The first meeting of the Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Trade Council was held on 26 March at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan in Tashkent, with the participation of the heads of the chambers of commerce and council members from both countries, TOLOnews reported. According to the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, during the meeting,
On March 25, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on the establishment of the Tashkent International Financial Center, the launch of the International Center for Digital Technologies, and the introduction of Islamic finance mechanisms into the banking system. “Many international companies, having assessed regional risks, have already begun exploring new markets. For us, this is a
On March 24, a Roadmap for cooperation in nuclear and related fields between Rosatom State Corporation and the Atomic Energy Agency under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan was signed in Tashkent. An additional agreement to the contract for the construction of a nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan was also signed. The documents were signed
The Government of Kazakhstan has approved the National Project “Development of Coal-Fired Generation.” The document defines Kazakhstan’s energy security strategy until 2030 and is aimed at eliminating the deficit of baseload capacities, demand for which is growing significantly amid industrialization and the development of the digital economy. The growth of the IT sector, the establishment
On March 23, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed a presentation on priority nationwide projects in the field of ecology and environmental protection for 2026–2030. The presentation outlined a range of initiatives aimed at improving air quality, expanding green spaces across cities and regions, enhancing environmental education and culture, and strengthening the scientific and practical foundations for
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $200 million project to help Uzbekistan modernize transport infrastructure in the country’s Surkhandarya region. It will contribute to the creation of new jobs and businesses along a reconstructed section of the M41 regional road corridor. The project will also support the authorities in implementing comprehensive reforms
Children in large families eat less than in households with just one child, and the difference can be quite significant, finprom.kz reports citing data from the Bureau of National Statistics on average consumption of basic foods in families with different numbers of children for the fourth quarter of last year. The more children, the less
The Central Bank of Uzbekistan expects consumer lending growth to remain high (around 30%) in 2026, despite high interest rates. The main drivers of demand are rising household incomes and the realization of pent-up demand for mortgages, car loans, and microloans, Tashkent Today reported. According to the Central Bank, the volume of loans to individuals
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has proposed a balanced “middle path” strategy that could provide a solid foundation for the modernization of Central Asia’s power sector. This approach would ensure reliable and affordable energy supply, significantly reduce the carbon footprint, and enable a smooth energy transition that benefits the region’s economy and meets climate commitments.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing financing of up to US$ 15.4 million to Uzbekistan’s leading brewer, UzCarlsberg. The Bank’s third equity investment in the country since 2020 will help UzCarlsberg to expand its production capacity and increase the sustainability of the country’s food sector. The proceeds will be
A survey shows that Kazakhstan’s new Tax Code with an increased value-added tax (VAT) has led to growing anxiety among the population, with most respondents saying that the tax changes negatively impact their standard of living and cause growing expenses, making a significant portion of the population cut spending on basic items, including food, clothing,
Central Asia Capital, a Bishkek-based private equity fund, in partnership with the Russian Export Center, has launched a political risk insurance program for Russian investments in Kyrgyzstan. According to Central Asia Capital, the new program is aimed at safeguarding investments against political risks, including restrictions on fund transfers, currency inconvertibility, expropriation of assets, trade sanctions,
A regional online service center of ZTE has been officially launched at IT Park Uzbekistan. The new center will deliver modern digital services and technical support to clients in Uzbekistan, Central Asia, and Europe, according to the Uzbek government’s website. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of Digital Technologies, Sherzod Shermatov, who noted
Uzbekistan is a country in Central Asia that has undergone significant economic liberalization since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took office in 2016. It is a doubly landlocked and a lower-middle-income country. The government’s “Uzbekistan 2030” strategy aims to achieve upper-middle income status by the end of the decade through private-sector development, foreign investment, diversification beyond commodities,
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing a loan of up to €25 million to support the investment program and working capital needs of RG Brands Group, Central Asia’s leading beverage producer incorporated in Kazakhstan. The loan will help RG Brands to expand its operations in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, and
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Agriculture has announced updated figures of the country’s grain export. During the 2024-2025 marketing year (September 1, 2024, August 31, 2025), Kazakhstan exported 15.3 million tons of grain and flour, 60% more than during the 2023-2024 season and the highest figure over the last 20 years. Since the beginning of the current
More than 5 million citizens in Kazakhstan have voluntarily banned the issuance of loans and microloans in their names using “Stop-Credit,” a service designed to protect against fraudulent loans, Fingramota.kz reports. “Stop-Credit” is a government service for voluntary waiver of bank loans and microloans. It allows citizens to self-ban new loans in their names. This
Energy-efficient heat pumps developed by the Technopark industrial complex in Tashkent are undergoing practical testing for use in greenhouses for growing vegetables without traditional fuels, according to the Uzbek Ministry of Agriculture. To test the new technology, two innovative greenhouses were built at Technopark in January to grow tomato and cucumber seedlings. The experiment is
On March 16, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the launch ceremony of Copper Processing Plant No. 3 at the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Complex. This $2.7 billion project was implemented as part of the development program of the Yoshlik-1 deposit. The plant, capable of processing 60 million tons of ore and producing about 900,000
At a meeting in the Senate on March 12 addressing the problem of informal employment in Kazakhstan, Minister of Labor and Social Protection Askarbek Yertayev revealed informal employment statistics and proposed measures aimed at broader legalization of labor relations in the domestic labor market. Yertayev noted that informal, or shadow, employment has a negative impact
