Including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and an associate in Turkmenistan, the CIS is a Eurasian trade bloc that achieved about US$125 billion in multilateral trade in 2025, with an average GDP growth rate of approximately 4.7%. Key developments include new trade platforms (CIS Plus), focus on infrastructure like the CKU railway, and expansion of free trade agreements, especially for services, enhancing regional economic integration within Eurasia and beyond. Understand the CIS market for business. Get analysis on trade regulations, economic integration, and cross-border investment opportunities within this key post-Soviet economic zone.
The 2026 Russia-Kazakhstan Interregional Forum has just taken place in Omsk. With bilateral trade growing at over 10% in 2026, we deep dive the extent of their regional integration and logistics and examine the US$833 million worth of investments signed during the event as both countries are set to deepen Eurasian connectivity.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov has met with Bakhtiyor Saidov, the Uzbekistan Minister of Foreign Affairs. Bilateral trade is growing at 20% per annum, but much needs to be done to improve their infrastructure and logistics capabilities. We examine the key issues and discuss the critical areas of their trade and investment development.
Kazakh President Tokayev has proposed the creation of a digital transport corridor along the busiest Russia-Kazakhstan route, which he says would double its freight transport capacity in this rapidly growing sector.
Russia is proposing a new ‘Water Silk Road’ making use of the Irtysh River, which transits all three countries and empties into the Arctic. Such a route would give China access to the Northern Sea Route.
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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The Azerbaijan Foreign Minister has been in Moscow to reset diplomatic relations. Azerbaijan is emerging as an important south Caucasian transport and logistics hub linking the Middle East to Europe and looks set to capitalise on this role.
Russia’s online cinema screening service Wink has just entered the Tajik market, with locals able to access over 35,000 movies, TV series and cartoons via subscription.
Freight trade between Russia, Azerbaijan and Iran along the Western route of the INSTC rose by 50% in June as a result of Iran shifting its supply chains north. This is having a significant impact on new Caspian-Eurasian trade flows.
The Belarus President Aleksander Lukashenko is on an Asian tour and has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and proposed “11 Key Technologies” in which Belarus wants to cooperate with China in trade and investment.
Russia needs to better secure its arbitration reach by both developing Bilateral Investment Treaties with Global South nations, and / or establishing a BRICS arbitration centre. We can expect a flurry of BIT agreements being signed in the coming months.
The Uzbeki Deputy Prime Minster has been discussing investment opportunities for Russia’s largest dairy producer in Uzbekistan. The country is a high dairy per capita consumer but still needs to import milk.
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