Energy and Economy

 

World Bank Releases New Remittances Data from Central Asia 

The World Bank presented a new study analyzing current migration trends in the Europe and Central Asia region. Labor migration is a major source of income for Central Asian economies. As of 2024, remittances accounted for 45% of Tajikistan’s GDP, 24% or Kyrgyzstan’s, and 14% of Uzbekistan’s. The study proposed transforming “brain drain” into “brain gain” by making migration an explicit development policy and incentivizing the return of high-skilled migrants through labor market reforms. 

Source: Tashkent Times

Uzbekistan and IAEA Discuss Nuclear Safety and Modular Reactor Training

Uzatom Director Azim Akhmedkhajaev and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi met in Vienna on March 5 to discuss Uzbekistan’s accession to international nuclear safety agreements. The IAEA offered legal assistance to align Uzbekistan’s legislation with global standards. They also reviewed Uzbekistan’s initiatives in radiation and isotope technologies and proposed establishing a modular reactor training school in Tashkent. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan is advancing its first nuclear power plant, a 330 MW capacity facility in Jizzakh, to be built by Russia’s Rosatom under a 2024 agreement, with construction set to begin after regulatory approval in 2026 and phased commissioning from 2029 to 2033.

Source: Interfax

Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Launch Free Trade Regime

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade announced that Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan have implemented a free-trade regime, eliminating tariffs on most goods and simplifying trade procedures. The agreement removes duties on key Uzbekistani exports to Turkmenistan, including cement, textiles, furniture, plastics, and food products. To boost exports, Uzbekistan has launched new trade facilitation mechanisms. In 2024, bilateral trade reached $1.14 billion, up 5.5% from last year.

Source: Trend news

Azerbaijan and Türkiye Launch Gas Pipeline to Nakhchivan

On March 5, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev visited Ankara, Türkiye, to hold talks with Türkiye President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Discussions focused on growing economic and energy collaboration between the two countries and the inauguration of a new gas pipeline through Türkiye leading to Azerbaijan’s exclave of Nakhchivan. The pipeline is 85 kilometers in length and has an annual capacity of 500 million cubic meters (mcm).

Source: Daily Sabah

Kazakhstan to Increase Oil Transit via Azerbaijan in 2025

Kazakhstan’s KazMunayGaz and Azerbaijan’s SOCAR have agreed to boost Kazakh oil transit through the Aktau-Baku-Ceyhan route to 1.7 million tons in 2025, up from 1.4 million tons in 2024. The decision follows a meeting in Baku between KazMunayGaz Chairman Ashkat Hasenov and SOCAR President Rovshan Najaf, reviewing progress on their 2022 oil transport agreement. The two sides also discussed joint efforts on decarbonization, low-carbon technologies, emission reductions, and digitizing industrial processes.

Source: The Times of Central Asia

Kazakhstan: Oil Transit Through CPC To Decrease 70%

Kazakhstan's Deputy Minister of Energy Alibek Zhamauov stated on March 10 that Kazakhstan was hoping to decrease its oil exports through the Russia-controlled Caspian Consortium Pipeline (CPC) by 70% in March. The statement came after February’s Ukrainian drone strike on the pipeline, which Russian officials reported resulted in a 30-40% decrease in capacity. Kazakhstan is largely reliant on the CPC for its international oil exports but is seeking to increase the usage of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline.

Source: Trend.az

Kobakhidze Visits Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan for Middle Corridor Talks

Georgia Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has visited Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan as part of a Central Asia tour focused on the development of the Middle Corridor transit route. Kobakhidze’s trip included meetings with Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Turkmenistan President Seder Berdimuhamedow, during which Georgia’s Prime Minister stated his aim of expanding transit connectivity. Kobakhidze’s trip comes after a year in which Georgia has grown isolated form its traditional partners, the United States and European Union.

Source: Civil.ge

Turkmenistan to Expand Business Ties with U.S. Companies

On March 4, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to the United States Meret Orazov held a meeting in Washington, DC, with the representatives of American companies, including Boeing, John Deere, Case New Holland, Palo Alto, Climate Compass, ExxonMobil, Oxbow, Sig Sauer, and Coca-Cola. During the meeting, the parties discussed opportunities to expand economic cooperation and develop business initiatives in Turkmenistan. 

Source: Business Turkmenistan

A SOCAR Delegation is set to Arrive in Israel to Sign a Previously Announced Gas Deal and Two New Investments

A delegation from SOCAR, Azerbaijan's state oil company, is set to arrive in Israel on March 17 to sign a previously announced deal for a 10% stake in Israel’s Tamar gas field and announce two new energy projects within Israeli waters near the border with Lebanon. Covering an area of approximately 100 square kilometers 90 km west of Haifa, the Tamar field currently produces 1.1 billion cubic feet (BCF) of gas a day with estimated reserves of 389 billion cubic meters (BCM).  The two new deals are predicted to be even larger, however, details are yet to be announced.

Source: Caspian Policy Center, Forbes

 

Politics and Security

 

Zelensky to Visit Saudi Arabia on March 10, U.S.-Ukraine Talks to Follow

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh on March 10, followed by U.S.-Ukraine negotiations on March 11 in either Riyadh or Jeddah, according to U.S. special envoy to Middle East Steven Witkoff. The U.S. delegation, led by Witkoff, includes Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, while Ukrainian Presidential Chief of Staff Andrei Yermak will head Ukraine’s delegation. Talks will focus on a potential ceasefire framework between Russia and Ukraine. Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed and welcomed the meeting while stating that the meeting will take place in Jeddah.

Source: Interfax

ISIS Attempts a Coup in Kyrgyzstan and Threatens Tajik Government

Kyrgyzstan foiled an alleged ISIS coup attempt, arresting 30 ISIS terrorists involved, according to sources close to the matter. Kyrgyz officials claimed the cell sought to perpetrate “jihad against the constitutional order of the Kyrgyz Republic.” This comes after ISIS also recently released a video threatening the Tajik government. These incidents fall in line with a trend of increasing ISIS activity in Central Asia and have put the region on high alert. 

Source: The Economic Times

Joint Russia-Iran-China Naval Drills Held

On March 10, Russia, China, and Iran held annual naval drills off of Iran’s southern coast around the port of Chabahar. The drills, titled “Security Belt 2025,” is the fifth annual joint naval exercise between the three countries since 2019. This year’s exercises come as U.S. President Donald Trump has upended America’s traditional trans-Atlantic approach to global security by breaking with Europe and Ukraine on issues relating to the Russo-Ukrainian war.

Source: CNN