Cement Push: Tajikistan has broken ground on a new 1.2Mta cement plant in Khatlon’s Kushoniyon district, with completion targeted for 2029; the project (by Sementi Khatlon) will use nearby limestone, create about 700 permanent jobs, and is part of a wider drive to cut shortages and stabilize prices. Rogun Progress: Webuild says it has raised the Rogun hydropower dam structure to 1,155m, enabling a further reservoir rise and boosting output from already-running units; Lot 2 is valued around $2.3bn and aims to double Tajikistan’s generation capacity. Fuel Diversification: Russia’s refinery disruptions are reshaping Central Asia’s fuel routes; Tajikistan has requested large volumes from Iran as supply reliability from Russia weakens. SCO Spotlight: The SCO’s 25th anniversary summit is set for Bishkek on Aug 31–Sep 1, with India’s PM Modi attending after a visit to Uzbekistan; China’s Xi is also expected to participate. Border Trade Finance: The ADB plans up to $400m for modernization of border crossing points across CAREC countries, including Tajikistan, to speed freight and cut costs. Digital Economy Plan: Tajikistan is moving toward a more integrated national digital system for public services, with instructions to electronically coordinate services and link state information systems. Regional Security Watch: Clashes in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan are raising cross-border risks for Tajikistan and Uzbekistan’s transit interests.