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 maryam.agharabi[a]kimep.kz.

Italian PM Meloni tours Central Asia; Uzbekistan concludes $660 million worth of agreements with Egypt’s Bell Energy; China’s Fujian Province and Uzbekistan agree 20 investment deals; Kazakhstani-French Investment Forum held in Astana. /Jun.02

_{President Mirziyoyev welcomes Prime Minister Meloni in Samarkand, the first stop of her visit to Central Asia. Source: Kun.uz}

This week, the media in Central Asia covered several significant diplomatic stories, such as the Astana International Forum and the Central Asia-Italy summit. They also covered important energy stories like Uzbekistan and Bell Energy signing deals worth $660 million and the CPC’s plans to ship one billion tons of crude oil by October 2025. Several sources noted that the eight OPEC+ countries, including Kazakhstan, plan to raise oil production in July, and reports that the international shareholders in Kazakhstan’s Karachaganak oil and gas field are reluctant to invest in a new gas processing plant. Other outlets highlighted Uzbekistan signing 20 investment agreements with companies from China’s Fujian Province and the Kazakhstani-French Investment Forum.

: 02 June 2025

Informal OTS summit in Budapest; 16th Meeting of the Kazakhstani-German Business Council in Astana; Uzbekistan creates 1.1 million jobs in 2025, remittances increase by 32%; Kazakhstan’s Digital Ministry plans cryptocurrency reserve. /May.26

_{Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban hosted an informal Organization of Turkic States’ summit in Budapest. Source: TRT}

This week, the media in the region covered several energy stories, such as the Russian energy firm Inteco Group concluding a deal to drill for oil in Afghanistan, Uzbekistan doubling its oil exports to China, KazMunayGas committing to raising output at the Kashagan field, and Russia promising to increase oil deliveries to China through Kazakhstan. Several outlets reported on the Organization of Turkic States’ summit in Budapest and President Mirziyoyev’s visit to Slovenia. They also noted the 16th Meeting of the Kazakhstani-German Business Council in Astana and Kazakhstan’s plans for a cryptocurrency reserve. Other sources highlighted Uzbekistan adding 1.1 million jobs in 2025, as remittances rose 32% to $3.3 billion over the same period.

: 26 May 2025

Petronas, XRG, & Turkmenistan conclude production sharing deal; Rosatom begins manufacturing components for Uzbekistan’s new NPP; EU and Ukraine sanction Uzbekistani companies; Kyrgyzstan records 11.7% growth. /May.19

_{The Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, visited Kazakhstan from May 11-12. Source: Astana Times}

This week, the media in Central Asia covered several diplomatic events, such as the Emirati Crown Prince’s visit to Kazakhstan and the EU Special Representative to Central Asia paying a visit to Tashkent. They also reported on multiple significant energy stories, such as Rosatom beginning to manufacture components for Uzbekistan’s first NPP, the U.S. Treasury lifting restrictions on the provision of oil-related services to the CPC and Tengiz oil field, Petronas, XRG, and Turkmenistan conclude production sharing deal for the Block 1 natural gas field in the Caspian Sea, and Uzbekistan and the World Bank signing a $150 deal to upgrade the country’s electricity grid. Several outlets noted that Kazakhstan and China agreed to construct a new $1.1 billion grain processing facility, and the EU and Ukraine sanctioned numerous Uzbekistani companies. Other sources reported that Kazakhstan recorded 6% GDP growth in the first four months of the year, while economic growth in Kyrgyzstan surged by 11.7%.

: 19 May 2025

Uzbekistan signs $3.6 billion program with the ADB, Kyrgyzstan launches National Council for Development of Virtual Assets and Blockchain Technologies; Uzbekistan approves site plan for Jizzakh Nuclear Power Plant. /May.12

_{Vietnam’s Leader, Tô Lâm, paid a state visit to Kazakhstan last week. Source: Vietnam Plus}

This week, the media in the region covered several notable diplomatic events, such as the state visit of the General Secretary of the Vietnamese Communist Party, Tô Lâm, to Kazakhstan and Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s visit to Paris. Several outlets reported on critical energy developments, such as Uzbekistan approving the site plan for its new small modular nuclear power plant, Kazakhstan considering a new tax on energy companies, and Kazakhstan reiterating its commitment to OPEC+ in light of media allegations that it is facing pressure from its partners to reduce oil production. Nevertheless, the Energy Ministry once again refused to countenance lowering production. Multiple sources also noted Kyrgyzstan launching its new National Council for the Development of Virtual Assets and Blockchain Technologies and Uzbekistan signing a new $3.6 billion program with the ADB.

: 12 May 2025

IMF publishes GDP projections for Central Asia; Kazakhstan records first net outflow of U.S. FDI; Inflation continues to rise in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan; Kazakhstan launches new investor visa. /May.05

_{Kyrgyzstan and the IsDB signed several agreements on the sidelines of the World Bank and IMF Spring meetings last week. Source: Daryo}

This week, the media across Central Asia covered several critical economic stories, such as Kazakhstan’s lower house adopting a new tax code, Kazakhstan recording its first net outflow of U.S. investment, and the IMF’s latest GDP projections for the region. However, several outlets noted the continued acceleration of inflation in the region, particularly in Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The media reported on diplomatic events like the CIS Regions Forum and Economic Council meetings in Tashkent. They also noted the commencement of construction work on a 12-kilometer tunnel for the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway. Lastly, they covered Russia and Uzbekistan signing a new migration protocol and Russia extending the deadline for migrants to legalize their status.

: 05 May 2025

World Bank forecasts 4.7% regional growth; Uzbekistan plans significant privatization; Tengiz field operator gets fined; 6th China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers Meeting in Almaty; Kazakhstan hints it won’t comply with OPEC+ compensation plan. /Apr.28

_{The National Leader of the Turkmen People, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, visited Samarkand for talks with President Mirziyoyev. Source: Zamin.uz}

This week, the media in the region reported on several important diplomatic developments, such as Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov’s tour of Central Asia, Kazakhstani PM Olzhas Bektenov’s visit to Moscow, the sixth China-Central Asia Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, and President Japarov’s official visit to Bahrain. They also covered several critical energy stories like Uzbekistan’s plans to import more Russian gas while simultaneously announcing the first monthly increase in gas production in 3.5 years, Kazakhstan fining the Tengiz oil field operator $1.4 million amid a strike at the field, Kazakhstan hinting it will prioritise its national interest over OPEC+ plans when it comes to oil production, and Kazakhstan announcing it will commence exploring various new gas deposits. In addition, several outlets noted Uzbekistan’s plans to privatise multiple state enterprises.

: 28 April 2025

Kazatomprom signs uranium supply agreement with Czech energy provider ČEZ; Uzbekistan to lift all export restrictions by July; OPEC confirms new compensation plan for Kazakhstan; Uzbekistan begins construction of first NPP. /Apr.21

_{Kashagan oil and gas field. Source: Kursiv}

This week, the media in the region reported on several critical energy stories, such as China rejecting Russian plans to increase gas exports through Kazakhstan, Kazatomprom signing a uranium supply deal with the Czech company ČEZ, Uzbekistan beginning construction work on its first NPP, and OPEC outlining a new compensation plan for several member states, including Kazakhstan. They also covered Russia’s Supreme Court removing the Taliban from the country’s list of terrorist organizations. Several outlets noted Uzbekistan’s plans to suspend all export restrictions by July. Other sources also reported on the surge in remittances sent to Kyrgyzstan, while remittances and economic growth plateau in neighboring Tajikistan. Lastly, the media covered a new investigative report by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists that revealed that the arbitration case between Kazakhstan and a consortium of international oil companies over the Kashagan field in the Caspian Sea could continue until 2028.

: 21 April 2025

Uzbekistan & Germany sign memorandum on labor migration; Russia & Tajikistan hold anti-terror drills; Uzbekistan signs wind and solar deals at Samarkand Climate Forum; Kazakhstan to auction 50 new mineral deposits; FDI falls sharply in Kazakhstan. /Apr.14

_{The CIS Foreign Ministers’ Council met in Almaty. Source: Sputnik Kazakhstan}

This week, the media in Central Asia covered several crucial energy stories, such as the increase in Uzbekistani gas exports despite the country’s plans to cease exports amidst rising domestic consumption, Uzbekistan ending its deal for the development of the Shokhpakhta gas field with Gazprom, and Uzbekistan concluding agreements for several new renewable energy projects at the Samarkand International Climate Forum. Several outlets reported joint Russian-Tajikistani anti-terror drills and the CIS Foreign Ministers’ Council meeting in Almaty. Other sources noted Kazakhstan’s plans to auction 50 new mineral deposits and Uzbekistan’s signing multiple new investment agreements with U.S. companies. They also reported that Uzbekistan and Germany signed a memorandum on labor migration, FDI fell sharply in Kazakhstan, and remittances from Russia surged in Tajikistan.

: 14 April 2025

Central Asia's Weekly

Media Monitoring