Discover the most notable events from last week in Central Asia with our brief overview of the top stories. Get the latest news and insights to stay in the know.
Kazakhstan
Kaspi.kz intends to participate in the privatization of the Humo payment system in Uzbekistan
Humo is a payment system based on bank cards for transactions in Uzbekistan and abroad. As part of the Humo payment system, 27 million HumoCards have been issued, with 6400 ATMs and over 210 000 terminals in operation.
Source: forbes.kz
Kazakhstan and the USA may launch direct flights in 2025
The two countries plan to start direct flights to the USA at the end of 2025, with an expected frequency of twice a week.
Source: gov.kz
Kazakhstan leads the CIS and Central Asian countries in the ESG index
The ESG Index covers risks related to the environment, human rights, health, and safety. Kazakhstan ranks 52nd out of 183 countries with an index of 36.3.
Source: risk-indexes.com
Kazakhstan and the World Bank to adopt a new partnership strategy
World Bank representatives have expressed interest in providing funding for new projects critical to the country's economic development, including transport and logistics, infrastructure, energy, and utilities.
Source: inform.kz
Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyzstan leads the region in English proficiency
According to a report by the international educational organization EF Education First, which prepared the English proficiency ranking for 2023 by analyzing 113 countries, Kyrgyzstan ranks 90th, leading among Central Asian countries in English proficiency.
Source: 24.kg
South Korea significantly increases exports to Kyrgyzstan
From January to July of this year, South Korea increased its exports to Kyrgyzstan by 44.4% compared to the same period last year. The total trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $908.2 million, with 99.8% being South Korean exports worth $906.4 million.
Source: kaktus.media
Uzbekistan
The 6th World Nomad Games to be held in Uzbekistan in 2026
In 2024, the World Nomad Games will be held in Astana from September 8 to 14. The event has previously been held three times in Kyrgyzstan and once in Turkey and is conducted every two years.
Source: gov.kg
TBC Bank Uzbekistan secures $25 million from swiss investor BlueOrchard
The funds will be used to further develop TBC UZ's ecosystem, supporting the growth of the bank's loan portfolio and increasing access to financial services in Uzbekistan. Earlier this year, as part of its funding diversification strategy, TBC UZ also secured a $10 million loan from responsAbility Investments AG.
Source: tbcbank.uz
Kazakh supermarket Galmart opens in Tashkent
Galmart offers a wide range of products, including ready-made meals and private-label goods. The store format is geared towards premium family shopping.
Source: spot.uz
Qatari IT company AST LLC to open a new development center in Uzbekistan
Qatari IT giant AST LLC, under the brand Gem Soft, has announced the launch of a new development center in the heart of Central Asia — Uzbekistan. The new entity, DevTeam International Software, will serve as a key hub for developing global products.
Source: gazeta.uz
Number of foreign tourists exceeds 4 million in seven months
In seven months, about 4.2 million foreigners visited Uzbekistan for tourism, an increase of 562,500 or 15.3% compared to the previous year.
Source: spot.uz
Iberojet launches charter flights from Madrid to Tashkent and Urgench
The Spanish company will operate flights to Uzbekistan twice a week starting from September 2.
Source: spot.uz
Tajikistan
Strengthening cooperation between Tajikistan and the Asian Development Bank
The meeting discussed priority areas of cooperation, including transport and energy, agriculture, and healthcare, with a special focus on funding for the Rogun Hydropower Plant project and other key sectors of the economy and social sphere.
Source: khovar.tj
Cooperation between Tajikistan and the Digital Cooperation Organization discussed in Riyadh
The meeting covered issues related to establishing cooperation between Tajikistan and the mentioned organization in areas such as e-government, digital economy, artificial intelligence, and other topics of mutual interest.
Source: khovar.tj
