Eurasia / Features
PANNIER: Booming breadbasket Kazakhstan now shipping grain to three continents
Drought-stricken countries such as Iran thankful Kazakhs are enjoying bumper crops. Improving cargo routes helping to push up shipments.
Georgian prime minister deepens ties with China as relations with West worsen
Political and economic ties have expanded rapidly since 2023, reflecting the ruling Georgian Dream party's growing pivot toward Beijing.
US, Central Asia relations will be strengthened “like never before”, says Trump
At White House summit with region’s five presidents, American leader commends series of business deals.
Kazakhstan’s AIFC arbitration centre emerges as a Eurasian rival to London and Singapore
The international arbitration centre at the Astana International Financial Centre is increasingly being used by regional and international businesses for commercial dispute resolution.
Will Trump’s Central Asia summit in Washington help break the Chinese chokehold on rare earths?
“Rare earths”. As Donald Trump on November 6 hosts Central Asia’s five presidents in Washington, DC, observers can forgive themselves if they quickly lose count of the number of times these buzzwords are uttered.
INTERVIEW: Population growth makes Central Asia a “hot” region for investors, says Roca executive
Global bathroom products manufacturer Roca Group plans to invest €70mn in an industrial complex in Kyzylorda, as it eyes growing demand across Central Asia.
Kazakhstan defies global FDI downturn as investors target new sectors
Renewables, agribusiness, data centres and advanced manufacturing among new magnets for investment sitting alongside oil, gas and mining.
COMMENT: China’s latest economic conquest – Central Asia
For the five Central Asian republics - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan - China has in recent years emerged not only as a dominant trading partner, but increasingly as the only partner nearby that can actually deliver.
Washington has a new focus on a Caspian energy play
For most of the last three decades since winning independence, Central Asia has been a bit of a backwater. Not any more. The Trump administration is becoming more focused on Turkmenistan's vast gas reserves and can smell money and power there.
BOTAŞ and Turkey’s hub ambition: from “30-year dream” to cross-border reality
For Ankara, the symbolism is as important as the molecules: Turkey’s energy map is shifting from end-market to hub.
What Central Asia wants out of the upcoming Washington summit
Clarity on critical minerals and a lot else.
PANNIER: Ruling family’s ‘palace in the sky’ cruel sight for Turkmenistan’s poor souls down below
Photos posted of renovated Boeing by US makeover manager offer further insight into "ultra-luxurious" world enjoyed by Berdimuhamedovs.
Turkmenistan’s TAPI gas pipeline takes off
Turkmenistan's 1,800km TAPI gas pipeline breaks ground after 30 years with first 14km completed into Afghanistan, aiming to deliver 33bcm annually to Pakistan and India by 2027 despite geopolitical hurdles.
Emerging Europe’s growth holds up but risks loom, says wiiw
Fiscal fragility, weakening industrial demand from Germany, and the prolonged fallout from Russia’s war in Ukraine threaten to undermine growth momentum in parts of the region.
The fall of Azerbaijan's Grey Cardinal
Ramiz Mehdiyev served as Azerbaijan's Presidential Administration head for 24 consecutive years, making him arguably the most powerful unelected official in post-Soviet Azerbaijan until his dramatic fall from grace.
Ambition, access and acceleration – Uzbekistan’s Startup Garage opens free academy for entrepreneurship
Aim is to train 50,000 young founders by 2030.
Iran's capital Tehran showcases new "Virgin Mary" Metro station
Tehran's new Maryam metro station honours Virgin Mary with architecture blending Armenian and Iranian design elements in new push by Islamic Republic
The Asian nations backing the Russian war effort – from India to Taiwan, China to Indonesia
While many Asian nations have quietly distanced themselves from Moscow in a bid to fall into line with US or European allies, several continue to engage with Russia, providing varying degrees of support that help sustain its military campaign.
Taliban visit to India upsets Pakistan, signals New Delhi's changing Afghan posture
Coinciding with the visit, Pakistan conducted military operations inside Afghanistan, followed by airstrikes on multiple border towns. Retaliation against Pakistan's police training facilities and border outposts followed.