The second week of November 2025 was marked by high activity of external capital in Central Asian countries. All announced agreements totaling $5.8 billion are concentrated in strategically important sectors of the region's economy, reports Zakon.kz.
Experts believe that the enormous financial flows have the potential to change the trajectory of Central Asia's development for years to come. Economist Yernar Serik noted in the Telegram channel Tradereport that Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have become the most active platforms for foreign direct investments.
Kazakhstan: Focus on Mining, Agriculture, and Industry In Kazakhstan, plans for foreign direct investments amounting to nearly $2 billion were announced during the second week of November.
Major Projects Announced in Kazakhstan:
- Cove Capital (USA): $1.1 billion in the development of tungsten deposits. This project is one of the largest U.S. investments in the region under the C5+1 initiative.
- East Hope Group (China): $520 million in a feed mill and deep grain processing.
- Ashmore (USA): $150 million in the creation of a regional medical hub.
- Sinoma Cement (China): $200 million in a cement plant in the Aktobe region (construction is already underway).
Uzbekistan: Infrastructure, Logistics, and Renewable Energy Development Uzbekistan has gathered a project portfolio worth $3.8 billion, focused on the development of infrastructure, logistics, and renewable energy sources.
- Air Products (USA): Up to $3 billion in a methanol complex (resulting from a visit to the USA).
- Vision Invest / Sojitz / Incheon Airport Corp (Saudi Arabia, Japan, South Korea): Announcement of the construction of a new airport in Tashkent (cost not disclosed).
- DP World (UAE): $288 million in a logistics terminal.
- DEG + IFC (Germany / World Bank): $25 million in a distribution center for the largest retail chain in the country, "Korzinка."
- Sichuan PTTC (China): $500 million in a hydropower plant and modernization of substations in Andijan.
Investments in Other Countries in the Region In the other countries of the region – Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan – the week passed relatively calmly. Only isolated projects were recorded, mainly with the participation of international financial institutions.
- Tajikistan attracted capital from Coca-Cola for production expansion.
- Turkmenistan received funding from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the construction of a medical college.
- Kyrgyzstan opened a new logistics center with the support of the Russian-Kyrgyz Development Fund.
It is worth noting that recently, Kazakh Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov held the 18th meeting of the dialogue platform "Kazakhstan – European Union" on current cooperation and further improvement of the business climate in Kazakhstan, where he urged the European business community to invest more actively in the country's development.
