Central Asia is increasingly asserting itself on the global economic map. This was clearly demonstrated at the annual Business B5+1 Forum, held in Kyrgyzstan, where cooperation between Central Asian countries and the United States took centre stage. Banking, agribusiness, rare earth minerals, e-commerce, information technologies, transport and logistics were identified as the most promising areas for investment, DKNews.kz reports.
According to international experts, this focus is no coincidence. Central Asian countries are actively searching for new models of economic growth and are concentrating on attracting long-term investment. The emphasis today is not on short-term gains, but on sustainable development and strategic partnerships.
The region as a single economic space
One of the key messages of the forum was delivered by Kazakhstan’s Minister of Industry and Construction, Yersayin Nagaspayev. He noted that Central Asia is increasingly perceived by international business as a unified, interconnected economic space.
This perception significantly enhances the region’s attractiveness for foreign investors. In particular, many US companies are now using Kazakhstan as a base for implementing large-scale regional projects across Central Asia. Kazakhstan views this approach as a meaningful contribution to the overall economic development of the region.
Photo by: Lyubov Borisenko
The shared goal, the minister stressed, is to build a stable, reliable and attractive environment for long-term, mutually beneficial business cooperation.
More than 600 US companies and a focus on technology
Today, more than 600 US companies operate in Kazakhstan, spanning key sectors such as energy, industry and high technologies. Cooperation in innovation and digital solutions is also expanding rapidly.
E-commerce, information technologies, logistics and modern financial instruments are increasingly seen as core drivers of economic growth across Central Asia. These sectors are no longer peripheral but are becoming central to the region’s development strategies.
C5+1 as a practical cooperation tool
Minister Nagaspayev emphasised that Kazakhstan fully supports the development and implementation of joint recommendations within the C5+1 format, viewing it as a practical mechanism for aligning business interests with government policy priorities.
This approach allows discussions to move beyond declarations and towards concrete projects. Looking ahead, Kazakhstan is ready to continue close cooperation with Central Asian countries and the United States, transforming dialogue into tangible and sustainable results.
Photo by: Lyubov Borisenko
From the Washington summit to real investment
The current momentum builds on the Central Asia – US Summit, held in Washington in November 2025, where US President Donald Trump met with leaders of the Central Asian states.
During the summit, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev described the United States as a kind of “perpetual engine” of Kazakhstan’s economy, noting that US investments in the country have exceeded USD 100 billion. He also highlighted that bilateral trade turnover in recent years has approached USD 5 billion.
Why this moment matters
The Business B5+1 Forum demonstrated that Central Asia is no longer seen as a peripheral region in the global economy. Instead, it is emerging as an independent growth hub where the interests of governments, businesses and international partners increasingly align.
The US focus on key sectors - from agribusiness and rare earth minerals to the digital economy - signals long-term strategic interest. For Central Asian countries, this represents an opportunity not only to attract capital, but also to integrate into global value chains on more favourable terms.
Today’s discussions are increasingly turning into concrete decisions. And that may be the forum’s most important outcome: Central Asia is beginning to speak to investors in the language of strategy, projects and measurable results rather than abstract promises.
