Japan unveils five-year goal for business projects billion in Central Asia
The announcement followed an inaugural summit hosted by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi in Tokyo with leaders from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. A joint statement said Japan “set a new target of business projects at a total amount of 3 trillion yen in 5 years in Central Asia.”
Like the United States and the European Union, Japan is drawn to the region’s abundant but largely untapped natural resources, aiming to diversify rare earth supplies and reduce reliance on China. The statement highlighted the importance of expanding Central Asia’s access to international markets.
Leaders pledged to promote cooperation to strengthen critical minerals supply chains, support economic growth, and advance decarbonization. They also agreed to enhance the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, providing a logistics network to Europe without passing through Russia, and discussed initiatives for “safe, secure, and trustworthy Artificial Intelligence.”
Japan has long encouraged domestic businesses to invest in Central Asia, though firms remain cautious. The summit is seen as a key step for Tokyo to increase its regional presence, particularly amid China’s tighter control of rare earth exports this year.
The Central Asian states continue to maintain strategic ties with Moscow but have been wary of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. The region is rich in resources: Kazakhstan produces the world’s largest uranium supply, Uzbekistan holds vast gold reserves, Turkmenistan is rich in gas, and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are developing new mineral deposits. However, exploitation remains challenging due to the remote and rugged terrain.
Throughout 2025, leaders of the five nations also held separate meetings with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, China’s Xi Jinping, and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, highlighting the region’s growing geopolitical importance.
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