Erkin Tukumov, Special Representative of the President of Kazakhstan for Afghanistan, has called on Central Asian nations to intensify efforts to develop new transport corridors linking the region with Afghanistan and further to South Asia, including Pakistan and India. He made the remarks during the 2025 Astana Think Tank Forum at a session titled “Vision for Central Asia.”

“Afghanistan has historically served as a transit hub, with the Great Silk Road and other trade corridors passing through its territory,” Tukumov stated. “Today, like the countries of Central Asia, Afghanistan is interested in developing stable and reliable transport routes that facilitate the movement of goods and provide access to South Asian markets. In the past, the region was primarily oriented toward the West, and later toward the East, particularly China. The southern direction remained largely overlooked for an obvious reason: Afghanistan endured nearly half a century of war.”

Tukumov noted that the security situation is evolving, and although complete safety cannot yet be guaranteed, the level of risk has notably decreased. He emphasized that the Taliban now exercises effective control over the entirety of Afghan territory, which has contributed to an overall sense of stability. Trade and economic cooperation between Central Asian countries and Kabul, grounded in bilateral agreements, is also growing.

“The next logical step is the establishment of new transport corridors connecting Central Asia with Afghanistan and South Asia. This objective can only be achieved through a coordinated regional effort,” he said.

Javlon Vakhabov, Director of the International Institute for Central Asia (Uzbekistan), supported this view. He advocated for a unified regional approach to infrastructure development, including a strategic focus on the Afghan direction, and called for the creation of a sustainable coordination mechanism.

“It is also necessary to convene an international forum titled ‘Central Asia – Afghanistan’ to foster expert dialogue, align policy efforts, share research, and develop joint strategies,” Vakhabov added.

He further proposed involving Afghanistan in the regional water dialogue, particularly regarding the joint management of the Amu Darya, and establishing a multilateral framework to ensure equitable water use.

Younes Zangyabadi, Executive Director of the Institute for Peace and Diplomacy (Canada-USA), referred to the “Group of Neighbors and Friends of Afghanistan” (6+2 format), a diplomatic initiative established in the late 20th century under UN auspices. The group included Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, China, Russia, and the US. Zangyabadi suggested that this format could be revived with Central Asian countries taking a leading role.

“Central Asia is well-positioned to take the initiative in reviving this platform, which once brought together regional and global powers to discuss the future of Afghanistan in an inclusive manner,” he said.

Valiullah Shahin, Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, expressed Kabul’s readiness to participate in water negotiations and emphasized Afghanistan’s interest in boosting trade, economic ties, and regional security. He also voiced support for collaborative efforts focused on development and stability in Central Asia.

Previously The Times of Central Asia reported that Kazakhstan had proposed the establishment of an international network of think tanks to contribute to reforming global governance systems.

The Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant (HPP), a landmark energy project jointly developed by Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan, is gaining international momentum, with strong backing from global financial institutions. Uzbek Minister of Energy Jorabek Mirzamahmudov announced that the plant’s projected construction cost stands at $4.2 billion, while pledged financing has already reached $5.6 billion.

In an interview with Uzbekistan 24 TV, Mirzamahmudov said the most recent trilateral ministerial dialogue was held in Brussels in late September, under the auspices of the World Bank. It marked the third high-level discussion between the participating states and brought together representatives from 10 major financial institutions, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the European Investment Bank (EIB), the OPEC Fund, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and several Italian financial entities.

The project has been widely recognized as a model for regional cooperation. According to Mirzamahmudov, multiple international lenders have expressed readiness to support Kambarata-1 even before the technical documentation is finalized. “In the past, such projects couldn’t even be discussed, they were off the table. Now they are being supported at the highest level,” he said. “They see this as a regional cooperation project and believe in its long-term economic potential.”

Governance and Sustainability Standards

Implementation of the project will be managed through an intergovernmental agreement, a joint operator, and a new project-specific venture. The minister emphasized that construction will adhere to international best practices in environmental protection, safety, and financial transparency, while taking into account the national interests of all three countries.

Mirzamahmudov described the project as both an energy and environmental milestone. Kambarata-1 will utilize renewable hydropower from the Naryn River and improve transboundary water management across the region. Unlike many large-scale dam projects, the design of Kambarata-1 minimizes environmental and social disruption and does not require resettlement of communities. It is also expected to support regional agriculture by enabling controlled water releases during the summer growing season.

Ownership and Output

Under the proposed ownership structure, Kyrgyzstan will hold a 34% stake in the project, with Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan each holding 33%. Electricity will be distributed proportionally, though countries will have flexibility to purchase additional power based on demand and market conditions. “Since this is a commercial project, countries will have the flexibility to buy more or less electricity depending on consumption levels,” the minister explained.

To be constructed on the upper reaches of the Naryn River in Kyrgyzstan, Kambarata-1 will have a planned capacity of 1,860 megawatts, a dam height of 256 meters, and a reservoir volume of 5.4 billion cubic meters. Upon completion, it is expected to generate an average of 5.6 billion kilowatt-hours annually, making it Kyrgyzstan’s largest hydropower facility and a cornerstone in addressing Central Asia’s energy deficit.

Tajikistan is deepening its educational cooperation with the United Kingdom through a new agreement between the Ministry of Education and Science and British digital learning firm Really English. The partnership aims to roll out English language and digital education programs across Tajikistan’s universities.

First Deputy Minister of Education and Science, Homid Khoshimzoda, held talks in Dushanbe with Nigel Killick, head of Really English, to define the cooperation framework.

The two sides explored ways to broaden English instruction, adopt modern pedagogical methods, and deploy innovative digital learning tools. Khoshimzoda welcomed the British initiative, saying that English proficiency remains a top priority in Tajikistan’s educational policy as it broadens students’ access to global academic and professional opportunities.

Killick thanked the ministry for its support and affirmed Really English’s commitment to designing interactive English courses, boosting teacher training, and building university partnerships in Tajikistan.

Founded in London in 1999, Really English creates digital tools for learning English—from foundational courses to test preparation. The company works with more than 1,000 corporate clients and over 300 educational institutions worldwide, offering academic, business, and conversational English courses, as well as tailored university programs.

Advancing Tajik-British Educational Cooperation

The agreement marks another milestone in Tajikistan’s broader push to internationalize its education system. In recent years, Dushanbe has actively built academic partnerships with British institutions.

On May 31, representatives of the State Agency “Center for International Programs” met with officials from the University of Greenwich to discuss Tajik students’ access to international programs, scholarships, and internships, particularly in economics, finance, and management.

British university representatives reaffirmed their support for joint initiatives and expressed readiness to expand academic exchanges and scholarship offerings for Tajik students.

British Support for Innovation and Teacher Development

The UK has increased its educational engagement across Central Asia in recent years. In 2022, the British Council resumed operations in Tajikistan with a focus on improving teacher training and English language instruction.

Joint initiatives with the Ministry of Education and Science have helped modernize curricula and expand STEM and digital education. With UK support, robotics and programming courses have been introduced for schoolchildren, and Tajik universities, including the Tajik National University (TNU), have launched partnerships with British institutions such as the University of Central Lancashire.

The UK is also strengthening educational cooperation in other Central Asian states. In Turkmenistan, British experts are working on teacher training and curriculum development, and Chevening Scholarships continue to be available to Turkmen students. In May 2025, Turkmenistan participated in the World Education Forum in London, where global education trends were discussed.

Uzbekistan has taken another step toward its clean energy ambitions with a comprehensive training program hosted by the Energy and Water Academy (EWA Academy) in partnership with Saudi-based ACWA Power and the country’s ministries of energy and higher education. Held in Tashkent on October 7, the full-day workshop focused on key renewable energy technologies and brought together engineers, legal experts, financiers, policymakers, and students.

The training aimed to deepen national expertise in solar, wind, energy storage, and hydrogen technologies, critical components of Uzbekistan’s evolving energy strategy.

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Four technical modules were led by senior ACWA Power experts. Manuel Pozo Garcia presented on solar photovoltaic (PV) system design, grid integration, and performance optimization. Mohammad Iftekhar Ansari discussed wind resource assessment and turbine technologies, highlighting opportunities in Karakalpakstan and the Bukhara region. Krunal Patel covered battery energy storage systems (BESS) and hybrid energy solutions, emphasizing their role in grid stability and renewable energy integration. Philip Boustead explored the potential of green hydrogen, particularly in decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify.

A keynote address by Jose Barragan, Vice President of Technical Services at ACWA Power, highlighted the company’s expanding renewable energy portfolio and innovation strategy. The event also included an interactive quiz, open discussions, and awards to recognize participant engagement. Students from Shirin College, the first higher education institution in Uzbekistan dedicated to renewable energy, were among the attendees, underscoring the focus on building local capacity.

Dr. Jon Zaidi, ACWA Power’s Country General Manager for Uzbekistan, said the training supports the country’s Vision 2030 and the government’s broader push for a green energy transition. “Beyond financing infrastructure, we believe developing human capital is critical,” he said.

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Thamer Alsharhan, chairman of EWA Academy, added that the initiative reflects a wider commitment to knowledge sharing, ensuring that local communities benefit directly from energy reforms.

The event builds on ACWA Power’s expanding presence in Uzbekistan. The company is currently developing more than 8.6 gigawatts (GW) of renewable energy capacity across the country, including several large-scale solar and wind projects.

In 2024, ACWA Power finalized dry financing for the $533 million Tashkent Riverside project, which combines a 200 MW solar PV plant with a 500 MWh battery energy storage system, the largest in Central Asia at the time. The company has also been active in wind energy, recently selling a 35% stake in two under-construction wind farms, Bash and Dzhankeldy, both located in the Bukhara region to China Southern Power Grid International.