Afghanistan's financial sector is currently suffering from a severe funding crisis that has already resulted in the government control of the Development Bank of Afghanistan, one of the country's few commercial banks. Officials believe that commercial banks have been ignoring rules designed to protect them from making risky loans. Moreover, commercial banks have not been adequately regulated, resulting in potential collapses and overall decrease in public confidence in the Afghan banking system.

Turkmenistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan announced plans to increase trade and economic cooperation during a trilateral summit held in Turkmenbashi earlier this week. The three countries also hope to increase cooperation in the communications, transport and energy sector.

Kyrgyzstan's Minister of Energy and Industry, Saparbek Balkibekov was fired yesterday amid rising public criticism over his handling of the country's electricity shortages. Mr. Balkibekov presided during a worsening energy crisis that might lead to a full blown energy crisis in February. The problem sprung from the over use of electricity during last year's unusually cold winter, which resulted in severe energy shortage for this winter. Water rationing was implemented during the summer but it now seems that it will not be enough to guarantee future supplies.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski, will be visiting Mongolia at the end of the month in an effort to strengthen bilateral relations between the countries. Mongolia's Prime Minister S.Bayar expects to boost bilateral cooperation in education, health, agricultural, food safety and defense sectors. Both leaders are also expected to sign several documents including a Cooperation Program allowing for the freer flow and exchange of science, culture and education.

Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have agreed to set up an oil transport system across the Caspian Sea in order to move Central Asia's energy reserves to the Western markets. The system is expected to start in 2013 and would successfully transfer oil from Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan, the starting point for an oil pipeline that bypasses Russia to deliver oil to Georgia and Turkey.

Kyrgyzstan's ministry of foreign affairs, Ednan Karabaev, and the Chinese Vice-President, Xi Jinping, held meetings in China in order to increase bilateral cooperation between the two countries. China announced that it would grant 50 million in order to assist with the further development of Kyrgyzstan's economy.

Japan and Mongolia expressed the need to expand cooperation in the area of uranium resource developments. The Mongolian government is willing to allow Japan's proposal to explore uranium resources in Mongolia's eastern provinces as long as it remains within the nation's legal framework.

The Nabucco project, a planned natural gas pipeline that would transport gas throughout central Asia and Europe, appears to be facing an uncertain future. Currently, one of the main problems seem to be Azerbaijani's incertitude. The country has not decided whether to accept the EU's or Russia's bids for its gas exports. Furthermore, Turkmenistan has great export potential but cannot decide whether to join the project. EU officials plan to visit both nations in an effort to gain their commitment.

Today the Prime-minister of Kazakhstan and the Republic of Tajikistan met in order to discuss possible expansion of their bilateral partnership. During the meeting, both countries discussed the need of expanded cooperation related to issues of energy, fuel resources and construction of electricity wires.

At the end of this week, Kyrgyzstan and Russia plan to sign an energy cooperation decree.