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.
Russia has begun exporting aluminium to Armenia via rail and Azerbaijan transit in signs that bilateral relations between the two South Caucasus nations is returning to normality after years of hostility.
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, has been visiting the President and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan in Astana. The two countries bilateral trade dipped slightly last year, and with joint memberships in the Eurasian Economic Union, Commonwealth of Independent States and Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, plus increasing need for developing China transit, both parties signed a development agreement for 2027-2028.
Western critics sometimes compare contemporary Russia with the Soviet Union. In this article we discuss the economic development of the USSR and compare it to the development of the Russian Federation. We underline why they are fundamentally different, the economic and social reasonings for this, and why Moscow is not intent on ‘recreating’ the USSR.
Russia will permit truck drivers from Georgia and the CIS countries to remain in Russia for 183 days in every year to allow them to work continuously. The scheme kicks in from June 30. We provide the application details.
Hong Kong is attracting interest from Central Asian nations as a capital raising financial centre, with Kazakhstan’s Sovereign Wealth Fund owned national railway company looking to raise money via a Hong Kong IPO this year. This marks a profound shift in Hong Kong’s traditional financial markets and signifies a new direction in bringing China Belt & Road Initiative related projects to the territory to raise finance.
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Russia’s Arnest Group have invested in a cosmetics production facility in Uzbekistan to develop additional Central Asian export markets for its products. The company is best known overseas for acquiring Unilever’s assets and brands when they exited the Russian market.
The latest Russia-Azerbaijan Intergovernmental Commission has been held in Zangilan, in the Azerbaijan’s Eastern Zangezur region, to inspire attention in developing the recent Armenian deposed area. Also discussed were connectivity issues with Iran’s Rascht-Astara railway, with construction currently suspended due to the Iran war.
Despite reports to the contrary, the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has addressed the Armenian Parliament this week and stated that relations with Russia were at their highest-ever level. While political differences remain, the two countries are closely intertwined in trade with Russia responsible for 37% of Armenian exports.
The Russian and Uzbek Prime Ministers are to meet in Moscow on Monday to discuss developing trade and investment. About 3,000 Russian companies have invested in Uzbekistan and about 700 Uzbeki companies into Russia. Bilateral trade grew by 6.4% in 2025.
Tajikistan is considering the purchase of Russian-built railway equipment, including freight, passenger and maintenance equipment. Direct Dushanbe-Moscow rail is being planned as are bus services. Bilateral trade between the two countries is expected to growth 2.5 times between now and 2030.
Armenia is negotiating with Russia over the construction of a second Nuclear Power Plant. Armenia’s existing NPP dates back to the Soviet era, while Armenia looks to secure future energy supplies. Yerevan however appears intent on driving a hard bargain.
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