Asia Infrastructure
Central Asia and Afghanistan heading for “confrontation” over water-thirsty canal, warns analyst
Minimal progress seen in dealing with rightful Taliban claim to share of Amu Darya border river. Region’s water security dilemma worsening.
Named after a former revolutionary, Ho Chi Minh is Vietnam’s buzzing economic capital and Southeast Asia’s boomtown
Ho Chi Minh City has become a city project impossible to ignore: a metropolis whose growth is both the measure of Vietnam’s ambitions and the embodiment of the region’s restless dynamism.
Indonesia and Malaysia seek peaceful path in Ambalat Sea standoff
The Ambalat region, located in the Sulawesi Sea, has long been contested due to overlapping claims and its strategic importance for oil and gas exploration.
Rosatom may whiff on Kazakh nuclear project due to financing yips
Chinese firm teed up to replace Russian entity on project
Just two in five Afghans have electricity, say officials
Matters could get worse. Tajikistan has advised it plans to reduce power exports to Afghanistan this winter.
Iran to open new railway routes to Central Asia
Iran will open new railway routes to Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, as well as Afghanistan and Turkey.
Multimodal China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan rail and road freight route goes into operation
Corridor connects Wuhan in central China to Tashkent. With realisation of the “CKU” railroad years away, operators will hope for brisk business.
Breakthrough moment for Trans-Afghan Railway project hailed by Uzbekistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan
Three countries agree to prepare feasibility study. Russia too would benefit from infrastructure linking Central Asia to Arabian Sea coast.
LNG in Asia: A transitional step on the way to a greener future
As the global push for decarbonisation intensifies, liquefied natural gas - LNG - is emerging as a pivotal player in Asia’s energy transformation.
COMMENT: Iran's new rail link to China played a role in provoking the 12-day war
Iran launched its first-ever direct railway connection to China in May, its first rail link to Asia that does not rely on transshipment through seaports or Russia, significantly improving its national security by avoiding the seaborne exports.
Tosyali dethrones Eregli to become largest Turkish steelmaker
Company owner Fuat Tosyali became a favourite businessman of president Erdogan. Projects he’s involved in include making Turkey’s “native and national” Altay battle tank.
Syria receives IMF visit for first time since 2009
Conflict-torn country faces “enormous challenges”, says mission. Majority of GDP wiped out. Restoring power infrastructure alone could cost at least $40bn.
Xi signs treaty to elevate China's ties with Central Asia at Astana summit
Document refers to "permanent good-neighbourliness and friendly cooperation". Chinese leader takes jab at US, saying trade and tariff wars "produce no winners".