Central Asia News Bulletin

7th Kyrgyzstan-Russia Trade Forum takes place; The Kazakhstan-Tajikistan Intergovernmental Commission meets; U.S. Treasury sanctions Kyrgyzstani crypto company, Old Vector; Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meets in Cholpon-Ata. /Aug.18

_{The 90th meeting of the ICWC occurred in Kazakhstan. Source: Daryo}

Last week, the media in Central Asia reported on several critical trade and diplomatic events, such as the seventh Russia-Kyrgyzstan Trade Forum, the Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meeting, the U.S. Treasury sanctioning the Kyrgyzstani crypto company, Old Vector, the meeting of the Kazakhstan-Tajikistan Intergovernmental Commission, an Afghan trade delegation’s visit to Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan and Jordan committing to draft a preferential trade agreement. They also covered Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan’s plans to tackle the shadow economy. In addition, several outlets noted Uzbekistan’s increased investment in water infrastructure and the ICWC meeting in Kazakhstan. Lastly, multiple sources reported the drop in Kazakhstani oil production last month.

: 18 August 2025

The World Bank provides $50 million for Tajikistan’s economic reforms; Kazakhstan to attract $24 billion to renovate utility infrastructure; Uzbekistan’s gold reserves and renewables’ production hit record highs; OPEC+ to increase production. /Aug.11

_{UN Secretary General António Guterres and President Tokayev opened the new UN Regional Centre for Sustainable Development Goals in Almaty. Source: Akorda}

This week, the media across Central Asia reported on several critical diplomatic events, including the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries. They also covered important energy developments, such as Afghanistan’s Taliban-led government concluding a $10 billion deal with Azizi Energy, the Kashagan oil field operator winning the lawsuit brought against it by the Kazakhstani government, the increase in Uzbekistan’s renewable energy production, Kazakhstan commencing construction work on its first NPP, and OPEC+ announcing another round of production increases. Several outlets also noted the World Bank’s provision of a $50 million grant to support Tajikistan’s economic reforms and Kazakhstan’s pledge to attract $24 billion to upgrade its utility infrastructure. Lastly, they reported on Kyrgyzstan leading the region in GDP growth in 2025.

: 11 August 2025

China to construct Kazakhstan’s 3rd NPP; Afghanistan begins constructing 40MW SPP; ADB increases 2025 GDP growth forecast for Central Asia; Kazakhstan’s National Fund reduces foreign currencies’ share in its asset portfolio. /Aug.04

_{Kyrgyzstan and the Vietnamese company, ROX Group, signed an investment deal to construct a 1900 MW wind power plant in the Issyk-Kul region. Source: 24.kg}

This week, the media across Central Asia covered several critical energy stories. For instance, Kazakhstan announced that China would build its third nuclear power plant (NPP), Afghanistan began constructing a 40 MW solar power plant, Kyrgyzstan finalized an investment deal with a Vietnamese company to build a 1900 MW wind power plant in the country’s Issyk-Kul region, and Tajikistan reported an increase in electricity production despite planning to reduce exports to Afghanistan by 25% this winter. They also reported on important diplomatic events, such as Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Türkiye. Lastly, several outlets noted that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) upgraded its 2025 GDP forecast for Central Asia, and the Kazakhstani National Fund is significantly diversifying its asset portfolio away from foreign currencies.

: 04 August 2025

The EU & Tajikistan initial EPCA; Afghanistan & Pakistan conclude preferential trade agreement; Azerbaijan’s SOCAR to begin oil exploration in Uzbekistan’s Ustyurt region; Calls for intervention to stabilize Tenge in Kazakhstan. /Jul.28

_{Kyrgyzstan and the Vietnamese company, ROX Group, signed an investment deal to construct a 1900 MW wind power plant in the Issyk-Kul region. Source: 24.kg}

This week, Central Asian media outlets reported on several critical trade and diplomatic stories, such as Pakistan and Afghanistan finalising a preferential trade agreement, the Mongolian President’s visits to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, and the EU and Tajikistan initialing an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement. They also covered crucial energy stories, such as Azerbaijan’s SOCAR agreeing to start oil exploration in Uzbekistan’s Ustyurt region, Uzbekistan becoming a net electricity exporter despite domestic shortages, and natural gas production falling. Several outlets noted multiple important financial stories, such as Kazakhstan’s Halyk Bank acquiring a 49% share in the Uzbekistani fintech firm Click and growing calls for Kazakhstan’s National Bank to intervene and stabilize the Tenge.

: 28 July 2025

China becomes Tajikistan’s largest trading partner; Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to conduct feasibility study for the Trans-Afghan Railway; World Bank forecasts increased heat-related deaths across Central Asia in coming decades. /Jul.21

_{The 12th EU-Central Asia High-Level Political and Security Dialogue took place in Dushanbe this week. Source: EEAS}

This week, the media in Central Asia reported on several critical energy and environmental stories, such as Tajikistan’s approval of a deal to provide electricity from the Rogun HPP to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan beginning negotiations to renew its production-sharing agreements with crucial international energy investors, and the World Bank forecasting heat-related deaths to dramatically increase across the region. They also covered several important trade stories, such as China replacing Russia as Tajikistan’s largest trading partner and Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan agreeing to conduct a feasibility study for the future Trans-Afghan railway. Other sources reported on diplomatic events, such as the meeting of the SCO foreign ministers and the EU-Central Asia High-Level Dialogue.

: 21 July 2025

Kazakhstan & Afghanistan conclude deal on Trans-Afghan railway; Tajikistan orders Afghan refugees to leave within 15 days; U.S. places 25% tariff on Kazakhstani imports; Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan become BRICS partners. /Jul.14

_{Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan officially became BRICS partners at the organization’s 17th summit in Brazil.. Source: Gazeta.uz}

This week, the media across Central Asia reported on several critical diplomatic events, such as Kyrgyzstani President Sadyr Japarov’s visit to Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan officially becoming BRICS partner countries. They also covered Kazakhstan and Afghanistan finalizing an investment agreement regarding the Trans-Afghan railway and Tajikistan’s renewed interest in joining the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project. Several outlets noted that Condor Energies will construct Kazakhstan’s first LNG plant. Others analyzed the implications of the U.S. applying a 25% tariff on imports from Kazakhstan. Lastly, they reported on Tajikistan ordering all Afghan refugees to leave the country within 15 days.

: 14 July 2025

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, launch Central Asia Green Energy Corridor joint venture; Investment in Kazakhstan increases by 10% in 2024; ECO Summit held in Azerbaijan; Inflations holds steady in Uzbekistan. /Jul.07

_{The 17th ECO Summit took place in Khankendi, Azerbaijan this week. Source: Astana Times}

The week, the media in Central Asia reported on multiple critical diplomatic events, including the ECO summit in Khankendi, Azerbaijan, President Mirziyoyev’s state visit to Azerbaijan, President Japarov’s visit to Moscow, the CSTO Foreign Ministers’ Council meeting in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia’s recognition of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan. They also covered several energy and investment stories, such as Kazakhstan’s announcement that investment rose by 10% last year, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan launching a new joint venture to realize the Central Asian Green Energy Corridor project, and Kazakhstan’s commissioning of a new uranium processing plant. Other sources also noted that inflation remained steady at 8.7% in June.

: 07 July 2025

EBRD's President visits Kazakhstan; The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meets in Minsk; Kazakhstan faces a drop in oil & gas investments while Uzbekistan’s gas exports surge; Eximbank provides $500 million for telecom upgrades in Uzbekistan. /Jun.30

_{The President of the EBRD, Odile Renaud-Basso, visited Astana last week. Source: PrimeMinister.kz}

This week, the media in Central Asia covered several diplomatic events, such as Uzbekistani President Mirziyoyev’s visit to Mongolia, Kyrgyzstani President Sadyr Japarov’s visit to Malaysia, and the meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council in Minsk. They also reported on various critical investment stories, including the President of the EBRD’s visit to Astana, Eximbank providing $500 million to modernize Uzbekistan’s telecommunication network, the decline of oil and gas investment in Kazakhstan, and the World Bank loaning $101 million to aid Kyrgyzstan’s energy reforms and $150 million to construct small HPPs in Uzbekistan.

: 30 June 2025

Central Asia's Weekly

Media Monitoring

7th Kyrgyzstan-Russia Trade Forum takes place; The Kazakhstan-Tajikistan Intergovernmental Commission meets; U.S. Treasury sanctions Kyrgyzstani crypto company, Old Vector; Eurasian Intergovernmental Council meets in Cholpon-Ata. /Aug.18

The World Bank provides $50 million for Tajikistan’s economic reforms; Kazakhstan to attract $24 billion to renovate utility infrastructure; Uzbekistan’s gold reserves and renewables’ production hit record highs; OPEC+ to increase production. /Aug.11

China to construct Kazakhstan’s 3rd NPP; Afghanistan begins constructing 40MW SPP; ADB increases 2025 GDP growth forecast for Central Asia; Kazakhstan’s National Fund reduces foreign currencies’ share in its asset portfolio. /Aug.04

The EU & Tajikistan initial EPCA; Afghanistan & Pakistan conclude preferential trade agreement; Azerbaijan’s SOCAR to begin oil exploration in Uzbekistan’s Ustyurt region; Calls for intervention to stabilize Tenge in Kazakhstan. /Jul.28

China becomes Tajikistan’s largest trading partner; Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan to conduct feasibility study for the Trans-Afghan Railway; World Bank forecasts increased heat-related deaths across Central Asia in coming decades. /Jul.21

Kazakhstan & Afghanistan conclude deal on Trans-Afghan railway; Tajikistan orders Afghan refugees to leave within 15 days; U.S. places 25% tariff on Kazakhstani imports; Kazakhstan & Uzbekistan become BRICS partners. /Jul.14

Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, launch Central Asia Green Energy Corridor joint venture; Investment in Kazakhstan increases by 10% in 2024; ECO Summit held in Azerbaijan; Inflations holds steady in Uzbekistan. /Jul.07

EBRD's President visits Kazakhstan; The Supreme Eurasian Economic Council meets in Minsk; Kazakhstan faces a drop in oil & gas investments while Uzbekistan’s gas exports surge; Eximbank provides $500 million for telecom upgrades in Uzbekistan. /Jun.30