On 11–12 May 2026, a delegation from Turkmenistan, headed by the Minister of Agriculture Charyyar Chetiyev, participated in the 35th Session of the Regional Conference for Europe (ERC35) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The conference, held in Dushanbe, brought together representatives from across the region, international organizations, and … [Read more...]
UNESCO: Number of students in higher education more than doubled in 20 years, but inequalities remain
UNESCO’s first Higher Education Global Trends Report shows that the number of students enrolled in higher education worldwide has more than doubled over the past two decades, reaching 269 million in 2024. International mobility has tripled over the same period, with nearly 7.3 million students studying abroad, half of them hosted in European and North American countries. Women … [Read more...]
Central Asia Islamic Finance Potential Catalysed by Reforms, GCC Interest
Regulatory initiatives across several Central Asian countries since the start of 2026 and increasing engagement with GCC investors and Islamic multilateral institutions are likely to support the Islamic finance industry’s growth potential in this region, Fitch Ratings says. Unlocking this potential would require sustained policy support, equal tax treatments, and greater public … [Read more...]
Supply Chains Are Becoming Intelligent — And Central Asia Is Joining the Transformation
nCa Report The modern economy runs on supply chains. Every product we use — from food and medicines to smartphones and automobiles — travels through a long network of producers, transporters, warehouses, ports, customs systems, wholesalers, retailers, and finally consumers. For decades, supply chains were managed through paperwork, telephone calls, spreadsheets, and … [Read more...]
China’s western rail gateway speeds freight links to Europe, Central Asia
Freight train traffic through Alashankou, also known as Alataw Pass, a key rail gateway in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has surpassed 3,000 trips so far this year, reaching the milestone 19 days earlier than in 2025. This reflects steadily rising demand for reliable overland trade routes to Europe and Central Asia, reports Xinhua. A China-Europe … [Read more...]
The Ashgabat Corridor Revisited: A Quiet Artery Gains Strategic Weight
nCa Report In an era defined by shifting trade routes and geopolitical uncertainty, an old regional initiative is quietly re-emerging with renewed relevance. The Ashgabat Agreement corridor—linking Central Asia to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman—has moved back into focus as countries seek resilient, diversified pathways for trade. What began in 2011 as a modest … [Read more...]
New Multimodal Corridor: Cargo from China to Afghanistan to Transit via Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
As part of the strategy to diversify transport and logistics corridors in the region, a new multimodal route has been launched for the delivery of containerized cargo from China to Afghanistan. The new path is designed to be a more efficient alternative to traditional maritime shipping. This was reported by Uztemiryulkonteyner (the container fleet operator of Uzbekistan … [Read more...]
Rediscovering Ancient Threads: The Case for Closer Ties Between Central Asia and Egypt
nCa Commentary In an era of shifting global alliances and supply chain uncertainties, countries across different regions are quietly exploring partnerships that blend historical resonance with practical modern benefits. Central Asia and Egypt represent one such pairing—distant on the map, yet connected by deep currents of history, faith, and complementary interests. While … [Read more...]
Venture Capital’s Paradox Quarter — And What It Means for Central Asia
nCa Report Venture capital in the first quarter of 2026 delivered one of the most striking — and somewhat paradoxical — periods in the industry's history. On the surface, it was a boom. Underneath, it was far more uneven. A record-breaking quarter Global VC investment more than doubled from $128.6 billion in Q4 2025 to a record $330.9 billion in Q1 2026, fueled by an … [Read more...]
Samarkand ADB Meeting Signals Shift Toward a More Connected, Strategic Asia
nCa Report The 59th Annual Meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), held from 3–6 May 2026 in Samarkand, concluded with a clear message: Asia’s future lies in connectivity—across energy systems, digital networks, and supply chains. Bringing together more than 3,000–4,000 delegates from nearly 70 member countries—including finance ministers, central bank governors, … [Read more...]
Social Media Support for Tourists in Central Asia
Tariq Saeedi There's a moment most travellers know. You're standing in front of something genuinely extraordinary—the turquoise domes of Samarkand catching the late afternoon sun, or a yurt camp spread across a Kyrgyz valley as the light turns amber—and you point your phone at it, tap the screen, and come away with something that looks, somehow, almost nothing like what … [Read more...]
Why Regional Trade Matters More Than Ever for Central Asia
Mikheil Janelidze, Zulfia Karimova, Roman Mogilevskii In an era of shifting supply chains and rising uncertainty, regional trade offers Central Asia a path to resilience, scale, and growth through deeper integration. Trade has always shaped how people in Central Asia work, live, and connect with one another across borders. Today, it is no longer just a source of growth, … [Read more...]
Announce Your Achievements at the WOWBIZ Central Asia Business Solutions Awards
WOW GROUP invites you to participate in the international WOWBIZ Business Awards and Conference, which will take place in Almaty on July 3, 2026. The event brings together and promotes the best implemented projects from companies operating in the Central Asian market. The awards celebrate real-world business solutions across the full … [Read more...]
nCa Special Reports – Structural Improvement and Expansion of Scope
We are pleased to announce that some important structural improvements have been introduced in our monthly lreports of the nCa Special Reports product line. The scope of the reports has also been expanded. The monthly report on Turkmenistan now has additional details on the select sectors, giving it more depth. The monthly report on the Central Asia Economy now covers all … [Read more...]
The ‘Resourceful’ People: A Word Central Asia Has Always Deserved
Tariq Saeedi There are words that fall out of fashion not because they lose their meaning, but because the world grows too distracted to notice what they describe. --- Resourceful is one such word. It has quietly slipped from the vocabulary of praise — edged out by innovative, resilient, agile, a revolving door of corporate euphemisms that flatten rather than illuminate. … [Read more...]
Beyond Herd Size: What Really Drives Farmers to Formal Markets in Central Asia
Efforts to modernize agriculture in Central Asia often focus on a simple idea: bigger farms perform better and integrate more easily into formal markets. However, research by Rustam Rakhmetov suggests that reality is far more nuanced. In his 2026 study, “Formal Market Participation and Farm Performance: The Case of Cattle Producers in Central Asia,” published in … [Read more...]
Astana 2026: Ecology, Water, and Strategic Convergence in Central Asia
nCa Report In a rare convergence of environmental urgency and geopolitical coordination, Kazakhstan hosted two interlinked high-level gatherings in Astana: Together, these meetings mark a qualitative shift in Central Asian diplomacy—from parallel national approaches toward collective regional frameworks, particularly in the critical domain of water and environmental … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan participates in Dialogue of Women Leaders of Central Asian States event hosted by Tashkent
The Chairperson of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan joined on 21 April 2026 a growing regional effort to institutionalize cooperation among women leaders as she took part—via video link—in the first meeting under Uzbekistan’s 2026 chairmanship of the Dialogue of Women Leaders of Central Asian States, a platform that has been steadily gaining political weight across the … [Read more...]
President of Turkmenistan visits Kazakhstan for Regional Environmental Summit and Aral Sea Meeting
President Serdar Berdimuhamedov arrived in Astana on April 21 for a working visit that places environmental diplomacy and regional cooperation at the forefront of Central Asia’s agenda. He is in Kazakhstan to take part in two key events: the Regional Environmental Summit and a meeting of the Council of Heads of State of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea—a body … [Read more...]
Gas, Nuclear Energy, and Logistics: How Central Asia Transformed from “Periphery” to a Pillar of Russia’s Economic Strategy
The Moscow-based Russian Civil Society Fund recently released a report titled "A Decade of New Opportunities: Outlines of a New Strategic Partnership Between Russia and the Countries of Central Asia." The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the strategic partnership between Russia and the Central Asian states over the past decade (2015-2025). It also forecasts the … [Read more...]
The Untapped Tech Talent of Central Asia’s Steppes
Tariq Saeedi Every morning across rural Central Asia, a teenager might wake before dawn to track down a wandering camel across miles of steppe, calculate which sections of cropland can be irrigated with the day's limited water supply, or improvise a repair on broken farm machinery using whatever materials are at hand. These aren't the activities we typically associate … [Read more...]
EDB: China’s FDI stock in Central Asia has increased over ten years to US $35.9 billion
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has released its second report under the flagship Monitoring of Mutual Investments project. The paper focuses on China, the Eurasian region’s leading investment partner in 2025, and shows that Chinese investment in the region continues to grow steadily despite the global decline in FDI flows. Over the past ten years, this investment has … [Read more...]
Central Asia in 2025
Tariq Saeedi While much of the world spent 2025 navigating economic uncertainty and geopolitical turbulence, Central Asia quietly emerged as one of the year's most remarkable success stories. The five nations—Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan—achieved something increasingly rare in today's fractured global landscape: they maintained steady … [Read more...]
Building a world of lasting peace through dialogue and consultation
CGTN podcast In October 2013, at a conference on work related to neighboring countries, Chinese President Xi Jinping first put forward China's fundamental policy guideline for diplomacy with neighboring countries — amity, sincerity, mutual benefit, and inclusiveness. “Amity” stands for close and friendly relations, “sincerity” for mutual trust and honesty, “mutual benefit” … [Read more...]
Livestock Sector in Central Asia: Challenges and Opportunities
In the vast steppes and mountain pastures of Central Asia, livestock have been more than just animals—they've been wealth, sustenance, and a way of life for millennia. Today, this ancient tradition stands at a crossroads, caught between the weight of modern challenges and the promise of unprecedented opportunities. Livestock, in its broadest sense, refers to domesticated … [Read more...]
Central Asia poised to become Trillion Dollar Economy by 2035
Central Asia, as a region, has shown remarkable growth across economic indicators in 2025. According to the Moderate Scenario, the region may gain the status of a Trillion Dollar Economy by 2035. Current Economic Baseline According to the most recent data, Central Asia's combined GDP reached $519 billion in 2024 China Daily. The latest forecast from Evgeny Vinokurov, … [Read more...]
Russia’s pivot toward Asia includes increased gas supplies to Central Asia
As reported by 24.kg, Gazprom’s supplies to Central Asia will more than double within five years, with the company seeking to redirect volumes previously destined for the European market. According to information from EADaily, which cites data from Gazprombank’s Center for Economic Forecasting via Vedomosti, supplies are estimated at 19-20 billion cubic meters. Open.kg … [Read more...]
Traditional December Summit of the Commonwealth of Independent States: Year-End Review and Future Plans
On 22 December 2025, in St. Petersburg, leaders from member countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) gathered for their traditional informal pre-New Year summit. Participants included: Russian President Vladimir Putin, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President … [Read more...]
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) Railway: A Strategic Connectivity Project
nCa Short Report The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway is a pivotal infrastructure project designed to boost trade and economic ties across Central Asia, connecting China directly with Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Initially proposed in the 1990s, it has gained significant traction as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aiming to create alternative trade … [Read more...]
The Central Asia Plus Format: A Platform for Partnership, Not Political Realignment
Tariq Saeedi The Central Asia Plus (CA+) format has emerged as one of the most dynamic diplomatic frameworks in recent years. What began as a modest initiative has blossomed into a diverse constellation of partnerships, with countries and regional blocs eager to engage with the five Central Asian republics—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and … [Read more...]
Termez Dialogue at Doha Forum
The Termez Dialogue: Bridging Central and South Asia Through Afghan Connectivity An Interpretive Analysis of Regional Cooperation and Security Concerns In the ancient Uzbek city of Termez, where the Silk Road once thrived and civilizations converged for millennia, a new chapter in regional diplomacy is unfolding. The Termez Dialogue, launched from May 19 to 21, 2025, … [Read more...]
Eurasian Economies to Grow by up to 9.3% in 2026: EDB Publishes New Macroeconomic Outlook
18 December 2025 The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has presented its Macroeconomic Outlook for 2026–2028. According to EDB analysts, investment activity and domestic demand will remain the key drivers of growth in most countries of the region, despite moderate global economic expansion and persistently elevated interest rates. Key takeaways: More about the … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan President Arrives in Japan for Central Asia-Japan Summit
President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov departed for a working visit to Japan on December 17 to attend the inaugural Central Asia + Japan Dialogue summit at the leaders' level, according to state media reports from Turkmenistan and Japan. The landmark summit, scheduled for 19-20 December in Tokyo, will be chaired by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, Japan's … [Read more...]
Central Asia emerges as Powerhouse in Aviation World
Central Asia is quietly becoming a powerhouse in the aviation world, emerging as the fastest-growing market globally over the past two decades, even though it's still the smallest region in terms of total scheduled seats. According to a recent analysis from OAG, the region is on track to offer 33.7 million seats in 2025, fueled by a compound annual growth rate of 7.7%—that's … [Read more...]
China’s Economic Roadmap for 2026: A Pivot Toward Deeper Ties with Central Asia
nCa Report As 2025 draws to a close, China's Central Economic Work Conference (CEWC) has laid out a pragmatic blueprint for the year ahead, emphasizing stability amid domestic slowdowns and global uncertainties (source). The meeting, held in Beijing from December 10 to 11, reaffirmed commitments to boosting domestic demand, stabilizing the property sector, and leaning on … [Read more...]
Mutual investment in the Eurasian region reached a record US $48.4 billion: a new report by the EDB
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has released the report as part of its flagship project Monitoring of Mutual Investments. New data show that investment activity in the Eurasian region continues to expand despite the global decline in foreign direct investment (FDI). Mutual FDI between the region’s countries reached a record US $48.4 billion at the end of the first half … [Read more...]
Authentic Outcomes of Neutrality Conference in Ashgabat – Part Three
The Conversation Heard Around the World: What Ashgabat Promises Generation Beta Tariq Saeedi and Elvira Kadyrova As the final echoes of speeches faded in Ashgabat on December 12, 2025, what lingered was not merely diplomatic courtesy but something far more significant: the dawning recognition that active, dynamic neutrality is not a relic of 20th-century idealism but a … [Read more...]
Authentic Outcomes of Neutrality Conference in Ashgabat – Part Two
Turkmenistan's Neutrality as a Catalyst for Regional and Global Integration Tariq Saeedi and Elvira Kadyrova The Neutrality Advantage: A Unique Convening Power Turkmenistan's 30-year commitment to permanent neutrality, internationally recognized by the UN in 1995, 2015, and 2025, has created a distinctive diplomatic asset: the ability to bring together nations that … [Read more...]
President of Kyrgyzstan: Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads – Important Platform for Strengthening Peace and Trust
President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov delivered a speech on December 12 at the international forum “Peace and Trust: Unity of Goals for a Sustainable Future,” dedicated to the International Year of Peace and Trust (2025), the International Day of Neutrality, and the 30th anniversary of Turkmenistan’s permanent neutrality. In his remarks, President Japarov commended … [Read more...]
Uzbekistan to Declare 2027 as the Year of Preventive Diplomacy within the Non-Aligned Movement
Uzbekistan plans to declare 2027 as the Year of Preventive Diplomacy during its upcoming chairmanship in the Non-Aligned Movement. The initiative is aimed at supporting efforts to resolve conflicts in the interests of future generations. This was stated by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the International Forum of Peace and Trust in Ashgabat on 12 … [Read more...]
Progress of Telemedicine in Central Asia
As of December 2025 Telemedicine continues to make meaningful strides across Central Asia in 2025, with a clear focus on reducing the urban–rural healthcare gap. All five countries are advancing digital health solutions, though at different paces and scales. The most visible progress is in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan, where internationally supported projects are … [Read more...]
Central Asia’s Infrastructure Revolution Is Already Underway — Now Let’s Make It the Most Innovative on Earth
Tariq Saeedi Central Asia has done something extraordinary in the past two decades: it has built. --- From the high-speed rail that now links Almaty to Tashkent in hours instead of days, to the gleaming new terminals at Nursultan Nazarbayev and Tashkent International airports, the Turkmenbashy-Farab motorway of Turkmenistan, to the fiber-optic networks that have brought … [Read more...]
Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan: a strategic partnership that strengthens the region
In recent years, cooperation between the Republic of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan has been experiencing a new, truly rapid stage of development. Today, bilateral relations are no longer limited to just diplomatic ties — they have acquired a complex character: from joint economic, transport and logistics projects to large-scale cultural initiatives that strengthen friendship and … [Read more...]
The Lifeline: Siberian Rivers May Save Central Asia
nCa Report On a crisp November morning in Moscow, members of the Russian Academy of Sciences gathered to discuss what many had considered a relic of Soviet hubris: the possibility of redirecting Siberian rivers thousands of kilometers south to the parched lands of Central Asia. The proposal, announced on November 14th, represents the latest resurrection of an idea that … [Read more...]
Transport integration in Central Asia: the contribution of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
Ibrahimova Dildora, Head of the Centre for Transport and Logistics Development Studies at the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Uzbekistan Transport cooperation between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan is now taking on strategic importance, shaping a new architecture of connectivity in Central Asia and creating additional opportunities for the region to enter the wider … [Read more...]
Speech by President of Turkmenistan at an expanded meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers (6 December 2025)
Dear participants of the meeting! At the initiative of Turkmenistan, the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus the Resolution "2025 – International Year of Peace and Trust", which became one of the significant political events. In this regard, I would like to note that a number of important international events were held in 2025. The significance of the … [Read more...]
Turkmenistan Leads Central Asia with Fastest Customs Transit Times, GIZ Study Shows
Turkmenistan has the fastest customs transit processing in Central Asia, with an average clearance time of just 37 minutes, according to a new study conducted by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) between August and October 2025. The State Customs Service of Turkmenistan released the findings on 4 Dec, highlighting the country’s continuing leadership in … [Read more...]
Central Asia’s Voice in the UN: Kyrgyzstan Ambassador to Turkmenistan Holds Briefing on His Country’s Candidacy for UN Security Council
Elvira Kadyrova As part of diplomatic efforts aimed at gaining international support, the Ambassador of the Kyrgyz Republic to Turkmenistan, Azizbek Madmarov, held a briefing in Ashgabat dedicated to Kyrgyzstan's candidacy for non-permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027–2028 period. The event was attended by heads and staff of … [Read more...]
European Union Says It Seeks No Expansion in Central Asia
The European Union’s special representative for Central Asia, Eduards Stiprais, rejected suggestions that Brussels is pursuing political or economic expansion in the region, emphasizing that the bloc’s growing engagement is driven solely by mutual benefit and a desire for stability. “We are not immediate neighbors, so it is very difficult to accuse us of any attempts at … [Read more...]
OPEC Fund Has Invested Heavily in Central Asia, Kazakhstan Official Says
The OPEC Fund for International Development, a multilateral lender owned by OPEC member states, has directed more than $1.4 billion to development projects across Central Asia over the past 20 years, Kazakhstan’s first deputy minister of national economy, Azamat Amrin, told lawmakers this week. The figure emerged during parliamentary debate on ratification of a framework … [Read more...]