Money Transfers from Russia to Neighboring Countries Continue to Decline in 2024

In Almaty, where glass-and-steel towers of a growing tech-driven economy rise against the snow-capped peaks of the Zailiysky Alatau, Digital Almaty 2025 has set the stage for discussions that extend far beyond Kazakhstan’s borders. The forum, now a cornerstone of Central Asia’s digital transformation agenda, has attracted a constellation of policymakers, tech entrepreneurs, and industry leaders seeking to shape the next wave of artificial intelligence (AI) integration into industrial economies.

Azerbaijan’s rice imports have surged as domestic production struggles to meet growing demand, underscoring the country’s reliance on foreign suppliers. Despite government initiatives to boost output, local production remains stagnant, with only 10,000 tons expected in the 2024-2025 season, while imports reached 55,961 tons between January and October 2024.

Azerbaijan and Pakistan have signaled a growing commitment to deepen energy cooperation, with a focus on renewable energy initiatives, as Azerbaijani Energy Minister Parviz Shahbazov hosted a delegation led by Pakistani Federal Minister Abdul Alim Khan in Baku on January 30.

Oil from Kazakhstan's largest field, Kashagan, has begun flowing into the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) pipeline. According to information from SOCAR, the first batch of this oil was received at the Sangachal terminal on January 27 and will be transported via BTC to the port of Ceyhan.