Russia-Central Asia 2025 showed growth volumes surpassing US$45 billion and Russian energy (gas, LPG) exports significantly up, driven by Central Asian states balancing ties with Russia and China. Key developments include increased Russian gas & LPG supplies, new integration initiatives like CIS+ formats, and Central Asia’s multi-vector foreign policies amidst sanctions pressure, highlighting Moscow’s continued economic push despite competing global interests. Master the business environment of Central Asia with a Russian focus. Analyze EAEU market integration, investment projects, and trade dynamics for businesses operating in or with this strategic region.
Russia’s Promomed biopharmaceutical company has received approval from the Kazakh Ministry of Health to supply Tirzetta, a drug used in the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus and obesity. It is also commonly marketed as a ‘beauty’ weight loss medication. According to the WHO, 56% of Kazakhstan’s adult population are overweight.
Russia has achieved self-sufficiency in its apple production, as it has turned away from its previous European Union supply chains to wholly domestic reliance. Russia has achieved this by planting 113,700 hectares of apple orchards over the past five years. In contrast, the EU’s own apple crop has been diminishing due to climate change and its own agriculture policies.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation annual Heads of State summit has now ended, with a major emphasis on trade development. We provide a deep-dive analysis on the 29 agreements signed, including in the security, AI, energy, environment, trade, tourism, diplomatic relations and the SCO’s institutional development sectors. With the SCO possessing nearly a third of global GDP and 50% of the world’s population, this report will be of significant interest to anyone involved in Eurasian affairs.
The Russian and Tajikistan Presidents have met in Bishkek to discuss bilateral relations and regional security. Trade has been growing at 25% per annum and is at record levels, Tajikistan is also considering nuclear power options as it looks to diversify its energy mix.
The Russian and Uzbekistan Presidents have met in Bishkek. We summarise the latest trade and investment data as bilateral trade grew by 8.4% last year. Uzbekistan recently became a BRICS Partner State.
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The Uzbek Minister of Agriculture has met with the Russian head of the Mordovia Republic, with both expressing desire to work together. The Uzbek Minister, Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, said that bilateral agricultural trade between Russia and Uzbekistan had grown by 31.7% In 7M 2026.
Russia has supplied wild Tigers to Kazakhstan’s Lake Balkhash nature reserve as part of a programme to re-introduce the species to the country. Kazakhstan’s Tiger population was declared extinct in 2003.
Russia has been developing a massive international railway strategy that includes multiple industrial development sectors and infrastructure across Central Asia, the Middle East, India, China, and deep into Southeast Asia on a scale little recognised. We deep dive the expansion of Russia’s railway development, how it is managing this, and the potential new routes that could become available.
The 2026 Uzbekistan-Bashkortostan Business Forum has just taken place in Ufa, Russia. With bilateral trade growing at 20% this year, we deep dive the relationship between Bashkortostan and Uzbekistan, the investments being made and the prospects of the two countries hitting US$30 billion in trade by 2030.
The VIII Russia-Kyrgyzstan Economic Forum has just finished in Issyk-Kul. With bilateral trade increasing by 25% in 2026, over US$800 million in investment agreements, and a further US$1 billion in development funds were agreed. We examine the future development of Russia-Kyrgyz trade and investments.
Russia’s bilateral trade with Kazakhstan has increased by 15% in the first five months of this year. Russia accounts for 8.8% of Kazakhstan’s exports and 31.6% of its imports.
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