In a continuing wave of arrests related to corruption, authorities in Azerbaijan have arrested several medical officials who, the government says, took payoffs in exchange for accommodating certain COVID-19 patients with preferential treatment.

Azerbaijan increased the export of oil products by 0.7% year-on-year to 225,616 tonnes in the first quarter of 2021, the State Customs Committee said.

Azerbaijan’s leading gold mining company, Anglo Asian Mining Plc, extended its contract with the government for five years for Gedabek mine, the company said.

Uzbekistan’s government has signed a $1.2 billion worth investment agreement with Dutch company Stone City Energy for the construction of a new thermal power plant in the ex-Soviet country, in a bid to attract foreign investors and develop the energy sector.

Uzbekistan and Pakistan's leaders have committed to pursuing the construction of a Trans-Afghan railway line that would link Central Asia’s most populous nation with Pakistani seaports, a project that is designed to attract significant cargo flows.

Kazakhstan has revised its economic growth forecast to 3.1 percent in 2021 from 2.8 percent amid improved macroeconomic indicators in the first quarter of this year, Economy Minister Aset Irgaliyev said.

British oil major BP plans to undertake 15-days of maintenance work on its West Azeri oil platform.