The Times Of Central Asia | Eurasian Publication & News Online

A working group meeting on military training and scientific cooperation under the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) opened in Bishkek today, bringing together delegations from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan to coordinate officer education, joint curricula, and research collaboration across the bloc. The two-day session runs August 21–22...

Endangered Species

“I Came To Pay the Fine”: In Kazakhstan, a Bear Pays an Unexpected Visit to a Government Office

Efforts to protect wildlife in Kazakhstan, particularly rare and endangered species, have begun yielding results. Animals listed in the national Red Book are increasingly venturing into human settlements. While some encounters are harmless or even humorous, others pose real dangers. A Curious Visitor in Serebryansk On August 18, a large...

Official Visit

Tokayev to Visit Kyrgyzstan for High-Level Talks on Aug. 21–22

EAEU

Has Kyrgyzstan Benefited From Its Membership of the EAEU?

On the sunlit shores of Lake Issyk-Kul this August, Kyrgyzstan played host to leaders from across the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). On August 14-15, officials from Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Russia descended on the resort town of Cholpon-Ata for a meeting of the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council, accompanied by ceremonies to...

Education

Kazakhstan Aims to Redefine the Role and Status of Teachers

Internet

Splitting the Flow: How Central Asia Can Bypass Russia in Internet Connectivity

In today’s world, reliable mobile communications and internet access are indispensable, and Central Asia is no exception. Digital infrastructure has become a core component of development across the region. Yet, the architecture of internet connectivity in Central Asia has been shaped not only by global technological progress but also by...

Nuclear Power Plant

Over Sixty Kazakh Firms Compete to Join First Nuclear Power Plant Project

More than 60 Kazakh companies have expressed an interest in supplying goods, services, and undertaking construction work for the country's first nuclear power plant, according to Sergey Agafonov, chairman of the Kazakhstan Association of Energy Repair, Design, Engineering Companies, and Energy Equipment Manufacturers. Construction of the plant began last week...

Sunkar Podcast

Astana International Forum 2025: Rethinking Global Dialogue

00:00 / 00:00

Opinions

Opinion: Over the Past Eight Years, New Uzbekistan Has Absorbed Over $113 Billion in Foreign Investments

Professor Durbek Akhmedov

Opinion: Why Russia May Stop Oil Supplies via the CPC

Andrei Matveev

Opinion: Ghosts of the Gulag – A View From the Ground

Askar Alimzhanov

Opinion: Ghosts of the Gulag: Kazakhstan’s Uneasy Dance With Memory and Moscow

Manon Madec

Opinion: A Sea of Discord? Intensifying Military Drills Threaten Stability in the Caspian Region

Andrei Matveev

Kazakhstan in Afghanistan: From Rhetoric to Infrastructure

Aidar Borangaziyev

Opinion: As Kazakhstan-China Trade Booms, Tokayev and XI Strengthen Relations

Javier M. Piedra

Opinion: The U.S. Dollar Loses Its Luster as the Uzbek Som Shines

Arindam Banik

Opinion: From Xi’an to Astana – Elevating China–Central Asia Cooperation to a New Height

Anna Ge

Opinion: The Engine of Turkic Integration – Why TURKPA Is No Longer “Just Talk”

Andrei Matveev

Opinion: Strengthening the Silk Bonds — India’s Renewed Push Towards Central Asia

Mohammad Suhail & A.X. Ravshanov

Opinion: What Uzbekistan’s FIFA World Cup Breakthrough Tells Us About State-Building

Khusanboy Kotibjonov

Business & Economy

Credit rating

S&P Reaffirms Tajikistan’s Credit Rating at B/B with Stable Outlook

International ratings agency S&P Global Ratings has reaffirmed Tajikistan’s sovereign credit rating at B/B with a “stable” outlook, according to a statement from the National Bank of Tajikistan. The bank noted that Tajikistan has worked with international rating agencies since 2014 to assess its sovereign creditworthiness. The reaffirmed rating reflects improved engagement with international partners, consistent economic growth, and rising foreign exchange reserves, all of which contribute to timely debt servicing and reduced pressure on the country’s balance of payments. Officials emphasized that Tajikistan’s external economic indicators have strengthened in recent years, even as concessional loans continue to make up...

Coal

Kazakhstan’s Competition Agency Proposes Partial State Regulation of Coal Prices

Startups

24 Central Eurasian Startups Join Silicon Valley Programs

Automotive Industry

Kazakhstan’s Automotive Industry Boosts Revenues by Over 50% in July

Internet

Kazakhstan Trials Ultra-Fast 10G Internet

Agriculture

Hungarian Firm to Build Honey Processing Plant in Kazakhstan

Hungarian company Aranynektár Kft plans to invest in the construction of a honey production and processing plant in Kazakhstan, with a focus on environmentally friendly exports to the European Union. The project was discussed during a meeting in Astana between Kazakhstan’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Yermek Kenzhehanuly, and Aranynektár Kft CEO Ferenc Fulmer. According to the ministry, the facility will feature modern equipment and aim to meet stringent EU standards. “Kazakhstan has all the necessary conditions for the sustainable development of beekeeping, from a favorable climate and clean environment to a strong scientific base and government support,” Kenzhehanuly said. Fulmer...

Middle Corridor

Analysis: How Kazakhstan’s New Road and Rail Projects Are Boosting the Economy

Kazakhstan is the largest landlocked country in the world, located at the strategic crossroads of Eurasian trade routes. This year, the country launched two major infrastructure projects: the Trans-Kazakhstan Railway Corridor and the construction of a new Center-West Highway, which will connect the capital, Astana, with Kazakhstan’s western regions. How the Center-West Highway will reshape Kazakhstan’s economy and logistics The Center-West Highway will link Astana to the country’s western territories, providing direct access to the Middle Corridor, also known as the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). Passing through the towns of Arkalyk, Turgay, and Irgiz, the route will cut the...

Economic Growth

World Bank Warns of Slowing Tajikistan Economy

Tajikistan’s economic growth may slow in the coming years due to mounting foreign policy and regional risks, according to a new report from the World Bank. Vulnerability to External Shocks The report highlights several external vulnerabilities that could impact Tajikistan’s economy. These include shifts in Russia’s migration policies, heightened global instability, and ongoing armed conflicts. “Tighter migration policies and restrictions on Tajik workers in Russia threaten to significantly reduce remittance flows, leading to lower economic growth, increased poverty, and worsening fiscal and external balances,” the World Bank stated. Growing global protectionism is also expected to raise Tajikistan’s foreign trade costs....

Agriculture

In Kyrgyzstan, Nearly 50,000 Hectares of Arable Land Left Fallow Due to Water Shortages

In 2025, approximately 50,000 hectares of agricultural land in Kyrgyzstan were left uncultivated, according to the National Statistical Committee. This figure represents a significant portion of the country's total arable land area, which stands at 1.292 million hectares. Experts attribute the sharp decline primarily to a lack of moisture during the spring growing season. More than half of the affected land, over 25,000 hectares, suffered from irrigation failures due to the deteriorating state of the country’s water infrastructure. An additional 5,000 hectares lie in inaccessible or rocky terrain, while about 8,000 hectares were previously reassigned for industrial or urban development....

Local Politics

Education

Kazakhstan Aims to Redefine the Role and Status of Teachers

Kazakhstan is preparing sweeping changes to the role of teachers, aiming to significantly strengthen their legal protections and professional autonomy. The proposals, announced at an educators' conference in August, are being described by experts as revolutionary for the country’s education system. Protecting Teachers' Rights President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev participated in the conference and proposed amendments to the Law on the Status of Teachers to shield educators from non-core responsibilities. “The issue of protecting teachers' rights should always be a priority,” said Tokayev. “Teachers must be exempt from tasks unrelated to their primary duties. Unfortunately, local authorities often grossly violate the law...

Crime

Tajikistan Authorities Step Up Crackdown on Illegal Mining and Electricity Theft

Urban Renewal

Thousands of Illegal Structures Demolished in Bishkek as City Pushes Urban Renewal

Labor Market

Kazakhstan to Require Up to 3 Million Skilled Workers in Coming Years

Migration

Kyrgyzstan Launches “Mekenim 1+1” Program to Support Returning Migrants

Education

Tokayev Urges Equal Education Standards Across Urban and Rural Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for narrowing the gap in education quality between urban and rural schools and accelerating the integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) into the country's education system. Speaking at the annual August Teachers' Conference, Tokayev emphasized that building a modern, inclusive nation requires equal opportunities for all children, regardless of geography. “All children must have equal opportunities. Therefore, an important task is to eliminate inequality in the quality of education in cities and villages,” he stated. Over the past four years, the material and technical infrastructure of more than 4,000 rural schools has...

Helicopter Crash

Kazakhstan: Two Bodies Recovered from Lake Where Military Chopper Crashed

Search teams, including divers, have recovered two bodies from a lake in Kazakhstan where a military-operated helicopter crashed more than two weeks ago, the Ministry of Defense said Sunday. “Currently, an identification procedure is being carried out with the participation of competent authorities,” the ministry said on Telegram. It said the search operation was being conducted “around the clock” and involved personnel and resources from multiple government ministries and agencies. Authorities have said three people were on the chopper. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations launched an intensive search and rescue operation after the EC145 helicopter was reported missing on July...

Education

Tajikistan to Introduce 10-Point Grading System in Schools

Beginning September 1, secondary schools in Tajikistan will adopt a new 10-point grading system, the country’s Minister of Education and Science, Rahim Saidzoda, announced at a press conference today, according to Khovar. Saidzoda stated that preparations are already underway for the system’s implementation, including the development of new grade books. The reform is part of a broader effort to align Tajikistan’s educational standards with international practices. Experts emphasize that one of the key objectives is to standardize national grading in line with global benchmarks, making Tajik school diplomas more readily accepted abroad. This change is expected to facilitate Tajik students’...

Justice

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Controversial Criminal Code Changes Targeting Recidivism, Limiting Official Liability

Kyrgyzstan’s Interior Ministry has submitted a bill aimed at restoring the concept of recidivism to the Criminal Code and limiting the liability of civil servants if their actions are deemed to protect national security. The proposal has sparked heated debate in both parliament and the public. Proposed Changes The draft law would reintroduce harsher penalties for repeat offenders. Recidivism, abolished in 2019 to ensure fairer treatment of convicted criminals, would once again become a legal category. According to the explanatory note, the earlier reform failed to yield the desired outcomes. "The abolition of the concept of recidivism did not have...

International Affairs

Sanctions

Kyrgyz President Denounces “Politicized” Sanctions on Banks

President Sadyr Japarov has sharply criticized the United States and United Kingdom for imposing what he has called unfounded sanctions on Kyrgyz financial institutions, urging Western leaders to stop “politicizing the economy.” In an interview with state news agency Kabar, Japarov defended two state-owned banks – Keremet Bank and Capital Bank – against allegations that they helped Russia skirt international sanctions, insisting that no evidence of violations has been presented. Neither the UK nor the U.S. has provided a single fact of violation… such facts simply do not exist,” Japarov said, dismissing the sanctions as politically motivated. UK and U.S....

CSTO

CSTO Working Group on Military Training and Scientific Cooperation Opens in Bishkek

EAEU

Has Kyrgyzstan Benefited From Its Membership of the EAEU?

International Diplomacy

Despite War’s Challenges, Kazakhstan Says Trump-Putin Meeting Was “The Beginning”

Refugees

Uzbekistan Introduces Comprehensive Support for Palestinian Evacuees

Bilateral Cooperation

Cholpon-Ata to Host ‘Day of German Economy in Kyrgyzstan’

On August 26, Kyrgyzstan will host one of its most prominent international business events of the year, the Day of German Economy in Kyrgyzstan, alongside the 4th meeting of the Kyrgyz-German Business Council. The events are organized by the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. According to the agency, the forum will take place at two venues in the resort city of Cholpon-Ata: the Rukh Ordo Cultural Center and the No. 2 State Residence of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic. The event is expected to bring together high-level participants, including government officials, business leaders, industry...

Official Visit

Tokayev to Visit Kyrgyzstan for High-Level Talks on Aug. 21–22

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is due in Kyrgyzstan for an official visit at the invitation of President Sadyr Japarov, with the main program set in Bishkek. An announcement, carried by state media, confirmed the trip and outlined that talks would take place on deepening political and economic ties. Local authorities have introduced traffic restrictions for Aug. 21–22, indicating a two-day schedule including protocol events and bilateral meetings. The leaders are expected to review cooperation across trade, transit, and energy, and to convene the Supreme Interstate Council, the highest bilateral forum, to sign documents prepared by their foreign ministries in recent...

International Diplomacy

Tokayev Congratulates Putin After Alaska Meeting; Russian Leader Briefs Mirziyoyev

Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to the leaders of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan by telephone on Sunday, briefing them about his talks in Alaska with U.S. President Donald Trump about ending the war in Ukraine. Trade and joint energy projects between Russia and the Central Asian countries were also discussed. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan congratulated Putin on “the results” of the meeting with Trump and said “the negotiations contributed to a better understanding by the American side of the Russian position on Ukraine, which will help find common ground on this complex issue,” Tokayev’s office said. “Kassym-Jomart Tokayev considers the...

Peace Talks

Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Ends Without Ceasefire

U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met on Friday in Alaska for their first face-to-face summit since the start of the Ukraine war. Despite optimism from the U.S. side, the talks ended without an agreement on a ceasefire. The leaders met for nearly three hours at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, following a red-carpet welcome and military flyover. Only a handful of aides joined the private session. Afterward, Trump called the exchange “extremely productive” and said “some headway” had been made, but stressed that “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.” Putin described “progress” and “agreements,” though...

Life & Culture

Earthquakes

Earthquakes: Is Central Asia Ready for the Next Seismic Event?

In a recent livestream with a Russian nationalist commentator, prominent Kazakh political analyst Marat Shibutov was asked what threat most concerns Kazakhs today. While his interlocutor expected a geopolitical answer, perhaps Russia’s military might or imperial ambitions, Shibutov’s response reflected a deeply local fear shared by many in Almaty: a devastating earthquake. Given the region’s seismic history, his concern is far from misplaced. A powerful natural disaster could strike a crippling blow to Almaty, Kazakhstan’s economic and cultural heart, and potentially derail the country’s broader development ambitions. A History of Devastation Almaty lies within the Almaty Seismic Zone, a high-risk...

Endangered Species

“I Came To Pay the Fine”: In Kazakhstan, a Bear Pays an Unexpected Visit to a Government Office

Baikonur

Mice in “Miniature Hotel” Poised for Space Launch from Baikonur

Archaeology

Ancient Water Pipeline Unearthed on 65-Meter Hill in Tajikistan

Sports

Kazakh Soccer Players Involved in Brawl Face “Severe” Penalties

Archaeology

Archaeologists Uncover 80,000-Year-Old Arrowheads in Uzbekistan

Archaeologists in northeastern Uzbekistan have discovered stone arrowheads in the Obi-Rahmat cave that could significantly alter current understandings of early human hunting practices. The findings, published in PLOS ONE, date back approximately 80,000 years and represent some of the earliest known examples of long-range hunting technology in Central Asia. The excavation site, located in the western foothills of the Tian Shan Mountains, yielded a collection of small, triangular stone points embedded within sediment layers representing 40,000 years of human occupation. Researchers concluded that the arrow-like tips are too slender to have served any purpose other than as projectiles, making them...

Mountaineering

Mass Evacuation from Kyrgyzstan’s Seven-Thousanders, But One Climber Remains Trapped

A major rescue operation has concluded in Kyrgyzstan, where military pilots evacuated 62 climbers and tourists from the high-altitude peaks of Pobeda and Khan Tengri. The evacuation was prompted by life-threatening conditions, including strong winds and a heightened risk of avalanches that left hundreds stranded. An international group of climbers had earlier become trapped on Victory Peak, where an Italian citizen died during the descent. A helicopter dispatched by the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense was forced to make an emergency landing on the slope. Fortunately, the crew and rescuers sustained only minor injuries. Given the extreme altitudes, only military helicopters...

Guiness World Records

Young Uzbek Engineers Set Guinness World Record with 1,946 Robots

Uzbekistan has entered the Guinness World Records after 1,946 young engineers simultaneously assembled mini-robots at a public event in Tashkent. The Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation announced the achievement via its official Telegram channel. The record-setting event took place in Yangi O‘zbekiston Park, where each participant built a robot in unison, surpassing the previous record set in India in 2023, when 1,459 students completed a similar task. Describing the achievement as a “historic milestone,” the ministry said: “Our youth achieved it, Uzbekistan has broken a Guinness World Record! This success once again inscribes our country’s name in the...

Mountaineering

Italian Climber Dies During Descent from Peak Pobeda in Kyrgyzstan

An Italian climber has died and several others were injured during a descent from Peak Pobeda (Victory Peak), one of Kyrgyzstan’s three seven-thousanders, according to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Defense. The injured include citizens of Germany and Russia who were part of the same mountaineering group. The Ministry dispatched a Mi-8 military helicopter with six rescuers on board to reach the group. However, adverse weather forced the helicopter to make a hard landing near the climbers. All those on board survived, though several sustained injuries of varying severity. A second helicopter was later sent to continue the rescue operation. “The...

Justice

Sanctions

Britain Imposes Sanctions on Kyrgyzstan’s Capital Bank, Other Entities

Britain has announced sanctions against Kyrgyzstan-based Capital Bank and its director, Kantemir Chalbayev, as part of a growing crackdown on financial networks allegedly being used by Russia to get around international restrictions and fund the war in Ukraine. The bank has previously denied circumventing such restrictions. “With sanctions continuing to bite, Russia has turned to the Kyrgyz financial sector to channel money through opaque financial networks, including through the use of cryptocurrencies. These networks have created a convoluted scheme to evade sanctions imposed by the UK and its partners,” the Foreign Office said on Wednesday. So-called secondary sanctions also targeted...

Civil Aviation

Kazakhstan Grounds Light Aircraft Following Two Fatal Crashes

Forced Labor

State Workers in Turkmenistan Once Again Forced to Fund Cotton Harvest

Social Media

Tajikistan May Revisit Sentences for Social Media ‘Likes’ and Comments

Human Rights

‘No Complaints,’ Says Tajikistan Ombudsman Amid Allegations of Journalist Mistreatment

Fortune-Telling

Tajikistan Proposes Ban on Fortune-Telling With Fines for Customers

The government of Tajikistan has submitted a legislative proposal to parliament that would ban the use of fortune-telling and other esoteric services, and introduce fines for clients, Asia-Plus reported. If passed, the amendments would add a new clause to Article 482 of the Code of Administrative Offenses titled “Use of services of a sorcerer, magician, or fortune-teller.” Under the proposed law, individuals caught seeking such services would face fines ranging from five to ten calculation indicators, equivalent to 375-750 somoni (approximately $40-80). This initiative is part of a broader crackdown on esoteric and mystical practices in recent years. In mid-2023,...

Polygamy

Kyrgyzstan Parliament’s Secret Polygamy Law Repeal Blocked by President Japarov

On June 25, 2025, Kyrgyzstan’s parliament, the Jogorku Kenesh, voted to repeal Article 176 of the Criminal Code, which criminalizes polygamy. The initiative was debated behind closed doors, without public hearings, and only came to light after the bill was submitted to President Sadyr Japarov for approval. According to the presidential administration, Japarov returned the bill for further revision. Before doing so, he sought official assessments from several key state bodies, including the Ombudsman’s Office, the Prosecutor General’s Office, the National Agency for Religious Affairs, the National Academy of Sciences, the Ministry of Justice, and the Constitutional Court. These institutions...

Espionage

Kazakhstan Confirms Detention of Military Attaché Worker in Poland

Defense officials in Kazakhstan said on Wednesday that Polish security agencies have detained a worker in the Kazakh military attaché´s office, two weeks after the Polish government announced the arrest of a military intelligence officer from a post-Soviet country who is suspected of espionage. “The International Relations Center of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kazakhstan confirms the fact of the detention of an employee of the apparatus of the Kazakh military attaché by the Polish law enforcement agencies,” the ministry said on Telegram. The statement, which came after media reports about the arrest circulated in Kazakhstan, said...

Human rights

UN Special Rapporteur Urges Turkmenistan to Release Activist Murat Dushemov

Mary Lawlor, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders, has called for the immediate release of Turkmen civil activist Murat Dushemov, who was recently re-imprisoned under disputed circumstances. Lawlor stated that the new charges against Dushemov are fabricated and appear to be retaliation for his peaceful activism and exercise of free expression. “I will closely monitor the trial of civil activist Murat Dushemov, who has been in prison since 2021 and is now facing new criminal charges in apparent retaliation for his peaceful activism and for exercising his freedom of expression in Turkmenistan. I call...

Environment

Drought

New Drought Monitoring System Could Save Tajikistan Millions

Tajikistan stands to save between $4 million and $6 million annually by adopting a satellite-based drought monitoring system designed to reduce crop losses and improve water management. Regional Project Launch On August 20, a major regional initiative to monitor droughts in Central Asia was launched in Tashkent. The project, spearheaded by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), will employ Earth Remote Sensing (ERS) technologies. The budget for the first phase is $300,000. The system will initially be piloted in Uzbekistan for two years, with implementation in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan expected by 2027. According...

Climate Change

Kyrgyzstan Draws International Attention to Glacier Meltdown

Water Supply

Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan to Supply 600 Million Cubic Meters of Water to Kazakhstan

Environmental Risk

Uzbekistan Approves Controversial ‘Sea Breeze Project’ at Charvak Reservoir

transboundary water

Transboundary Water Inflows Boost Lake Balkhash Levels

Water Conservation

Kyrgyzstan Drafts Program to Preserve Lake Issyk-Kul

Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision has released a draft Concept for the Sustainable Development of the Ecological and Economic System of Lake Issyk-Kul until 2030 for public discussion. The proposal addresses mounting environmental challenges that threaten the future of the lake, a vital component of the country’s climate system, biodiversity, and tourism industry. Located in northeastern Kyrgyzstan, Issyk-Kul is the nation's largest lake and one of its most important ecological assets and tourist destinations. The new Concept outlines a roadmap for sustainable management amid signs of accelerating environmental degradation. Falling Water Levels The lake’s water level...

Lake Issyk-Kul

Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul and China’s Qinghai Become Sister Lakes

Kyrgyzstan and China’s Qinghai Province have signed a memorandum of intent to establish “twin” or sister-lake relations between Lake Issyk-Kul and Qinghai Lake, the Kyrgyz Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Technical Supervision announced. The two lakes share many natural similarities. Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan’s largest lake, measures 182 km in length and up to 60 km in width. Saline and surrounded by mountain ranges, it is the country’s leading tourist destination. Qinghai Lake, located in northwest China’s Qinghai province, is the country’s largest lake, renowned for its scenic beauty and diverse birdlife. It stretches 105 km in length and 63 km...

Climate Change

Climate Study’s Dire Forecast Undermined by Faulty Uzbekistan Data

A widely publicized climate study predicting severe global economic losses from climate change is under scrutiny following the discovery of a critical data error involving Uzbekistan. As reported by The Washington Post on August 7, the error significantly skewed the study’s projections, prompting renewed debate over the reliability of economic modeling in climate science. Published in Nature in 2023, the original study warned that unchecked climate change could reduce global GDP by 19% by 2050 and by an alarming 62% by 2100, nearly three times higher than earlier forecasts. The study attracted substantial media attention and became the second-most-cited climate...

Electric Vehicles

South Korean Firm to Launch EV Charging Station Production in Kyrgyzstan

A new partnership between Kyrgyz and South Korean stakeholders aims to bring electric vehicle (EV) charging station manufacturing to Kyrgyzstan. The Public-Private Partnership Center under the National Investment Agency of Kyrgyzstan, OJSC Chakan HPP, and South Korea’s BLUE NETWORKS CO., LTD., a company specializing in EV charging infrastructure, have signed a memorandum of cooperation to jointly implement the project. The agreement, reached under a public-private partnership (PPP) framework, outlines plans to establish a local manufacturing facility and roll out a nationwide EV charging network in major cities and regions across the country. According to the PPP Center, the initiative is...

Kyrgyz President Denounces “Politicized” Sanctions on Banks

Latest

Features

Features

Latest

Sunkar Podcast

Sunkar Podcast

Opinions

Opinions

Professor Durbek Akhmedov

Andrei Matveev

Askar Alimzhanov

Manon Madec

Andrei Matveev

Aidar Borangaziyev

Javier M. Piedra

Arindam Banik

Anna Ge

Andrei Matveev

Mohammad Suhail & A.X. Ravshanov

Khusanboy Kotibjonov

Business & Economy

Business & Economy

S&P Reaffirms Tajikistan’s Credit Rating at B/B with Stable Outlook

Hungarian Firm to Build Honey Processing Plant in Kazakhstan

Analysis: How Kazakhstan’s New Road and Rail Projects Are Boosting the Economy

World Bank Warns of Slowing Tajikistan Economy

In Kyrgyzstan, Nearly 50,000 Hectares of Arable Land Left Fallow Due to Water Shortages

Local Politics

Local Politics

Kazakhstan Aims to Redefine the Role and Status of Teachers

Tokayev Urges Equal Education Standards Across Urban and Rural Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan: Two Bodies Recovered from Lake Where Military Chopper Crashed

Tajikistan to Introduce 10-Point Grading System in Schools

Kyrgyzstan Proposes Controversial Criminal Code Changes Targeting Recidivism, Limiting Official Liability

International Affairs

International Affairs

Kyrgyz President Denounces “Politicized” Sanctions on Banks

Cholpon-Ata to Host ‘Day of German Economy in Kyrgyzstan’

Tokayev to Visit Kyrgyzstan for High-Level Talks on Aug. 21–22

Tokayev Congratulates Putin After Alaska Meeting; Russian Leader Briefs Mirziyoyev

Trump-Putin Alaska Summit Ends Without Ceasefire

Life & Culture

Life & Culture

Earthquakes: Is Central Asia Ready for the Next Seismic Event?

Archaeologists Uncover 80,000-Year-Old Arrowheads in Uzbekistan

Mass Evacuation from Kyrgyzstan’s Seven-Thousanders, But One Climber Remains Trapped

Young Uzbek Engineers Set Guinness World Record with 1,946 Robots

Italian Climber Dies During Descent from Peak Pobeda in Kyrgyzstan

Justice

Justice

Britain Imposes Sanctions on Kyrgyzstan’s Capital Bank, Other Entities