The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ASTANA – The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) on June 15 released its macroeconomic outlook for 2026-2028, forecasting that Central Asia’s economy will expand by more than 6.5% in 2026 and exceed $600 billion in gross domestic product for the first time. The bank expects continued strong growth across its member…
Ten years after Brexit, most seasonal workers in Britain are from countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Without them, agricultural chiefs say, many farms would fail.
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ASTANA – External debt of Central Asian countries excluding Turkmenistan increased by 34.9% over the past five years, reaching nearly $290.8 billion in 2025, according to data from the CIS Statistical Committee and the Eurasian Economic Commission. Kazakhstan accounts for the largest share of regional debt,…
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ASTANA — Central Asia has emerged as the fastest-growing startup subregion in the world, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) 2026 by Startup Genome, with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan driving much of the region’s momentum. The report, released on June 17, found that Central Asia recorded 81%…
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ASTANA – AIFC Insights has published the first region-wide comparative study of capital markets in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Azerbaijan. According to the report, Kazakhstan has the most developed capital market ecosystem among the four countries, supported by more than $110 billion in…
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ASTANA – Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov highlighted the urgency of deepening regional cooperation, as he addressed the fifth Tashkent Investment Forum on June 17. Speaking at the forum, which gathered more than 10,000 participants from 102 countries, Olzhas Bektenov said Kazakhstan supports deeper…
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ASTANA — Envoys from the European Union, Central Asian countries, and the United Nations met on June 15 in Almaty to coordinate approaches on Afghanistan, focusing on regional stability, connectivity, and long-term socio-economic development. The eighth meeting of the EU and Central Asian Special Representatives…
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ASTANA – Tajikistan began the construction of an IT Hub Dushanbe complex on June 9, which is meant to become one of the country’s largest projects focused on digital technology and innovation. The total investment is expected at $100 million. The initiative is intended to support the growth of the digital…
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ASTANA – The Kyrgyz Republic has been officially removed from the European Union’s list of air carriers banned from operating flights to EU member states. According to the press service of the presidential administration, the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission informed the…
Climate change doesn't really care what you think.
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ALMATY – Ministry of Emergency Situations of Kazakhstan rescuers have arrived in Tajikistan to participate in multinational emergency response exercises focused on earthquake response and climate-related risks, reported the ministry’s press service. The Kazakh delegation includes specialists from the National…
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ALMATY – Central Asian countries recorded a notable growth in renewable energy capacity in 2025, as global installations surged by a record 692 gigawatts (GW), according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency. The report, titled Renewable Capacity Statistics 2026, shows that global…
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ALMATY – Kazakhstan will become the first country in Central Asia to begin the practical use of artificial rain technologies as part of a new water security initiative being implemented jointly with the National Center of Meteorology of the United Arab Emirates. The full-scale launch of the cloud-seeding project…
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ASTANA – Construction of the new Tashkent International Airport is set to begin in June as Uzbekistan advances a large-scale transport infrastructure project to expand aviation capacity and meet growing passenger demand. According to Uzbek Deputy Transport Minister Jasurbek Choriev, the public-private…
A short trip to Central Asia allowed Geordie Greig to experience the most colourful festival on the Silk Road
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ALMATY – Kazakhstan retained its position as China’s top trading partner in Central Asia in the first quarter of 2026, with bilateral trade reaching $13.2 billion, according to data from China’s General Administration of Customs. The figure represents a 46.7% increase compared to the same period last year,…
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ALMATY – Almaty will host a Regional Capacity Development Center of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) serving the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia, as Kazakhstan’s Senate (Parliament’s upper chamber) ratified the agreement on April 23. The center will support countries in the region in strengthening…
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ASTANA – A rare selection of Central Asian artworks will be on display as part of the Arts of the Islamic World and India sale from April 24 in London, reported Sotheby’s press office. The sale includes manuscripts, metalwork, textiles and ceramics from the 7th century and up to the 19th century. “The Central…
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ALMATY – The Islamic Civilization Center in Uzbekistan has been officially recognized as the world’s largest museum of Islamic civilization, earning a prestigious title from Guinness World Records on April 13, reported the museum’s press service. The award ceremony took place in Tashkent with the participation…
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ASTANA – Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are considering a joint Clean Air initiative alongside broader efforts to expand trade and strategic cooperation, following a meeting between Presidents Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Bukhara on April 11. According to the Akorda press service, Tokayev said the…
Europe and Central Asia’s governments are spending more than ever on steering their economies. They are mostly pointing in the wrong direction. The World Bank rarely minces its words. Its spring economic update for Europe and Central Asia (ECA), published on April 8, delivered a bleak macroeconomic picture alongside a pointed verdict on industrial policy […]
Subsidising the past was originally…
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ASTANA – The C5+O.N.E. (Opening Networks Through English) program launched its sixth cohort on April 2, aiming to strengthen English proficiency across Central Asia to support regional integration, professional collaboration and economic ties with the United States. Participants from Central Asian countries…
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ASTANA — A new direct air route between Almaty and Tashkent has been launched on March 31 by Uzbek carrier Qanot Sharq, further strengthening regional connectivity, Kazinform reported. The inaugural flight was welcomed at Almaty International Airport with a ceremonial water arch, while arriving passengers were…
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ASTANA — Water resources in Central Asia are increasingly shaping economic stability and interstate relations as climate change intensifies pressure on shared rivers and aging infrastructure. Experts say water diplomacy is becoming an essential tool for managing transboundary resources and reducing risks of…
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ASTANA – A middle-path strategy based on the World Energy Council’s energy trilemma, balancing security, affordability and environmental sustainability, is the most effective approach for Central Asia’s energy transition, according to experts from the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB). The strategy, presented in…
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ALMATY — The international tourist train project Jibek Joly (Silk Way) will soon launch a new route connecting Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan, reported the Kazakh Ministry of Tourism and Sports. From March 20 to 25, the train will travel along a Silk Road itinerary linking Almaty, Turkistan, Samarkand,…
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ASTANA — As global sanctions enforcement tightens, businesses in Kazakhstan and the Kyrgyz Republic are adapting to stricter compliance standards affecting payments, logistics and trade with the support of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE)’s regional initiative launched in June 2025. Across…
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ASTANA — The National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic raised its policy rate by 100 basis points to 12% on Feb. 23. The decision took effect on Feb. 24. The bank cited an uneven external economic environment and elevated inflation in major trading partners, noting that domestic prices remain sensitive due to the…
The Astana Times provides news and information from Kazakhstan and around the world.
ASTANA — Financial institutions across Central Asia are accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence, with 36% already using AI technologies and 56% planning implementation within a year, according to a report released Feb. 13 by the National Bank of Kazakhstan. Based on a survey of 232 financial…
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ALMATY – The National Bank of Tajikistan plans to install special ATMs that will allow individuals to buy and sell gold bullion directly, the head of the financial regulator Firdavs Tolibzoda, said at a press conference, reported the Kazinform news agency on Feb. 17. The new machines will enable customers to…