Tourism Boom, Missing Central Asian Foods & Middle Corridor Trucking

In this episode of the "Steppe Ahead" podcast, Jonas Thorsten and Thomas talk about Easter traditions and Thomas's trip to a Mix Markt in Germany, where he found almost no Central Asian products. The hosts develop a wish list of their favorite Central Asian products. They also talk about Kazakhstan’s commercial vehicle market and the growing importance of the Middle Corridor, including the Comtrux trade fair in Astana (May 5–7), aging truck fleets, rising vehicle production, and increasing Chinese, EU, and Uzbek industry involvement. Thomas also finally shares Central Asia's tourism records and plans, including visitor numbers for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan; the Caspian Riviera project near Aktau; and a major hotel boom in Tashkent featuring brands like Ritz-Carlton.