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Wildlife

Kazakhstan Wants to Lift Ban on Saiga Horn Trade; Some Conservationists Object

The extraordinary recovery of the saiga antelope population after being close to extinction has opened a debate about whether it is time to allow the international commercial trade of the species’ horns from Kazakhstan, home to the vast majority of saigas. Kazakhstan’s government says yes. It has submitted a pro-trade proposal that will be discussed at a conference in Samarkand, Uzbekistan of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES. The United Nations meeting, which regulates trade in tens of thousands of species of animals and plants, is being held in Central Asia for the first time and runs from November 24 to December 5. It was last held in Panama in 2022. While applauding Kazakhstan’s conservation successes, some groups advise against trade in saiga horns, which are used in traditional medicine in parts of Asia. The New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society, warned on Tuesday that the population gains are fragile, saying “the saiga has a long history of boom and bust population cycles, and a precautionary approach is imperative.” Backed by international conservation groups and donors, Kazakhstan has guided the remarkable comeback of a species whose numbers were estimated at 20,000 in 2003 and then, after some growth, suffered another big population crash because of disease in 2015. A reduction in poaching and the expansion of land earmarked for conservation helped the saigas. But some farmers say rising saiga numbers threaten their crops and the government has considered mass kills and other ways to manage the population. Kazakhstan’s saiga population is estimated to be several million and the status of the species on the IUCN Red List was moved from critically endangered to near threatened in 2023. There are much smaller saiga populations elsewhere in the region, including Russia, Mongolia and Uzbekistan. Saiga populations in Kazakhstan “exceed historical levels, which has led to conflicts with local farmers over forage resources in certain regions,” according to Kazakhstan’s CITES proposal. It says that removing the current “zero quota” in the international commercial trade in saiga “derivatives” from Kazakhstan would help meet demand for horns and reduce poaching. The zero quota was introduced at the CITES meeting in Geneva in 2019. “The revival of sustainable commercial trade could not only restore the species' economic value but also regulate market pricing policies to make illegal trade unprofitable, as the price of saiga horns would no longer justify the risks and costs for poachers,” Kazakhstan’s proposal says. However, the Wildlife Conservation Society, which runs programs in more than 50 countries, said the ban should stay in place for now because horn exports from Kazakhstan would increase demand, complicate efforts to distinguish between legal and illegal horns and put pressure on saigas other countries where they are more vulnerable. “Mongolia’s saiga population has grown thanks to years of collaborative effort, but Mongolia’s subspecies remains endangered,” Justine Shanti Alexander, the group’s country director in Mongolia, said in a statement. “ Any move that increases international demand for saiga horn -...

Electricity Supply

Uzbekistan to Extend Electricity Supplies to Afghanistan Through 2026

Uzbekistan will continue supplying electricity to Afghanistan in 2026, the Ministry of Energy announced following a bilateral meeting in Tashkent between Uzbek Energy Minister Jorabek Mirzamahmudov and Abdul Bori Umar, Chief Executive of Afghanistan’s state-owned power company Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS). Senior officials from Uzbekistan’s energy sector also participated in the talks. The two sides referenced recent statements by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the 80th session of the UN General Assembly and during the Central Asia summit held in Tashkent, where he underscored the importance of supporting the Afghan people and fostering the country’s economic development. Officials said these efforts are helping to reinforce energy cooperation between the neighboring countries. The meeting also covered progress on joint energy infrastructure projects, including the construction of high-voltage transmission lines and substations within Afghanistan. Both sides agreed to accelerate implementation of these facilities. The session concluded with the signing of a new contract extending Uzbekistan’s electricity supply to Afghanistan through 2026. According to the Ministry of Energy, the agreement demonstrates the shared interest of both countries in ensuring stable power delivery and strengthening Afghanistan’s energy infrastructure. Earlier this year, DABS reported that it had signed four contracts worth $243 million with Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy, along with partners Nego Energy and Uz Energy. These projects include the extension of the 500-kilovolt Surkhan-Dasht Alwan transmission line, capable of transmitting up to 1,000 megawatts; expansion of the Arghandeh substation to 800 MVA; construction of a new Sheikh Mesri substation in Nangarhar Province; and the extension of the 220-kilovolt Kabul-Nangarhar (Sheikh Mesri) line.

United States

NYC Mayor Adams Heads to Uzbekistan in Final Weeks in Office

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who suspended his re-election campaign this year and leaves office on January 1, is traveling to Uzbekistan and will return to New York on Sunday. The New York Post and other media outlets said Adams, who met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Monday, will visit Tashkent and Samarkand during the taxpayer-funded trip. The mayor’s office said late Monday that Adams will meet “government, business, tech, sports, and religious leaders to discuss how New York City can partner with Uzbekistan” to generate jobs and innovation in the city and will also visit “religious sites of importance to the Muslim community,” according to media reports. Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will succeed Adams, a former New York City police officer and Brooklyn borough president. As mayor, Adams has been credited with some accomplishments on housing, steering New York out of the pandemic and other issues, but his tenure was tarnished by ethics concerns and investigations. Last year, federal prosecutors charged Adams with conspiracy, fraud and other crimes for an alleged scheme involving Turkish officials. Adams pleaded not guilty. This year, the U.S. Department of Justice ordered that the case be dropped. The federal investigation of Adams included an angle involving Uzbekistan. In a 2024 affidavit, investigators alleged that Adams solicited illegal foreign donations, via a so-called “straw” donor scheme designed to conceal the identity of the real contributor of the funds. It said that one such donor “is connected to the Government of Uzbekistan and works to influence Adams on behalf of Uzbek and Central Asian causes.” Uzbekistan’s government has not commented publicly on the case. Hosting an Uzbekistan heritage reception last month, Adams said “New York is the Tashkent of America,” a reference to the large Uzbek community in the city. “I love all of my stans, Kazakhstan and the others, but Uzbekistan is growing, your country is becoming stronger and stronger every day,” Adams said.

Trade

Mirziyoyev and Berdymuhamedov Agree on New Projects as Trade Tops $1 Billion

Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have agreed to deepen political, economic, and humanitarian cooperation following President Serdar Berdymuhamedov’s state visit to Tashkent, where he held talks with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on November 17. The summit began in a narrow format at the Kuksaroy Residence, where both leaders emphasized the significance of the visit in strengthening the growing strategic partnership. They noted the increasing dialogue across various sectors and highlighted recent cultural initiatives, including the Days of Turkmen Culture and Cinema held in Urgench and Tashkent. Bilateral trade continues to grow, having surpassed $1 billion last year, supported by rising freight flows through the Turkmenbashi port. The presidents explored new opportunities to boost mutual trade and deepen cooperation in industry, energy, transport, mechanical engineering, agriculture, and water management. They also agreed to expand interregional collaboration and to convene the next Forum of Regions in Khiva. Talks then continued in an expanded format with the participation of both delegations. Mirziyoyev stated that the visit reflects the “centuries-old ties of friendship and good neighborliness,” and he praised Turkmenistan’s progress under the leadership of Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty. The two sides agreed to work toward increasing trade to $2 billion by expanding the range of goods and more effectively utilizing the free trade regime. They noted that the newly launched Shavat-Dashoguz cross-border trade zone would play a key role in achieving this target and agreed to replicate the model in other regions, starting with the Alat-Farab corridor. Industrial cooperation is set to expand, with both sides encouraging businesses to launch joint projects in sectors such as building materials, pharmaceuticals, and food production. In the energy sector, the two countries plan to embark on larger-scale cooperative projects, including the development of promising natural resource deposits. Transport cooperation will also deepen through joint development of the Turkmenbashi port and the resumption of direct flights between Tashkent and Ashgabat. The presidents instructed their governments to ensure timely implementation of all agreements by holding regular meetings of the Intergovernmental Commission and the Business Council. They also committed to intensifying collaboration in culture, education, youth exchanges, filmmaking, healthcare, and medical science. Following the talks, the leaders jointly inaugurated the Shavat-Dashoguz trade zone, which includes customs, quarantine, and veterinary services, as well as warehouse facilities, a trade pavilion, and public services operating under a single-window system. The zone is expected to significantly boost economic ties between Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region and Turkmenistan’s Dashoguz region, which together are home to more than 3.5 million people. At a ceremony held at Kuksaroy, Berdymuhamedov was awarded the “Oliy Darajali Dustlik” Order, Uzbekistan’s highest state honor. Mirziyoyev said the award reflects Turkmenistan’s contributions to strengthening friendship, trust, and strategic partnership. Berdymuhamedov expressed his gratitude and reaffirmed his commitment to enhancing bilateral relations. The two sides signed a Joint Statement and oversaw the exchange of intergovernmental and interagency agreements covering trade, healthcare, agriculture, transport, biological safety, justice, forestry, and regional cooperation. The Uzbekistan-Turkmenistan summit concluded the same day. As part of his visit, Berdymuhamedov also...

Economy

Uzbekistan Revises 2024 GDP to $121.4 Billion

Uzbekistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) for 2024 has been revised upward to $121.4 billion, according to Behzod Hamroyev, Chair of the National Statistics Committee. The new figure was announced on November 17 during an international conference in Tashkent, as reported by the Statistika channel. Hamroyev explained that the revision reflects newly identified value added across key sectors of the economy. According to the final calculations, Uzbekistan’s nominal GDP for 2024 rose from 1,454.6 trillion soums to 1,535.4 trillion soums, an increase of 80.9 trillion soums, or 5.6%. In dollar terms, this marks an upward revision from the previously reported $115.0 billion to $121.4 billion. Following the recalculation, GDP per capita in 2024 reached 41.3 million soums. Hamroyev highlighted that full coverage of state budget execution led to the identification of 36.4 trillion soums in additional newly created value. Sector-specific revisions also contributed significantly: added value in industry rose by 12.7 trillion soums, agriculture by 5.6 trillion soums, construction by 10.3 trillion soums, and services by 16.3 trillion soums. Earlier this year, presidential spokesperson Sherzod Asadov reported that Uzbekistan’s GDP grew by 6.5% in 2024, reaching $115 billion before the revision. He also noted that foreign investment increased by 1.6 times to $34.9 billion, with 242 large and medium-sized projects worth $10 billion launched. National exports reached a record $27 billion.

Water Access

Central Asia Confirms Joint Water Plan for Shardara Reservoir Ahead of 2025-2026 Season

Central Asian nations have reached a consensus on projected water inflow volumes to the Shardara Reservoir for the upcoming non-vegetation period, according to Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. The agreement was finalized during a regional meeting attended by senior officials: Durdy Gendjiev, Chair of Turkmenistan’s State Committee for Water Management; Nurzhan Nurzhigitov, Kazakhstan’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation; Shavkat Hamraev, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Water Management; and Jamshed Shodi Shoimzoda, First Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan. Emil Shodikhanov, an adviser at the Kyrgyz Embassy in Turkmenistan, participated as an observer. Participants reviewed outcomes from the 2025 irrigation season and approved the operational forecast for the Naryn-Syr Darya reservoir cascade for the 2025-2026 non-vegetation period. A consensus was reached on expected inflow volumes to Shardara Reservoir, which is a critical node in the region’s transboundary water system. The meeting also included discussions on progress in implementing the commitments made during recent summits of the founding states of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea. The 92nd session of the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination (ICWC) is scheduled to take place next year in Tajikistan. “Last irrigation season took place under difficult climate conditions. However, coordinated cooperation among the ICWC member states made it possible to ensure stability throughout the vegetation period,” said Nurzhigitov. “Through such meetings, we reach common agreements and lay the foundation for future cooperation. Together with our colleagues in Central Asia, we aim for a fair distribution of transboundary water resources that considers the interests of all parties.” This agreement follows the 16 November regional summit chaired by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during which Central Asian leaders discussed enhancing regional cooperation and accelerating joint infrastructure projects. The summit focused on escalating ecological and water challenges, and leaders stressed the need to adopt a “green development” framework for the region. They also proposed declaring 2026-2036 as the “Decade of Practical Action for the Rational Use of Water in Central Asia.”