Central Asia in September 2026: the most important developments in economy
In Central Asia in September 2026, the most prominent economic story was Kazakhstan's push to widen trade with South Korea. During a visit to Seoul on September 15 and 16, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev proposed joint projects aimed at doubling bilateral trade, which reached $1.3 billion in the first half of 2026. The two sides discussed logistics, critical minerals, agriculture, technology and hydrogen energy, and Tokayev said Kazakhstan is ready to resume energy supplies to South Korea. Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan also held talks with South Korean partners.
Kazakhstan expanded other partnerships as well. On September 29 it agreed with Germany on closer oil and gas cooperation and a 2026-2028 roadmap on critical minerals and industry; Tokayev presented an investment initiative with a $54 billion project portfolio in Germany. Kazakhstan and China formed a portfolio of 260 industrial projects worth more than $62 billion, and China led Kazakhstan's trade with $20 billion in the first seven months. China-Central Asia trade passed $100 billion. Kazakhstan set a record with a 6.6 billion yuan panda bond, signed memoranda with Binance on digital assets, updated its budget oil price and promoted the Middle Corridor trade route.
In Uzbekistan, officials outlined an energy security strategy through 2050 and planned an $8 billion zone for artificial intelligence and data centers. International reserves rose to $72.1 billion in August, and fixed-capital investment grew 17.5% in the first half. Turkmenistan adopted an industrial development strategy through 2045 and denied Iranian airlines use of its airspace. Tajikistan commissioned small hydropower capacity in the Rushon district on September 28, and the Eurasian Development Bank reported 18.4% investment growth there.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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