support the country’s priority socioeconomic development goals. The meeting also covered Uzbekistan’s recent accession to the NDB. Uzbekistan officially became the bank’s 10th shareholder in June 2026 and the first Central Asian...

Income Growth Plan

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s New Income Growth Plan – Administrative Measures Against Market Realities

Kazakhstan’s government has unveiled a Comprehensive Plan to Increase Household Incomes for 2026-2029. The Ministry of National Economy says it contains 59 measures. The stated goals include higher wages and lower inflation. The plan also aims to ease household debt. The full text of the plan has not yet been published in open access. First Vice Minister Azamat Amrin presented its main provisions at a Government press conference on June 11. The central contradiction lies in the fact that guaranteed income growth applies to only a small segment of the population. The plan creates fundamentally different conditions for the public...

Local Politics

Biometric Identification

Turkmen Passport Applicants Sent for Medical Certificates After Fingerprint Scanner Failures

Citizens of Turkmenistan applying for biometric passports or traveling abroad are facing technical failures during fingerprint collection, according to Turkmen.news. Because Migration Service equipment often fails to recognize fingerprint patterns, people are being forced to obtain special medical certificates confirming the “impossibility of undergoing fingerprinting.” According to the publication, the problem does not lie in the absence of fingerprints themselves, but in the operation of the scanners. Many applicants say the equipment is unable to capture data even when clearly visible papillary ridge patterns are present. As a result, citizens are trying different methods to improve the chances of a...

Digital Development

Turkmenistan’s Digital Push Gains Ground Despite Tight Internet Controls

Political Parties

Kazakhstan’s Party System Faces Its First Kurultai Test

Adilet Party

Fraudsters Attempt to Exploit Kazakhstan’s Adilet Party Name

Drone Production

Kyrgyzstan Expands Domestic Drone Production

Healthcare

Tokayev Says Kazakhstan Offers Healthcare Benefits Unavailable in Some Western Countries

Kazakhstan provides its citizens with a range of social guarantees that, according to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, are unavailable even in some of the world’s most developed countries. Tokayev made the remarks during an awards ceremony for healthcare workers ahead of their professional holiday. Kazakhstan marks Medical Workers’ Day annually on the third Sunday of June, which falls on June 21 this year. Speaking at the ceremony, Tokayev said Kazakhstan remains a social state and that fulfilling social obligations is a constitutional responsibility of all branches of government. He noted that more than 9 trillion tenge, or almost $18 billion, was...

Smartphones

Turkmen Schools Introduce New Rules for Smartphone Use

Turkmen authorities have approved new regulations governing the use of personal mobile devices in educational institutions, introducing formal rules for smartphones, tablets, laptops, and other devices used by students and teachers. The document, prepared by the Ministry of Education, outlines how digital devices may be used in the learning process. Under the new rules, such technology may serve as a source of information and be used to access electronic libraries, educational platforms, and distance-learning tools. Schools have been assigned a number of responsibilities. Educational institutions must ensure access to essential digital services, specialized software, and data networks. They are also...

Education

Turkmenistan Sets New Rules for Mobile Devices in Schools

In 2020, Turkmenistan’s schools banned the use of mobile phones during classes. Now the government has introduced new rules regulating the use of portable devices in academic settings, seeking to use them as learning tools while addressing concerns about distraction and other potentially negative effects on students. A Ministry of Education order recognizes the value of mobile devices in education, saying they must provide access to learning resources, including multimedia content, and help students organize files that contain textbooks, courses, and other materials in electronic form. The devices must improve “the quality of educational management, especially in educational systems that...

Kazakhstan's Parliament

Amanat Adilet Merger as Kazakhstan Prepares for New Parliament

Kazakhstan’s long-dominant Amanat party has voted to merge into the newly formed pro-presidential Adilet party, transferring the machinery of the country’s ruling political force into a new vehicle more closely associated with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. The move gives Adilet the campaign infrastructure and nationwide network of officials and activists that it lacked as a newly registered party. For Amanat, it offers a way to move beyond a political brand still closely associated with former President Nursultan Nazarbayev. Amanat held a congress in Astana on June 12 that is likely to be remembered as the final meeting of a political organization...

International Affairs

Kazakhstan-Canada Relations

Beyond Resources: Ambassador Kussainov on Kazakhstan and Canada’s Partnership in AI, Education, and Innovation

For decades, Kazakhstan and Canada built their partnership around natural resources. Today, that relationship is expanding into new territory. From artificial intelligence and innovation to education and workforce development, both countries are increasingly looking beyond traditional sectors to shape the next phase of cooperation. This trend is already reflected in economic indicators. More than 160 Canadian-linked enterprises operate in Kazakhstan, Canadian investment has exceeded U$ 6 billion since 1994, and bilateral trade reached approximately U$ 458 million in 2025. At the same time, sectors that will shape the competitiveness of both economies in the coming decades are gaining greater importance....

Humanitarian Aid

Kazakhstan Afghanistan Ties Expand With Aid, Medicine and Trade Talks

Bilateral Relations

Uzbekistan Mahallasi Opens in Turkey’s Earthquake-Hit Hatay

Termez Dialogue 2026

Opinion: Indian Ambassador Says Shared Spiritual Legacy Reflects Indo-Uzbek Solidarity

Iran

U.S.-Iran Framework Could Reopen Central Asia’s Southern Route

EU-Kazakhstan Cooperation

Tokayev Heads to Brussels as Kazakhstan and EU Seek Progress on Trade, Minerals and Transport

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev arrived in Brussels on June 22 seeking to advance cooperation with the European Union on critical minerals, transport connectivity, investment, and visa facilitation, as Kazakhstan and the EU move from framework agreements toward implementation. Tokayev’s official visit brings him together with the European Union's two senior institutional leaders and Belgium's prime minister. Tokayev is scheduled to meet European Council President António Costa at 7 p.m. on Monday. A joint meeting with Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is set for Tuesday. His program also includes Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever and a Kazakhstan-EU...

Transport & Logistics

Kazakhstan and Iran Expand Port Access to Boost Cargo Transit

Iran is ready to provide Kazakhstan with access to its port infrastructure to support cargo shipments to international markets, Iranian Minister of Roads and Urban Development Farzaneh Sadegh said during talks with Kazakhstan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin. The meeting took place in Astana, where transport and logistics cooperation topped the agenda. The two sides discussed the development of the International North-South Transport Corridor, port infrastructure, bilateral trade, and transport links between Kazakhstan and Iran. Iranian officials said procedures had been finalized to allocate a land plot to Kazakhstan at Shahid Rajaee Port in Bandar...

Tashkent International Investment Forum

Mirziyoyev Says Uzbekistan’s Doors Will “Always Remain Open” as Fifth Tashkent Investment Forum Begins

TASHKENT, June 17 — President Shavkat Mirziyoyev opened the Fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) on Wednesday with a message aimed squarely at the nearly 4,000 mostly foreign delegates packed into the hall: Uzbekistan's doors are open, and the country intends to keep them that way. Speaking under this year's theme, "Investment Resilience: New Frontiers, New Partnerships," Mirziyoyev framed the forum as more than a transactional venue for capital, but as a platform to initiate and deepen long-term mutually beneficial partnerships. He described what he called the "Tashkent investment spirit" — a phrase he used to capture the event's evolution...

TRIPP

The 43 Kilometers That Could Rewire Eurasia

The Caspian Policy Center’s Trans-Caspian Forum 2026 convened U.S. and regional officials at the National Press Club in Washington on June 10 for a discussion of peace, economic security, and durable partnerships. The forum framed a short Armenia-based link as part of a wider effort to turn the Middle Corridor into a working route for cargo, energy, data, and capital. The strategic dialogue was chaired by Dr. Eric Rudenshiold, CPC research director and senior fellow. Speakers included Aryeh Lightstone, Senior Advisor to the Board of Peace and to Ambassador Steve Witkoff; Hikmet Hajiyev, Assistant to Azerbaijan’s president and foreign-policy department...

Life & Culture

TCA Interviews

Designer Madina Tompiyeva: Kazakhstan’s Fashion Is Becoming a Language of Identity

Kazakhstani fashion is increasingly moving beyond style alone, with designers using clothing to explore heritage and contemporary identity. Anima, an Almaty-based brand, describes itself as an ethno-urban concept made in Kazakhstan. Its collections combine urban fashion with local aesthetics and motifs drawn from nomadic culture. The Times of Central Asia spoke with Anima founder Madina Tompiyeva about clothing as a language for the soul and freedom. She also discussed how Kazakhstani culture appears in contemporary silhouettes and why younger consumers are turning to fashion with stronger local references. TCA: Please tell us a little about yourself. How did you come...

FIFA World Cup

Portugal vs Uzbekistan: The White Wolves Face the Ronaldo Circus in Houston

Cultural Heritage

Mikhail Borisoglebsky’s Dzhangyr-Bai: Kazakh Steppe Culture and a Society in Transition

World Nomad Games

Tea, Tug-of-War, and Team GB at the World Nomad Games

Archaeology

Kazakhstan’s Ancient Karakabak Reveals New Silk Road Links

Figure Skating

Astana to Host Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in 2027

Kazakhstan’s capital, Astana, will host the ISU Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in 2027, one of figure skating’s major international competitions and the main ISU championship for skaters from Asia, the Americas, Africa, and Oceania. The International Skating Union announced that the event will take place from February 9-14, 2027. It will be the first ISU Figure Skating Championship held in Kazakhstan, and the first Four Continents Championships staged in Central Asia. The competition traditionally includes men’s singles, women’s singles, pairs, and ice dance. The ISU said the event would bring “the world’s best Figure Skaters” from the four regions...

Podcast

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Out Now

As Managing Editor of The Times of Central Asia, I’m delighted that, in partnership with the Oxus Society for Central Asian Affairs, from October 19, we are the home of the Spotlight on Central Asia podcast. Chaired by seasoned broadcasters Bruce Pannier of RFE/RL’s long-running Majlis podcast and Michael Hillard of The Red Line, each fortnightly instalment will take you on a deep dive into the latest news, developments, security issues, and social trends across an increasingly pivotal region. This week, the team covers a major political merger in Kazakhstan, new counter-terrorism raids in southern Kyrgyzstan, a shock resignation inside...

FIFA World Cup

World Cup: Diaz’s quality shows as Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1

In the breathless air of Mexico City, Colombia overcame a spirited Uzbekistan 3-1 in the first-ever FIFA World Cup game involving a Central Asian side. In a match which was otherwise low on quality, the difference-maker was Bayern Munich’s Luis Díaz. He created Colombia’s first goal, scored the second after Uzbekistan had briefly equalized, and gave the favorites a cutting-edge that they had otherwise lacked. For Uzbekistan, the defeat was not a humiliation. Abbosbek Fayzullaev’s second-half equalizer, the first World Cup goal scored by a Central Asian country, will go down in history. There was even a spell late when...

Film Industry

Bishkek Film Festival Positions Itself as Central Asia’s New Cinema Hub

In only four editions, the Bishkek International Film Festival has begun to look less like a young local event and more like one of Central Asia’s key meeting points for cinema. This year’s edition, held in the Kyrgyz capital, brought guests from more than 30 countries, and saw nine world premieres and a competition slate that revealed how closely filmmakers across Asia and Europe are now speaking to one another. Alongside its three competition strands — International, Central Asian and the national KyrgyzBox section, which featured some of the country’s highest-grossing projects — the festival hosted industry events, pitching sessions...

Justice

Women's Rights

Dushanbe Opens Criminal Cases Over Underage Marriage in Tajikistan

The authorities in Tajikistan have reported several cases involving the marriage of underage girls, with criminal cases opened in Dushanbe since the beginning of the year over violations of the country’s legal marriage age. According to the Dushanbe branch of the Interior Ministry, law enforcement agencies have identified five cases this year in which parents arranged marriages for their underage daughters. Criminal investigations have been launched in all cases, and inquiries are ongoing. Officials reminded the public that under Article 13 of Tajikistan’s Family Code, the legal age for marriage is 18. The only exception is by court decision, which...

Amnesty

Tajikistan Amnesty to Free or Reduce Sentences for More Than 18,000

Drug Crime

Kazakhstan Seeks to Block Nearly 12,000 Drug-Related Websites in 2026

Bloggers

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Blogger Tax Breaks as Kazakhstan Tightens Scrutiny

Drug Trafficking

Uzbekistan Toughens Anti-Drug Laws as Synthetic Narcotics and Online Trafficking Rise

Police Drones

Kazakhstan Opens Drone Operator Training Lab for Interior Ministry

Kazakhstan is actively integrating modern unmanned aerial technologies into law enforcement, with the Interior Ministry opening a new training laboratory where police officers will receive comprehensive instruction in drone operations. According to Polisia.kz, the training program includes several stages: theoretical coursework, simulator-based exercises, and practical computer-based training. Particular attention is being given to the use of drones in real operational tasks, from rapid response missions to search and rescue operations. “On the instructions of the minister of internal affairs, a training laboratory for unmanned aerial systems has been established at the ministry’s Operational and Forensic Department. Our task is to...

Saddam Gulamov

Russian Diplomats Report No Complaints From Imprisoned Turkmen Activist Saddam Gulamov

Russian embassy officials in Turkmenistan have visited activist Saddam Gulamov, who is serving his sentence at the LB-E/12 penal colony in Lebap Region. Gulamov was said to have described his detention conditions and food as acceptable, and his health as satisfactory, according to a letter sent by Kamil Magomedov, deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Third CIS Department, to Gulamov’s relatives. According to the document, Russian diplomats met Gulamov in person at the correctional facility in late May. The letter states that during the conversation, Gulamov described his detention conditions and food as acceptable, and said his health was...

Public Health

Tajikistan Shuts Down Counterfeit Children’s Medicines Operation

Law enforcement authorities in Dushanbe have shut down an underground operation that allegedly produced counterfeit pharmaceutical products, including medicines intended for children. According to the Dushanbe police department, the seized products included syrups sold under well-known brands including Nurofen, Paracetamol, Lazolvan, Theraflu, and others. Authorities said the products were manufactured in unsanitary conditions and distributed with falsified branding. During searches, police confiscated around 35,900 bottles of syrup, more than 405,000 packages and labels, over 600 kilograms of raw materials, and equipment allegedly used in the production process. A 42-year-old Dushanbe resident, Otabek Dadachonov, has been detained on suspicion of organizing...

Forced Labor

ILO Urges Turkmenistan to Abolish Cotton Quota System

The International Labour Organization (ILO) has again criticized Turkmenistan over the continued use of forced labor in its cotton sector, calling on the country to dismantle its state-imposed cotton quota system and submit a detailed progress report by September 1. The call followed discussions at the annual International Labour Conference in Geneva, where the ILO’s Committee on the Application of Standards reviewed Turkmenistan’s compliance with Convention No. 105 on the Abolition of Forced Labour. This was the fifth time Turkmenistan’s implementation of the convention had been examined by the committee. The country ratified the convention in 1997, but concerns persist...

Environment

Water Security

Opinion: The Amu Darya Stress Test – Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and the Politics of Agricultural Adaptation

Central Asia’s water crisis is usually discussed as a problem of rivers, reservoirs, and diplomacy. But in 2026, the Amu Darya is also becoming something else: a test of state adaptation. The river basin entered the irrigation season under acute pressure. According to data cited by Kabar, the flow of the Amu Darya stood at only 66.8% of its normal level as of February 11, compared with 101.8% a year earlier. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that the river’s flow could fall to around 65% of its historical norm, raising risks for food security and agriculture across downstream...

Snow Leopard

Kyrgyzstan to Host Snow Leopard Eco Festival in Chon-Kemin

Environmental Research

Kyrgyzstan-Germany Project Studies Lake Issyk-Kul Ecosystem

Water Management

Tajikistan and ADB Discuss Modernization of Tajik Sea Reservoir

Central Asia + Japan

Japan Extends $229 Million Loan to Boost Energy Efficiency in Uzbekistan

Caspian Sea Basin

Kazakhstan Restores Valuable Fish Species in the Caspian Sea Basin

Kazakhstan’s Atyrau Sturgeon Hatchery has released more than one million juvenile sturgeon into the Zhaiyk, or Ural, River, according to the country’s Ministry of Agriculture. The release was carried out under the state order for 2026 as part of efforts to artificially reproduce sturgeon populations and fulfill Kazakhstan’s commitments to preserving the biological resources of the Caspian Sea. The Atyrau Sturgeon Hatchery is a state monopoly authorized to remove sturgeon from their natural habitat for breeding purposes. The enterprise plays a key role in preserving and restoring populations of valuable fish species in the Caspian basin. A distinctive feature of...

Wastewater Treatment

Naryn Begins Wastewater Upgrade with EBRD, Swiss, and EU Support

Construction has begun on a new wastewater treatment plant in Naryn, the administrative center of Kyrgyzstan’s Naryn region, under a project backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Switzerland, and the European Union. The financing package includes a €2 million sovereign loan from the EBRD, a €3.6 million grant from Switzerland, and a €1 million grant from the EU. The funds will be used to build a new wastewater treatment plant, extend the city’s sewerage network, construct two new pumping stations, and purchase operational equipment. According to the EBRD, Naryn, a city of around 42,000 people, currently has...

Irrigation

International Donors Commit $172 Million to Upgrade Kyrgyzstan’s Irrigation System

International financial institutions and development partners have committed $172 million to a major irrigation modernization project in Kyrgyzstan, aimed at improving water security and farm productivity as climate pressures grow. The World Bank approved $95.75 million in financing on June 12 for the Kyrgyz Republic National Irrigation Investment Program, which seeks to improve irrigation services in selected areas across the country. The financing package also includes $50 million from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, $20 million from the OPEC Fund for International Development, and a $6.25 million grant from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The project is also...

Recycling

Uzbekistan Draft Proposes Annual Fee for Vehicles Over 30 Years Old

A draft government resolution in Uzbekistan has proposed annual environmental compensation payments for owners of vehicles manufactured 30 or more years ago, as part of a wider plan to regulate end-of-life transport and expand vehicle recycling. The proposal has not yet been adopted. The draft document, titled “On Organizing the Utilization of Vehicles with Expired Service Life and Recycling of Their Components,” was released through official public consultation channels and outlines a phased approach to introducing scrappage and recycling mechanisms across the country. According to the proposal, from January 1, 2027, owners of passenger vehicles manufactured 30 or more years...

Central Asia’s Nuclear Push: Uzbekistan Starts Construction as Kazakhstan Plans at Least Three Plants

Latest

Features

Features

Kazakh Coalitions, Kyrgyz Security Signals, and Uncovering Disinformation Networks in Central Asia

Latest

Sunkar Podcast

Kazakh Coalitions, Kyrgyz Security Signals, and Uncovering Disinformation Networks in Central Asia

Sunkar Podcast

Opinions

Opinions

Zamirbek Minbaev

Igor Klevtsov

Dr. Magsud Mammadov

UNDP Representatives in Kazakhstan, Katarzyna Wawiernia, Kyrgyzstan, Alexandra Solovieva, Tajikistan, Sudipto Mukerjee, Turkmenistan, Narine Sahakyan, Uzbekistan, Akiko Fujii.

Zamirbek Minbaev

Aidar Borangaziyev

Ken Moriyasu

Sergey Akhmetov

Timur Serikuly

Matthew Davies

Timur Serikuly

Charles McLean

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

IMF Growth Forecast for Uzbekistan Warns of Inflation and Global Risks

Chinese Investment in Uzbekistan Surpasses $8 Billion This Year

Kazakhstan Remains Far Less Remittance-Dependent Than Its Neighbors

Uzbekistan and BRICS New Development Bank Agree on $4.5 Billion Joint Project Portfolio

Opinion: Kazakhstan’s New Income Growth Plan – Administrative Measures Against Market Realities

Local Politics

Local Politics

Turkmen Passport Applicants Sent for Medical Certificates After Fingerprint Scanner Failures

Tokayev Says Kazakhstan Offers Healthcare Benefits Unavailable in Some Western Countries

Turkmen Schools Introduce New Rules for Smartphone Use

Turkmenistan Sets New Rules for Mobile Devices in Schools

Amanat Adilet Merger as Kazakhstan Prepares for New Parliament

International Affairs

International Affairs

Beyond Resources: Ambassador Kussainov on Kazakhstan and Canada’s Partnership in AI, Education, and Innovation

Tokayev Heads to Brussels as Kazakhstan and EU Seek Progress on Trade, Minerals and Transport

Kazakhstan and Iran Expand Port Access to Boost Cargo Transit

Mirziyoyev Says Uzbekistan’s Doors Will “Always Remain Open” as Fifth Tashkent Investment Forum Begins

The 43 Kilometers That Could Rewire Eurasia

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Designer Madina Tompiyeva: Kazakhstan’s Fashion Is Becoming a Language of Identity

Astana to Host Four Continents Figure Skating Championships in 2027

Pannier and Hillard’s Spotlight on Central Asia: New Episode Out Now

World Cup: Diaz’s quality shows as Colombia beat Uzbekistan 3-1

Bishkek Film Festival Positions Itself as Central Asia’s New Cinema Hub

Justice

Justice

Dushanbe Opens Criminal Cases Over Underage Marriage in Tajikistan