Energy and Economy

 

Kazakhstan to Become a Leader in GDP per capita in the Caspian Region

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) estimates, Kazakhstan’s GDP per capita in 2025 was $14,770. This has exceeded the GDP per capita not only of other Central Asian and South Caucasian states, but also even of Russia and China, which had $14,260 and $13,690 respectively. According to analysts, this indicator, which took into account current prices, inflation rates, and purchasing power, signals Kazakhstan’s stable economic progress and growth.

Source: Kazinform, The Times of Central Asia

Kazakhstan Launces Central Asia’s first Spot Bitcoin ETF

Kazakhstan has launched Central Asia’s first spot bitcoin ETF, the Fonte Bitcoin Exchange Traded Fund (BETF), trading on the Astana International Exchange as of August 13. Overseen by U.S.-regulated BitGo and insured up to $250 million, the fund offers secure, regulated access to bitcoin. The launch highlights Kazakhstan’s role as a regional crypto hub, supported by the Astana International Financial Centre’s legal framework for digital assets. BETF allows investors to gain bitcoin exposure without managing private keys or unregulated exchanges.

Sources: CoinDesk, Astana Financial Center

Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan Send Water to Kazakhstan

Over the next two weeks, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan will havendeliverd about 600 million cubic meters of water to Kazakhstan to combat shortages in the southern regions. The Syr Darya river, which provides water to the Turkestan and Kyzylorda regions of Kazakhstan, has seen inflows of 30-40 percent lower than normal. This arrangement follows a previous water-sharing deal from February 2025, in which Uzbekistan will provide 16 billion cubic meters of water by October 2025. 

Source: The Times of Central Asia

Starlink Satellite Internet Officially Launches in Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Digital Development, Innovation, and Aerospace Industry reported that Starlink satellite internet became available in Kazakhstan on August 13, offering high-speed, reliable connectivity even in remote areas. Operated by SpaceX, the launch follows a June 12 agreement ensuring Starlink complies with Kazakhstan’s legislation. The service is expected to expand access to modern digital services nationwide, with tariffs and connection details available on SpaceX’s official website.

Source: The Astana Times

Taliban Signs $243 Million Energy Deals with Uzbekistan

The Taliban in Kabul have signed $243 million in agreements with Uzbekistan to build four electricity transmission and distribution projects in Afghanistan. The deals, signed by Afghanistan’s state-owned utility company DABS and Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Energy, include high-voltage transmission lines and substations in Kabul, Nangarhar, and other regions of Afghanistan and are expected to deliver 800–1,000 megawatts of electricity once completed within 18 months. Uzbekistan will fund the projects, which aim to address Afghanistan’s heavy reliance on imported power. Despite not officially recognizing Taliban rule, Uzbekistan has maintained close ties with the regime, including keeping its embassy in Kabul open and signing prior trade and cooperation agreements.

Source: Kabulnow

Putin Signs a Decree Allowing Exxon’s Return to Sakhalin-1 Project

On Friday, August 15, President of Russia Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing the American corporation ExxonMobil to regain its stake in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project. The document was published on the official legal information portal on August 15, shortly before Putin’s meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska. Previously, ExxonMobil owned a 30 percent stake in Sakhalin-1, which was operated by its subsidiary, Exxon Neftegas. Following its withdrawal from the Russian market in 2022, ExxonMobil recorded losses of $4.6 billion.

Source: Reuters

Politics and Security

 

SOCAR Oil Depot in Ukraine Attacked by Russian Drones

On August 18, Russia launched a drone attack on the Azerbaijani state-owned energy SOCAR oil depot in the Odesa region of Ukraine. The attack resulted in a massive fire that damaged various facilities, including fuel tanks, station buildings, operator and technical rooms, and weighing facilities. This is the second Russian attack on the SOCAR oil depot in Ukraine. The Ukrainian side, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and his ministry of foreign affairs, condemned Russia for a purposeful attack on Azerbaijani facilities, stating that “it was an attack on our relations and on energy independence.”

Source: Trend.az, APA

Eurasian Intergovernmental Council Held in Kyrgyzstan

Members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) held a regular meeting on August 14-15 in Cholpon-Ata in the Issyk-Kul region of Kyrgyzstan. This meeting featured the prime ministers of Belarus, Russia, Iran, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan as well as the deputy prime minister of Armenia and the president of Kyrgyzstan. During the meeting, the parties discussed cooperation across various spheres, including trade, logistics, digital, and others. As a result of the meeting, the participating countries signed 10 documents. 

Source: Kazinform

Trump-Putin Alaska Summit: Putin Briefs Armenia’s and Central Asia’s Leaders Following the Meeting in Anchorage, Alaska 

After Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Alaska meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump on the Ukraine crisis, Putin briefed Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan on the outcomes. Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev congratulated Putin on the summit, noting it improved American understanding of Russia’s position and thanked Moscow for collaboration on energy projects. Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev expressed support for the agreements reached and voiced hope for a swift settlement of the situation surrounding Ukraine. Kyrgyzstan’s President Sadyr Japarov expressed support for the steps towards a lasting resolution of the situation in Ukraine and discussed bilateral economic ties. Putin had previous to those calls spoken with other regional leaders before the Alaska meeting, including Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, who briefed Putin about  his August 8 meeting in Washington with President of the United States Donald Trump and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev.  Pashinyan welcomed the steps aimed at achieving a peaceful resolution of the Ukraine crisis. Tajikistan’s President Emomali Rahmon voiced support for a sustainable settlement in Ukraine and addressed bilateral matters and preparations for the Heads of State Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States, chaired by Tajikistan this year.

Source: President of Russia

President of Iran Visits Armenia

On August 18, President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian and his delegation arrived in Yerevan, Armenia, on a working visit. As a part of the visit, Pezeshkian planned to meet with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and the President Vahagn Khachaturyan. It is expected that the parties will discuss the “North-South Corridor” and sign a number of documents on cooperation. The visit comes as a part of Iran’s initiative to strengthen its bilateral ties with its neighbors. Pezeshkian highlighted the importance of “strategic relations” between Iran and Armenia. 

Source: Trend.az, ARMENPRESS

Pashinyan: “Peace Was Impossible Without Closing the Karabakh Issue”

In an address to the nation on August 18, Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan announced that the initialed text of the Agreement on the Establishment of Peace and Interstate Relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been welcomed with satisfaction by the citizens of Armenia. Pashinyan spoke on the Karabakh issue, which he argued was one of the roadblocks for peace between the two countries. “You understood that peace is impossible without closing the Karabakh issue. It was simply used by certain forces as a tool to prevent Armenia’s independence, sovereignty, and statehood,” Pashinyan said. Pashinyan described the recent agreements signed in Washington as a transformative opportunity for Armenia, marking an end to over three decades of regional isolation and paving the way for normalized relations with Azerbaijan.

Source: Armenpress, Caliber.az