May 29, 2025, Almaty, Kazakhstan – The C5+O.N.E. (Opening Networks through English), which is funded by the U.S. government, held an official kick-off ceremony of the Cohort Four focused on “English for Economic Development”. Over 700 economic development professionals from throughout Central Asia began studying English in the C5+O.N.E., adding to the more than 1,000 professionals who have already completed the program. The event brought together representatives of government, NGOs, media, and the private sector, and was attended by the U.S. Ambassadors to the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, along with representatives of the Department of State and American Councils for International Education.
The C5+O.N.E. is a transformative program aimed at improving English proficiency while fostering regional collaboration and strengthening economic and professional ties with U.S. communities.
Over the course of the nine-month program, participants will engage in curricular and extracurricular activities, including a national networking event, a workshop, and a regional conference. These activities are designed not only to strengthen participants’ English language skills, but also to foster professional networks, promote regional collaboration, and better equip Central Asian professionals to engage with their U.S. counterparts.
In his welcoming remarks, U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic, H.E. Lesslie Viguerie, noted: “Gathered with us are the foremost economic experts from throughout Central Asia, working in sectors that range from agriculture to banking and finance, to IT start-ups and beyond.”
He also emphasized the value of participating in the program: “Graduates of this program have been promoted, have presented in English at international conferences, and have created new work partnerships with colleagues in the region and in the United States”.
The start of the “English for Economic Development” Cohort reaffirms C5+O.N.E.’s commitment to fostering regional collaboration and opening new pathways for economic growth in Central Asia.
About C5+O.N.E.
The C5+O.N.E. program, sponsored by the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and administered by American Councils for International Education, is a regional English language training initiative that targets entry and mid-level professionals from the public, private, and civil society sectors in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan.