Central Asian outlook

A SUPPLEMENT TO EUROMONEY – April 1997

Introduction

After years of Soviet hegemony, the countries of Central Asia finally achieved their independence in 1991. The collapse of the Soviet Union allowed the five countries of Central Asia ­ Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan ­ not only to forge new ties with the west but also with the newly industrialized counties of the Pacific rim.

Economic potential

The political stability of many of the regimes has enabled reforms to be implemented much more quickly than in other republics of the CIS.