This week, the media in the region covered the CIS Heads of State Council summit in Moscow. They also noted Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s visit to Turkmenistan. Several sources reported Russia expanding its ban on certain Kazakhstani agricultural exports to include melons, in response to Kazakhstan’s ban on Russian grain imports. There were also several developments in the renewable energy sector, with Tajikistan announcing further investment from the ADB in its electricity infrastructure and Kyrgyzstan beginning construction of the Papan HPP. Later in the week, many outlets wrote about the “Interconnection of Times and Civilizations – the Basis of Peace and Development” forum held in Ashgabat, attended by multiple leaders from around the region.

Over the past week, the media in the region have been focusing on the Russian Prime Minister’s visit to Uzbekistan and the agreements signed relating to Uzbekistan’s plans to construct a small NPP. Many outlets also noted Kyrgyzstan’s pledging of $130 million to the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. They also discussed Afghanistan and Turkmenistan commencing several joint energy and transportation projects. Other sources have also mentioned the special forces exercises “Boundless-Brotherhood III” that took place in Kazakhstan.

Over the past week, the media paid attention to the referendum in Kazakhstan held to make a decision on building a nuclear powerplant in the country. They also reported that Russia has banned grain exports from Kazakhstan, also noting Russia’s plans for removal of the Taliban from its list of terrorist organizations. Multiple sources picked up on Kyrgyzstan changing its rules on transit payments for European and Chinese goods, hindering efforts to circumvent Western sanctions. Several outlets also reported on Uzbekistan joining the EDB, and Tajikistan acquiring additional funding for the Rogun HPP. Lastly, they also covered Kyrgyzstani President Sadyr Japarov’s visit to Italy.

Over the past week, the media in the region have been focusing on Kyrgyzstan’s removal of the Taliban from the country’s list of extremist organizations. They have also discussed several military and anti-terror drills conducted by the SCO, CIS, and the CSTO in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Many sources also highlighted Kazakhstani President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev inking a presidential decree on a referendum on constructing a nuclear power plant. Others have been concentrating on several new investments and bilateral agreements in the region, such as those between Kazakhstan and the Arab Coordination Group, as well as Turkmenistan and Afghanistan.

This week, the media in Central Asia discussed the economic growth forecasts and fiscal analyses for Central Asian countries contained in the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) recent Asian Development Outlook report. They also noted Kazakhstan’s plans to increase oil production and Saudi Arabia’s pledging $100 million towards completing the Rogun HPP in Tajikistan. Several sources remarked on the fall in Tajikistan’s electricity exports and the introduction of rationing. Other outlets also reported on the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’s (AIIB) Board of Governors meeting in Samarkand and the various agreements that were concluded. Some sources mentioned that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan agreed to install water metres along the Syr Darya River.

Over the past week, the media in the region have been discussing Kazakhstan’s aim to construct a nuclear power plant and the government’s plan to hold a referendum on the matter this autumn. The media also paid attention to the various plans to expand the Trans-Caspian International Trade Route (TITR), as well as the meeting of the German-Kazakh Business Council. Several sources elaborated on the agreements concluded during the Kazakhstani President’s state visit to Tajikistan last week. Many outlets also mentioned the sanctions against the “Zolotaya Korona” payment system and other Russian banks. They also outlined Kaspi’s attempts to buy the Uzbekistani state’s share in the Humo payment system.

Over the past week, the media concentrated on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s visit to the region. They not only discussed his attendance at the 2nd Germany-Central Asia (Z5+1) summit but, crucially, the new migration pact he signed with Uzbekistan that enables Germany to deport Afghanistani migrants via Uzbekistan. Several outlets also noted that Kyrgyzstan’s trade with China totaled $11 billion over the first seven months of the year. They also remarked on various new investments in waste-to-energy projects in Uzbekistan, the Chatkal HPP and wind farms in Kyrgyzstan, and the progress on the planned Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline. Other sources mentioned the Hungarian foreign minister’s visit to Kyrgyzstan and the 12th meeting of the Kazakhstan-Georgia Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

This week, the media reported on the joining of the Philippines in the Group of Friends of Sustainable Transport (GFST), the establishment of a Kazakhstan-China trade center in Nanjing, frequent rejection of remittances from Russia by Central Asian banks, the 22nd meeting of the SCO member states' Prosecutor Generals, Chinese companies mining copper in Afghanistan's Mes Aynak which is home to a major archeological site, the possibility of an energy shortage in Kazakhstan, the development of artificial intelligence products in Tajikistan, and the allocation of funds by the ADB to Tajikistan to support the climate-friendly business environment and SME development.