By Fariza Kalimurzina The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has revised its outlook for the economies of Central Asia and the Caucasus by raising its growth forecast for 2026 The new figures released by the Bank predict a 5.8% growth, up from the previously estimated 5.5%. According to the updated assessment, the region’s combined GDP is […]
Read MoreBy Dmitry Pokidaev Kazakhstan is emerging as a leading travel destination in Central Asia for South Korean tourists, with interest surging by 295% from January to October 2025, according to data from the digital tourism platform Agoda. Kazakh Tourism, the national tourism company, said that the data reflects a sharp rise not only in actual […]
Read MoreCentral Asian states are cultivating growing connections to Pakistan, as decades of suspicion and hostility give way to a mutual desire to expand trade and strengthen regional security. A trip by Kyrgyzstan’s president, Sadyr Japarov, to Islamabad on December 3-4 highlights the rapid expansion of engagement. The visit, the first such visit by a Kyrgyz […]
Read MoreBy Yunis Sharifli In recent years, there has been a visible increase in electric vehicle exports from China to Central Asia. Although much public attention goes to electric cars, the spread of Chinese electric buses across the region is equally meaningful. Kyrgyzstan provides a clear example of this trend, where manufacturers such as Yutong and […]
Read MoreBy Vagit Ismailov Attacks on the infrastructure of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC), reduced export flows, and volatility in commodity markets are generating serious pressures for Kazakhstan. In the coming years, both the country’s financial system and its domestic political balance may face significant tests. A number of experts warn that disruptions in oil logistics […]
Read MoreBy Vagit Ismailov The first meeting of trade and investment ministers from Central Asian countries, joined by Azerbaijan, has taken place in Tashkent, where participants agreed to nearly double mutual trade to $20 billion and discussed launching a regional brand, Made in Central Asia. Opening the session, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Laziz […]
Read MoreBy Samuel Ben-Ur Kazakhstan has reached out to the United States in an unprecedented fashion — by improving relations with Israel. Prior to a November summit between the United States and five Central Asia countries, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev approached Washington and reportedly expressed his desire to upgrade ties with Israel by joining the Abraham […]
Read MoreLeaders from Central Asia will meet in Tashkent to discuss regional cooperation. Uzbekistan’s President Mirziyoyev calls it a key step in building trust and stability. Central Asian leaders will gather in Tashkent this weekend for the Seventh Consultative Meeting of Heads of State, with plans to adopt a package of multilateral agreements to deepen regional […]
Read MoreBy Sadokat Jalolova and Stephen M. Bland Uzbekistan is advancing a broad effort to strengthen its relationship with the United States through new economic, diplomatic, and technological initiatives. A presidential decree establishing the Uzbekistan–U.S. Business and Investment Council, alongside a major artificial intelligence partnership with NVIDIA, underscores the country’s strategy to draw investment and accelerate […]
Read MoreBy Andrei Matveev In a striking display of diplomatic balancing, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev ended 2025 with a high-profile state visit to Moscow, where he and Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a declaration elevating bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and alliance. The visit came just days after Tokayev returned from Washington, where he […]
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