The Kyrgyz Republic is one of the fastest changing, and improving, investment stories in Central Asia. It has shed its reputation as a difficult, if not dangerous place to do business and is now attracting a greater range of businesses and investors, especially with the innovative @TamchySFIT on the shores of Lake Issyk -Kul. The country is described, scenically, as the Switzerland of Central Asia. Now it is replicating the Swiss investment model. I contributed an Op-Ed about this to intellinews.com and it can be accessed vis this link  intellinews.com/macro-adviso… #Kyrgyz   #Kyrgyzstan    #CentralAsia

Several shipping companies have suspended their operations in the Black Sea amid disruptions caused by drone attacks. MSC, world’s largest container operator, stopped accepting new orders to the Russian port of Novorossiysk following the drone attack on the MSC ULSAN III vessel. Companies have begun to divert some of their ships to St. Petersburg, which, on average, costs US$850/TEU more and takes 15-20 days compared to 3-4 days to Novorossiysk (from a Turkish port). #OOTT    #Sanctions    #Russia   #Turkey     #Ukraine    #Shipping    #Cargo

The two-day 47th Eurasian Intergovernmental Council (EaEU) started in Bishkek today. The five permanent members are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan. Also attending are the four states with observer status: Cuba, Iran, Moldova, and Uzbekistan. The EaEU’s purpose is to promote economic and trade integration and to expand bi-lateral and group investment. The organisation is relatively substantial with a combined GDP (nominal) of $3.7 trillion and population of 430 million people. Moscow is keen to develop the group and not have it absorbed or marginalized with the expansion of BRICS. Moldova is not expected to remain part of the observer group and Cuba is very remote. #Armenia   #Belarus    #Kazakhstan   #Kyrgyzstan   #Russia   #Iran   #Cuba   #Moldova   #Uzbekistan   #EurasianUnion    #BRICS

Macro-Advisory Limited has issued its annual mid-year compilation of the best business, political and general interest books published in 1H26, covering the Eurasia region plus all twelve Eurasian states plus Iran and Afghanistan. The document also includes the updates Recommended Reading list for the region (Ukraine-Russia conflict, Caucasus, Central Asia, Energy, etc) and, individually, for all fourteen countries in the region. The books are those that Macro-Advisory considers to be the most useful for investors and multi-national companies. The full report can be accessed as a free download from the Home Page on the macro-advisory.com website #Eurasia #Iran #Afghanistan #Ukraine #Russia #Caucasus #CentralAsia #BookRecommendation #OOTT  #Armenia   #Azerbaijan   #Georgia   #Iran   #Kazakhstan   #KyrgyzRepublic   #Mongolia    #Tajikistan   #Turkmenistan    #Uzbekistan

Russia has extended the export ban for gasoline until the end of this year. The ban had been due to be lifted on August 1st but because of the drone damage to some large refineries (taking 30-35% of total capacity offline) the government said its priority is to ensure the domestic market is fully supplied and prices do not rise. The budget will not lose too much from the loss of export receipts as the crude, previously destined for refining, is adding to oil exports and, currently, with a shrinking discount to the $96 per barrel Brent price. The move adds to the global gasoline supply pressure (as Gulf exports remain very restricted) and is likely to put further upward pressure on gasoline prices, which are already up 100% since the start of 2026. #Russia #OOTT #Gas #Gasoline #Brent #export

Azerbaijan President Aliyev said that relations with Russia are now “fully normalized”. Relations had deteriorated badly since the downing of the Azeri civilian over Russia in December 2024. Before that, Moscow and Baku had been talking about greater cooperation in the energy sector and that may now again be on the agenda. Azerbaijan wants to export as much gas as it can to the EU and would like to import Russian gas to supply its domestic market. Currently, Azerbaijan’s main problem is the export pipeline capacity (TANAP and TAP) but is looking for investment to expand that route to the EU. When that happens, it will want to export all its own gas and use Russian gas at home. #Azerbaijan #Russia #Caspian #Caucasus #OOTT #EU #gas #oilandgas #TANAP #TAP #energy

Macro-Advisory is honoured to be participating in the Tashkent International Investment Forum this week. #TIIF #Tashkent #Uzbekistan