nCa Report About half of the research paper of Pavlenko was reproduced in the previous part of this series. Now we are presenting the remaining part of his paper. * * * There are few localised species, namely endemic and sub-endemic representatives. Among the endemics are the Karakum species: Artemisia dimoana, Crucianella sabulosa and a […]
Central Asian economies to record strong growth despite natural disasters in the region
Anton Usov According to the latest Regional Economic Prospects (REP) report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Central Asian economies in 2024 are expected to see growth slowing to 5.4 per cent. However, a rebound to 5.9 per cent is expected in 2025. The report notes that intermediated trade with Russia, which had […]
Rome to host Italy+Central Asia meeting at the end of May
On 29 May 2024, Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani will meet in Rome with colleagues from five Central Asian countries – Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan, Nova News agency reports. According to the source, the meeting will bring together Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan Rashid Meredov, Minister of […]
First meeting of the Regional Expert Council in Central Asia on the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees held in Tashkent
The first meeting of the Regional Expert Council on Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Returnees from Conflict Zones in Central Asia was held on May 14 in Tashkent. The Regional Expert Council was established at the initiative of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Mr. Shavkat Mirziyoyev in March 2022 in Tashkent at the High-Level […]
Deserts in Central Asia – Part Eight
nCa Report As mentioned in the previous Part Seven of this series, we are now presenting a research paper authored by Professor Pavlenko of the Astrakhan University (Russia). He presented this paper at the International Cold Winter Desert Conference in the framework of CADI (Central Asia Desert Initiative) was held 2-3 December 2021 in Tashkent. […]
Trade integration in Central Asia under the spotlight at the CATF in Almaty
The 13th Central Asia Trade Forum (CATF) themed “Trade Connections: Bridging Globally” started on 15 May 2024 in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The event is organized by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). More than 300 business executives and government officials from Asia, Europe, the Middle East, the United Kingdom, and the United States are […]
EU Launches Educational Program for Young Central Asian Diplomats
The European Union has launched a new educational program specifically designed for young diplomats from Central Asia. The initiative, unveiled on 13 May 2024, in Bruges, Belgium, aims to strengthen educational and diplomatic ties between the regions, according to the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium. The program was developed with the participation of leading European […]
Deserts in Central Asia – Part Seven
nCa Report The International Cold Winter Desert Conference in the framework of CADI (Central Asia Desert Initiative) was held 2-3 December 2021 in Tashkent. In the next two parts of this ongoing report, we will reproduce one paper in full. After that, we will present selected passages from one or two more papers delivered at […]
More Diversified Trade Can Make Middle East and Central Asia More Resilient
Jihad Azour Dislocations from the pandemic, geoeconomic fragmentation, and Russia’s war in Ukraine have shifted world trade dynamics. While this has created challenges, the redirection of trade has also generated new opportunities, particularly for the Caucasus and Central Asia. Since the war began, the region’s economies have shown continued resilience and trade activity in many […]
Deserts in Central Asia – Part Six
nCa Report Any conversation about the deserts of Central Asia cannot be complete without the mention of Professor Agajan Babayev. — He is 95. He is a living legend. A geomorphologist, a world class specialist in desert typology, a mentor of three generations of academics and scholars, Babayev spent very productive 70 years in the […]
Central Asian Universities Engage with European Circular Economy Practices
Representatives from universities in Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan participated in a series of meetings across Europe as part of the European Union’s Erasmus+ CirculEC project. This initiative focuses on developing innovative training programs on circular economy and sustainable development for Central Asian higher education institutions. The delegations visited Germany, Spain, and Italy, where they […]
E-Commerce in Turkmenistan turning the corner
The ecosystem of e-commerce in Turkmenistan is turning the corner. Consumer confidence, the central element for success in the digital marketplace, is rising fast. Statista estimates that the volume of ecommerce in Turkmenistan will reach about USD 370 million this year. The projected annual growth is 8.06%, which will bring the trade volume of ecommerce […]
Deserts in Central Asia – Part Five
nCa Report The deserts in Central Asia are winter-cold deserts. Of all the winter-cold deserts in the world, 95% are in the Central Asian region. It puts them in a different category from the other deserts of the world. This creates a challenge for the people who are working to preserve the delicate ecosystem of […]
Deserts in Central Asia – Part Four
nCa Report CADI – Central Asia Desert Initiative – was a project involving several countries and organizations. It lasted from July 2016 to July 2022, stretching beyond its planned period of implementation. CADI studied the deserts of Central Asia from different perspectives and gave valuable insight. Here is the text of the brochure of the […]
Deserts in Central Asia – Part Three
nCa Report In the previous part of this series, we gave some information about the Central Asia Southern Desert, comprising Kyzylkum and Karakum deserts. Now let us look at what is called the Central Asian Northern Desert. Central Asian Northern Desert Again, the narrative is from One Earth, with some slight editing: https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/central-asian-northern-desert/ The Central […]
Tashkent hosted a climate change and adaptation conference
On 6-7 May 2024 Conference on Climate Change and Adaptation took place in Tashkent. The conference was organized by UNDP jointly with the Committee on the Development of the Aral Sea Region and Ecology of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Hydrometeorological Service Agency (Uzhydromet) of the Ministry of […]
Deserts in Central Asia – Part Two
nCa Report Lumping some of the deserts in Central Asia together, based on their characteristic, and objectives of the study, is a useful idea. In the experts’ circle, two desert groups are prominent: 1. Central Asian Southern Desert; 2. Central Asian Northern Desert. Central Asian Southern Desert Here is the write-up from One Earth: https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/central-asian-southern-desert/ […]
Deserts in Central Asia – Part One
nCa Report There are some 14 territories and areas in Central Asia that are categorized as deserts. Some of them are in this category mainly for technical reasons and one of them should not have existed at all. The total area of deserts in Central Asia comes to about 1.5 million square km. This should […]
RECCA Partners with Turkmenistan NGOs for Environmental Projects
The Regional Environmental Center of Central Asia (RECCA) has signed memoranda of understanding with leading public organizations of Turkmenistan – the Society for the Protection of Nature of Turkmenistan and the Tebigi Kuwwat (Nature’s Energy) enterprise, according to RECCA. “This event opens a new page of cooperation with the civil society of Turkmenistan and provides […]
International Day of the Markhor: Celebrating the Endangered Screw-Horned Goat
24 May is now officially recognized as International Day of the Markhor, a majestic screw-horned goat native to Central and South Asia. The UN General Assembly recently adopted a resolution to celebrate this unique animal. Found in countries like Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, the Markhor is sadly classified as endangered. The name […]
Uzum of Uzbekistan is authentic unicorn in digital ecosystem of Central Asia
The media has hailed Uzum as Uzbekistan’s first tech ‘unicorn’ – a pre-IPO company with a valuation of over $1billion. Uzum is Uzbekistan’s largest digital platform, providing a wide range of services, including e-commerce, express delivery, banking, fintech, and business development. Its ecosystem serves nearly a third of the nation’s population every month. It has […]
International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC) launches landmark Trade Connect Central Asia+ (TCCA+) Program at the 3rd Tashkent International Investment Forum
The International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), member of Islamic Development Bank Group, is delighted to announce the launch of its newest flagship Trade Connect Central Asia+ (TCCA+) Program at the 3rd Tashkent International Investment Forum. The aim of the Program is to facilitate economic growth and regional economic integration amongst the six Organisation of […]
Qatar hosted 3rd Arab-Central Asia Economic Forum
The 3rd session of the Arab Economic and Cooperation Forum with the countries of Central Asia and the Republic of Azerbaijan was held in Doha, Qatar on 29-30 April 2024. Turkmenistan was represented by Deputy Minister of Finance and Economy B. Yalakov. Welcoming the forum, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi emphasized […]
Ashgabat hosted Central Asian Conference on Water Issues
On Tuesday, 30 April, a regional conference of Central Asian countries on water management issues was held in Ashgabat, TDH reports. The event is part of the USAID Regional Water and Vulnerable Environment Activity project (WAVE). The forum was attended by representatives of the water sector, a number of ministries and departments of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, […]
Jana Post of Kazakhstan is a success story in e-commerce in Central Asia
E-Commerce is not a novelty in Central Asia anymore. It has been embraced by the mainstream society. However, the activity at e-commerce platform, though robust, is mostly on the local scale. The expansion is constrained by two factor: 1. The limited geography of first-mile-collection and last-mile-delivery services; and 2. Lack of unified payment gateway solutions. […]
Groundwater in Central Asia – Part Three
nCa Report IGRAC (International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre) is based in the Netherlands. Since 2014, IGRAC has provided various inputs to the SDGs process, including position papers and articles contributing to the indicators of the targets 6.3.2 (water quality), 6.4.2 (water stress), 6.5.2 (transboundary waters) and 6.6.1 (ecosystems). In 2018, the WWAP (World Water Assessment […]
24,000 companies with Russian capital operate in Central Asian countries
At the Innoprom Central Asia exhibition in Tashkent, Russia’s Deputy Prime Minister, minister for industry and trade Denis Manturov emphasized the growing economic ties between Russia and Central Asia. He revealed that over 24,000 companies with Russian capital operate in the region, with combined investments exceeding $38 billion. According to the government representative, Russia retains […]
Groundwater in Central Asia – Part Two
nCa Report In the first part of this series, we quoted from a research study about TBAs (Transboundary Aquifers) in Central Asia. The term Transboundary in the context of aquifers is not very old – it was first used in 2017. When an aquifer is transboundary i.e. shared by two or more countries, its physical […]
Youth supports Drug Use Prevention in Central Asia with UNODC Peer to Peer Initiative “Friends In Focus”
From April 22nd to 25th, UNODC Regional Youth Network for Central Asia convenes in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for the “Peer-supported Drug Use Prevention with Friends in Focus” training. This bespoke program brings together Youth Network members and policymakers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. In her opening remarks, Ms. Diloram Tashmukhamedova, Deputy Chairperson of the […]
Groundwater in Central Asia – Part one
nCa Report Groundwater is an important – and generally rechargeable – source of water. In Central Asia, where the growing water shortage requires every possible effort to make responsible use of the water resources and ensure their sustainability. The groundwater – literally the water in the ground – is usually not under the spotlight when […]
Inter-regional and Intra-regional partnership formats speed up economic integration in Central Asia
nCa Analysis The pith of the recent inter-regional and intra-regional formats of partnership in Central Asia is simply impressive. While it contributes solidly to the space for peace and progress, it also creates bulwarks against any negative influences of the prevailing geopolitical situations from spilling over into the region. In the past few days, the […]
IMF cautiously upbeat on economies of Caucasus and Central Asia
“Resilience in the global economy and easing global inflationary pressures are positive developments for economies in the Middle East and Central Asia. Overall growth is projected to strengthen to 2.8 percent in 2024 (from 2.0 percent in 2023) and 4.2 percent in 2025,” says the opening paragraph of the executive summary of the IMF Report […]
UNODC, CASC Network and CARICC co-organize a Regional Training on Investigation of Cybercrime Cases in Central Asia for prosecutors from the region
From 16 to 19 April, UNODC and the Central Asian Regional Information and Coordination Centre (CARICC) co-organized a Regional Training on Investigation of Cybercrime Cases for prosecutors from Central Asia, with the participation of experts from the Judicial Cooperation Network for Central Asia and Southern Caucasus (CASC). During the four-day training hosted at the CARICC […]
Kazakhstan and Japan share experience: Seminar for the countries of Central Asia and the Caucasus on earthquake risk reduction
From 16 to 19 April this year, Almaty is hosting a seminar organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA in cooperation with the Kazakhstan Agency of International Development «KazAID», the Kazakh Research Institute of Construction and Architecture and the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction. Japan, being one of the most seismically […]
2nd Ministerial Meeting of the “GCC + Central Asia” Strategic Dialogue adopted a Joint Statement – Samarkand to host the Dialogue’s next Summit
On 15 April 2024, Tashkent, hosted the Second Ministerial Meeting of the Strategic Dialogue “Cooperation Council of the Arab States of the Gulf – Central Asia” (GCC + Central Asia), chaired by the foreign minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov. The forum was attended by: Bahrain – Foreign minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al-Zayani Kazakhstan – Deputy […]
EU empowers Central Asian educators with innovative learning tool
From 15 to 19 April, over 250 educators will participate in a week of training events organised by the European Union (EU) in Astana, Kazakhstan. The training, targeting trainers from five countries, will introduce participants to SCAFFOLD, an EU-developed deck of cards designed to assist educators in creating effective learning activities. Special attention will be […]
ПРООН и партнеры организовали Региональный семинар по водной дипломатии для укрепления сотрудничества в области устойчивого управления водными ресурсами в Центральной Азии
Ашхабад, 11 апреля 2024 года: ПРООН в Туркменистане совместно с Международным фондом спасения Арала (МФСА) в Центральной Азии и Научно-информационным центром Межгосударственной комиссии по устойчивому развитию (НИЦ МКУР) организовали Региональный семинар по водной дипломатии. Семинар был проведен 9 апреля 2024 г. в здании ООН в Ашхабаде. Мероприятие было организовано в рамках Проекта «Сохранение и устойчивое […]
UNDP and partners held a Regional seminar on water diplomacy to strengthen cooperation for sustainable water management in Central Asia
Ashgabat, April 11, 2024: UNDP in Turkmenistan, together with the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) in Central Asia and the Scientific Information Centre of the Interstate Commission for Sustainable Development (SIC ICSD), organized a regional seminar on water diplomacy. The seminar was held on April 9 in the UN building in Ashgabat. The event […]
The population of Central Asia is nearly 81 million. By 2050, it would be 100 million
The population of Central Asia is currently in excess of 80.8 million. There has been an average growth of one million during the past ten years. The experts estimate that by 2050, the population of Central Asia would exceed 100 million. Central Asia – Population Country Population (million) Per square km density Average age Literacy […]
EVENT – Unveiling a Sustainable Future: 3rd CAREC Climate Policy Dialogue
The CAREC Institute is proud to announce the upcoming 3rd CAREC Climate Policy Dialogue, scheduled to take place on April 25, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Beijing Time. This pivotal event will bring together policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders to address the pressing challenges posed by climate change in Central Asia. Amidst rising temperatures […]
Restructuring of foreign office of Türkiye – new general directorate of OTS and Central Asia created
Under a decree issued by President Erdogan on 6 April 2024, the government of Türkiye has restructured its foreign office. In order to strengthen ties with the Organization of Turkic States, a Central Asia and the Organization of Turkic States General Directorate has been set up. The other changes include: The America and Latin American […]
UNODC enhances the capacities of Central Asian border and migration services officers in authenticating travel documents
From 11 to 13 March, UNODC organized a regional training on verification of the authenticity of travel documents in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, for 27 mid- and senior-level officers from Central Asian border and migration services officers. The training aimed to equip the officers with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively tackle challenges encountered during document […]
Turkmenistan Discusses Transport Links with Europe at Connecting Europe Days
The consultations focused on transport connections between Europe and Central Asia were held in Brussels on the sidelines of the Connecting Europe Days 2024 event (2-5 April 2024), the Embassy of Turkmenistan in Belgium reports. The meeting was attended by the head of the Department of Foreign Economic Relations and Logistics of the Agency of […]
Arkadag Berdimuhamedov is on an official visit to Tajikistan – Turkmenistan and Tajikistan outline promising areas of cooperation
On 4-5 April 2024, the National Leader of the Turkmen people, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov is on a two-day official visit to Tajikistan. On the first day of the visit, Berdimuhamedov met with President Emomali Rahmon, as well as with Chairman of the Majlisi Milli Majlisi Oli (Parliament) of Tajikistan […]
Pakistan Breaks Ground on Central Asian Trade with First Direct Shipment to Tajikistan
Recently, the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) of Pakistan carried out the first direct delivery of cargo to Tajikistan. A batch of Pakistani potatoes travelled 1,400 km in just 7 days, reaching Dushanbe, Tajikistan’s capital, via a China-routed path bypassing Afghanistan. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, the first direct shipment of cargo […]
New research reveals that chickens were widely raised across southern Central Asia from 400 BCE
An eggshell fragment from the site of Bash Tepa, representing one of the earliest pieces of evidence for chickens on the Silk Road. Credit: Robert Spengler Chickens are one of the most economically important animals in the world today. However, the story of their origins and dispersal across the ancient world is still poorly understood. […]
Young people help to ensure access to sufficient amounts of clean water in Central Asia
Climate change has already irreversibly changed the lives of everyone all around the globe, with children bearing the heaviest burden. Concerned about water shortages, air pollution and increased heat waves, children and young people in Central Asia are taking measures to protect their future. Saving water at school Fifth graders from the city of Shchuchinsk […]
Central Asia is a home for over 530 species of birds
April 1 is International Bird Day. More than 530 species of birds live in the countries of Central Asia. More than 200 species are listed in the Red Books of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Among them are the white-eyed duck, the common flamingo, and the black stork, living in the valleys of large […]
Kazakhstan Hosts Digitalization Training for Central Asian Civil Servants
The Kazakhstan Agency for International Development (KazAID) is partnering with Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to offer the Dostyk Digitalization program. This initiative aims to enhance the digital skills of civil servants from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, KazAID reports. From 1 to 5 April 2024, in Astana, 20 civil servants will participate in […]
Turkmen Railways had a meeting with the Ambassador of Tajikistan
The Railway Agency of Turkmenistan (“Turkmendemiryollary”) hosted a meeting on 30 March 2024, with Tajikistan’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan, Vafo Niyatbekzoda. During the meeting, the sides exchanged views on the current state and future prospects of bilateral cooperation in the field of railway transport. In particular, special attention was paid to increasing the volume of freight […]