Energy and Economy 

C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue Opened in Astana on June 10 

The United States convened a new C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue in Astana on June 10. American officials and business leaders met with their Central Asian counterparts to discuss geological exploration, mining, processing, global value and supply chains, and the expanding role of the United States in the region. U.S. Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor also met with Kazakhstan Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev before the session to discuss the two nations’ future partnership and the implementation of agreements signed at the White House in November 2025. Gor emphasized that the U.S. government is prepared to support American companies in the region. This most recent iteration of the C5+1 Critical Minerals Dialogue demonstrates the continued American focus on Central Asia as well as increasingly concrete cooperation between the United States and the region. 

Source: The Times of Central Asia 

Kazakhstan Signs Strategic Cooperation Agreements with AI Startup, Firebird, Targeting Investment of Up to $10 Billion 

Kazakhstan’s government signed strategic cooperation agreements with AI startup Firebird during a June 15 meeting with NVIDIA Vice President of Omniverse and Simulation Technology Rev Lebaredian and Firebird co-founders Razmig Hovaghimian and Alexander Yesayan. The agreements focus on advancing AI infrastructure in Kazakhstan, including the development of the country’s Data Center Valley, a national project aimed at creating substantial computing capacity in northeastern Kazakhstan. The partnership also includes cooperation with NVIDIA, the world’s leading producer of AI chips. The announcement follows Firebird’s partnership with NVIDIA to construct a large-scale data center, which is now entering its final phase of construction. 

Sources: Bloomberg, Armenpress, Interfax 

DFC Travels to the Caspian Region 

On June 13, DFC Chief Executive Officer Ben Black announced his travel to the South Caucasus and Central Asia to advance U.S. economic engagement in the region. In Baku, Azerbaijan, Black met with the Minister of Economy and the Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss cooperation in transportation, energy, connectivity, and information technology. He later traveled to Astana, Kazakhstan, where he met with President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to discuss expanding U.S.-Kazakhstan investment cooperation, including the potential establishment of a permanent DFC office in Kazakhstan. The discussions also focused on critical minerals, transport connectivity, agriculture, digitalization, and artificial intelligence, underscoring growing alignment between DFC priorities and Kazakhstan’s economic modernization agenda. 

Sources: X, Trend News Agency, Daryo.uz 

Tajikistan and UK Discuss Banking Regulation and Sanctions Compliance 

Representatives of Tajikistan’s government and banking sector met with the UK’s regional sanctions attaché in Dushanbe to discuss Tajikistan's banking system, sanctions compliance, supervisory mechanisms, and the development of bilateral cooperation in the financial sector. A Tajik official said the government is taking measures to improve the transparency and resilience of the country’s financial system and to align the sector with international standards. This follows the EU’s removal of three Tajikistan banks from its sanctions list in April.  

Source: The Times of Central Asia 

Tajikistan Begins Construction of $100 Million IT Hub 

Tajikistan has broken ground on one of the country's largest development projects: a 53,000-square-foot IT Hub with an expected investment of $100 million. Officials hope the hub will accelerate growth in the digital economy by fostering investment in artificial intelligence, innovation, research, and human capital development. The facility will consist of four components: the Dushanbe IT School, the Dushanbe Regional Artificial Intelligence Center, IT Park Dushanbe, and the IT Business Center. 

Source: Astana Times 

Belgian Company Sarens to Build Border Logistics Hub Worth $56 Million Between Kazakhstan and China 

The 82-hectare hub will be built to increase handling capacity at Kazakhstan’s border town of Khorgos. The company is also planning the construction of another border crossing at Nur Zholy to relieve traffic at Khorgos’ dry port and ultimately reduce the overall transit times for goods travelling along the Middle Corridor. Phase 1 of the hub’s construction will amount to $10 million and is  to be completed by the end of next year.  

Source: Astana Times 

U.S. and Uzbekistan Sign MOU to Promote Bilateral Business Cooperation 

During a visit to Tashkent, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce David Fogel signed a memorandum of understanding with Uzbekistan’s Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade, Laziz Kudratov, outlining plans to facilitate business delegation visits and expand investment opportunities. The agreement emphasizes practical economic cooperation, with the goal of fostering a partnership centered on technology, innovation, and investment rather than traditional commodity trade. 

Source: Eurasianet 

German Companies Secure Deal with SOCAR for Two Billion Cubic Meters of Gas Annually 

German Ambassador to Azerbaijan Ralf Horlemann announced the signing of agreements between German companies and Azerbaijan’s state energy company, SOCAR, for roughly two billion cubic meters of gas per year. Due to the absence of a direct pipeline, most of the gas will be swapped with importers in Italy. The contracts are for an estimated 10-year period and will help to stabilize Europe’s energy market as the war in Iran causes prices to jump. 

Source: Azernews 

Politics and Security 

Azerbaijani Presidential Aide, Secretary of Armenian Security Council Meet in Armenia 

On June 14, Assistant to the President of Azerbaijan Hikmet Hajiyev traveled to Dilijan, Armenia to hold a working meeting with Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia Armen Grigoryan. During the meeting, the parties discussed a range of issues related to the Armenia–Azerbaijan peace process, emphasizing the importance of sustained bilateral dialogue in advancing lasting peace and stability in the region. They also exchanged views on confidence-building measures between the civil societies of the two countries. Hajiyev and Grigoryan agreed to maintain working-level contacts and confirmed that their next meeting will take place in Azerbaijan.  

Source: Azertag, MassisPost  

Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission Confirms Pashinyan’s Victory in Parliamentary Election 

Armenia’s Central Electoral Commission confirms the Civil Contract party’s victory in the parliamentary election of June 7. Pashinyan’s party won 49.7% of the vote, resulting in 64 of 105 seats in the assembly. The pro-Russian Strong Armenia party had appealed to the commission to annul the election, claiming “widespread violations.” The commission’s decision confirms an election seen as determining the future of Armenia’s shift west to the European Union and the United States. Pashinyan has emerged victorious despite Russian disinformation campaigns and threats of political and economic consequences for its traditional ally. 

Source: AP 

German President to Visit Uzbekistan 

On June 17-18, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier plans to make an official visit to Uzbekistan, focusing heavily on expanding economic cooperation, attracting investment, and strengthening ties in education and workforce development. During the President’s visit, the accompanying German business delegation is expected to sign a series of agreements involving new projects and investments in Uzbekistan. Leaders will also discuss continuing relations regarding skilled labor migration and workforce cooperation. 

Source: Caspian Post 

Expanding Georgian-Kyrgyz relations with First Official Georgian Visit to Kyrgyzstan 

Marking the first official visit by a Georgian official to Kyrgyzstan, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov to discuss bilateral cooperation on trade and economics and how to strengthen transport and logistics. The two leaders recognized the important role both countries play in trade between China and Europe. With the potential of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, along with Georgia’s port infrastructure on the Black Sea, leaders from both countries were working towards solidifying relations to allow more efficient trade flow. Prospects for opening direct flights between the two countries were also discussed. By the end of the summit, nine documents had been signed, including a joint statement that covered aviation authorities, state property management, veterinary cooperation, education, justice, sports, radiation safety, foreign ministry cooperation for 2027-2028, and customs cooperation. 

Source: Anadolu Ajansı, The Times of Central Asia 

Tokayev and Gor Hold Bilateral Talks  

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and U.S. Special Envoy Sergio Gor met in Astana on June 10 to discuss current successes and future cooperation between the United States and Kazakhstan. Special Envoy Gor cited the $20 billion worth of bilateral trade agreements and deals that have been signed in the last year as evidence of deepening ties.  He emphasized President Trump’s appreciation of Tokayev’s friendship.  

Source: The Astana Times 

EU and Central Asian Officials meet in Almaty to Discuss Cooperation on Afghanistan 

Senior officials from the European Union and Central Asian countries met in Almaty on June 12 to discuss regional cooperation on Afghanistan. Participants explored opportunities to strengthen humanitarian assistance, economic engagement, education initiatives, and regional connectivity projects involving Afghanistan, highlighting the country’s continued importance to regional stability and development. 

Source: The Astana Times