The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) is intensifying support for digital tools aimed at reducing delays and improving efficiency across regional transport corridors, including those involving Iran.
The foreign assets of Iranian banks and financial institutions, excluding the Central Bank, surged 71.1 percent by the end of the fifth month of the current Iranian year. They reached nearly 106 quadrillion rials (about $174 billion), up from 61.5 quadrillion rials ($101 billion) a year earlier.
The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) says countries involved in the International North–South Transport Corridor (INSTC) may need to reassess bottlenecks as the project has seen significant developments over the past five years.
Uzbekistan is accelerating its shift toward clean energy, rapidly expanding solar installations and boosting energy-saving measures across the country.
Uzbekistan increased its natural gas exports by over 15 percent in the first ten months of 2025 while reducing imports.
Uzbekistan’s gold exports have surged nearly 50 percent in the first ten months of 2025, reaching $9.90 billion.
Slovenia’s latest earnings data for September 2025 shows steady growth in both gross and net wages, with increases recorded across sectors.
Petrochemical products offered on Turkmenistan’s State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange this week demonstrated broadly stable pricing across all major categories.
Iran’s imports from Uzbekistan reached 42,400 tons worth $52.1 million, up from 23,000 tons valued at $52 million a year earlier.
Azerbaijan produced 3,330 tons of copper concentrate in January–October 2025. This marks an increase of 3,200 tons, nearly 30 times higher than the 112 tons recorded a year earlier.
In Albania, consumer prices in October 2025 continued to show moderate annual growth, with notable increases across several key sectors.
Iran’s non-oil exports to Uzbekistan jumped 59.2% in value to $353 million and 80% in volume to 583,000 tons from March 21–October 22, 2025.
Overall, Turkmenistan’s light industry segment this week recorded full price stability and consistent supply across textiles, mineral-based cosmetics, and household goods, reaffirming steady market conditions on the exchange.
The Iran Mercantile Exchange (IME) sold 3.46 million tons worth 572 trillion rials ($950 million) last week, up from 3.24 million tons worth 564 trillion rials ($946 million).
Iran’s Gold and Currency Exchange Center (ICE) handled $537 million in transactions last week. Since March 21, total exchanges reached about $18.8 billion. Official rates are 602,000 rials per $1 and 692,000 rials per euro, with black-market rates higher.
Qom Province attracted 60 trillion rials (about $99.6 million) in enterprise investment over seven months. This included the launch of 118 production units, creating 5,000 jobs. Another 222 trillion rials (around $368 million) was approved for new projects expected to add 7,000 jobs.
Iran’s latest figures reveal that liquidity has shot through the roof, reaching about 120 quadrillion rials, which is a jump of nearly 40 percent compared to last year.
Uzbekistan’s trade with China surged to $13.1 billion in the first ten months of 2025, cementing Beijing as the country’s top trading partner.
Azerbaijan has boosted liquefied gas production to around 190,000 tons this year, marking a more than 14% increase from last year.
Iran has expanded its passenger aircraft fleet by nearly 35 planes under the current government, bringing the total to around 210, with plans to reach 220 by the end of the year.
Uzbekistan’s trade with Russia surged over 10 percent in the first ten months of 2025, with Russia remaining a key partner and the top destination for Uzbek exports.
Iran says the North–South Transport Corridor is emerging as a key trade route, with officials highlighting new rail links built to connect northern Europe and Russia to the Persian Gulf and India.
Insulated electric copper cables manufactured by Turkmen local company continued to be traded at stable rates.
Uzbekistan continues to expand its cashless payment infrastructure, with the total number of POS terminals surpassing 434,000 by November 2025.
Azerbaijan spent 7 million manat ($4 million) on real estate–related fixed capital investments in the first ten months of 2025, Trend reports citing the State Statistics Committee. This marked a 2.5-fold increase from the same period in 2024, when 2.8 million manat ($1.65 million) was spent.
Uzbekistan’s foreign trade turnover hit $66.5 billion in the first ten months of 2025, rising 21.5 percent from last year.
Raw silk, which appeared in the previous session, was not offered in the current bidding. Overall, agricultural commodity indicators remained fully stable, with this week’s bidding confirming unchanged prices and consistent lots for Turkmenistan’s key licorice-based exports.
Azerbaijan exported around 62,000 tons of aluminum and aluminum products worth roughly $175 million, seeing a slight increase in value but a small drop in volume compared to last year.
Debts of Iran’s public and non-public sectors to the country’s banks and financial institutions increased significantly by the end of the 4th month of the current Iranian year compared to the same period of the previous year.
Passenger traffic at Iranian airports fell by roughly 15 percent in the first seven months of the current year, with total flights dropping to about 18,600 from nearly 20,600 a year earlier.
Trade between Azerbaijan and the UK hit $1 billion from January through October 2025, up $409. 4 million year-on-year. Azerbaijani exports to the UK fell 30. 6 percent to $278 million, mainly crude oil and products.
Iranian banks and financial institutions have seen a sharp rise in foreign assets, reaching about $175 billion, up from roughly $100 billion last year.
Iran’s iron ore exports increased significantly in both value and volume over the first seven months of the current Iranian year.
Global investments by energy service companies (ESCOs) reached a record $42 billion in 2024, up 10% from the previous year, according to a new analysis by the International Energy Agency (IEA).
At the end of the fourth month of the current Iranian year, liquidity in Iran reached approximately $193 billion, up 35% from the same period last year.
Tajikistan has completed a major renewable energy upgrade with the full launch of all six modernized units at the Qairokkum hydropower plant (QHPP), boosting generation capacity and strengthening climate resilience, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) said.
Iran’s imports from Turkmenistan fell sharply in the first seven months of the current year, dropping to roughly $6 million and 3,000 tons, far below last year’s nearly $14 million and 11,000 tons.
Cargo volumes handled by Iranian airports dropped by roughly 14 percent, totaling about 200,000 tons in the first seven months of the current year, compared to nearly 230,000 tons in the same period last year.
Iran has completed preparations to install the main steel framework, or “jacket,” for the Farzad B gas platform in its shared offshore field with Saudi Arabia.
The Asian Development Bank has launched a new initiative to advance universal health coverage across several regions. The project will create a network to support knowledge exchange and strengthen government capacities.
Crude steel consumption in Iran fell 3. 5% to 13. 6 million tons in the first seven months of the year (down from 14 million tons). Steel product consumption dropped 8% to 10. 6 million tons (from 11.
On November 18, Iran’s Gold and Currency Exchange Center processed over $74 million in foreign currency transactions, including significant trades in US dollars, UAE dirhams, and euros.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has warned that Slovenia’s economic growth is slowing, projecting GDP to rise just 0.8 percent in 2025. In a report following its Article IV consultation, the IMF urged Ljubljana to implement fiscal consolidation, strengthen structural reforms, and support innovation and investment to ensure long-term stability and growth.
North Macedonia's industrial sector presents a complex picture in September 2025. While certain sectors like capital and non-durable goods experienced significant growth, others faltered.
Trade between Azerbaijan and Russia hit the ground running, soaring to over $4 billion from January through October, fueled primarily by a surge in imports from Russia, while exports crept along at a snail's pace with only modest growth.
Passenger traffic through Iranian airports fell by around 14% to about 20 million passengers in the first half of the current Iranian year, compared to the same period last year.
Iran’s sponge iron exports surged to about $310 million and 1.3 million tons in the first seven months of the year, showing strong year-on-year growth in both value and volume.
Iran has put its money where its mouth is, pouring about $3 billion into projects that are set to hit the ground running in the Pars Special Economic Energy Zone (PSEEZ) by next year.
The price of Iran’s Bahar Azadi gold coin has shot up to around 1.6 billion rials, showcasing the rollercoaster ride of the market after the Central Bank decided to let the exchange rate float earlier this year.
Iran’s gas consumption rose by 1. 7 percent last week, reaching 5. 23 billion cubic meters (bcm) compared to 5. 15 bcm the previous week. Thermal power plants used 1. 32 bcm, while industrial enterprises consumed 1.
Uzbekistan's trade turnover with Russia reached $11.8 billion from January to November 2025, reflecting an 11.3% increase from the previous year.
Uzbekistan’s green electricity generation, including solar, wind, and hydropower, reached 16.8 billion kWh in 2025—a 29% increase from last year.
Uzbekistan’s trade turnover with Afghanistan rose to $1.5 billion in January–November 2025, marking a sharp increase compared to previous years.
Azerbaijan increased the value and volume of natural gas exports to Bulgaria, simultaneously strengthening its position in its external gas markets.
In January–October of this year, the export of natural gas from Azerbaijan to Italy grew in volume but decreased in value compared to the same period last year.
The revised outlook reflects a gradual increase from an estimated one. The agency attributes Kazakhstan’s higher production outlook to stable upstream operations, assuming current OPEC+ curbs remain in place.
In the first 10 months of 2025, Azerbaijan imported 44,441 kilograms of gold, worth $4. 5 billion, from 22 countries. This marks a significant increase of $2. 4 billion (2. 1 times) in value and 17,300 kilograms (1.
The EBRD's project portfolio in Azerbaijan covers dozens of initiatives and includes both public and private investments.
Azerbaijan's population revenues reached 80. 7 billion manat ($47. 5 billion) from January to November 2025. This amount represents an 8. 1% rise in nominal terms compared to the same period in 2024.
Azerbaijan brought in a grand total of 86,909 cars, 6,588 trucks, and 702 buses from the start of the year to the end of October 2025. Nearly half of these vehicles hit the road, while a little over a third took to the skies, and a modest slice made their way across the waves.
Azerbaijan produced 225,600 tons of bitumen from January to November 2025, down 5.1% from 2024. The country also produced 218,600 tons of petroleum coke, marking a 25.8% increase. As of December 1, finished stocks were 6,600 tons of bitumen and 41,900 tons of petroleum coke.
During the reporting period, Azerbaijan recorded an increase in the production of precious metals, including gold and silver.
World Bank approves $250M loan to expand student loans in Uzbekistan, focusing on vulnerable groups and high-demand fields.
In the first 11 months of 2025, Azerbaijan's State Service on Property Issues contributed 168. 7 million manat ($99. 1 million) to the state budget through privatization and leasing. 50 auctions resulted in 127.
During the first 11 months of 2025, food products worth 29.5 billion manat ($17.2 billion) were sold in Azerbaijan's retail market. This represents a 1.1% year-on-year growth. Food products made up 50.4% of total trade turnover.
In January, Azerbaijani consumers opened their wallets wider for food products, accounting for nearly half of the total retail trade turnover.
Motor gasoline and diesel were heavily purchased by Azerbaijani people in January 2026. As a whole, sales were up from the same month a year ago. During the month, these products made up a significant portion of the total retail trade turnover.
Retail trade turnover in Azerbaijan recorded steady growth at the beginning of the year, reflecting increased consumer spending across various sectors.
In 2025, Uzbekistan’s railways transported 107.9 million tons of cargo and over 10.9 million passengers, showing steady growth.
Uzbekistan’s banking deposits remain heavily concentrated in the capital, underscoring the dominant role of Tashkent in the country’s financial system.
Uzbekistan’s financial services sector posted strong growth in 2025, reflecting rising economic activity and expanding demand across the country.
Prices for medicines and health products in Georgia increased in January 2026, while recreation-related costs declined and personal care services recorded moderate growth, according to official statistics.
In January 2026, the cost of food and non-alcoholic beverages in Georgia took a leap, with food prices climbing higher than a kite, while the prices for alcoholic beverages and tobacco took a dip.
Uzbekistan increased electricity generation in January 2026, reflecting continued growth in energy output as the country moves toward its long-term supply targets under the Uzbekistan-2030 Strategy.
Uzbekistan’s gold reserves have surged over the past year, reinforcing the country’s international reserves and underscoring gold’s central role in its reserve structure, according to the Central Bank.