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.

The recent establishment of a special judicial panel to review investment cases or disputes – which formally began work early this year – was another sign of the country’s sprint to attract major international investors.

The energy ministry. said Kazakhstan produced 21.1 million tonnes of oil and gas condensate in the first quarter of 2021, in compliance with the country's obligations under OPEC+ deal.

The IMF has approved the disbursement of $111 million to Georgia under its Extended Fund Facility (EFF) to support the ex-Soviet country's economy and help it to strengthen resilience to shocks.

Central bank governor Yerbolat Dosayev said the introduction of new COVID-related restrictions may slow down economic growth in Kazakhstan by 0.5 percent to 3.2 percent in 2021.