Turkmenistan
Turkmen loo users warned state newspapers not “read and wipe” material
Pages bearing photographs of regime’s ruling family not to be soiled, say officials mounting bathroom crackdown.
China enhances position as Central Asia’s economic overlord
Trade balance heavily favours Beijing.
PANNIER: Taliban’s relations with Central Asia imperilled as Trump turns off aid taps
Afghanistan pays for electricity and food imports with US development assistance. No more?
India’s doubts over TAPI Pipeline persist amid security and geopolitical concerns
The TAPI pipeline project, upon completion, will span 1,814 kilometres, beginning at the Galkynysh Gas Field in Turkmenistan, the world’s second-largest natural gas reserve
OUTLOOK Small Stans & Mongolia 2025
What is in store for the Small Stans and Mongolia in 2025? bne IntelliNews’ annual OUTLOOK: Small Stans & Mongolia 2025
Saving the Caspian Sea for Central Asia and Kazakhstan
The Caspian Sea has long been a cornerstone of life for Central Asia, especially for Kazakhstan, where it plays a critical role in supporting local economies, biodiversity and communities.
NEO: Why pick-up points for online orders are gaining popularity vs. home delivery
The share of European consumers preferring home delivery for online orders dropped from 73% to 64% over the past year, according to a Last Mile Experts study.
Central Asia emerges as new e-commerce hub
The Central Asian region, encompassing five countries with a combined population of 75mn — Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan — is poised for an e-commerce boom.
PANNIER: Why the Turkmenistan, Iran gas “friendship” is back on
In tough struggle to find new export markets, Turkmen even agree to Iranian contractors building infrastructure in tightly controlled Central Asian country.
Growing Islamic finance in Central Asia to unlock GCC investment
The Eurasian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank Institute and the London Stock Exchange Group have joined forces to support the rapid development of Islamic finance in Central Asia.
EBRD warns of risks for emerging markets pursuing industrial policies
Industrial policy is back "with a vengeance” but can have a distorting effect, EBRD chief economist Beata Javorcik told bne IntelliNews
COP29: Central Asian states losing arable land
Almost one-third of Tajikistan’s farmland in “critical” condition.
INTERVIEW: Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank financing Central Asia’s green future
The Chinese-owned multilateral development bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), has become a major player in Eurasia and a driving force between driving sustainable development in the region.
Iranian officials in uproar over police beatings of students in Russia
Iran's Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali has called for disciplinary action against police officers involved in detaining Iranian students following a mass brawl near Kazan Federal University.
Turkmenistan, the isolationist black sheep of the five ‘Stans family
Ancient rivalries and a tortured relationship with Russia have made Turkmenistan the black sheep in the Central Asian family. But that is beginning to change as economic interests are slowly pulling the gas-rich country out of its isolationism.
Turkmenistan tightening exit rules for citizens seeking to travel to Uzbekistan
Quick shopping trips supposedly cause Ashgabat “shame”.
PANNIER: Central Asia faces tough race against clock to prevent water crisis
Region in no doubt that climate change has arrived. Efforts to save critical resource taking on more urgency.
COP29: Report reveals just 1% of 1,200 UNEP methane alerts triggered action
Governments and companies unresponsive even though emissions of the gas represent “low-hanging fruit” in climate crisis fight.
Kazakhstan: Seals are dying en masse in the Caspian Sea
It could take months to determine the cause.
Pakistan could quit TAPI as India now “extremely lukewarm” on gas pipeline project, says report
Demise of investment would deal major blow to Turkmenistan, which badly needs to diversify its gas exports.