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.
With Western cruise companies such as US-based Princess Cruises suspending sales of cruises to Russian citizens, Russia has begun to develop a new cruise industry designed to meet the needs of holidaymakers. In 2022, the Russian Government allocated ₽15 billion (US$164 million) for the construction of seven civilian fleet ships. Three of them will be […]
Russia’s Rosatom has presented an investment project to Tajikistan to build renewable energy facilities with capacity of up to 1 GW. The project was discussed during meetings between Russia’s trade mission in Tajikistan, Rosatom Renewable Energy and Tajikistan’s Energy and Water Resources Ministry. Tajik Deputy Energy Minister Manuchehr Safarzoda said his country has huge potential […]
The Russian President Vladimir Putin held conversations with the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on 26 August. The two continued discussions of current issues of mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation and development, including in the energy sector. Kazakhstan shares a 7,242km border with Russia, while President Tokayev owes his current position to a Russian intervention in […]
The Russian President Vladimir Putin held conversations with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on August 23, during which the two officials continued discussions concerning the normalization of Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, including taking into account the negotiations between Vladimir Putin and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during Putin’s recent state visit to Baku. Putin confirmed the […]
The Pro-Russia BRICS bloc has soft power control over the Caspian and Red Sea supply chains Azerbaijan, which has been attending the annual Heads of State meetings of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Astana has expressed interest in joining the BRICS grouping. The BRICS includes Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, while Egypt, […]
Subscribe to receive exclusive insights and analysis on Commonwealth of Independent States.
Putin, Xi, Modi and other regional leaders are all attending The annual Heads of State meetings of the member countries of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) has begun in Astana, Kazakhstan. The SCO has different categories of membership, with full members being China, India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Russia Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Three countries — […]
Russia and Uzbekistan have agreed to triple their bilateral trade volumes with a goal of reaching US$30 billion by 2030. In addition, Russia’s Atomstroyexport JSC has signed a contract with the Uzbekistan Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction to build a low-capacity nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan’s Jizzakh region. The decisions follow meetings in Tashkent […]
The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) held Ministerial-level meetings last week, followed by Russian President Vladimir Putin flying to Tashkent, Uzbekistan on Sunday (May 26) for talks with Uzbekistan’s President, Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The CIS includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. CIS members are set to enter a new agreement on free […]
Russia is now planning reconstruction of industrial sites in the Donbass following moves into the area after previous heavy fighting. These plans are rarely, if ever, reported in Western media. However, assessments and reconstruction plans are being carried out throughout the Donbass region, according to Denis Pushilin, the Head of the Donetsk People’s Republic. In […]
Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin has stated that trade turnover in the Commonwealth of Independent States(CIS) gained two thirds over the past four years. This year Russia chairs the CIS, he noted, adding that Moscow considers completion of the plan of action to implement the first stage of the Commonwealth’s economic development strategy through the […]
Русский
