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14 Nov 2025

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Made In Central Asia: Leaders Eye $20 Billion Trade Milestone as Regional Cooperation Deepens

December 4, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

The first meeting of trade and investment ministers from Central Asian countries, joined by Azerbaijan, has taken place in Tashkent, where participants agreed to nearly double mutual trade to $20 billion and discussed launching a regional brand, Made in Central Asia.

Opening the session, Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, highlighted the substantial potential for increased trade due to the complementarity of regional economies and growing business interest in joint initiatives

According to Uzbek data, intra-regional trade doubled between 2017 and 2024, reaching approximately $11 billion.

Kudratov proposed developing an action plan to raise trade turnover to $20 billion. The proposed strategy includes harmonizing customs procedures, implementing digital document management, mutually recognizing permits, and developing “single window” systems at borders. Additional measures under discussion include creating a regional electronic catalog of goods and producers and integrating the digital platforms of chambers of commerce, industry, and export agencies.

Uzbekistan also proposed hosting the Central Asia and Azerbaijan Investment Forum in Samarkand in 2026, positioning it as a platform to launch the Made in Central Asia brand.

Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliev, urged countries to shift from a “buy-sell” model to an “invest-produce-sell” approach. He noted that Kazakhstan is entering a new investment cycle aimed at building export-oriented industries and sustainable value chains.

Shakkaliev added that the upcoming industrial cooperation development program with Uzbekistan could be expanded to other Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan. Kazakhstan also supported the common branding initiative and proposed a pilot project using digital trading platforms.

Tajikistan’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Zavki Zavkizoda, underscored the importance of digital technologies and cited examples of regional companies operating at an international level.

Nazar Agakhanov, Turkmenistan’s Minister of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, stressed that simplifying trade procedures and developing electronic platforms are essential to meeting shared goals. Ashgabat expressed its readiness to join the working group to be established following the meeting.

Kyrgyzstan was represented by its ambassador to Uzbekistan, Duishonkul Chotonov, who noted that Bishkek views the format as a platform for collective decisions that advance regional economic development.

Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Minister of Economy, Elnur Aliyev, reported that trade with Central Asian states grew by 58% in the first nine months of 2025, surpassing $1 billion. He said Azerbaijan is prepared to expand its transport infrastructure through new logistics hubs and the promotion of joint ventures.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a joint communiqué expressing intentions to deepen economic ties, establish joint ventures, and develop new instruments for investment cooperation.

The seventh Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia will be held in Tashkent on November 15-16. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev is also expected to attend.

14 Nov 2025

Business & Economy, Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan Business & Economy

Kazakhstan Among Countries with Lowest Debt Burden

November 14, 2025
By Sergey Kwan

Kazakhstan continues to maintain a low level of public debt, amounting to 24.8% of the country’s GDP, ranking it 25th globally. This figure is well below the global average and reflects a relatively low debt burden, according to an analysis by Finprom.kz based on International Monetary Fund (IMF) data.

By comparison, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have higher public debt levels, at 31.1% and 37.8% of GDP, respectively. Russia (22%) and Tajikistan (23.1%) have slightly lower debt levels. Turkmenistan ranks among the top five countries globally with the lowest public debt, at just 3.9% of GDP.

The IMF projects global public debt will rise to 94.7% of GDP in 2025, an increase of 2.3% year-on-year.

Japan remains the country with the highest debt-to-GDP ratio at 229.6%. Other countries with high debt levels include Greece (146.7%), Bahrain (142.5%), Italy (136.8%), the Maldives (131.8%), the United States (125%), Senegal (122.9%), France (116.5%), and China (96.3%).

Global public debt is expected to reach $111 trillion in 2025. The U.S. and China account for more than half of this total, with $38.3 trillion and $18.7 trillion in public debt, respectively.

In absolute terms, Kazakhstan has the highest gross public debt among Central Asian countries, at $74.4 billion. It is followed by Uzbekistan ($42.8 billion), Kyrgyzstan ($7.6 billion), Tajikistan ($3.7 billion), and Turkmenistan ($2.8 billion).

14 Nov 2025

Central Asia, Home, Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan Home, Business & Economy, Uzbekistan Business & Economy

Uzbekistan and SOCAR Advance $2 Billion Ustyurt Energy Project

November 14, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy, Jorabek Mirzamahmudov, has outlined the country’s deepening energy cooperation with Azerbaijan’s state oil company SOCAR, highlighting progress on a recently signed Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) for the Ustyurt region and broader plans in petrochemicals and electricity trade.

In an interview with Azerbaijani media outlet Report, Mirzamahmudov confirmed that Uzbekistan, SOCAR, and Uzbekneftegaz have already established a joint operating company to oversee the Ustyurt project. Fieldwork is expected to accelerate soon, with seismic surveys covering over 3,000 linear kilometers set to begin before year-end, followed by the drilling of the first exploration well.

The PSA structure splits ownership equally between the state and investors, with SOCAR and Uzbekneftegaz as the primary partners. British energy major BP has shown interest and is in preliminary discussions to join the consortium.

Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stated in August that SOCAR had commenced work at an Uzbek oil field following the contract signing. He expressed optimism about potential discoveries within the next one to two years.

Mirzamahmudov acknowledged that earlier data on Ustyurt had not suggested large hydrocarbon reserves but said that modern interpretation techniques have revealed greater potential. While refraining from early reserve estimates, he said SOCAR specialists are optimistic about promising oil indicators. If confirmed, Uzbekistan plans to build a new refinery. Total investment in the Ustyurt project is projected at around $2 billion.

The minister said SOCAR and Uzbekneftegaz would finance the project’s initial stages, with BP possibly joining later. He did not rule out future collaboration with Azerbaijan on major fields like Shah Deniz or Absheron but emphasized that Uzbekistan’s current priority is increasing domestic production. In the long term, joint ventures in third countries are also being considered.

Trans-Caspian Energy and Renewables Push

Mirzamahmudov also discussed the proposed trans-Caspian high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cable project aimed at exporting renewable energy to Europe. A joint venture involving Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan has already been formed. The Asian Development Bank is assisting in selecting a consultant for the project’s feasibility study. Several countries, including Saudi Arabia, have expressed interest.

Uzbekistan currently generates more than 20% of its electricity from renewables and aims to increase that share to 54% by 2030. In the Ustyurt region alone, wind projects totaling over 2.5 GW are under development, with the first 100 MW already operational. The government also plans to deploy hybrid wind-solar-storage systems with a minimum capacity of 5 GW.

Localization and Petrochemical Cooperation

Mirzamahmudov noted that future oil and gas processing facilities could be localized in special economic zones in Bukhara, Karakalpakstan, and Khorezm, which are currently being evaluated for infrastructure and logistics readiness.

A joint venture with SOCAR Trading is already exporting polymer products, and ongoing discussions aim to expand cooperation in fuel production and fertilizer manufacturing.

14 Nov 2025

Home, Uzbekistan, Justice, Uzbekistan Justice

Uzbek Consulate Assists Citizen Misled into Russian Army Contract

November 14, 2025
By Sadokat Jalolova

Uzbekistan’s Consulate General in St. Petersburg has intervened to assist an Uzbek citizen who was allegedly misled into signing a contract to serve in the Russian Armed Forces, the Consulate announced on November 12.

According to the Consulate, a citizen identified as K.M. appealed for help after their child, K.R., reportedly signed the contract while held in pre-trial detention in Kolpino, Leningrad Region. K.R. had been taken into custody on charges of intentionally inflicting minor bodily harm on another Uzbek national.

K.M. told consular officials that K.R. suffers from serious mental health issues and had been deceived into agreeing to military service while in detention. The parent requested that the Consulate assist in nullifying the agreement.

The Consulate stated that it had promptly contacted the relevant Russian authorities, including the Human Rights Commissioner for Leningrad Region, urging a review of the case and protection of the detainee’s legal rights.

As a result of these efforts, Russian officials acknowledged K.R.’s objections to military service. The Consulate confirmed that no military contract was finalized and that the detainee was returned to the Kolpino detention center, where the investigation remains ongoing.

The Consulate emphasized that it is closely monitoring the case and will continue to safeguard the legal rights and interests of the Uzbek citizen.

The Times of Central Asia has previously reported on several instances in which Central Asian migrants have faced pressure to join Russia’s military amid recruitment campaigns targeting foreign nationals, particularly migrant workers.

14 Nov 2025

Justice, Kazakhstan Justice, Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan to Seek Extradition of Boxer Dmitry Bivol’s Ex-Wife

November 14, 2025
By Dmitry Pokidaev

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs plans to pursue the extradition of Ekaterina Bivol, the ex-wife of world boxing champion Dmitry Bivol, according to Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs Sanzhar Adilov.

Dmitry Bivol, who was born in Kyrgyzstan and moved to Russia at age 11, married Ekaterina Burdinskaya before rising to prominence in professional boxing. The couple divorced while Bivol held the WBA light heavyweight world title. Following the split, Ekaterina repeatedly posted derogatory comments about Bivol and his relatives on social media. Despite the controversies, Bivol became the undisputed world champion in his weight class in February 2025.

In the fall of 2025, a video circulated on social media in which Ekaterina Bivol made offensive remarks about Kyrgyz and Kazakh people. In response, Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs launched a preliminary investigation into the distribution of the video material.

On October 25, the Pervomaisky District Court in Bishkek issued a preventive detention order and an arrest warrant for Ekaterina Bivol under Article 330 of Kyrgyzstan’s Criminal Code: “Inciting racial, ethnic, national, or interregional discord.”

Soon after, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Internal Affairs opened a similar criminal case.

The matter is complicated by the fact that Ekaterina Bivol is a citizen of the Russian Federation. However, Adilov stated that Kazakhstan intends to seek her extradition if she is located within Russian territory.

“A criminal case has been opened against her, and she has been placed on an international wanted list. The investigation is ongoing. We are in contact with the Russian police through special channels. If she is detained, we will raise the issue of extradition through the Prosecutor General’s Office,” Adilov said in response to journalists’ questions.

Earlier this year, The Times of Central Asia reported that in May, Kazakhstan secured the deportation of Talgat Ardan, the former head of the Astana Light Rail Transit (LRT) project, who was wanted internationally for large-scale embezzlement. He was extradited from Turkey, a process made easier by the fact that he held Kazakh citizenship.

14 Nov 2025

Home, Turkmenistan Justice, Justice, Turkmenistan, Turkmenistan Features

Ashgabat Police Reportedly Crack Down on Non-Resident Workers

November 14, 2025
By Vagit Ismailov

In Turkmenistan, police raids targeting non-resident laborers seeking short-term work in the capital are intensifying, according to Turkmen.News, placing additional pressure on citizens from regions that face chronic unemployment at home.

Day Laborers Targeted

Police in Ashgabat have reportedly been extorting money from non-resident day laborers, threatening them with detention and forced removal from the city. These raids are concentrated near the newly opened transport hub in the Gurtly district, which recently replaced the former central interchange near the Tekin Bazaar, a long-established site for informal employment.

For many from Turkmenistan’s regions, Ashgabat offers the only opportunity to earn a daily wage of $2.50 to $3.50. But this marginal lifeline is vanishing as police expel day laborers from Gurtly and threaten to drive non-residents out of the capital entirely.

The area has developed its own informal employment system. Several women operate as unofficial coordinators, posing as passengers at the bus stop. They maintain notebooks filled with phone numbers, service prices, and available workers. Locals approach them with tasks, such as moving furniture or doing basic repairs, and are promptly matched with laborers who remain discreetly nearby.

Raids and Intimidation

Authorities appear intent on dismantling this system. Eyewitnesses say police conduct daily patrols in Gurtly, stopping young men, checking residency documents, and confiscating their earnings. The money is allegedly pocketed by officers, with no official record kept.

Victims report being insulted, intimidated, and threatened with deportation to their home provinces before being released following brief “educational conversations.”

Such operations are not new. In late October, Ashgabat police issued mass fines to non-resident taxi drivers. During the summer’s UN forum in Avaza, day laborers in Turkmenbashi were reportedly detained en masse, held in temporary facilities, and then forcibly returned to their home region. These actions are part of what appears to be an ongoing, unofficial campaign of pressure against internal migrants.

Erasing Poverty from the Capital’s Image

Some Ashgabat residents believe the relocation of the main bus hub to the outskirts is part of a broader strategy to conceal poverty behind the capital’s polished facade. “This is an attempt to cleanse the capital of any hints of the real, unsightly side of life,” one resident remarked.

Income levels outside the capital remain significantly lower. For many families, irregular work in Ashgabat is their only source of supplemental income. Yet instead of addressing inequality, observers argue that authorities are reinforcing regional discrimination, further marginalizing non-resident workers.