Economic Interaction between Central Asian Countries and Russia: Modern Challenges

The article examines the processes of integration of Russia with Central Asian countries from the moment they gained independence to the present day. An in-depth analysis of the economic situation of the countries in the region, the dynamics of their mutual trade, and the development of trade and economic relations with Russia was conducted. It is shown that despite the presence of historical, cultural and geographical prerequisites, over three decades it has proved impossible to form a sustainable and integral economic space. Attempts at integration within the CIS, EurAsEC, EAEU, and other formats were fragmentary, due to a number of internal barriers identified during the study: significant differences in the levels of socioeconomic development of the countries of the region, their political instability and institutional unpreparedness for full coordination. Against this background, the need to rethink the very logic of regional interaction is substantiated. The paper proposes a new model of economic interaction between Central Asian countries and Russia, based on the implementation of targeted industry projects with high multiplier returns for the integration process. Particular attention is paid to the role of Kazakhstan, which, due to its economic sustainability and political stability, has the potential to coordinate these initiatives in the context of the weakening of Russia’s previous role. Successful implementation of the project approach can become the basis for the formation of a new adaptive regional architecture that is resilient to the global challenges of the 21st century.