Investment is pouring into Central Asia – EDB

Central Asian countries are experiencing rapid growth in investment, with investment volumes reaching 1.3 billion dollars in the first half of 2025. This represents a 42 percent increase compared to 2023 and is almost three times higher than the 2016 level, according to a review published by the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB).

The report notes that 80 percent of all cross-regional investments are directed into construction, manufacturing, and the financial sector. This reflects the region’s gradual transition from a commodity-based model to a more diversified investment structure.

Within the CIS, accumulated mutual investments have reached 41.6 billion dollars, an increase of 56 percent compared to 2016. Investment flows are increasingly being directed toward Central Asian countries, primarily Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

“More than 48 billion dollars in accumulated mutual foreign direct investment is a record figure. Mutual investments in Central Asia are growing particularly rapidly. Over the past five years, the average annual growth rate of mutual investments in the region has reached 24.4 percent, several times higher than across the entire Eurasian region. Among the key growth drivers are Kazakhstan’s successful strategy to improve its investment climate and Uzbekistan’s policy of encouraging foreign investment,” said Evgeny Vinokurov, Chief Economist of the Eurasian Development Bank.

Across the Eurasian region, mutual investments have reached a record 48.4 billion dollars.

Despite a global decline in foreign direct investment, with global flows falling by 11 percent last year, investment activity in the Eurasian region continues to grow.

Private business remains the main driver of this growth, with its share in total investments rising to 72 percent, amounting to 34.7 billion dollars.