International Institute for Central Asia

What International Institute for Central Asia does

The International Institute for Central Asia (IICA, also known as МИЦА/МОХI) is a state scientific research organization established in 2021 at the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan and headquartered at Mustakillik avenue 42, Tashkent. It functions as a policy research institute and convening platform focused on multilateral cooperation among the five Central Asian states (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan) and their external partners.

Its core products are expert-driven research outputs and diplomatic forums covering regional security, economic connectivity, transport corridors, water and environmental management, climate change, and historical-cultural heritage. The institute operates across 10+ international formats including the Central Asian Consultative Meetings and C5+1 dialogues with the USA, Russia, China, India, the GCC, the EU, Germany, Japan, Korea, and Italy. In 2025 it hosted more than 20 expert events, 150+ speakers, and 2,000+ experts, and it maintains strategic research partnerships with leading national institutes across Central Asia, Russia, China, Turkey, India, and Finland (Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation).

The institute is government-funded through the apparatus of the President of Uzbekistan, has 51–100 employees organized into departments for political research and regional security, economic research, and historical-cultural heritage, and is led by Director Javlon Abdujalolovich Vakhabov, a former Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the USA, Canada, and Brazil who also serves as Deputy Advisor to the President on Foreign Policy. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, there are no external investors or funding rounds, and revenue is not reported.

Name

International Institute for Central Asia

Legal name

International Institute for Central Asia

Website

https://iica.uz

Company type

Private

Founded year

2021

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The International Institute for Central Asia is a state-funded policy research institute established in 2021 under the President of Uzbekistan in Tashkent. It produces expert analysis, forums, and publications, and convenes Central Asian governments and partners across 10+ C5+1 and regional cooperation formats.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Policy Research & Think Tank Services

NAICS

International Affairs (928120)

SIC

International Affairs (9721)

akta.pro primary industry

Multilateral Diplomacy & International Representation (UN, Regional Bodies) (BPAIAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

Keywords

• Policy research services
• Regional cooperation forums
• Think tank publications
• Expert dialogue events
• Central Asia analysis

Headquarters

HQ city

Tashkent

HQ country

Uzbekistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The International Institute for Central Asia (IICA) is a state scientific research organization that conducts policy research, expert analysis, and structured dialogue on regional cooperation among the five Central Asian states and their international partners. Its primary deliverables are publications (articles, bulletins, magazines, books), expert forums and conferences, round tables, consultative meetings of heads of state, and "Central Asia +" bilateral/multilateral dialogue formats covering political, security, economic, water/climate, and cultural heritage topics.

Product overview

The International Institute for Central Asia (IICA/MOXI) is a state research institution established by the President of Uzbekistan in 2021 that focuses on political, social, economic, and security research related to Central Asia. The organization facilitates diplomatic dialogue and cooperation through various formats including consultative meetings, expert forums, conferences, round tables, and publications. Its primary offerings include publications (articles, bulletins, magazines, books), expert discussions, and organized forums and conferences on regional cooperation topics.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Consultative Meetings of Central Asian Heads of State Structured convening platform facilitating dialogue among the heads of state of the five Central Asian states, organized as a recurring summit format. For Central Asian governments, foreign ministries, and heads of state.
• CA+ Dialogue Formats (CA+Russia, CA+EU, CA+India, CA+China, CA+USA, CA+GCC)
• Expert Forums, Conferences, and Round Tables
• Research Publications (Articles, Bulletins, Magazines, Books)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered regional and core.

• Martti Ahtisaari Peace FoundationregionalStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 October 2025Finnish peace foundation led by former President Alexander Stubb; signed cooperation agreement at round table on Central Asia and Nordic countries
• Russian Institute of Strategic Studies (RSTI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 September 2025Russia's strategic research institute; collaborates on Uzbekistan-Russia cooperation prospects in Central Asia
• National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan (НАНТ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner research institution from Tajikistan, part of IICA's network of strategic research institutes in Central Asia
• Chinese Academy of Sciences (КАН)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey strategic partner for China-Central Asia cooperation, collaborates on research symposia and expert dialogue
• Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (КИСИ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKazakhstan's leading strategic research institute, collaborates on regional security and cooperation topics
• National Institute of Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic (НИСИ при ПКР)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKyrgyzstan's strategic research institute, partner in Central Asian regional cooperation initiatives
• Center for Strategic Research under the President of Tajikistan (ЦCИ ПРТ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTajik presidential strategic research center, collaborates on regional cooperation and security matters
• Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan (ИМО при МИД)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkmenistan's foreign policy research institute, partner in regional expert dialogue
• Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndia's premier foreign policy think tank, partner for India-Central Asia cooperation format
• Institute of Foreign Affairs for Central Asia (IFEAC)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional institute focusing on foreign policy research for Central Asian states
• Shanghai Academy of International StudiesregionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese international relations research institution; partners on Central Asia-China cooperation and SCO formats
• Center for Eurasian Studies (AVİM)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish Eurasian research center; collaborates on expert cooperation perspectives with Turkey
• Middle East Research Center (ORSAM)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiddle Eastern research center; cooperates on Near East agenda matters
• Center for Strategic Research of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SAM)regionalStrategic or Co-development PartnerTurkish Foreign Ministry's strategic research center; establishing partnership for cooperation

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Shanghai Academy of International Studies (SAIS): China's government-affiliated international relations research institution partnered with IICA on Central Asia–China cooperation. Functionally analogous as a state-linked think tank engaging Central Asia on regional connectivity and security.
• Center for Eurasian Studies (AVIM): Turkey's Eurasian research center and an IICA partner. Comparable as a think tank producing policy research and convening on Central Asia, the Caucasus, and broader Eurasia from a regional/external power standpoint.
• Russian Institute of Strategic Studies (RSTI): Russia's state strategic research institute and an IICA core partner. Comparable as a government-linked institute conducting foreign policy and regional security analysis, with a similar Central Asia focus and a network-driven convening model.
• Center for Strategic Research of the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (SAM): Turkey's foreign-ministry strategic research center and a developing IICA partner. Highly comparable as a state-affiliated foreign-policy think tank convening on regional affairs from an external-power vantage point.
• Kazakhstan Institute for Strategic Studies (KISI): Kazakhstan's leading presidential-adjacent strategic research institute and an IICA core partner. Directly comparable as a state-affiliated think tank focused on Central Asian security, economic, and foreign policy research under presidential authority.
• Center for Strategic Research under the President of Tajikistan: Tajikistan's presidential strategic research center and an IICA core partner. Nearly identical institutional model: a presidential state research organization focused on regional cooperation, security, and policy advice.
• National Institute of Strategic Studies of the Kyrgyz Republic (NISS): Kyrgyzstan's presidential strategic research institute and another IICA core partner. Mirrors IICA's role as a state think tank producing policy research and regional cooperation recommendations for a Central Asian government.
• Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA): India's premier foreign policy think tank and IICA partner for the CA–India dialogue format. A direct peer as a government-linked institute convening Track 1.5 dialogue on regional and international affairs.

Broad incumbents

• Chatham House (Royal Institute of International Affairs): A leading international affairs think tank convening policy dialogue across regions including Central Asia. Functions as a broad incumbent peer: comparable convening and research mandate at the international level, though operating globally rather than regionally.
• Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: A globally established think tank with a dedicated Central Asia program and convening on regional security and connectivity. A broad-incumbent peer operating in the same policy-research and convening space as IICA at greater scale and with independent funding.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iicaintashkent
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@internationalinstituteforcentr
• Facebookfacebook.com/iica.uz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-institute-for-central-asia
• Instagraminstagram.com/iica.uz

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Institute for Central Asia