EBRD Invests Record €2.26 Billion in Central Asia in 2024

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reached a record level of investment in Central Asia in 2024, contributing €2.26 billion to 121 projects across six countries in the region. This was nearly double the amount invested in 2023. Additionally, the EBRD attracted €784 million from co-financiers, bringing the total investment in the region’s economy to over €3 billion.

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan Lead in Funding

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan were the largest recipients of EBRD funding, securing €938 million and €913 million, respectively. These two nations ranked as the fifth and sixth largest destinations for EBRD investments globally in 2024.

Other countries in the immediate region also benefited from significant funding, with Mongolia receiving €264 million, Tajikistan €88 million, and the Kyrgyz Republic €52 million.

Focus on Sustainable Infrastructure and Green Economy

The majority of EBRD investments in Central Asia supported sustainable infrastructure projects, accounting for 61% of the total. Another 24% was channeled to local banks to assist small businesses, women entrepreneurs, and youth-focused initiatives, as well as projects promoting climate resilience and resource efficiency. The remaining 15% was allocated to private-sector companies.

In alignment with the Paris Agreement, 58% of EBRD investments in the region went to projects promoting a green economy.

Milestones in 2024

The EBRD achieved several notable milestones in 2024:

• Total investments in Kazakhstan surpassed €10 billion.
• Uzbekistan reached €5 billion in cumulative EBRD funding.
• Both Tajikistan and the Kyrgyz Republic exceeded €1 billion in total investments since the EBRD began operations in the region 30 years ago.

Landmark Projects

The EBRD financed several groundbreaking projects in Central Asia during 2024, including:

• Uzbekistan: €59 million for a renewable hydrogen facility aimed at decarbonizing the fertilizer sector.
• Kazakhstan: €96.4 million for a new wastewater treatment plant in Aktobe, the largest municipal project supported by the EBRD in the region.
• Mongolia: €11.3 million to support the first green bond issued by a local bank.

Investments in Energy Infrastructure

Significant funding was also allocated to improving electricity grids across the region:

• In Kazakhstan, €252 million was used to construct 600 km of transmission lines.
• In Uzbekistan, €60.3 million supported the development of a 230 km transmission line in the Navoi region.
• In the Kyrgyz Republic, €14 million upgraded power infrastructure in Osh and Issyk-Kul.
• In Tajikistan, €31 million was allocated to improve a transformer in the Sugd region.

Investments in Health and Transportation

The EBRD also provided substantial funding for healthcare and infrastructure projects:

• Kazakhstan: €365 million for a hospital project.
• Uzbekistan: €216 million for a road and bridge project in the Khorezm region.
• Mongolia: €39.2 million for a hospital in Darkhan.

Support for Small Businesses

The EBRD continued its efforts to empower small businesses in Central Asia, providing advisory services to more than 450 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Over 8,000 SMEs benefited from training and mentoring programs.

In Tajikistan, the EBRD launched its Star Venture initiative, allocating €28 million to 25 high-growth companies through agreements with local banks.

The EBRD’s Legacy in Central Asia

As the largest institutional investor in Central Asia, the EBRD has financed 1,163 projects in the region, investing a cumulative €21.5 billion to date. The bank’s efforts aim to foster a sustainable and green economy while supporting local businesses and communities.

Uzbekistan: 17 Nationals Among Dead from Alcohol Poisoning in Türkiye

Seventeen Uzbek citizens have died after drinking illegally made alcohol in Türkiye and another five are being treated in intensive care, Uzbekistan’s consulate in Istanbul said Saturday. Nearly 40 people have died of alcohol poisoning in Türkiye’s biggest city in recent days. The consulate said on Telegram that the death toll rose on Friday after three more Uzbek nationals died. It said it was preparing documents so that the bodies can be sent back to Uzbekistan, and that consulate staff are visiting the sick Uzbeks in hospitals and staying in touch with their relatives and Turkish authorities. “It was also discovered that some compatriots, despite being poisoned, attempted to treat themselves at home and did not seek hospital care. When approached, they explained that hospitalization might be financially burdensome. However, such decisions have subsequently led to kidney failure, deteriorating vision, and respiratory issues,” the consulate said. Some 38 out of the 92 people who went to hospitals died, according to Anadolu, Türkiye’s state-run news agency. At least two dozen people had to be intubated, and eight others were later discharged, the agency said Saturday. The Istanbul governor’s office said on Thursday that it had been stepping up efforts to combat the sale of illegal alcohol, which can have high levels of dangerous substances such as methanol. It said it had detained about a dozen people, including four on homicide charges; seized 29 tons of counterfeit alcohol since the beginning of the year; and closed 64 businesses that were selling it.

Trump Nominee Marco Rubio Signals Support for Normalizing Central Asia Trade

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of state says the Jackson-Vanik amendment, a 50-year-old law that imposes some restrictions on trade with several countries in Central Asia, is “a relic of an era that’s passed.” U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who spoke on Wednesday during a confirmation hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also described China, a key economic partner in Central Asia, as a threat and an adversary. Rubio, known as a hawk on national security issues, had harsh words too for what he called chaos-sowing “dictators” in Moscow, Tehran and Pyongyang. Tough language aside, Rubio’s interactions with his fellow senators were relatively smooth, suggesting his path to the secretary of state job is open as the United States prepares for Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Central Asian nations have been watching for what to expect when Trump returns for a second term in the White House, and they got an encouraging glimpse in Rubio’s testimony. In the Washington hearing, Senator Steve Daines, a Montana Republican, told Rubio that he and Senator Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, have been working to rescind the Jackson-Vanik amendment in Central Asia. The 1974 law, passed at the height of the Cold War, aimed to promote human rights in countries that were part of the Soviet bloc by preventing normal trade relations with “non-market economies” that restrict emigration. But Daines argued that it is outdated in the former Soviet republics of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, especially as Central Asia becomes more important because of its energy resources and geopolitical influence. “I realize you have a lot of priorities on your plate when you will be confirmed as our secretary,” Daines said to Rubio. He added that rescinding the amendment in the region would be a big step “that Central Asia needs right now to grow.” In response, Rubio said that permanent removal of the amendment in Central Asia would require legislative approval and he mentioned an initiative by Senators Chris Murphy (Connecticut Democrat) and Todd Young (Indiana Republican) that also seeks to peal the measure for Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. “I think this is a relic of an era that’s passed,” Rubio said of the Jackson-Vanik amendment. “There are some that argue that we should use it as leverage for human rights concessions, or leverage to get them to go stronger in our way” against Russia, he said. However, the Florida senator said, Kazakhstan is a market economy and therefore meets conditions for removal from the amendment’s restrictions. He added: “So we will work with you on this because I think it’s important.” Kazakhstan became a member of the World Trade Organization in 2015, two years after Tajikistan joined the group. Uzbekistan has been signing individual agreements with countries and hopes to join the WTO by 2026. Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine and Russia are among former Soviet states that were subject to the Jackson-Vanik amendment but later achieved normal trade relations status with the United States. Russia, however, is currently under Western sanctions because of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Mirziyoyev: Central Asia Can Become a Global Green Energy Hub

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan delivered a keynote address at the Sustainability Week Summit in Abu Dhabi on January 14. The event, hosted by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed Al Nahyan, gathered global leaders, including the presidents of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, the prime ministers of Italy, Malaysia, and Finland, as well as heads of international organizations and financial institutions.

The Urgency of Transitioning to a Green Economy

In his speech, Mirziyoyev emphasized the critical need for a green economic transition, stating: “The diversification of energy sources and a drastic reduction of hydrocarbons are now critical conditions for mitigating climate change and ensuring global security.”

Mirziyoyev noted that Uzbekistan has declared 2025 as the “Year of Environmental Protection and Green Economy.” The country’s strategic goal, under the "New Uzbekistan" framework, is to achieve sustainable economic growth through environmental sustainability and resource conservation.

Low-Carbon Development Goals

Outlining Uzbekistan’s low-carbon development strategy, Mirziyoyev announced plans to integrate green finance into 50% of investment projects over the next five years; reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 35% by 2030; "Green" at least 30% of urban areas; and ensure that 100% of agricultural lands adopt water-saving technologies.

Mirziyoyev also highlighted Uzbekistan’s achievements in renewable energy, stating: “In the past five years, we have attracted almost $20 billion in foreign investments, commissioning modern energy capacities of 9.6 gigawatts. This includes 14 solar and wind power plants with a total capacity of 3.5 gigawatts.”

Uzbekistan is currently collaborating with foreign partners on over 50 major energy projects worth $26 billion, aiming to reach a total energy capacity of 24 gigawatts by 2030. By that time, renewable energy is expected to account for 54% of the country’s total energy generation.

Regional Collaboration and Global Ambitions

Mirziyoyev underscored the importance of regional cooperation, saying: “We aim to turn Central Asia into one of the global centers for green economy and clean energy.”

He highlighted a multilateral agreement with Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan to export green energy to Europe and restore the Great Silk Road through energy connectivity.

The president shared success stories of partnerships with companies like Masdar, which have generated 1.5 gigawatts of renewable energy in Uzbekistan. Additional projects are underway to create 1.6 gigawatts of generating capacity and build energy storage systems with a capacity of about 520 megawatts per hour.

He also noted Uzbekistan’s untapped renewable energy potential, citing the ability to produce 500 gigawatts of solar, 100 gigawatts of wind, and 10 gigawatts of hydro energy.

Advancing Green Research and Innovation

Mirziyoyev referenced the establishment of the Green University in Tashkent - which will serve as a hub for global scientific collaboration - and proposed creating an international research network focused on combating land degradation and desertification. He also reiterated Uzbekistan’s initiatives introduced at COP-28 and COP-29, including the creation of an International Center for Damage and Loss Assessment and a regional hub for water-saving technologies.

A Nationwide Green Movement

Concluding his address, Mirziyoyev reaffirmed Uzbekistan’s commitment to sustainable development:

Cat Houses Installed at Tashkent Airport

Tashkent International Airport has introduced a heartwarming initiative by installing cat houses in the green space between the departure hall and the main terminal. Designed by students from the Tashkent University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, the structures provide a safe and comfortable habitat for the airport's feline residents.

According to the press service of Uzbekistan Airports, cats have long been part of the airport's ecosystem. “Cats are natural inhabitants of the urban environment and play a vital ecological role. Apart from their aesthetic charm, they are skilled hunters, helping control populations of mice and rats,” the service said. The idea to construct cat houses had been under consideration for years but was delayed due to ongoing construction at the airport. With the involvement of the Mushukkent project and university students, the houses were finally completed and installed in locations safe for both the animals and airport operations.

Materials used in building the cat houses are durable, resistant to decay, non-combustible, and environmentally friendly. The houses are equipped with heating systems for winter and ventilation for summer, ensuring the cats' comfort year-round.

“For Uzbekistan Airports, this is more than just an ecological project - it’s a social initiative that reflects the company’s commitment to animal welfare. It symbolizes Uzbekistan’s hospitality, beginning right at the airport, and highlights the city’s humane values,” the company added.

The Mushukkent project, launched in 2019, is supported by various government agencies, the National Guard of Uzbekistan, and non-governmental organizations. Its goals include fostering kindness towards animals, establishing shelters, controlling the stray cat population, and increasing penalties for animal cruelty.

This initiative is not unique to Uzbekistan. Two years ago, animal rights activists in Almaty, Kazakhstan, installed wooden shelters for street cats. These huts, raised above the ground, feature a roof, ladder, and feeder, providing a safe and comfortable place for up to nine cats to sleep, eat, and stay protected from the elements.

In Doha, Central Asian Artists Dismantle Orientalism

Completely covered by a huge textile patchwork piece, softly moved by the wind, the façade of the Mathaf Museum in Doha promises visitors something fascinating and alluring. Coming closer, attendees could read a series of statements in various languages on the fabric. The effect of familiarity and estrangement at once was the purpose of Azerbaijani artist Babi Badalov, who realized the piece. By layering phrases in Arabic, Cyrillic, and Latin with calligraffiti and employing disjointed grammar and syntax, the artist meant to visually disrupt “linguistic imperialism” and show how Europe’s modern civilization owes much to Arab civilization. [caption id="attachment_27513" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] The Mathaf Museum in Doha; image: TCA, Naima Morelli[/caption] This specially commissioned work, called Text Still (2024), is nothing but an appetizer for the show Seeing is Believing: The Art and Influence of Gérôme. Organized by the forthcoming Lusail Museum — an institution under development in northern Doha that will house the largest collection of the so-called Orientalist art — the exhibition features loans from institutions such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Islamic Arts Museum in Malaysia. The main part of the show is dedicated to French artist Jean-Léon Gérôme, who lived and worked in the 19th century and was profoundly influential in his depictions of the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. His works shaped Western perceptions of these regions during an era when colonialism and “Oriental Studies” were cementing global power dynamics. The show included a historical and biographical exploration of Gérôme’s life, timed to celebrate the 200th anniversary of his birth, as well as a photographic section curated by Giles Hudson dedicated to visions of the Orient from Gérôme’s time to today. But it is in the third section, centered on contemporary art and called “I Swear I saw That”, that Central Asian artist really enter into a close dialogue with Gérôme’s Orientalism, turning it on its head. Sara Raza, curator of this section, takes Badalov’s textile work as a case in point: “Badalov inverts Edward Said’s mission of examining Western perceptions of the Orient, focusing instead on Eastern perceptions of the Occident, and vice versa,” she told The Times of Central Asia. Edward Said’s concept of Orientalism, as detailed in his groundbreaking 1978 work of the same name, is an institutionalized program of Western knowledge, based mostly on projections, mystification, and imagination - and includes works of art as well as the academy - which is directed to justify a supposed Western superiority and imperialism over Eastern populations. “I Swear I Saw That” interrogates Jean-Leon Gerome’s way of seeing, which Sara Raza recognizes as a “fantastical and highly mythologized vision of the East,” and looks at how artists from both the Middle East, the Arab world and Central Asia fought back. A Central Asia and Caucasus expert who works extensively in the Middle East, Raza has examined the process of the exoticization of Eastern populations for a long time. She coined the term “Punk Orientalism,” which also became the name of her book and curatorial studio. She takes the reflections of Edward Said as a starting point, and looks at how the Central Asian population has been seen through a stereotyped lens by both Europe and the Soviet Union. Raza brings a punk, DIY approach to her curatorial method, which reflects the same attitude of many Central Asians who have a rebellious spirit and create art with a grassroots, bottom-down approach. [caption id="attachment_27514" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Installation by Erbossyn Meldibekov; image: TCA, Naima Morelli
[/caption] From the stylized figures of Moroccan artist Baya - a trailblazer in the last century who was close to the surrealists – to contemporary artists like the Kazakh Erbossyn Meldibekov, the selection doesn’t only span Eastern geographies, but also different generations. The installation by Meldivekov, featuring a horse’s lower legs frozen in motion and placed on a white podium, is particularly haunting. The work was conceived as a commentary on the rise and fall of historical figures celebrated by statues across Central Asia. The felling of these statues started following the collapse of the USSR as part of a state-sponsored nationalist agenda and was part of a plan to revive the region’s epic past, a topic dear to Meldibekov. While his installation is dedicated to 15th-century Italian Captain Erasmo Gattamelata, and his statue to Italian Renaissance painter Donatello, Meldibekov also references Gérôme’s bronze statue of the 14th-century Uzbek emperor, Timur. But the work which is probably more impactful in moving forward the discussion on Orientalism is a series of photographs titled “Girls of Kyrgyzstan,” which have distinctive GenY/ GenZ aesthetics. Created by Uzbekistan-born Kyrgyzstan-bred artist Aziza Shadenova, a multidisciplinary artist and musician of Kazakh ethnicity, it encapsulates the ethos of the generation born right after the collapse of the USSR in 1991, who grew up familiar with the internet from an early age. The series speaks of the pervasiveness of images on the internet as a means to represent the self, freeing themselves from both Western and the Soviet narratives, as well as debunking previous social norms and myths around the representation of Central Asian women. [caption id="attachment_27515" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Aziza Shadenova, "Girls of Kyrgyzstan"; image: TCA, Naima Morelli[/caption] In the catalogue essay, Sara Raza explains that social media is a space where Kyrgyz girls can reclaim their sense of autonomy, posting images and texts that involve encoding hidden messages in clothing, hairstyles, gestures, and postures that are generationally-specific. Overall, what emerges from the third chapter of “Seeing is Believing: The Art and Influence of Gérôme,” is a clear vision of how artists are entering a new era of de-orientalization. What Sara Raza and the artists suggest in the show is that in order to move forward the discourse on Orientalism, artists from all geographies must be aware of stereotyping and correct historical inaccuracies. “Collectively the artists in ‘I Swear I Saw That' embody conceptual positions that challenge obsolescent Eurocentric historical precedents and can tackle issues of prejudice, power and knowledge by way of conscious visioning,” says Sara Raza. “Witnessing becomes holy writ: mysterious, complicated, powerful. Necessary.” And if the Gulf countries are providing the ideal framework, in terms of institutions, to be a place for these voices and narratives, Central Asian artists are at the forefront of this vision.

Uzbek Footballer Abdukodir Khusanov to Sign for Manchester City

When the English champions Manchester City suffered a shock run of losses recently, soccer fans began guessing what moves coach Pep Guardiola would make to stop their winter slump. No-one expected him to call for a defender from Uzbekistan. Abdukodir Khusanov, still only 20 but already with 18 appearances for the White Wolves, is set to become Guardiola’s first signing of 2025. On 11 January the tall center-back agreed to join City in a €40 million ($41 million) transfer from the French team RC Lens. Once the move is complete, Khusanov is expected to sign a contract for four and a half years, Manchester City have won five of the last six Premier League titles. They were European club champions in 2023 after winning a first UEFA Champions League. With Europe's giants very rarely looking to Asia for their next young star, Khusanov has taken an unconventional route to the Etihad Stadium. He began his career in the youth team of local side Bunyodkor, before moving to Belarus in 2022, at the age of 18, to play for Energetik-BGU Minsk. In 2023 Khusanov was part of the Uzbekistan youth team that won the AFC Under-20 Asian Cup. There his confident passing and physicality caught the attention of RC Lens. He became a fan favorite in northern France, and the youngest Uzbek to play in the Champions League. Conor Bowers, a British fan of Uzbek soccer, has followed Khusanov’s career closely, and mentions that the €40 million man once struggled even to make teams in his homeland. “Although he is now over six feet tall, his youth coaches thought he would be too small to make it professionally. And that was even as a child, when he played as a striker.” Of his season in France, Bowers adds: “People had high hopes for Khusanov, but no-one expected him to move to a club the size of Manchester City this fast. People feel it will put Uzbekistan in the spotlight of the football world.” It was his strong performances in the French league that put Khusanov on the radar of Europe’s best clubs – Manchester City beat other English teams to his signature – but the defender is also vital to his national team. With the striker Eldor Shomurodov (of Roma in Italy) leading the attack, and Khusanov the team’s rock in defense, Uzbekistan has become Central Asia’s most accomplished side. The senior team is on course to qualify for next year’s men’s FIFA World Cup in North America. Khusanov will be the first footballer from anywhere in Central Asia to play in the English Premier League. However, he is not the first player born in Tashkent to grace the so-called “best league in the world". The Nigerian forward Peter Odemwingie spent his early childhood in Uzbekistan’s capital, before playing in the EPL for West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City. As news of Khusanov’s move to Manchester swept across Uzbek media over the weekend, sports fans were excited by the prospect of one of their footballers playing under the legendary coach, Guardiola. “It’s a big thing for us to get to see one of our young players winding up at Pep’s team”, says Donat Iskanderoff, an Uzbek sports journalist. Iskanderoff adds: “One fact people might not know is that his father [Hikmat Hashimov] used to play football as well, for Metallurg Bekabad [and the Uzbek national team]. But Abdukodir plays under a different surname – the father wanted to take pressure off his son.” Salvaging Manchester City’s season while taking his nation towards a first World Cup, Abdukodir Khusanov will have no way of escaping the pressure now. But whether or not he is a success in England, the impressive young defender will have the whole of Uzbekistan behind him.

Uzbekistan Plans to Strengthen Strategic Partnership with the U.S.

Uzbekistan is actively working to deepen its strategic partnership with the United States. The draft state program for 2025, currently under public discussion, outlines several measures to strengthen these ties. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, led by Acting Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov, is tasked with expanding bilateral cooperation by the end of 2025. Key initiatives include a high-level visit to the U.S. and the inaugural round of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue in Tashkent. The program also aims to bolster collaboration within the “C5+1” format, which features a ministerial meeting, working group discussions, and a summit in Samarkand to mark the format’s 10th anniversary.

The program also emphasizes increasing inter-parliamentary cooperation, attracting investors from the Americas, and promoting trade and investment through business forums, exhibitions, and events. Additionally, it prioritizes enhanced security collaboration and sustaining Uzbekistan's strong rankings in U.S. human rights reports.

Daniel Runde, Senior Vice President of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, recently urged U.S. policymakers to prioritize relations with Uzbekistan. He described the country as a pivotal partner in maintaining regional stability and countering the influence of Russia and China. Despite geopolitical challenges, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and escalating competition with China, Runde highlighted the strategic importance of strengthening ties with Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan's relationship with the U.S. is longstanding. In 2018, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with then-President Donald Trump at the White House. Trump lauded Uzbekistan’s rising global stature during the visit, calling it "an honor" to host Mirziyoyev.