Energy and Economy

Kazakhstan’s Global Investment Roundtable Concludes with $7 Billion in Investments

On November 1, Astana hosted the Kazakhstan Global Investment Roundtable. The forum brought together various business and public-sector officials. The agreements signed over the course of the event totaled $7 billion in investments for Kazakhstan.

Source: Astana Times

Iran and Uzbekistan Aim to Boost Annual Trade To $5 Billion

On October 30, a high-ranking Iranian trade official stated that a Preferential Trade Agreement had been reached during a recent visit by Uzbekistan’s minister of trade Laziz Kudratov to Tehran. The agreement aims to grow annual trade turnover from $500 million to $5 billion. The agreement will lower tariffs on a variety of goods, including wind turbines, steel, petrochemical products, and train wagons.

Source: Daryo

United States Sanctions Uzbek Companies Sending Material to Russia

The U.S, Department of the Treasury has sanctioned 275 individuals and entities involved in supplying Russia with technology and equipment, including the Uzbek firms Uzstanex and The Elite Investment Group. The U.S. Department of the Treasury has reported that Uzstanex had purchased machine tools which were then shipped to Russia through Chinese firms.

Source: Times of Central Asia

Kazakhstan Signed $2.5 Billion Worth of Deals with Chinese Companies 

During Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov’s working visit to Shanghai on November 4, Kazakhstan signed eight commercial agreements worth a total of $2.5 billion. The visit was organized to put into action an agreement made by Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and China's President Xi Jinping to double last year's record bilateral trade of $41 billion and involved a roundtable in which Bektenov engaged with leaders from top Chinese firms in metallurgy, energy, machinery, and pharmaceuticals.

Source: Astana Times

Turkmenistan Expanding Its Energy Partners

In light of increasing demand for its natural gas supply, Turkmenistan is changing its partnerships with energy importers. Only a few months after a large deal with Iran was signed, Turkmenistan has signed a new supply agreement with Iraq. In the same month, the country also began construction on a new segment of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline. This also follows this past summer’s lapse of the Turkmengaz-Gazprom supply contract with Russia. This could be indicative of increased competition between Russia and Turkmenistan for a share in China’s gas market.

Source: Upstream

Uzbekistan and the U.S. Discuss New Payment Systems Intergration

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan (CBU) and the U.S. Department of Commerce's Commercial Law Development Program (CLDP) met to discuss integrating new payment systems in Uzbekistan and strengthening the nation’s legal framework for financial transactions. They reviewed CBU's cybersecurity initiatives, including anti-fraud measures and mobile app security. Both parties agreed to exchange expertise in cybersecurity and financial technologies. 

Source: Trend News Agency

Politics and Security 

Tokayev to Visit France

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev is expected to conduct an official visit to France, at the invitation of President of France Emmanuel Macron. During the visit, Tokayev will hold high-level discussions with his French counterpart, as well as have a number of meetings with the representatives of the French business community.

Source: Kazinform

European Union Halts Georgia’s EU Accession Following Elections

On October 30, EU Ambassador to Georgia Pawel Herczynski stated, “Due to the course of action taken by the Georgian government, EU leaders have stopped Georgia’s access process.” Herczynski continued, “It remains on hold as long as Georgia continues to move away from the European Union, our values and our precedents.... Georgia’s future government must change course, return to democratic principles and values, and start with transparency in the electoral process.” 

Source: POLITICO , JAM-news

Armenia and Azerbaijan Meet on Border Delimitation

On November 1, the 10th meeting of the State Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as well as the Commission on the Delimitation of the State Border and Border Security Issues between the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, took place on the border between the two countries. Meetings were held under the chairmanship of deputy prime ministers of the two countries. Discussions centered around outlining sections of the borderline for further delimitation, as well as the completion of the necessary domestic procedures for formalizing the rules of delimitation. At the end of the meeting, the sides agreed to determine the date and location of the next meeting. Following the current meeting, the deputy prime ministers of the two countries separately discussed issues related to transportation communications. 

Source: Apa.az, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia

U.S. Applauds Armenia and Azerbaijan Progress on Border Delimitation

On October 31, U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller wrote the following on platform X: “The U.S. commends Armenia and Azerbaijan for formalizing the rules of procedure for border delimitation, demonstrating that progress is possible through sustained dialogue. We support both sides’ work towards a durable, dignified peace for security and prosperity in the region.” The statement followed Azerbaijan and Armenia’s ratification last week of their first-ever bilateral agreement on the statute governing the joint activities of border delimitation commissions. 

Source: Anadolu Agency, X