Energy and Economy 

Uzbekistan and Afghanistan Sign Investment Deals Exceeding $100 Million 

Representatives from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan signed 13 investment contracts  at a recent business forum in Kabul. Attendants at the forum included both private business owners and state officials. Afghanistan’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Nooruddin Azizi reported that the new deals would prioritize creating new economic opportunities and trade deals between the two states. 

Source: UZ Daily, Caspian Post 

Uzbekistan to Receive $12.5 Billion Asian Development Bank Economic Assistance Package 

During last week’s meeting in Samarkand, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) announced that it is committing $12.5 billion in assistance to Uzbekistan. According to reports, the aim of this package is to support the country’s economic modernization, and, according to the bank, it is “intended to loosen China’s grip on supply chains for critical minerals and rare earths.” The United States and Japan are the ADB’s largest shareholders. Running until 2030, this Uzbek-ADB Partnership Program will also cover a number of other sectors, like developing a stable mortgage market to promote private ownership. 

Source: Eurasianet 

Central Asian Water Ministers Sign Water Supply Agreement 

Energy and water ministers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan signed a trilateral protocol in Tashkent on May 7 establishing agreed water release volumes and schedules from the Toktogul Reservoir for the next two months. The agreement reflects ongoing regional efforts to balance upstream hydropower needs in Kyrgyzstan against downstream agricultural and energy demands in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, particularly as summer irrigation season approaches. 

Source: Qazinform  

Uzbekistan to Begin Construction of New Airport in Tashkent 

Uzbekistan’s Deputy Minister of Transportation Jasurbek Choriev announced that construction of the New Tashkent International Airport is scheduled to begin in June 2026. Choriev stated that the public-private partnership agreement for the project is entering its final stage and is expected to be signed by mid-May, with the construction expected to commence in June. The airport is being developed by an international consortium involving partners from Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea, and Uzbekistan on a 1,300-hectare site in the Tashkent region. Expected to take 3–4 years to complete, the new facility will accommodate up to 20 million passengers and 129,000 tons of cargo annually, while integrating with major highway and high-speed rail networks to strengthen regional connectivity. The existing airport is expected to be decommissioned once the new facility becomes operational. 

Source: Astana Times 

Politics and Security 

Armenia Signs Connectivity Partnership with the European Union 

As part of the European Union’s (EU) Global Gateway strategy, the EU seeks to enhance Armenia’s position as a regional transit hub that is integrated into networks that emphasize energy, trade, and digitization. The new partnership also aims to promote Armenia’s security against hybrid threats, as well as to facilitate cooperation on visa and migration management. President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyden added that the EU’s Resilience and Growth Plan for Armenia will receive up to € 2.5 billion in investments to create new job opportunities and build housing infrastructure. The signing of this new partnership took place in Yerevan at the 8th European Political Community summit, May 4-5.  

Source: European Commission 

Brazil’s Foreign Minister Visits Kazakhstan 

Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira visited Astana on May 11 to hold talks with his Kazakhstani counterpart Yermek Kosherbayev. The two set a future goal of reaching $1 billion in trade volume, which currently stands at roughly $300 million. The two parties discussed the potential of Brazilian companies utilizing Kazakhstan’s transport routes to integrate into Eurasian markets. Agriculture also featured in their discussions, with Kosherbayev expressing interest in collaborating with Brazilian agribusiness to promote better practices, and the two countries’ respective ministries of agriculture signed new memoranda. 

Source: Astana Times 

Turkmenistan to Host C6 and CIS in October in Awaza  

Turkmenistan is shaping up to be the council hub this fall. On October 8, Turkmenistan’s Awaza resort will host the Consultative Meeting of the Heads of State of Central Asia and Azerbaijan, or C6. The next day, the resort will host the Commonwealth of Independent States Heads of State Summit.  

Source: Qazinform, Turkmenportal 

Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Kyrgyzstan Participate in EFES Military Exercises in Izmir 

The 2026 Exercise Forward Edge of the Battle Area (EFES) joint military exercise brought together 93 servicemen from Azerbaijan, Albania, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria, Romania, Mongolia, Somalia, North Macedonia, Syria, and Türkiye. Hosted by the Turkish Armed Forces, this iteration of the drill focused on search operations in caves and tunnels. The forces also simulated combat situations in mountainous terrain.  

Source: News.Az 

Mirziyoyev and Tokayev Attend Victory Day Celebrations in Moscow 

Russia held its annual Victory Day parade on May 9 to commemorate the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. Among the foreign leaders in attendance were Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, alongside a smaller group of dignitaries than seen in previous years.  Those present included Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar. During their visit, Tokayev and Mirziyoyev held private meetings with President Putin in the Kremlin, discussing the strength of their bilateral partnerships. While previous Victory Day parades have showcased Russia’s military strength through large displays of troops and advanced weaponry, this year’s event was noticeably more subdued as the country remains consumed by its war in Ukraine. Rather than highlighting military hardware, the parade relied on footage from the front lines in Ukraine. 

Source: CNN, President of Russia, Times of Central Asia 

Kazakhstan to Host Informal Summit of the leaders of the Organization of Turkic States 

This year’s informal summit of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) will cover "artificial intelligence and digital development." The summit will take place in Turkistan on May 15. Prior to the gathering, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in Astana.  

Source: Qazinform