Central Asia is often synonymous with the term “multi-vector foreign policy,” enabling its nations to navigate the competing interests of global and regional powers effectively. This “open door” strategy, grounded in the principle of “my friend’s friend is my friend,” has consistently granted Central Asian countries a distinctive role on the international stage, aiding them in achieving their foreign policy objectives despite shifting geopolitical dynamics.

Drawing from official sources, we analyze the frequency and geography of foreign visits by the leaders of Central Asia in 2024, offering insights into their diplomatic engagements.

Turkmenistan

President Serdar Berdimuhamedov embarked on eight foreign trips in 2024. Among these, only one – a bilateral visit to Malaysia – was not tied to multilateral events. The other seven engagements showcased Turkmenistan’s participation in global diplomacy:

• XVI BRICS Summit (Kazan)
• CIS Heads of State Summit (Moscow)
• Victory Day Celebration (Moscow)
• Informal CIS Leaders’ Meeting (St. Petersburg)
• Central Asia-Germany Summit (Astana)
• Sixth Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Leaders (Astana)
• UN COP28 Conference (Dubai)

This year, Berdimuhamedov visited Russia four times, and Kazakhstan twice, and made single trips to the UAE and Malaysia.

In parallel, his father and the previous president, Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, conducted 10 trips, including four bilateral visits to the UAE and Tajikistan and two to Iran. His international commitments included:

• One Water Summit (Riyadh)
• Turkic States’ Council of Elders (Budapest)
• V World Nomad Games Opening Ceremony (Astana)
• SCO Summit (Astana)
• Russia-Islamic World: KazanForum (Kazan)
• Antalya Diplomatic Forum (Antalya)

Tajikistan

President Emomali Rahmon undertook 22 foreign trips in 2024, six of which were bilateral, with visits to Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Italy/Vatican, and Qatar (twice). Multilateral engagements included:

• CSTO Summit (Astana)
• Central Asia-Germany Summit (Astana)
• Sixth Consultative Meeting of Central Asian Leaders (Astana)
• SCO Plus Meeting (Astana)
• COP29 Climate Conference (Baku)
• Arab-Islamic Extraordinary Summit (Riyadh)
• UN COP28 Conference (Dubai)
• UN General Assembly (New York)

Uzbekistan

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev made 18 international visits, including state visits to Turkey, China, and Tajikistan. He participated in numerous events:

• COP29 Climate Conference (Baku)
• Turkic States Informal Summit (Shusha)
• Arab-Islamic Summit (Riyadh)
• UN COP28 Conference (Dubai)
• SCO Meeting (Astana)
• BRICS+ Summit (Kazan)

Kazakhstan

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev led the region in diplomatic outreach with 23 visits. Eleven of these were state visits to Hungary, Serbia, France, Italy/Vatican, Qatar, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and Singapore. Key multilateral events included:

• Doha Forum (Doha)
• One Water Summit (Riyadh)
• COP29 Climate Conference (Baku)
• Boao Forum (Boao)

Tokayev visited Russia five times, and Azerbaijan three times, and made additional trips to Saudi Arabia, UAE, and other countries in Europe and Asia.

Kyrgyzstan

President Sadyr Japarov also made 23 foreign visits, including eight state visits to South Korea, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Germany, Austria, and Italy/Vatican. He attended numerous multilateral forums:

• CSTO Summit (Astana)
• Central Asia-Germany Summit (Astana)
• UN COP28 Conference (Dubai)
• BRICS+ Summit (Kazan)

Japarov visited Russia five times, and Kazakhstan four times, and made single trips to several European and Asian countries.

In 2024, Tokayev and Japarov led the region in the number of foreign visits. While their itineraries highlight regional and global priorities, they also underscore Central Asia’s commitment to a multi-vector foreign policy, ensuring balanced engagement with both regional allies and global powers.

Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov has instructed the new Prime Minister Adylbek Kasymaliev and the head of the State Tax Service (STS) to develop a new fiscal policy that will not overburden citizens or force entrepreneurs to conceal their income. Special attention is to be paid to electronic bills of lading (EBL).

Following a corruption scandal in the STS, the new head of the tax service, Almambet Shykmamatov, proposed abolishing the EBLs introduced by the government in the summer of 2024. At a parliamentary session, Shykmamatov explained that the EBLs were implemented to combat the shadow turnover of goods. However, the new reporting system has sparked numerous complaints from entrepreneurs.

Shykmamatov stated, “I will find those who implemented the EBL system improperly and without analysis and ensure they are held accountable. I will explain what populism is and why simply raising taxes and calling it economic growth is unacceptable.”

EBLs (electronic bills of lading) replaced the so-called voluntary patents that entrepreneurs and market traders used to purchase monthly as a form of tax payment.

Later, during a government meeting, Kasymaliev, head of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, confirmed that despite widespread public protests, the authorities do not intend to abolish EBLs entirely but assured that the Cabinet will work to simplify the system and will study the possibility of revising the list of goods to be included in the reporting of EBL.

The Times of Central Asia surveyed entrepreneurs who have been most affected by EBLs.

Venera Mugalimova, a seller of electrical building supplies at a Bishkek market, said, “The introduction of EBLs has severely complicated my life. This system is unfeasible for me and all vendors working on consignment sales. In such cases, we first receive the goods, sell them, and only then settle the payment. The system doesn’t recognize ‘consignment goods.’ The company providing the goods on consignment cannot issue me an invoice without payment.”

According to sellers, individuals offering paid training on how to use the EBL system have started to appear in Kyrgyzstan’s online space, and their services are in high demand.

“It’s a massive headache, although it depends on your business type. In my case, we deal with many small items—about 5,000 different products. Manually entering the name, price, and exchange rate for each product is problematic and very time-consuming,” Alena, a wholesale seller of fabrics and clothing at Dordoi Market, told The Times of Central Asia. Her company not only sells goods but also imports them from nearby countries.

“With EBLs, I lose a lot of time. Either I focus on reporting or work. Combining both is very hard, and we’d need to hire at least three accountants for the number of outlets we have. That’s additional expenses,” the businesswoman noted.

Sergey Ponomarev, President of the Association of Markets, Trade Enterprises, and Service Industries, commented to The Times of Central Asia that moving away from the patent system was crucial in combating the shadow economy. However, the current situation with EBLs looks less than optimistic.

The United States government, through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), is advancing Kyrgyzstan’s dairy industry by supporting cattle management, fodder cultivation, and artificial insemination initiatives. These programs will benefit over 500 people in the southern regions of Kyrgyzstan, according to a report from the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek.

USAID’s Agro Trade Activity has provided dairy processing equipment valued at 4.6 million KGS ($33,786) to PE Begalieva, a local producer in the Jalal-Abad region specializing in kurut (dried yogurt balls), butter, and kefir (fermented milk drink). This investment has increased the company’s processing capacity from 1,000 to 4,000 liters per day and expanded its product range from seven to 12 varieties. The partnership will also facilitate exports to Uzbekistan and train over 300 households on modern cattle management and milking technologies.

In Osh, USAID has equipped TES Center, a local advisory service provider, with milking and extruder equipment worth 1.1 million KGS ($12,650). This will enhance their training programs for over 100 farmers on fodder cultivation and dairy cow husbandry.

Additionally, Public Foundation Tybyt Kashmir received artificial insemination equipment valued at over 1 million KGS ($11,500), including cryogenic storage, a microscope, an ovulation detector, and a veterinary ultrasound machine. These tools will be used to train 54 livestock graders and 65 veterinarians in the Osh, Jalal-Abad, and Batken regions to master artificial insemination techniques.

Over the past four years, USAID has supported 17 dairy companies in southern Kyrgyzstan, benefiting over 4,200 households and creating more than 3,500 jobs. This has led to increased sales and exports of dairy products.

Kyrgyzstan produces more than 1.7 million tons of milk annually but processes only 2.5% of its production. The cost of raw milk is lower in Kyrgyzstan compared to neighboring Kazakhstan, providing an opportunity for cost-efficient production. While foreign ownership of Kyrgyz farmland is prohibited, joint ventures with local landowners could help reduce production costs and ensure a stable supply of raw milk.

Local inefficiencies have historically resulted in Kyrgyz consumers relying on dairy products from more expensive producers in Russia and Kazakhstan. However, Kyrgyz producers are closing the gap. In 2020, dairy exports nearly doubled compared to 2016 levels.

Exports to Uzbekistan surged in 2022, reaching 746 tons, contributing to a total of 31,000 tons of dairy products exported for $49 million that year. Kazakhstan remains the largest export market, followed by Russia, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan. Additionally, 13 Kyrgyz companies received certifications in 2022 to export dairy products to China, marking a significant step in expanding the sector’s international reach.

Uzbek diplomats recently visited Turkey’s Kocaeli region to strengthen trade and economic ties, holding discussions with local officials and business leaders.

The meetings addressed opportunities for expanding cooperation in trade, economic, cultural, educational, and humanitarian sectors. Uzbek representatives highlighted ongoing reforms in Uzbekistan and the incentives available to foreign investors in its free economic zones.

Key figures in the talks included Kocaeli’s Mayor Tahir Büyükakın, Regional Governor Ilhami Aktash, Regional Industrial Chamber Head Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, and Gebze Güzeller Industrial Zone Director Adem Ceylan.

Mayor Büyükakın provided an overview of Kocaeli’s economic and social strengths, while Ayhan Zeytinoğlu expressed interest in boosting bilateral economic collaboration. Zeytinoğlu proposed facilitating exchanges between Uzbek and Turkish business delegations to foster stronger partnerships.

Adem Ceylan suggested establishing a dedicated logistics center for Uzbek investors within the Gebze Industrial Zone. The center would provide storage facilities for Uzbek-made goods and serve as a gateway for exporting products to Europe and Africa via the Gebze seaport.

The visit concluded with an agreement to organize a business forum in the Kocaeli region. The planned forum will feature a delegation of Uzbek entrepreneurs, aimed at enhancing bilateral and regional cooperation.