WASHINGTON, D.C. — November 2025 — At the 10th-anniversary C5+1 Summit, the United States and five Central Asian countries unveiled a sweeping set of economic agreements focused on energy, infrastructure, technology, and artificial intelligence, marking a significant step in bilateral cooperation. n nHeld at the U.S. Department of Commerce, the summit gathered government officials, ambassadors, and corporate executives from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick emphasized that these initiatives reflect a strategic pivot toward mutual trade and long-term investment partnerships. n n“We are executing a clear vision: reciprocal commerce and strategic capital deployment,” Lutnick stated. “The Department is actively facilitating connections between American enterprises and their Central Asian counterparts to foster joint growth.” n nOn digital economy collaboration, he highlighted a shift in policy: “For nations with robust digital regulatory frameworks, the U.S. is now open for high-tech investment. Allies can access our most advanced semiconductor technologies—a departure from previous restrictions.” n nLutnick praised the C5+1 framework as essential to U.S. regional engagement, noting progress in energy diversification, logistics upgrades, and trans-Caspian connectivity. n nThe summit featured a “Deal Zone” segment where nearly two dozen agreements were formalized. Below is a summary of key announcements: n n**Kazakhstan:** n nBoeing and Air Astana finalized a deal for up to 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, enabling new transatlantic routes and representing the airline’s largest aircraft order to date. n nCove Capital committed $1 billion to develop the world’s largest untapped tungsten reserve, estimated to be worth over $80 billion. n nLeidos partnered with KazAero to modernize air traffic control using Skyline X ATMS, including system deployment, testing, and personnel training nationwide. n nJohn Deere signed a $3–5 billion agreement to supply agricultural machinery, with 60% of equipment manufactured in Iowa, Illinois, and North Dakota. n nCitigroup, in collaboration with KTZ Locomotives and the U.S. EXIM Bank, arranged $1.6 billion in export financing for locomotive purchases—a follow-up to a UN General Assembly agreement and the largest locomotive transaction in history. n nColorado School of Mines, Education Testing Service, and Arizona State University joined with Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education to support the creation of a new university focused on training engineers and geoscientists in critical minerals. n nBeeline Kazakhstan and Starlink launched the globe’s first national direct-to-cell satellite service, expanding connectivity to remote areas beyond terrestrial networks. n nAn MOU worth $2 billion was signed between Nvidia, OpenAI, Freedom Holding Corp, and Kazakhstan’s Digital Development Ministry for advanced AI chip procurement. n nKazakhstan’s National Investment Corporation formed three private equity partnerships with Brookfield Asset Management, Cerberus Capital Management, and Ashmore Investment Advisors. n n**Kyrgyzstan:** n nAll American Rail Group (Texas) will design, construct, and operate Kyrgyzstan’s rail infrastructure, linking it to the Trans-Caspian corridor, with eventual transfer to local authorities. n nCitigroup and Aiyl Bank signed an MOU for financial cooperation. n nOppenheimer & Co. agreed to underwrite a $300 million five-year senior unsecured bond for Aiyl Bank, following a prior $700 million sovereign issuance. n n**Tajikistan:** n nSomon Air committed to purchasing up to four Boeing 787s and ten 737 MAX jets—its first wide-body acquisition—to launch intercontinental flights. n nTransparent Earth LLC and Avesto Group signed a $30 million MOU to build a national digital governance platform. n nSixth Grain Inc. and Marmari Tajikistan reached a preliminary $2.43 million agreement for a digital agriculture management system. n nPerplexity AI joined the Central Asia AI Consortium based in Tajikistan’s planned AI Free Zone, aiming to scale services across the region and generate multimillion-dollar annual recurring revenue. n nSuper Micro Computer (California) and Tajikistan’s Ministry of Industry and New Technologies agreed on a plan to deploy sovereign green AI computing infrastructure powered by 1 GW of hydropower by 2030. n nOppenheimer & Co. and the Ministry of Industry signed an MOU with undisclosed terms. n n**Uzbekistan:** n nUzbekistan Airways will finalize an order for eight additional 787 Dreamliners, bringing its wide-body fleet total to 22 aircraft to support international expansion. n nJohn Deere and the Uzbek government signed a $300 million deal for farm machinery, half of which will be produced in the U.S. n n**Turkmenistan:** n nThough no new deals were announced, Turkmenistan was acknowledged as an active participant in the C5+1 framework, with future cooperation expected in energy and infrastructure sectors. n nIn closing remarks, Under Secretary of Commerce William Nitt described the day’s outcomes as evidence of deepening U.S.-Central Asian economic ties and a preview of stronger collaboration ahead. n n“The Department of Commerce is at the forefront of advancing American commercial interests abroad,” Nitt said, stressing interagency coordination with the State Department, USTR, EXIM Bank, and DFC as vital to supporting U.S. firms. n nHe underscored the importance of partnering with nations that value innovation, transparency, and sustainable development, adding that the U.S. aims to remain the preferred partner for Central Asian countries pursuing tech-driven growth, regional integration, and global competitiveness. n— news from The Times Of Central Asia
— News Original —
The Deal Zone: U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick Unveils Economic Agreements with Central Asia at C5+1 Summit
WASHINGTON, D.C. — November 2025 — The United States and Central Asian nations announced a record series of trade and investment agreements at the 10th-anniversary C5+1 Summit, signaling a new phase of cooperation in energy, infrastructure, technology, and artificial intelligence. n nThe high-profile event at the Department of Commerce brought together ministers, ambassadors, and business leaders from across the region. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said the initiatives reflect Washington’s renewed commitment to long-term regional growth and partnership. n n“We’re advancing a clear strategy, which is reciprocal trade and strategic investment … the Department of Commerce is helping America and Central Asian firms connect, invest and grow together.” n nOn digital investment, Lutnick said: “If you want to invest in digital, you know, America is going to be open for business. We are open for our great allies to be able to buy our best chips and have them in country, which is a complete change from the prior Biden administration. So if the country has the proper set of digital laws, we will then encourage our great companies to invest digitally in the C5+1 and grow digitally there.” n nHe also described the C5+1 as central to U.S. engagement: “The C5+1 platform is a cornerstone of that strategy” and “We’re proud to see your new initiatives taking shape for energy diversification, logistics modernization, [and] emerging partnerships across the trans Caspian corridor.” n nThe event then moved into the “Deal Zone,” where close to twenty agreements across the region were announced. The Times of Central Asia attended the ceremony and reports below the deals as they were introduced on stage. n n“These are not abstract projects. They are real investments, creating real jobs, extending connectivity and strengthening resilience from the Caspian all the way to California.” n nThe deals, as announced in sequence during the session, are listed below. n nKazakhstan: n nBoeing with Air Astana Airlines — Purchase of up to 15 Boeing 787 Dreamliners, opening new North American routes representing Air Astana’s historical largest order. n nCove Capital with the Government of Kazkhstan — $1 billion investment to develop the largest known untapped tungsten deposit in the world valued at more than $80 billion. n nLeidos with KazAero — Modernization of national air-traffic-control systems using Skyline X ATMS technology as well as to facilitate the deployment, testing and training of staff of all their air traffic control centers. n nJohn Deere and the Government of Kazakhstan — $3–5 billion agricultural-equipment agreement. 60% involves tractors and seeding equipment manufactured in Iowa, Illinois, and North Dakota. n nCitigroup with KTZ Locomotives + U.S. EXIM Bank — $1.6 billion export-credit financing for locomotive procurement. This was a follow up to the agreement signed at the recent United National General Assembly meeting, the largest ever locomotive deal in the history of the world. n nColorado School of Mines, Education Testing Service, Arizona State University with the Kazakhstan Ministry of Science and Higher Education — Supporting the establishment of a university. The project will substantially contribute to the development of professional engineers and geoscientists with critical minerals expertise in both the United States and Kazakhstan. n nBeeline Kazakhstan with Starlink — The world’s first national direct-to-cell connectivity program, extending satellite coverage to remote regions not covered by terrestrial networks. n nNvidia, OpenAI, and Freedom Holding Corp and Ministry of Digital Development — An MOU $2 billion advanced AI-chip procurement agreement. n nNational Investment Corporation of Kazakhstan with Brookfield Asset Management, Cerberus Capital Management , and Ashmore Investment Advisors— Formation of three cooperation agreements for private-equity partnerships. n nKyrgyzstan n nAll American Rail Group (Texas) with the Kyrgyz Republic — Rail construction and engineering, operation, maintenance and eventually transfer national and regional railway infrastructure linking Kyrgyzstan to the Trans-Caspian corridor. n nCitigroup with Aiyl Bank — MOU cooperation agreement. n nOppenheimer & Co. with Aiyl Bank — Underwriting of a $300 million five-year senior unsecured bond, following its earlier $700 million sovereign bond issuance. n nTajikistan: n nSomon Air with Boeing — Commitment for order for its largest ever order of up to 4 Boeing 787s and 10 737 MAX jets, the airline’s first wide-body purchase to launch new intercontinental routes from Tajikstan. n nTransparent Earth LLC with Tajik company Avesto Group— $30 million MOU to jointly develop, build and operate a national digital-governance platform. n nSixth Grain Inc. with Marmari Tajikistan — Preliminary agreement for development and implementation of a $2.43 million digital platform for Marmari’s agricultural lands. n nPerplexity AI — Joining the Central Asia AI Consortium, based in Tajikistan’s planned the world’s first AI Free Zone to expand its service across all of Central Asia and derive multimillion annual recurring revenue from the region. n nSuper Micro (California) with The Ministry of Industry and New Technologies of Tajikistan (MINTECH) — MOU for the deployment of a sovereign green AI computing infrastructure powered by 1 GW of hydropower by 2030. n nOppenheimer & Co. with Ministry of Industry — An MOU (details not discussed) n nUzbekistan: n nUzbekistan Airways with Boeing — ill sign the final order of eight additional 787 Dreamliners, bringing their total book to 22 wide body jets which will help build Uzbekistan Airways growth as they expand into more international markets. n nJohn Deere × Government of Uzbekistan — $300 million agricultural-machinery agreement, half produced in the U.S. n nTurkmenistan n nAlthough no new deals were signed, Turkmenistan was recognized as an active C5 partner, with future collaboration expected in energy and infrastructure. n nA New Phase for the C5+1 Partnership n nIn his closing remarks, Under Secretary of Commerce William Nitt said the day’s announcements were “a clear demonstration of the United States commitment to deepening economic ties with our Central Asian partners, in a preview of the even stronger cooperation that lies ahead in trade, investment and innovation.” n nHe commented on the developments of the day, noting that “the Department of Commerce is at the front line in advancing U.S. commercial interests and supporting American businesses in global markets” and that success would depend on “close coordination across the U.S. government, including with the State Department, the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation and many other critical agencies.” He emphasized that this coordination is key to expanding opportunities for American companies, underscoring the importance of “connecting them with committed partners across the globe who share our belief in innovation, transparency and long term growth.” n nNitt added that, through the C5+1 platform, the United States will “continue to deepen technical collaboration, advance energy diversification and expand digital transformation, all supporting greater regional stability and prosperity.” He emphasized that “the United States looks forward to remaining the partner of choice for the C5 nations and supporting innovation driven growth that strengthens Central Asia’s prosperity, connectivity and global competitiveness.”