Our People > Times of Central Asia

Articles

AI in Education

Turkmenistan Looks to OpenAI as it Modernizes Education

Officials from Turkmenistan have met with OpenAI to discuss the use of artificial intelligence in the country’s education system. The London meeting between a delegation from Turkmenistan’s Ministry of Education and OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, took place during the Education World Forum 2026 this week, according to state media. The forum is a major annual gathering in which governments, the private sector, international NGOs, and others network and discuss ways of improving education systems. The meeting between ministry officials and OpenAI representatives addressed the “practical possibilities” of using AI in schools, the state-run Turkmenistan: Golden Age outlet reported. “The main focus was placed on two areas of cooperation: the use of AI to improve the quality of education and the development of AI literacy among schoolchildren, students, teachers, and administrative personnel,” the publication reported. During the meeting, Turkmenistan outlined the development of electronic educational platforms in the country’s education system, while OpenAI discussed possible pilot programs involving the use of ChatGPT Edu, an AI platform designed to protect user data, in selected academic institutions. They agreed to consider ways to build practical AI skills, such as hackathons in which students would team up to build a project or solve a problem in a limited time period. Turkmenistan’s government retains tight controls on society, and education is highly centralized. Traditional problems include teacher shortages and concerns that a range of restrictions were holding back student development. Even so, the country has embarked on a campaign to modernize the system and expand contacts with international institutions. Nurmuhammet Shyhlyev, vice-rector of the International University of Humanities and Development of Turkmenistan, was in Japan this month. He discussed initiatives including the establishment of Japanese language centers in Ashgabat's higher education institutions and joint research on robotics, green technologies, and other topics. In March, Education Minister Jumamyrat Gurbangeldiyev met Stefania Giannini, UNESCO assistant director-general for education, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris.

3 weeks ago

Opinion: How AI Is Reshaping the Global Image of Nations

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming one of the most powerful geopolitical and economic forces in the world. It is changing how countries compete, build influence, and attract investment. Until recently, discussions about Central Asia’s economic development were dominated by infrastructure, energy, logistics, and natural resources. Today, a new layer of competition is emerging: digital influence shaped by AI systems. According to McKinsey, AI could contribute up to $13 trillion to the global economy by 2030. For Central Asia and Kazakhstan, AI development is no longer just a digital transformation agenda; it is directly tied to technological sovereignty, economic resilience, and long-term competitiveness. Who Shapes a Country’s Image in the Age of AI? Digital influence is increasingly determined by how artificial intelligence systems interpret and represent countries. Consider a Singaporean investor asking Gemini about emerging technology markets in Central Asia. A European procurement manager using ChatGPT to identify logistics partners in the region. A journalist turning to Perplexity for insights on Kazakhstan’s fintech ecosystem before writing a report. In each case, AI generates answers based on the data it has been trained on and can access. This creates a new geopolitical reality: those who shape data and content structure ultimately shape how countries are represented globally. Generative AI is already used at a massive scale, with ChatGPT surpassing 900 million weekly active users as of early 2026. As these systems become default information interfaces, the visibility of countries within AI-generated responses is becoming increasingly important. When high-quality, structured, and authoritative content is missing, AI systems rely on outdated information, fragmented sources, and external narratives. In practice, this means that a lack of structured digital presence can directly influence international perception. How Other Countries Are Responding Several countries have already recognized this shift and are actively responding. According to Axios, Israel paid Brad Parscale’s firm $9 million as part of a campaign aimed at shaping how AI platforms portray the country. The United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are investing heavily in AI infrastructure and Arabic-language models, including Gulf-backed data centers, sovereign AI initiatives, and Arabic-first large language models. These efforts go beyond technology development. They represent a broader competition for influence in an information environment where AI-generated responses increasingly shape global understanding. AI Momentum in Kazakhstan In 2025, Kazakhstan was listed among the region’s strongest performers in the Government AI Readiness Index published by Oxford Insights. Kazakh officials cited a ranking of 60th out of 195 countries, while Oxford Insights published a regional report that placed Kazakhstan 58th globally. In either case, it was the highest-ranked of the five Central Asian states and represented a sharp improvement from the previous year. Over the past two years, Kazakhstan has demonstrated rapid progress in artificial intelligence. Venture investment in AI has increased more than fivefold, from $14 million to $73 million. IT service exports surpassed $1 billion in 2025, with later ministry figures putting the total at about $1.14 billion. The Kazakh-linked AI startup Higgsfield AI has also been widely described as Kazakhstan’s...

3 weeks ago

TCA Interviews

“Between Worlds”: Filmmaker Zhannat Alshanova on Migration and Identity

Kazakhstani filmmaker Zhannat Alshanova belongs to a new generation of directors whose careers have unfolded across countries and cultures. Before establishing herself as an auteur filmmaker, the London Film School graduate worked on international productions filmed in Kazakhstan, South Africa, Guatemala, Malaysia, and the United States. Her short film History of Civilization won the Silver Leopard at the Locarno Film Festival; several years later, her debut feature Becoming also premiered there. In an interview with The Times of Central Asia, Alshanova discusses migration, identity, the Western film industry, the creative vulnerability of young directors, and what it means to make cinema “between worlds.” TCA: Zhannat, would it be fair to call you a “Locarno star”? Your debut feature Becoming premiered there; before that, you won the Silver Leopard for your short A History of Civilization, and you also took part in the festival’s directing academy. Zhannat: We really have had a long relationship. Even before screening my own films there, I attended the festival as a co-producer of a South African film selected for competition. That was a year before my own participation. TCA: How did you end up working on a South African project, and what was the film about? Zhannat: It was made by people from my film school. We all studied together at London Film School, although they were a year ahead of me. It was a genuinely creative environment where everyone supported one another and worked on each other’s graduation films. Usually, productions took place in the filmmaker’s home country, so I ended up helping produce projects not only in South Africa, but also in Turkey and the United States. In Guatemala, I worked as a second assistant director. The South African project was a hybrid film, part fiction, part documentary, a road movie about a young man traveling to an audition. The entire story unfolds through that journey. It turned out to be a very beautiful film. [caption id="attachment_49166" align="aligncenter" width="1280"] From a personal photo archive[/caption] TCA: You all came to London Film School from completely different parts of the world. Were your themes similar or very different? Zhannat: Some were similar, others completely different. So many factors shape a filmmaker, the country you grew up in, your personal background, your experience of migration or travel. Some people had lived in one country their entire lives before leaving; others had moved between countries since childhood, while some had lived abroad and then returned home. Everyone carried different experiences. Some directors were interested in stories about children, others focused on people their own age, while some tried to imagine the future. The ideas were extremely varied, but all of them were vivid and personal. For me, the greatest asset of film school was access to different cultures and perspectives. Everyone brought their own cinematic baggage, films, directors and artistic traditions you might never otherwise encounter. It became a fascinating mix of global culture. TCA: What kind of film were you working on in Guatemala? Zhannat: It...

3 weeks ago

Water crisis

Tajikistan and UN to Host Water Crisis Conference in Dushanbe

Tajikistan and the United Nations will co-host the 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action "Water for Sustainable Development " 2018-2028 next week, as Central Asia and other regions face increasing water scarcity because of climate change, higher consumption, and other factors. Delegates to the May 25-28 water conference in Dushanbe include government officials, scientists, executives from financial institutions and civil society members from around the world. The goal of creating “sustainable” water resources is especially critical in Central Asia, where there is growing concern that shortages could threaten public health and stir tension between upstream and downstream countries. Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, for example, are in mountainous regions and have relatively significant water resources that they share with neighboring countries. However, the resources are under strain. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan, in turn, rely on the cross-border water supply that flows downstream. Central Asian governments have begun joint projects on water infrastructure to avoid the kind of tensions that emerged in the past. The Dushanbe conference is another step in that process, even though the event is global in perspective. Tajik diplomats have held briefings in Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia and other countries to promote the conference, describing Tajikistan as a leader in “water diplomacy” as the world faces a water crisis that is increasingly evident in floods, droughts, pollution and melting glaciers. Dushanbe has already hosted several international conferences on water. Saidjon Shafizoda, spokesman for Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a briefing in the Tajik capital on Wednesday that the conference can help accelerate innovation and mobilize funding for the “sustainable and inclusive” management of water, the state Khovar news agency reported. Organizers say more than 2,500 people are expected to participate.

3 weeks ago

UN Security Council

Japarov Calls for Support of Kyrgyzstan’s Bid for UN Security Council Seat

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has called on world leaders to support Kyrgyzstan’s candidacy in the election for non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, scheduled for June 3, 2026, for the 2027-2028 term. In a statement published on his Facebook page, Japarov said Kyrgyzstan has the backing of the other Central Asian countries and is prepared to promote “pragmatic and depoliticized solutions” on the international stage. According to the president, the underrepresentation of small, developing, and landlocked countries in the Security Council “undermines the sustainability of the entire architecture of collective security.” “This is not a political preference but an objective necessity,” Japarov said. He argued that intensifying geopolitical competition, the erosion of universal international law, and ongoing armed conflicts in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East continue to test the resilience of the international system. “More than $3 trillion is spent annually on military conflicts worldwide. These resources could provide humanity with a decent life. If these expenditures were directed toward greening the planet and eradicating hunger, our world could become a flourishing garden,” the Kyrgyz leader said. Japarov emphasized that Kyrgyzstan is not part of military blocs and does not participate in confrontational geopolitical formats, which he said allows the country to maintain a “balanced, independent, and pragmatic position” on international issues. The president also highlighted Kyrgyzstan’s peaceful settlement of border delimitation issues with neighboring states, describing it as an example of how even highly sensitive security disputes can be resolved through negotiations. Japarov devoted particular attention to Kyrgyzstan’s work within the UN Human Rights Council, to which the country has been elected three times. According to him, Bishkek continues efforts to strengthen democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. The claim comes amid continued scrutiny of Kyrgyzstan’s domestic political trajectory. International observers and rights groups have raised concerns in recent years over pressure on independent media, civil society, and opposition figures, while the authorities have argued that tighter regulation is needed to protect stability and national interests. Japarov also pointed to the introduction of quotas for women, youth, ethnic minorities, and people with disabilities under amendments to the law “On the Election of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic and Deputies of the Jogorku Kenesh,” adopted in 2025. Japarov claimed that Kyrgyzstan ranks first in the world for women’s parliamentary representation. However, Inter-Parliamentary Union data shows that Kyrgyzstan has 30 women in its 90-seat parliament, or 33.3% of deputies. The IPU has instead identified Kyrgyzstan as recording the largest increase in women’s parliamentary representation among countries that held parliamentary renewals in 2025. The president stressed that Kyrgyzstan remains committed to the principles of non-proliferation and disarmament and, if elected to the Security Council, would promote preventive diplomacy, mediation mechanisms, nuclear disarmament, and addressing the growing nexus between climate and security issues. Japarov noted that Kyrgyzstan was among the initiators of the Central Asian Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone and signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2025. He also said Bishkek intends to devote particular...

3 weeks ago

Education reform

Kazakhstan Reshapes Education System to Meet Industrial and Labor Market Needs

Kazakhstan has begun a large-scale restructuring of its education system in 2025-2026 as authorities attempt to address labor shortages, overloaded school infrastructure, and the growing mismatch between graduates’ qualifications and the needs of the economy. While previous reforms focused primarily on expanding access to education, the government is now shifting toward tighter administrative management of student enrollment, stronger support for technical and vocational training, and the integration of digital technologies into schools. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the reforms are unfolding amid growing pressure on Kazakhstan’s labor market. One of the most pressing issues remains the condition of the country’s school infrastructure. Rapid urbanization and internal migration have created chronic shortages of school places in major cities and southern regions. To address the problem, authorities launched the “Comfortable School” national project, which envisioned the construction of 369 schools with capacity for 740,000 students during 2023-2024. However, implementation has faced delays caused by contractor failures and rising construction material costs. According to project operator Samruk-Kazyna Construction, by the end of 2025 authorities had commissioned 208 schools, creating more than 217,000 new student places. Most of the facilities were built in Astana, Almaty, and Turkistan Region. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev previously warned that even accelerated school construction would only temporarily alleviate the problem, since at current population growth rates the shortage of school places could reach 400,000 in the medium term. Against this backdrop, authorities are increasingly turning to technological solutions. In May 2026, Tokayev signed a decree introducing artificial intelligence into the secondary education system. Under the initiative, AI technologies are expected to serve as auxiliary tools for personalized learning, identifying gaps in student knowledge, and reducing teachers’ workloads. By August 1, schools participating in the pilot program are expected to be equipped with high-speed internet access, while by September 1 authorities plan to approve national standards governing the use of AI in education. At the same time, Kazakhstan is strengthening support for technical and vocational education. For the 2025-2026 academic year, around 70% of state-funded grants in the technical and vocational education system were allocated to engineering and technical specialties, including metallurgy, mechanical engineering, energy, construction, and information technology. Authorities are also attempting to expand elements of dual education programs involving private businesses. According to official data, more than 4,000 enterprises have established partnerships with colleges. However, full-scale implementation remains largely confined to major industrial regions, while small and medium-sized businesses in other areas remain reluctant to participate in organizing practical training for students. Significant changes are also affecting higher education. Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek announced a redistribution of state grants toward professions facing the most acute labor shortages, including thermal power engineering, industrial engineering, water management, and materials science. University financing will now depend directly on institutions’ positions in national rankings and on graduate employment rates. For weaker regional universities, this could effectively mean automatic reductions in state funding. Leading universities have also been granted the right to independently raise admission thresholds...

3 weeks ago

Middle Powers

Opinion: Middle Powers and the “Voice of the Region” – Is Central Asia Becoming a Coordinated Actor?

Against the backdrop of growing global fragmentation and the weakening of universal international institutions, the role of so-called middle powers is increasing. These are states able to influence regional agendas without possessing great-power status. In this changing system, Central Asia is gradually moving beyond its long-standing image as a geopolitical periphery and is beginning to act more like a region with shared interests. For decades, the region was viewed mainly as a space where the interests of external powers, including Russia, China, the U.S., and others, intersected. Today, that paradigm is beginning to shift. Central Asia is showing greater signs of agency through what may be described as a cluster effect: individually, the countries have limited influence, but collectively they form an important transit hub between Europe and Asia, a growing market, a significant resource base, and a strategic security zone. This creates the conditions for a more coordinated regional position, even if a single regional voice is still emerging rather than fully formed. C5+Azerbaijan as a Foundation for Regional Architecture The institutional foundation of this process is the Central Asian leaders' consultative format, which is now expanding through Azerbaijan's participation. That is turning what was once a C5 dialogue into a looser C5+Azerbaijan, or C6, framework focused on transport, energy, and practical cooperation. Within this framework, the countries of the region are learning to act in a more coordinated manner without supranational pressure. In practice, this process is developing through three main areas. The first is transport and logistics. Azerbaijan's participation has strengthened efforts to make the Middle Corridor more coherent, though the route still faces bottlenecks in capacity, customs coordination, and Caspian crossings. Through tariff coordination, simplified border procedures, and investment in port and rail infrastructure, Central Asia and the Caucasus are increasingly functioning as parts of a single transport artery. That gives the region a faster option for cargo between China and Europe, even if it remains far smaller than traditional maritime routes. Shipping goods via the Suez Canal or the northern route can take between 35 and 45 days, whereas the Middle Corridor can reduce transit times to around 13-21 days under favorable conditions. According to forecasts cited by BCG, shipping volumes along the route could increase three- to fourfold during the current decade. Beyond logistics, the project is creating a new economic framework for the region. Its status as a crossroads is attracting investment in transport hubs and manufacturing facilities along the route, with the potential to turn transit corridors into zones of economic growth. This gives participating countries not only transit revenue but a stronger basis for long-term strategic resilience. The second major area is energy integration, where historical disputes over water and fuel resources are increasingly being supplemented by models of joint development. The Kambarata HPP-1 hydropower project in Kyrgyzstan, being developed with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, has created an important precedent for shared management of water and energy interests. The project is expected to support cleaner electricity generation while helping stabilize irrigation flows...

3 weeks ago

Somon Air

Somon Air Awaits Boeing Delivery as Tajikistan´s Aviation Sector Grows

Tajikistan’s Somon Air expects the delivery of new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in the next few months, in a fleet expansion designed to strengthen the airline as a growing player in Central Asia's aviation sector. The national carrier, which aims to offer new intercontinental routes, said its management met a Boeing delegation this month to build on an agreement late last year in which Somon Air selected up to 14 Boeing 787 Dreamliner and 737 MAX aircraft. During the May 15 meeting, “the parties discussed key issues related to the introduction into service of the new Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, whose delivery to Tajikistan is scheduled for July–August 2026,” Dushanbe-based Somon Air said. “The expansion of the fleet with modern aircraft will enable Somon Air to improve the quality of passenger service, expand its route network, and strengthen its position in the regional civil aviation market,” the airline said. Established in 2008, Somon Air currently operates six Boeing 737 Next Generation airplanes on routes to Germany, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It has a total of 25 destinations. Tajikistan’s international routes traditionally focused on Russia, the destination for many migrants from Central Asia. According to Boeing, the new aircraft for Somon Air will deliver a 20–25% fuel-use improvement compared to the airplanes they replace and enable lower seat and maintenance costs. In another sign of commercial aviation growth in Tajikistan, Shohin Airlines, a new private airline registered in the country, said in April that it was in the final stage of acquiring four planes from the Airbus A320neo line of aircraft. Shohin Airlines, which operates helicopters for specialized flights, wants to make a significant expansion into commercial passenger traffic. It had announced a $200 million investment from a European investment fund. In 2025, Tajikistan introduced an Open Skies policy in which civil aviation authorities lifted many market restrictions. The move came two years after a 2023 study in which the World Bank said airport charges in Tajikistan were very high and that refueling costs were among the most expensive in Central Asia. The agency recommended market deregulation as a way to encourage competition, leading to better prices for passengers, more efficient service and route diversification.

3 weeks ago

Food Security

Turkmenistan Pushes for Food Security with International Help

As Turkmenistan works to modernize food production, representatives from dozens of foreign companies were in the country this week for meetings on the agricultural and food industries as well as the packaging of goods. The Agro Pack Turkmenistan-2026 event reflected the Central Asian country’s efforts to turn the corner on reported food shortages, import dependence and high prices over many years – and evolve as an exporter. The impact of climate change on farming yields, along with recent shipping disruptions and higher fuel and transport costs linked to the Iran war, pose challenges to many regions working to maintain a stable supply. The Food and Agriculture Organization, a U.N. agency dedicated to food security, signed a deal to open an office in Turkmenistan in January as the country stepped up its campaign to improve production and quality with international help. Visiting Turkmenistan at the time, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said it was the last country in the region without “representation” of the U.N. agency and that a “turning point” had arrived. “In Turkmenistan, traditional agriculture has its limits,” Qu said. “But through innovation and modern technology, you can unleash the biggest potential of your land in this region.” During his visit, Qu said he had spoken to President Serdar Berdimuhamedov for one hour – far longer than he had expected. This week, Berdimuhamedov said in a message to participants in the May 12-14 Agro Pack conference that the state was coordinating with foreign companies to introduce “high technologies and innovative initiatives into large investment projects.” In addition, the president said, state-backed private Turkmen producers are making progress in “farming, livestock farming, the development of poultry complexes, greenhouse farms, meat and milk processing, the production of confectionery, fruit juices, juices and processed vegetables and melons.” The conference was held at Turkmenistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Ashgabat and drew diplomats and business executives from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Türkiye, China, and other countries. Azerbaijani companies participated in the exhibition, according to Azerbaijan’s embassy. One was Gözel Seeds, which has seed breeding operations in Spain, Türkiye, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. In another development, Kirill Zaitov, director of the Russian company AgroExport, said at the conference that there are plans to increase wheat flour supplies to Turkmenistan to 400 tons per day. Currently, the company exports 6,000 tons of products to Turkmenistan every month, according to the Business Turkmenistan website. Reports of food problems, including in Turkmenistan’s military, have persisted until recently. However, Turkmenistan reported a successful spring sowing campaign for potatoes and other crops that aims to increase domestic supply and reduce the need for imports.

4 weeks ago

minimum wage

Kyrgyzstan Retains Lowest Minimum Wage in the Eurasian Economic Union

Kyrgyzstan continues to have the lowest minimum wage among member states of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), according to Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) data cited by local media. As of March 2026, Kyrgyzstan’s minimum monthly wage was about $38. By comparison, the minimum wage stood at $337 in Russia, $292 in Belarus, $174 in Kazakhstan, and $199 in Armenia. Analysts say Armenia’s economy is broadly comparable in scale to Kyrgyzstan’s. According to official statistics, the minimum wage in Kyrgyzstan has risen far more slowly than in other EAEU countries and remains significantly below both the country’s average salary and the official subsistence minimum. Data from Kyrgyzstan’s National Statistical Committee show that the subsistence minimum currently stands at around $105. Meanwhile, minimum wages in Russia and Belarus have nearly doubled over the past several years. Against this backdrop, the situation regarding average salaries in Kyrgyzstan appears somewhat more positive. According to the EEC, Kyrgyzstan and Belarus recorded the highest rates of average wage growth in the region. Over the past year, average wages in Kyrgyzstan increased by around 10%, while Belarus recorded growth of approximately 9%. Despite this, average wages in Kyrgyzstan remain the lowest among EAEU member states. By the end of 2025, the average monthly salary in Kyrgyzstan stood at approximately $508, compared to $783 in Armenia, $877 in Belarus, and $1,203 in Russia. No data for Kazakhstan were included in the published EEC statistics. Kyrgyzstan’s National Statistical Committee previously stated that nominal wages in the country have roughly doubled over the past five years. Per capita household spending has also increased significantly, which officials say reflects rising consumption levels and gradual improvements in living standards. At the same time, consumer spending continues to account for the largest share of household expenditures in Kyrgyzstan.

4 weeks ago

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 … 264 Next