November 26, 2025: CACI & SRSP were honored to co-host the Inaugural Central Asia-Nordic Think Tank Forum with the International Institute for Central Asia in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The Forum, following up on a May 2025 seminar hosted by ISDP in Stockholm that brought together Nordic and Central Asian experts, seeks to be a driving force in developing closer ties between the Nordic countries and the Central Asian region.



While Nordic countries have had diplomatic relations with Central Asian states for decades, the region has not featured prominently in the foreign policy of Nordic states. Yet the strategic importance of Central Asian states has been identified by the EU, which has rapidly ramped up the level and intensity of its interaction with Central Asia. Finnish President Alexander Stubb’s recent visit to the region suggests the same is happening in the Nordic states. Meanwhile, Central Asian states are expanding their diplomatic networks, and the Nordic region has become a priority for regional states. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan have resident ambassadors in Stockholm, and Kyrgyzstan has appointed a Special Representative for the Nordic Region.



The establishment of the Central Asia–Nordic Council Think Tank Forum represents a timely and strategic step toward unlocking the potential of relations between these two regions. By bringing together leading experts and researchers from both regions, the Forum fosters knowledge exchange, policy innovation, and joint action on shared priorities such as sustainability, education, digital transformation, connectivity, and inclusive governance. Over time, this platform can serve as the intellectual engine for deeper, more systematic engagement, including future high-level summits and ministerial dialogues.

Through practical cooperation and the sharing of best practices, Central Asia and the Nordic countries can build a robust partnership—moving beyond dialogue to real solutions for sustainable development, resilient institutions, and shared prosperity.