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Transport

South Korea Supports Kyrgyzstan’s Transition to Electric Transport

South Korea is expanding support for Kyrgyzstan’s transition to electric mobility through new investments in charging infrastructure and the electrification of government vehicles. Blue Networks Co., Ltd., a South Korean company specializing in electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure that has installed more than 3,500 charging stations in South Korea, plans to install 300 EV charging stations across Kyrgyzstan by July 2026. The initiative was discussed during a March 3 meeting between Kyrgyz Energy Minister Taalaibek Ibraev and representatives of Blue Networks. Cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Blue Networks began in 2024, when the state-owned energy company Chakan HPP and the South Korean firm signed a memorandum on the joint development and operation of EV charging stations. In 2025, the partners signed a framework agreement to establish a manufacturing facility in Kyrgyzstan to assemble EV charging stations. As part of the agreement, a joint venture has already been established, and the launch of the assembly plant is scheduled for April 2026. Digitalization was also a key topic during the meeting. Blue Networks said it is developing software to manage EV charging infrastructure and agreed to provide Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Energy with access to the system to ensure transparency, monitoring, and efficient management of the future charging network. The initiative forms part of broader support from South Korea for Kyrgyzstan’s transition to electric mobility. On March 3, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) handed over electric vehicles under the project “Electric Vehicle Transition Project for Public Service Fleet to Realize Green Mobility in the Kyrgyz Republic.” The ceremony was attended by Kyrgyz Deputy Minister of Economy and Commerce Mederbek Tumanov, South Korean Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Kim Kwangjae, KOICA Country Director Lim Soyeon, and representatives of participating government institutions. According to the KOICA Kyrgyzstan office, ten electric SUVs will be distributed among key government institutions during the first phase of the project. The initiative, which runs from 2024 to 2027 with a budget of about $11 million, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support the adoption of electric vehicles in the public sector through the provision of vehicles, charging infrastructure, and training programs. These initiatives align with the Kyrgyz government’s strategy to promote environmentally friendly transport and reduce air pollution in Bishkek and other major cities. The number of electric vehicles in Kyrgyzstan has been steadily increasing. According to First Deputy Prime Minister Daniyar Amangeldiev, more than 200 electric vehicles are imported into the country daily under a VAT exemption scheme. As a member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Kyrgyzstan also benefits from an annual quota allowing the duty-free import of up to 15,000 electric vehicles. Despite this rapid growth, electric vehicles still represent a small share of the national vehicle fleet. According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision, Kyrgyzstan had more than 1.9 million registered vehicles as of early 2026, a 13% increase compared with 2024. Of these vehicles, 972,000 run on gasoline, 339,000 on diesel, 56,900 on gas, and 37,000 are hybrids. Electric vehicles account for...

Iran

Central Asian Airlines Reroute Flights During Iranian Airspace Closure

Iran closed its airspace to most international flights for several hours, disrupting flights of some airlines from Central Asia and other regions amid concerns about conflict between Iran and the United States. On Thursday morning, the Flightradar24 website, which provides live tracking of flights around the world, showed a number of civilian aircraft again operating in Iranian airspace after it was reopened. However, many planes were skirting Iran because of safety concerns after U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States was considering strikes on Iran because of the government’s deadly crackdown on nationwide protests. On Wednesday, Trump said he had received assurances that the killings of demonstrators had stopped, possibly signaling that the two adversaries were moving toward de-escalation. Kazakhstan’s Air Astana was among the airlines affected by the temporary disruption to flight paths over Iran. “Air Astana informs about changes in the routes of some regular and charter flights due to the closure of Iranian airspace,” the airline said. “Flights to Sharm el-Sheikh, Dubai, Doha and Medina will be carried out in a detour around Iranian airspace.” The Uzbekistan Airports company said some flights were forced to return to airports from which they had departed. It listed six flights traveling between Uzbekistan and Kuwait, as well as Medina and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, that were not able to complete their journeys. The affected airlines were FlyOne Asia, Jazeera Airways, Sam Air, Fly Khiva and Uzbekistan Airways.

Transport

Astana Plans to Launch Driverless Taxis in 2026

Kazakhstan plans to launch pilot projects for autonomous taxi services in Astana as early as 2026. Memorandums of cooperation have been signed between the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, the Ministry of Transport, the capital’s akimat, and private companies inDrive and Yandex Qazaqstan. According to the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, Astana will be among the first cities in Kazakhstan to test driverless urban transport in real-world conditions. The initiative is part of the country’s broader “smart city” strategy and includes a phased rollout from the creation of a testing ground and a “regulatory sandbox” to limited on-road operation. The inDrive pilot project is expected to begin in early 2026. A preliminary route has already been mapped in coordination with the capital’s local government (akimat), running from Astana International Airport to the Abu Dhabi Plaza business center on the left bank of the Ishim River. Before deployment, all autonomous vehicles will undergo rigorous safety testing, including assessments related to passenger, pedestrian, and road user safety. Operators and manufacturers will oversee vehicle performance, and road risk evaluations will be mandatory. InDrive stated that the Astana project draws on the company’s previous experience with autonomous transport in Saudi Arabia. The driverless taxi service will be accessible through a mobile app, with designated boarding areas planned at Astana Airport. Full-scale deployment will proceed only after testing is complete and regulatory approvals are in place. A parallel pilot project is also planned with Yandex Qazaqstan. The company intends to gradually introduce autonomous taxis on a limited number of routes, beginning with trial operations. The service will feature 24/7 dispatch support, passenger insurance, and AI-based systems for real-time monitoring of road conditions. Expansion will follow once operational experience has been gained. The ministry highlighted that countries already using driverless taxis have reported reductions in serious traffic accidents. Authorities in Kazakhstan expect similar benefits, alongside a broader transformation in the ride-hailing industry and urban transportation. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is also preparing the infrastructure and regulatory frameworks for autonomous trucking on intercity highways.

Transport

Kazakhstan Prepares Road Infrastructure for Driverless Transport

Kazakhstan is developing a system of digital passports for its inter-city highways as part of broader efforts to prepare the country’s infrastructure for the eventual integration of autonomous vehicles. The initiative was announced by Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev during a recent government meeting. “Digital road passports are being developed, which will allow for the introduction of driverless cars in the future,” Sauranbayev said. “Road diagnostics are carried out annually using artificial intelligence technologies. In particular, the installation of automated measuring stations is continuing, up to 220 units, to preserve the road surface. To date, 71 units of such equipment have been put into operation.” Sauranbayev highlighted a related pilot project, “Smart Customs,” launched this summer at the Kazakhstan-China border crossing between Bakhty (Kazakhstan) and Pokitu (China). The initiative enables cargo to cross the border in unmanned trucks, a move expected to increase cargo throughput and speed up customs procedures. According to Sauranbayev, digital tools are expected to increase road capacity by 20% and reduce border crossing times to around 10 minutes. Speaking at a later briefing, Sauranbayev clarified that the driverless truck pilot, currently limited to select border crossings, is intended to be expanded across Kazakhstan’s entire external border by 2027. This includes crossings with EAEU member states such as Russia and Kyrgyzstan. “We have such a program. I think it will be very significant for Kazakhstan’s transit potential,” he said. Sauranbayev added that the use of unmanned trucks will help reduce logistics costs, as autonomous vehicles can operate continuously, potentially tripling delivery speeds. “Driverless taxis are already in use globally, and the transition to autonomous freight transport is only a matter of time,” he noted. “That is why, when we build roads, we are already integrating the necessary sensors to allow driverless vehicles to travel freely across Kazakhstan.” Simultaneously, the government is upgrading internal border checkpoints. Work on 37 facilities is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027. So far this year, 13,000 kilometers of road have undergone construction or repairs, part of a national network that spans approximately 95,000 kilometers. To alleviate pressure on the state budget, Kazakhstan is expanding its toll road network. The KazToll system has collected $156.5 million to date. The Ministry of Transport reported a 20.7% year-on-year increase in transport services in the first ten months of 2025. Road transport accounted for 288 million tons of cargo, up 1.7% from the same period last year. Transit traffic rose 5% to 29.4 million tons. Currently, transport companies from 42 countries operate transit routes through Kazakhstan. “Automated load measurement stations on highways have increased both the detection of violations and budget revenues tenfold,” Sauranbayev added. “As a result of integration with the General Prosecutor’s Office, more than 10,000 fine payment orders were issued in the first five months of this year.” In 2024, Kazakhstan launched two major infrastructure projects: the Trans-Kazakhstan railway corridor and the Center-West highway, which will connect Astana to the country’s western regions.

Transport

Metro Expansion Key to Almaty Infrastructure Plans

Next year, Almaty plans another incremental step in the development of its public transport infrastructure with the opening of a new station at Kalkaman. This should see the tentacles of the transport system shift towards the west of the city. In the future, there are also plans to extend the metro north to Alatau, where the government’s “smart city” is being developed. Investment in public transport is welcome, particularly with vocal complaints from residents about ever-increasing traffic problems and their contribution to the city’s winter smog. “The expansion of the metro is considered one of the key tools for improving the environmental situation in Almaty,” a spokesperson for the Almaty mayor’s office (or Akimat), told The Times of Central Asia. “Increasing the share of passenger transportation via the subway reduces the use of cars, decreases traffic congestion, lowers emissions, and contributes to improved air quality.” The ambitious new metro project is in addition to over 600 new buses expected to be added to the Almaty Bus fleet this year. But despite these schemes, the traffic problem shows little sign of abating. It begs the question: has the city got public transport priorities right? [caption id="attachment_39565" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] New-look trolleybuses and electro-buses can be seen as part of Almaty’s modern fleet; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes[/caption] The rise of the automobile “Traffic jams in Almaty began in the early 2000s, when the economic situation improved and people started buying cars,” Dauren Alimbekov, a high-profile blogger on Almaty transport, told The Times of Central Asia. He adds that the privatisation of other forms of public transport exacerbated this problem. The tram network was suspended in 2015 after two high-profile accidents, with the tracks being dismantled in 2017. Its disappearance coincided almost exactly with the arrival of ride-hailing services such as Yandex Go! in July 2016. By 2023, over 200,000 residents were moonlighting as Yandex Go! drivers to earn extra money. “In recent decades, the city has been planned with cars in mind, with major thoroughfares such as Al-Farabi almost totally lacking in convenient pedestrian crossings,” said Alimbekov. This influx of drivers has created problems. Private cars are a major contributor to air pollution in the city. On some days earlier this year, Almaty recorded the worst pollution in the world. [caption id="attachment_39564" align="aligncenter" width="1600"] A lack of dedicated bus lanes slows journey times and prevents more people from using public transport; image: TCA, Joe Luc Barnes[/caption] Public transport That is not to say that there is no public transport in the city. Indeed, the Almaty Metro is the only metro system in Central Asia to have opened since the collapse of communism. Trains began running in 2011, but they only travelled between an initial five stations. Two more opened in 2015, which saw a spike in passenger numbers. Today, there are eleven stations, although most of these remain along Abay Avenue, giving it little practical value to most residents. The metro system does not connect to either of the city’s main train...

TCA Interviews

Lifting Off: Kazakhstan’s Push Into Next-Gen Aviation Technologies

Kazakhstan’s plans to create an air taxi system based on electric eVTOLs in the city of Alatau have drawn attention to the country’s readiness to take the lead in implementing advanced unmanned technologies. The project would require large-scale changes in regulation and technological infrastructure, as well as personnel training and risk assessment. The Times of Central Asia discussed these futuristic developments with Aslan Satzhanov, acting CEO of the Aviation Administration of Kazakhstan JSC. Goals and Expected Results TCA: What is the Concept for the Development of Civil Unmanned Aviation in Kazakhstan, and what does it provide for? What are the key goals set out in the document? Satzhanov: In accordance with the government decree, the main goals for the development of civil unmanned aviation are to increase the volume of work using unmanned aerial systems (UAS), de-bureaucratize, digitize, and transform existing requirements, procedures, and processes. The principal aim is to simplify the formalities for performing UAS flights in designated airspace as much as possible. The development of the industry is based on the principles of safety, minimization of risks to people and objects, and the creation of the most favorable conditions for technological growth. Key approaches include establishing a scientific foundation, improving the training system, and expanding the scope of UAS applications. By 2031, it is planned that at least 80% of secondary and vocational education institutions will teach the basics of unmanned aviation. The share of enterprises in the agro-industrial complex (AIC), industry, and energy that use UAVs will grow by at least 30%. The localization of production of key UAS components in Kazakhstan will increase to 10%. In addition, Kazakhstani companies will be able to enter promising segments of the global market for unmanned aerial vehicles and software. Regulation and Legislative Framework TCA: How is the regulation of UAV flights and production structured today? To what extent does the regulatory framework meet modern requirements? Satzhanov: The fundamental document is the Rules for the Use of Unmanned Aircraft Systems, adopted back in 2020. Kazakhstan became the first country in the post-Soviet space to approve comprehensive rules for the use of UAS in its airspace. Later, amendments were made to the Law on the Use of Airspace. Based on these amendments, the rules for the use of airspace for UAS operations were updated in 2023. Thus, the regulatory framework has been fully established. It is in line with global trends from urban air mobility to unmanned taxis and strikes a balance between technological development and flight safety. The transition to eVTOL and urban air mobility will create a new transport ecosystem: it increases population mobility, reduces the load on ground infrastructure, improves the environmental situation, and promotes innovation. Training TCA: What measures are planned for training UAV operators and introducing unmanned technologies into educational programs? Satzhanov: The concept provides for the creation of a multi-level training and professional development system. Modules on civil unmanned aviation will be introduced into secondary and vocational education programs, covering at least 80% of educational...