Energy and Economy

 

The U.S. Firm, Gulf Oil, Will Enter Uzbekistan with a $150 Million Deal to Develop 100 Fuel Stations

During the meeting of Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and representatives of U.S. businesses in February, they concluded multiple bilateral agreements, and Gulf Oil was one of the beneficiaries. The company intends to open at least 100 fuel stations throughout Uzbekistan over the next two years. The facilities are expected to operate in accordance with Western technical and service standards. In addition to fuel stations, Gulf Oil plans to develop transportation hubs along major highways to serve private motorists, logistics operators, and transit traffic. Uzbekistan authorizes also proposed that the company acquire 200 existing stations for further modernization projects. 

Source: Daryo

Kyrgyzstan Asks EAEU to Remove Import Duties on Key Goods

During the most recent commission meeting of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) in Moscow, Kyrgyzstan’s representatives proposed eliminating import duties on key staples—including flour, vegetable oil, fruits, and vegetables—to mitigate the effects of global inflation and curb domestic price increases. Officials emphasized that Kyrgyzstan’s economic structure differs from that of larger members of the EAEU and thus requires more flexible trade mechanisms.

Source: The Times of Central Asia 

Uzbekistan to Borrow $400 Million for Agricultural Mechanization 

Uzbekistan’s government announced a plan to attain and distribute $400 million in foreign credit lines to purchase new agricultural equipment and machinery. The goal of this initiative is to improve efficiency and reduce the share of production done solely by hand. In particular, the government seeks to increase its share of cotton harvesting with mechanical assistance to 70%, rather than the traditional harvesting by hand. 

Source: Times of Central Asia 

BAE Systems Leave Air Astana

BAE Systems, a British defense contractor, began to sell its remaining 6.9% stake in the Kazakhstan company, Air Astana. BAE Systems has been slowly selling off its $31 million stake since December 2025. 

Source: Reuters

Politics and Security

 

China To Back Nine Border Posts on Tajikistan-Afghanistan Border

Tajikistan’s parliament has approved a plan to construct nine border posts along its border with Afghanistan. China will fund the project, projected to cost over $61 million, through a non-repayable grant. Chinese engineers will travel to Tajikistan to assist with implementation, while Beijing will also supply equipment as well as supporting infrastructure, including access roads, water, and electricity. The decision comes months after a November attack near the border that killed five Chinese nationals, prompting the Chinese embassy to order the evacuation of its citizens in the area.

Source: The Diplomat

Turkmenistan’s Former President Holds Talks with President Xi in Beijing 

Turkmenistan’s former president, Gurbanguly Berdymuhamedov, arrived in Beijing for an official visit on March 17. During the visit, China’s President Xi Jinping reiterated China’s willingness to support Turkmenistan in matters concerning its sovereignty and policy of permanent neutrality. President Xi and Berdymuhamedov also discussed ways to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, including natural gas and broader energy ties, trade and investment, transport connectivity, agriculture, artificial intelligence, the digital economy, and clean energy. Since both have a stake in connectivity in the region, the two also discussed the alignment of China’s Belt and Road Initiative with Turkmenistan’s plans to revitalize historic Silk Road trade routes to support the increasingly important Middle Corridor linking China to Europe.

Source: The Times of Central Asia

Tashiev Faces Corruption Charges

Kyrgyzstan’s tax authorities have accused former head of the State Committee for National Security, Kamchybek Tashiev, of involvement in a scheme to siphon funds from the state-owned oil company Kyrgyzneftegaz. The same day, the Ministry of the Interior opened a criminal investigation, although Tashiev has not yet been formally charged. The allegations come more than a month after President Sadyr Japarov abruptly dismissed Tashiev and removed several of his allies from the nation’s security apparatus.

Source: Eurasianet 

Israel Strikes Iranian Navy Ships in Caspian Sea

Sources from the Israeli military announced on March 18 that they had disabled the naval capabilities of Iran’s Northern Fleet. Officials added that they destroyed a command center, naval vessels, missile defense systems, and a shipyard. This marked the first instance of military forces being targeted in the Caspian Sea. 

Source: Reuters

Pakistan and Afghanistan Declare Temporary Truce for Eid Al-Fatr

Calls for the ceasefire came from Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Qatar, which have attempted to mediate the conflict thus far. The truce follows Pakistan’s strike on Kabul’s Omar Addiction Treatment Hospital that killed at least 143 people, according to UN officials. The government in Kabul, however,  claims the death toll exceeds 400. This strike marked the deadliest incident of the conflict thus far, which began in late February. 

Sources: NBC, Al Jazeera, New York Times

Russia Urges Kyrgyzstan to Rein in “Provocative Statements” and “Language Patrols”

On March 19, the Embassy of Russia in Bishkek issued a statement urging the Kyrgyzstan government to rein in what it described as “provocative statements by certain public figures” regarding the role of Russian language in Kyrgyz society, as well as reported “language patrols” that allegedly discourage the use of Russian via intimidation. According to the statement, such actions undermine “the spirit of strategic partnership and deep alliance” between the two countries and risk inciting ethnic tensions. The remarks come amid broader movements in Kyrgyzstan and across Central Asia to prioritize native languages over Russian.

Source: Eurasianet