Partnership - The Times Of Central Asia

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Education

UK-Based Really English Partners with Tajikistan’s Education Ministry

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.

Green Energy

USAID Launches Green Solutions in Kyrgyzstan

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced a new U.S. government-sponsored Green Solutions Activity. This five-year initiative backed by a $24 million investment aims to empower small and medium enterprises in Kyrgyzstan to adopt innovative green solutions, enhance energy efficiency, and increase the supply of renewable energy, the U.S. Embassy in Bishkek reported. “This investment marks a pivotal moment in the U.S. government’s commitment to building a greener future in close partnership with the Government of the Kyrgyz Republic. USAID will partner with local businesses and offer grants to adopt green solutions and technologies. Importantly, we will also work with local banks and financial institutions to advance green finance initiatives,” USAID Deputy Assistant Administrator Änjali Kaur stated at the launch event in Bishkek. The launch event occurred at Kyrgyzstan’s first rooftop grid-connected photovoltaic solar plant at the Kyrgyz State Technical University. Developed with USAID support and officially inaugurated in December 2023, the 80-kilowatt solar power installation can generate 143,037 kilowatt hours annually. It not only powers the university but also enables it to sell excess electricity back to the grid, effectively helping to offset operational costs and modeling a more sustainable energy future for the region. USAID is supporting the Kyrgyz government’s green economy initiative to diversify its energy sources into various clean energy forms. The regional Power Central Asia activity focuses on energy sector connectivity and decarbonization, energy security and resilience, and expanded cross-border electricity trade. Additionally, the USAID Future Growth Initiative and USAID Agro Trade Activity promote green production.

Industry

Kazakhstan and Tajikistan to Cooperate Over Rare-Earth Metals

Kazakhstan’s national atomic company, Kazatomprom, the world's largest producer of uranium, has announced a new strategic partnership with Tajikistan’s TajRedMet (Tajik Rare Metals) in the mining and processing of uranium and rare and rare-earth metals. According to the parties' agreement, the companies will collaborate in exploring, mining, and processing uranium and other rare and rare-earth metals, conducting research and development work, introducing innovative technologies, and training personnel. Meirzhan Yussupov, CEO of Kazatomprom, commented: “This step is of great importance for strengthening the partnership between our companies. Although it is too early to talk about specific results, we are focused on promising joint projects in the uranium industry and rare and rare-earth metals, which can significantly benefit Kazakhstan and Tajikistan.” As part of the agreement, TajRedMet representatives will soon visit Kazakhstan to inspect Kazatomprom's production facilities and assess the potential for further cooperation in more detail. According to an IAEA research paper, Tajikistan has significant mineral resources awaiting development, including rare metals, earth elements, and uranium. Several countries have expressed interest in the development of Tajikistan’s uranium resources. Russia was considering assisting Tajikistan in developing its uranium resources, as well as assisting in geological prospecting, with the aim of involvement in the subsequent extraction and possible processing of uranium. China’s Guangdong Corporation has also expressed an interest in participating in projects to develop Tajik uranium deposits. The Tajik government has also agreed to allow Indian companies to explore for uranium mineralization. In his address to parliament in December 2023, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon ordered the government to focus on mining lithium, tungsten, nickel, and antimony, and develop a program for processing these metals domestically into finished products.

Economy

ADB New Partnership Strategy for Uzbekistan Focuses on Transition to Green Economy

On August 27, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced the launch of a five-year country partnership strategy for Uzbekistan from 2024 to 2028. The strategy will support the country’s reforms to transform into a green and inclusive economy. Aligned with the government’s priorities in its long-term development plan, known as “Uzbekistan-2030,” the ADB strategy will assist the Uzbek government in facilitating the country’s transition to a green economy, supporting private sector development and competitiveness, and promoting investments in human capital. ADB's Director General for Central and West Asia, Eugene Zhukov, commented: “ADB’s new partnership strategy for Uzbekistan will support the country in achieving its strategic goals in transitioning to a green economy by 2030. As a long-term trusted partner of Uzbekistan, ADB remains committed to helping the country sustain its robust economic expansion and reduce poverty even amid external global and regional shocks.” The new strategy provides ADB interventions in various sectors, including energy, public sector management and governance, finance, transport, agriculture and natural resource management, and urban development. The bank will also support development in education and social protection. ADB will strengthen macroeconomic and fiscal reforms, as well as the transformation and preparation of state-owned enterprises for privatization. The bank will support private sector engagement in economic development, including improvements to the domestic financial markets and infrastructure investments. ADB support will focus on improving the quality and inclusivity of education and skills development in Uzbekistan, enhancing access to health and social services, and encouraging greater private sector participation. ADB will also continue its partnerships with Uzbek civil society organizations to combat climate change, invest in people, advocate for gender equality, and support vulnerable groups. Since 1995, ADB has provided Uzbekistan $12.5 billion worth of loans, grants, and technical assistance.

Tajikistan European Union Partnership

Tajikistan and EU Enter Third Round of Negotiations on Partnership and Cooperation

On April 8 and 9, Luc Devigne, Deputy Managing Director for Europe and Central Asia at the European External Action Service, and Ismatullo Nasredin, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan convened in Dushanbe for a third round of negotiations on a new comprehensive framework for strengthening their bilateral relations. According to the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan, the negotiations for an Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA), launched in February 2023, represent an important milestone in the EU’s relations with Tajikistan. In line with the EU-Central Asia Strategy, it aims to strengthen cooperation regarding political relations, trade, key economic sectors, as well as the rule of law and human rights. The EU Delegation reported that substantial progress had been made during the third round of negotiations between European Union and Tajikistan, and in the future, the EU-Tajikistan Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, in place since 2010, will be known as the EPCA.