Central Asia News Bulletin

This weekly section provides an overview of key political, economic, and social developments across the five Central Asian states. It highlights the region’s most relevant policy trends, international engagements, and sectoral updates in areas such as energy, digital development, environment, and finance. The section is compiled and edited by Maryam Agharabi, Coordinator of the China & Central Asia Studies Center. For enquiries, you may contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Uzbekistan expands global partnerships; Tajikistan highlights digital and green growth; Kazakhstan faces tighter finances and energy shortfalls; regional security drills begin. /Oct.20

_{On October 14, the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon delivered a speech at the International Investment Forum “Dushanbe Invest – 2025”. Source: Eurasian Star}

After a week of high-level summits, Central Asia’s focus shifted to implementation and new initiatives across energy, finance, and regional cooperation. Uzbekistan pursued a busy diplomatic schedule, strengthening partnerships with Saudi Arabia, Russia, China, Japan, and South Korea while announcing plans for a new international airport near Tashkent and signing a PPP to modernize Urgench Airport. In Tajikistan, the Digital Tajikistan 2025 forum and the Dushanbe Invest 2025 conference placed digital transformation and the green economy at the top of the national agenda. Kazakhstan managed the immediate effects of its rate hike as mortgages paused and the tenge weakened, while preparing for winter energy shortages and increasing electricity imports from Russia. The region also saw progress on Kambarata-1 hydropower financing, steady oil exports through the CPC, and some new updates on nuclear energy. Security cooperation continued to deepen with CSTO exercises in Tajikistan and a meeting of CIS security chiefs in Samarkand, while new developments in aviation, healthcare, and tourism reflected the region’s growing connectivity.

: 20 October 2025

Central Asia–Russia and CIS summits held in Dushanbe; Kazakhstan tightens monetary policy; EU and EBRD advance Kambar-Ata-1 HPP; IFAS reviews Aral Sea projects. /Oct.12

_{Meeting of CIS Heads of States held in Dushanbe. Source: President.az}

This week’s regional agenda was dominated by high-level diplomacy in Dushanbe, where Central Asian leaders joined Russian President Vladimir Putin and other CIS heads for the Central Asia–Russia summit (Oct 9) and the CIS Heads of State Council (Oct 10). Leaders emphasized security coordination, economic ties, and a proposed “CIS Plus” outreach format. Alongside the summits, Kazakhstan tightened monetary policy with a surprise rate hike and reported stronger reserves. Uzbekistan advanced its regional-cooperation pitch—from Afghanistan reconstruction to investment climate reforms—and engaged UNICEF on Afghan humanitarian coordination. The week also saw fresh items on regional infrastructure and energy, plus a headline-grabbing note from space as the first Kazakh woman completed a Blue Origin suborbital flight.

: 13 October 2025

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

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