Tajikistan - The Times Of Central Asia

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Trade

Uzbekistan Signals Possible Retaliation Over Increased Trade Costs in Tajikistan

Uzbekistan may introduce reciprocal measures in response to trade barriers impacting its exports to Tajikistan, Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev announced on January 17 during a meeting of entrepreneurs, ambassadors, and government officials in Tashkent. Khodjaev highlighted challenges faced by Uzbek exporters, particularly in the construction materials sector, despite full compliance with required documentation. “We have problems related to Tajikistan. We export products to this market, but even when all documents are complete, our goods are cleared under a so-called ‘reserve’ procedure,” he said. “As a result, the price of our products in that market rises by about 15%.” Meeting participants reported that additional charges imposed at Tajik customs are inflating the cost of Uzbek construction materials and reducing competitiveness. Khodjaev warned that if such restrictions are not lifted, Uzbekistan may respond with similar trade measures. The issue was also raised by representatives of German construction materials giant Knauf. The company’s commercial director noted that exporters face similar obstacles not only in Tajikistan but also in Turkmenistan and parts of the Caucasus region. In Tajikistan’s case, the “reserve” customs clearance procedure was cited as a key driver of increased costs. “This is pushing the price of our products in the Tajik market up by as much as 15%,” the representative said. Entrepreneurs stated that combined logistics and customs costs for shipments to Tajikistan have surged from approximately $2,000 to $12,000. Despite multiple appeals to Tajik authorities, they said no resolution has been achieved, and the elevated costs are undermining export volumes. “If they impose duties, we can do the same,” Khodjaev stated. “Our customs officials will talk to their counterparts. If this practice continues, we will take response measures. Our ambassador should clearly convey this signal.” Despite the ongoing friction, trade between Uzbekistan and Tajikistan surpassed $700 million in 2024, nearly three times higher than in previous years. Both governments have indicated they are exploring new logistics corridors and simplified customs procedures to deepen bilateral economic ties.

Disability Inclusion

Disability Inclusion Is Emerging as Central Asia’s Next Social Frontier

More than 1.3 billion people worldwide live with some form of disability, yet disability remains one of the least visible dimensions of social and economic life. In Central Asia, that invisibility is especially pronounced. As governments focus on infrastructure, growth, and modernization, far less attention is paid to whether people with disabilities are becoming more present in schools, workplaces, and public life, or whether they remain largely confined to families and institutions beyond the reach of public discussion. Across the region, cities are expanding, labor mobility is increasing, and younger generations are more connected to global ideas through study and migration. These shifts are often treated as shorthand for progress. At the same time, people with disabilities consistently face lower educational attainment and weaker labor market outcomes, making inclusion a practical test of whether development reaches beyond headline indicators into everyday life. Disability policy across much of Central Asia has long centered on legal classification, benefit eligibility, and institutional care. Long-term institutionalization is associated with reduced autonomy and poorer social outcomes, yet institutions remain a common default, reinforcing the idea that disability is primarily an administrative or medical issue rather than a social one shaped by access and expectations. In practice, families remain the primary providers of care throughout the region. In Kyrgyzstan, around 200,000 people are officially registered as living with disabilities, and outside major cities, most daily support is provided by family members due to limited community-based services. In Turkmenistan, public disability data remain sparse, and undercounting is widely acknowledged, leaving extended families as the central source of long-term care. In Tajikistan, official estimates place the number of people living with disabilities between 150,000 and 200,000, with caregiving overwhelmingly home-based due to constrained public resources. Family-based care provides continuity and belonging, but it also carries an economic cost. Caregivers are more likely to reduce paid employment and experience long-term income loss, a burden that falls disproportionately on women and shapes household economic outcomes. This reliance on family support is often contrasted unfavorably with wealthier countries, but the comparison is more complicated. In the United States, more than one in four adults lives with a disability, and people with disabilities report significantly higher rates of loneliness and depression despite extensive legal protections and formal services. By contrast, strong family networks are associated with lower levels of severe social isolation, even in settings with fewer public resources. In recent years, small but notable shifts have begun to appear. Local organizations across the region are experimenting with community-based rehabilitation, inclusive education, and supported employment models that move beyond institutional care. These efforts remain fragmented and under-resourced, but they reflect a growing recognition that disability policy is about protection and participation. As Central Asian governments seek to retain talent, expand their labor force, and project social modernization, inclusion is increasingly intersecting with economic and demographic realities rather than remaining a niche social issue. Institutional care remains common across Central Asia, yet community-based rehabilitation is consistently linked to better social participation and quality...

Trade

Central Asia Trade with China Tops Record $100 Billion in 2025

Trade between China and Central Asia increased to a record of more than $100 billion in 2025, despite challenges to global economic growth, the Chinese government said on Monday. Citing data from China’s General Administration of Customs, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said the trade structure with the Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan had improved and that more high-end products were entering the Chinese market from the region. “As global economic growth remains sluggish and the international trading system faces serious challenges, the economic and trade cooperation between China and Central Asian countries has withstood external headwinds, and the trade volume surpassed US$100 billion,” Guo said. He attributed the increasing cooperation in part to a China-Central Asia summit in Astana, Kazakhstan last year that was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the five Central Asian leaders. China’s Belt and Road initiatives, which include the development of trade routes that pass through Central Asia and link up with Europe, are also making progress, according to the Chinese official. Total trade between China and Central Asia was $106.3 billion in 2025, an increase of 12 percent over the previous year, China’s state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Chinese exports such as machinery, electronics and high-tech goods were $71.2 billion, an increase of 11 percent over the previous year. Imports from Central Asia amounted to $35.1 billion, a rise of 14 percent from 2024. China is involved in major projects in Central Asia, including the extraction of minerals used for “clean” technology, equipment manufacturing and the modernization of agriculture. China imports oil and natural gas as well as a growing number of other products from the region. Russia was once the main trading partner of Central Asia after the fall of the Soviet Union, but China has the lead position now. The United States is also seeking to develop more trade with resource-rich Central Asia, which is diversifying its international partnerships.

Afghanistan

Tajik Border Guards Kill 4 Gunmen From Afghanistan

Security forces in Tajikistan killed four armed men who crossed the border from Afghanistan, the Tajik government said. It was the latest clash in a rugged, sparsely populated area that has become a hotspot for violence along the frontier. Border guards in Tajikistan’s Shamsiddin Shohin district located the assailants after they entered the country early on Sunday, according to a border force statement that was reported by the state Khovar news agency. “The terrorists refused to obey the border guards' order to surrender and offered armed resistance,” the border force said. “All four terrorists were killed during the operation.” The statement said security forces seized equipment, including three Kalashnikov assault rifles, one pistol, ammunition, mobile phones, one walkie-talkie, and one boat. The vessel was likely used to cross the Pyanj River from Afghanistan into Tajikistan. Chinese gold mining operations in Tajikistan’s border area have become a target of deadly attacks, prompting China to urge Tajikistan to take robust measures to get the situation under control. On January 15, Yusuf Rahmon, secretary of Tajikistan’s Security Council, met Chinese ambassador Guo Zhijun to discuss regional stability.

Green Energy

Tajikistan Accelerates Transition to Green Energy

Tajikistan has launched its largest solar energy initiative to date, marking a significant step in its transition to green energy. The project entails the construction of two photovoltaic power stations with a combined capacity of 500 MW, an unprecedented scale for the country’s energy sector. An investment agreement formalizing the project was signed on 13 January 2026 between the government of Tajikistan and Ayon Energy. The project will involve the development of two equally sized solar power plants: 250 MW in Asht District 250 MW in Jaihun District These new facilities are expected to play a crucial role in mitigating seasonal electricity shortages. Tajikistan, which relies heavily on hydropower, frequently faces deficits during the winter months. The introduction of solar generation capacity will ease pressure on existing hydroelectric resources, improving the reliability of electricity supply for both households and businesses. Ayon Energy has committed to completing the design, construction, and commissioning of the plants within 2026. The total investment is estimated at $250 million. In addition to this approved project, Tajikistan is also evaluating a potential 400 MW solar power plant in partnership with the UAE’s state-owned company Masdar.

Uranium

IAEA Extends Central Asia Uranium Cleanup Plan Through 2030

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has released a new Strategic Master Plan extending its cooperation with Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, alongside international partners, for the remediation of uranium legacy sites in Central Asia through 2030, according to World Nuclear News. Central Asia served as a key uranium source for the former Soviet Union, with mining and processing conducted over more than 50 years. In addition to local production, uranium ore was imported for processing, leaving vast amounts of radioactive waste stored in tailings and mining dumps. Most sites were shut down by 1995, but limited remediation both pre- and post-closure, has left behind long-term environmental and public health risks, including the threat of groundwater and surface water contamination in agriculturally vital areas. Since 2012, the IAEA’s Coordination Group for Uranium Legacy Sites has supported Central Asian countries with expert missions, legal and regulatory framework development, and remediation strategies. In 2017, the IAEA, the European Commission, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the CIS Economic Council, and the governments of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan adopted a Strategic Master Plan. Published in May 2018, it identified seven former uranium sites as the highest priority, with initial remediation costs estimated at €85 million. A revised plan was signed in September 2021, and the most recent version was presented in Tashkent in October 2025. It emphasizes long-term monitoring, maintenance, recordkeeping, and ongoing engagement with local communities to ensure the safe reuse of remediated land. “The new plan, an extension of our collaboration since 2017, focuses on enhancing the regulatory, technical, financial, and human resources for the long-term management of the remediated sites, according to IAEA safety standards,” said Hildegarde Vandenhove, Director of the IAEA Division of Radiation, Transport and Waste Safety. The updated plan puts the total cost of the Environmental Remediation Account programme at €113 million. This includes remediation work, project management, and contingencies. Since 2017, four of the seven high-priority sites have been fully remediated, two in Kyrgyzstan and two in Uzbekistan, while work continues at a fifth site in Kyrgyzstan. In Tajikistan, one site has been partially remediated, and another remains untouched. Lower-priority sites are also covered under the new plan, with some funding secured through bilateral agreements with Russia. Sardorbek Yakubekov, Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistan’s Industrial, Radiation and Nuclear Safety Committee, said the programme “stands as a vivid example of how the collective efforts of the international community… can yield tangible and lasting results.” As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia last December, Tajikistan still faces tens of millions of tons of radioactive waste from Soviet-era uranium mining, highlighting both the scale of the challenge and the critical need for sustained international support.