Eurasia / Features

After decades of neglect, Central Asia awakening to trade possibilities with Mongolia

Eurasianet June 25, 2025

Ulaanbaatar welcomes two Central Asian leaders in June.

Can Kazakhstan deliver on the rare earth hype?

Nizom Khodjayev in Astana June 25, 2025

The expectation for the "new oil" is huge – but experts point out that it is still far too early to talk about the Central Asian country having massive, confirmed REE resources.

Global uncertainty causes FDI to plummet in Emerging Europe

bne IntelliNews June 24, 2025

wiiw research blames crisis in German industry and the uncertainty surrounding Donald Trump’s second term as US president for sharp slowdown in FDI.

Saudi Arabia-based power company ACWA Power plunges head first into Uzbekistan's green energy sector

Ben Aris in Tashkent June 23, 2025

Saudi Arabia-based utility developer ACWA Power plunged headfirst into the Uzbekistan green energy market. Since making its first investment in 2020 with a 1,500-MW plant in the Silk Road city of Bukhara, it has built $15bn worth of new capacity.

FIC head explains why Uzbekistan today is not the Uzbekistan of five years ago

Mokhi Sultanova in Tashkent June 19, 2025

As Uzbekistan continues its transition toward a more open and market-driven economy, there is progress in attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) and improving the overall business climate.

Uzbekistan investment story reaches critical mass as the first round of international capital arrives to invest into its burgeoning businesses

Ben Aris in Berlin June 19, 2025

Uzbekistan sees surge in foreign investor interest as green energy and private capital drive momentum.

TBC Uzbekistan boss Hughes building a Central Asian digital-only banking giant with retail, SME lending and AI services

Ben Aris in Tashkent June 19, 2025

Since it arrived in Uzbekistan in 2020 by taking over a fintech payment system, Georgia’s TBC has taken the market by storm. The country’s only pure online bank has grown by leaps and bounds and today has 1mn customers.

EU sanctions Turkey’s jihadists in Syria for slaughtering Alawites

Akin Nazli in Belgrade June 19, 2025

Militias designated by Council of Ministers represent a failure by Ankara to organise militant groups during the Syria War.

Azerbaijan casino push aligns with business plans of president’s former son-in-law

Cavid Aga in Ankara June 19, 2025

The Azerbaijani parliament is set to adopt legislation to legalise casinos on artificial islands — which would pave the way for Emin Agalarov’s ‘Absheron Las Vegas’ project.

Arrest of billionaire Karapetyan escalates Armenia’s church-state showdown

bne IntelliNews June 19, 2025

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is embroiled in a very public confrontation with the Armenian Apostolic Church after accusing its head of fathering an illegitimate child.

Turkey's Koc in a sweet spot in Uzbekistan's burgeoning real estate sector

Ben Aris in Tashkent June 18, 2025

The Uzbekistan real estate market has entered a sweet spot. A burgeoning population, rising capital inflows, a growing expat community and strong economic growth have combined to lift everyone’s boat.

The Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Combine is the jewel in Uzbekistan's golden crown

Ben Aris in Berlin June 18, 2025

The Navoi Mining & Metallurgical Combine is Uzbekistan’s crown jewel and the fourth largest gold mine in the world. It also epitomises the Central Asian republic’s efforts to modernise its economy.

PANNIER: Central Asia’s space race

Bruce Pannier June 17, 2025

A satellite in orbit offers a nation prestige, essential data in handling natural disasters and, controversially, a blanket “kill switch” for the internet during unrest.

Mongolia picks reformer to lead cabinet after former PM exits in scandal

Michael Kohn June 13, 2025

Zandanshatar Gombojav’s past may bother nervous foreign investors. But says one expert: “Today he presents himself as a reform-minded stabiliser, not a threat to foreign capital.”

Uzbekistan’s President Mirziyoyev strikes neutral stance in investment forum keynote speech

Ben Aris in Berlin June 12, 2025

“Uzbekistan has attracted $39bn of FDI in the last eight years, up 10-fold,” Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev told delegates to the fourth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF) on June 10.

Uzbekistan top supermarket Korzinka raises $110mn to fund rapid expansion

Ben Aris in Tashkent June 12, 2025

Organised retail is growing fast in Uzbekistan, catering to the demands of a growing middle class for convenience and upmarket goods, but it remains in the early stages of development.

Armenian economy stabilises after 2022 boom, says RenCap

bne IntelliNews June 11, 2025

Growth surge that saw Armenia’s GDP nearly double to $25bn by 2024 is mostly over, says investment bank.

CITIES IN PERIL: Cities confront the rising tide of climate change

Clare Nuttall in Glasgow May 30, 2025

Fast and chaotic urban population growth combined with climate challenges on multiple fronts are putting cities at risk around the world.

Is Kazakhstan guilty of “resource nationalism” in pursuing massive revenue claims against oil majors?

Nizom Khodjayev in Astana May 28, 2025

Efforts put into play by new generation of political elites “talk to ‘gut’ of people”, says one observer.

China filling void left by USAID’s dismantling

Eurasianet May 19, 2025

Small and Beautiful marks next phase of Belt & Road Initiative.

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