Though officials cite their reasoning based on reducing greenhouse emissions - and Azerbaijan is a signatory to the Paris accords - a slow but gradual decline in oil and gas export revenues makes the transition a necessity.  

Uzbekistan’s first gas-to-liquids project, worth $3.6 billion, has entered its final stage after delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Uzbekistan’s state company Toshkent Metropoliteni and Russia's Metrovagonmash signed a 52.85 million euros ($63 million) contract for the purchase of ten trains for the Tashkent metro.

Fitch Ratings has affirmed Azerbaijan's State Oil Company (SOCAR) long-term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) and senior unsecured rating at 'BB+', the outlook on the long-term IDR is "negative" and the recovery rating is 'RR4'.

Uzbekistan is selling off state properties, including the former local KGB headquarters - and later the Uzbek Security Service.