Economy

21 October 2025
A BYD Song SUV: The Chinese automaker and its peers are growing in Uzbekistan and beyond, but face a tough endurance test. (Source photos by AP and Reuters) 
The international airport will be built in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent, which is expected to see a continued rise in passenger traffic. (Photo by Akira Takemura)
Transportation

Uzbek airport project spotlights $1bn investment push by Japan's Sojitz

Trading house aims to build hospital, wind farm in region tilting toward West

2 October 2025
Companies, workers and investors worldwide are trying to understand what AI means for the labor market.
Technology

AI will be a 'real challenge' for employment: Chinese private equity CEO

Investors weigh concerns and opportunities as technology shakes up labor market

18 September 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump released the first batch of letters on July 7 informing countries of the tariff rates their exports to the U.S. will face, starting Aug. 1.
Trump tariffs

Trump imposes 25% tariffs on Japan, South Korea, Malaysia

Myanmar and Laos see 40% rate, among slew of levies to take effect Aug. 1

8 July 2025
Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni speaks at the Astana International Forum on May 30. (Kazakhstan government)
Trade

Central Asian trade route stirs to life, drawing European investment

Middle Corridor grows in importance as alterative to Russia, Suez routes

14 June 2025
Central Asia is among the regions that China is courting in response to the Trump tariffs. (Screenshot from the website of China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Trade

China, Central Asian nations agree to forge broader trade ties

Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and others join with Beijing against 'unilateral' protectionism

27 April 2025
Chinese President Xi Jinping, center, is due to meet with Kenyan counterpart William Ruto, left, and Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev a week after he toured Southeast Asia, tightening Beijing's ties with developing countries. (Nikkei montage/Source photos by Reuters)
International relations

China woos trade war 'circle of friends' as Kenya, Azerbaijan leaders visit

Xi Jinping's outreach comes as U.S. wields tariffs and reins in aid

22 April 2025
The first EU-Central Asia Summit is taking place in Samarkand. (Nikkei montage)
International relations

EU hopes to sway Central Asia in first interregional summit

Russia, China loom over Samarkand talks on security, trade, energy

3 April 2025
Tanks at an oil field operated by Caspiy Neft, one of Kazakhstan's largest oil companies. Oil revenue is an important source of funds for the national government.
Economy

Kazakhstan's budget concerns deepen as oil prices hinge on Trump policy

Poor tax discipline leaves government struggling to balance books

22 December 2024
A customs gate on China-Kazakhstan border, about 3,500 kilometers from Beijing.  (Photo by Yuri Momoi)
Belt and Road

'Modern Silk Road' brings booming trade to China-Kazakhstan border

Cross-regional exchanges and live commerce flourish thanks to major railway project

8 December 2024
A train runs near the Chinese border in Kazakhstan. Much of the railway in Central Asia's Middle Corridor has aging infrastructure.
Transportation

Central Asian railway to offer new link between China, Europe

New rail network would bypass problematic routes through Russia and Red Sea

10 July 2024
Electric vehicle maker BYD is opening a new factory in Thailand as Chinese EV producers face the prospect of stiff EU tariffs.
Your Week in Asia

Tokyo picks next governor, Shanghai AI conference, BYD opens Thai factory

Your weekly lineup of Asia's biggest business and political events

30 June 2024
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, left, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol inspect an honor guard during a welcome ceremony in Astana on June 12. Yoon is on a three-nation visit to Central Asia.
International relations

South Korea's Yoon seeks deals in Central Asian resource push

Visit to Kazakhstan and other countries aimed at mineral access, less reliance on China

13 June 2024
"Not enough time, not enough support": Uzbekistan, a landlocked country slightly bigger than California, is facing the consequences of a history of poor irrigation, with rising salinity slashing the size of usable growing areas.
Asia Insight

Uzbek farmers battle to save cotton, wheat crops from mortal enemy: salt

Growing salinization crisis bites as cotton exports to Bangladesh skid 80% in 5 years

7 May 2024
A worker helps operate a gas field in Uzbekistan in June 2023. Methanol obtained from natural gas can be used to churn out raw materials for products ranging from plastics to films.
Economy

Uzbekistan chases chemical hub dream with Chinese polymer tech

Nation aims to export value-added products made from its natural gas

13 April 2024
A four-lane toll road linking the Azerbaijani capital of Baku with the Russian border opened in October. (Photo by Nikkei)
International relations

Russia-India trade route through Central Asia moves forward

Azerbaijan's role in shipping corridor turns into military advantage

12 March 2024
Downtown Astana as seen from the official residence of Kazakhstan's president. The government aims to spur growth toward a goal of doubling GDP.
Politics

Kazakhstan aims for tricky economic reboot after cabinet shuffle

President Tokayev tasks new PM with spurring growth and trimming budget

10 February 2024
A cargo train approaches Kazakhstan's border with China: Over 80% of goods bound for Europe from China and Central Asia pass through Kazakhstan.
Opinion

Kazakhstan is building more connections with the world

Economic program will boost Europe-Asia cargo flows, accelerate green transition

20 September 2023
Stream article image
Most read in 2023

China's Belt and Road at crossroads as more loans turn sour

10 years in, Beijing enjoys greater clout but new investments trend down

7 September 2023
A canal surrounds Uzbekistan's Silk Road Samarkand Tourist Complex. Opened in 2022, the site is at the center of efforts to draw more international visitors. (Photo by David Andreas)
Travel & Leisure

Uzbekistan built a $580 million tourist draw, but will they come?

Poor transport, medical services key hurdles for ambitious travel strategy

15 July 2023
Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, right, met with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Russia's Victory Day in May. (Pool via Reuters)
Opinion

Kazakhstan's backdoor trade with Russia must be stopped

Time for sanctions over funneling of restricted goods to support war in Ukraine

15 June 2023
A freight train near Almaty: New initiatives in Central Asia are deepening economic cooperation.
Opinion

Better connectivity will unlock Central Asia's economic potential

Integration can return region to role as intercontinental trade hub

15 May 2023
Companies looking to transport goods between Europe and China face the political, ethical and commercial dilemma of using the Russian route, or sending them on a slower, more expensive trek across Central Asia.
Business Spotlight

Russia's war leaves Europe with China rail route dilemma

Exporters forced to choose between sanctions risks and lengthy delays

19 August 2022
Afghan men search for survivors June 23 in the debris of a Paktika Province house destroyed by an earthquake.
Natural disasters

Afghanistan earthquake leaves homeless waiting for uncertain relief

Taliban say they are working around the clock but need more international aid

24 June 2022
Sardor Umurzakov, Uzbekistan's deputy prime minister and minister of investments and foreign trade.
Interview

Uzbekistan primed for foreign investment after reforms: deputy PM

Energy and agriculture sectors ready for Japanese investors, Umurzakov says

24 April 2022
As the conflict in Ukraine rages, war insurance can give shippers some peace of mind as their freight travels via the China-Europe Railway Express.
Supply Chain

China opens wallet to keep trans-Eurasian express moving

Operators cover 'war insurance' and slash rates

28 March 2022
Migrant workers from Uzbekistan collect potatoes at a agrarian field in Beryozovka near Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk: their remittances to their families back home are a crucial source of income.
Opinion

Central Asia braces for economic catastrophe

Sanctions aimed at Russia will have serious knock-on effects

7 March 2022
The delayed TAPI gas pipeline promises to link Turkmenistan through Afghanistan to Pakistan and India, but security risks threaten this and other regional connectivity projects.
International relations

India's first Central Asia summit to focus on Afghan risks, trade

Shared security challenges loom over Thursday's talks and port, pipeline hopes

26 January 2022
U.S. Marines are on guard during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul on Aug. 20: policymakers in Washington have decided to leave the morass of middle Eurasia to others. (Handout photo from U.S. Marine Corps)
Opinion

2022 look ahead: Central Asia will cement its turn against the West

Expect China and Russia to step in and take advantage

30 December 2021
The India-funded Chabahar Port in Iran in early 2019. New Delhi wants the site to become a gateway to trade with Central Asia. (Photo by Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
International relations

Spotlight on trade gateway as India hosts talks with Central Asia

Sunday discussions look set to focus on New Delhi-funded port in Iran

18 December 2021