On April 7, Tashkent hosted the official launch of the “100 Products Accelerator” Program, designed to facilitate the entry of domestic goods into global markets, according to the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. The opening ceremony was attended by Ilzat Kasimov, Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry and Trade. This initiative is implemented in
The head of the State Tax Service estimates the shadow economy in Kyrgyzstan as currently standing at approximately 12%. Almambet Shykmamatov told local media that efforts to bring businesses out of the shadows are ongoing, and that this does not include punitive measures. According to the latest data from the National Statistical Committee, Kyrgyzstan’s non-observed (shadow)
A Government meeting on April 7 chaired by Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov discussed issues of developing coal energy and implementing the National Project on Coal-Fired Power Generation. Bektenov noted that the project provides for the commissioning of about 8 GW of additional capacity over 5 years through the construction of 8 new power
Bekhzod Khashimov, an economist and researcher at the University of Wisconsin, analyzed the current state of Tashkent’s urban environment. He’s come to the conclusion that despite high-quality private services in the Uzbek capital, public services remain in a critical state, Tashkent Today reported. The expert points to the following infrastructure issues: • Inaccessible environment: sidewalks
According to the 2026 Index of Economic Freedom published by The Heritage Foundation, Uzbekistan scored 60.3 points and ranked 86th globally, improving its result by 2.3 points from the previous year. This moved the country into the moderately free category. Notably, Uzbekistan’s current score is already above the 2026 global average of 59.9, the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry
A large share of expenditure on food remains the main indicator of low well-being of the population in Kazakhstan. In 2025, spending on food and non-alcoholic beverages increased by 13.9% compared to the previous year, and has increased almost six-fold since 2010, finprom.kz reported citing data from the Bureau of National Statistics. Despite the growth
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Uzbekistan annually consumes 23% more water than nature can replenish. The country’s “water stress” level has reached 123%, officially confirming that the crisis has moved from prediction to reality, Tashkent Today reported. The situation remains uneven in the Central Asian region. Turkmenistan recorded
In China’s Fujian province, discussions were held regarding the localization of production and the launch of new Chinese enterprises with investments of up to $1.2 billion in Kazakhstan, according to the Kazakh Ministry of Trade and Integration. This was announced following the visit of Kazakhstan’s Minister of Trade and Integration, Arman Shakkaliyev, to Fujian province.
In 2025, microcredit organizations in Kyrgyzstan issued loans totaling approximately $983 million to more than 1.685 million recipients, according to the latest data released by the National Statistical Committee. Compared to 2024, the number of microloan recipients increased 1.5-fold and the amount of microloans issued grew by almost 32%, reflecting the growing role of microfinance in a
The situation on Kazakhstan’s roads has been deteriorating in recent years. According to the Legal Statistics Committee of the Prosecutor General’s Office, while 13,300 road accidents were recorded in the country in 2020, last year there were more than 36,100 road accidents, or 2.7 times more. However, the number of vehicles has not increased significantly
The President of Uzbekistan has signed a decree on developing a rapid response system for a sharp deterioration in air quality. By the end of 2026, the country will legislate an action plan that includes both protective measures for the population and restrictions for businesses, Tashkent Today reported. The planned measures include: • Alerts: prompt
As part of an official visit to China, Kazakh Minister of Trade and Integration Arman Shakkaliyev participated in the “Export to China – SCO Selection” forum, which became one of the key platforms for promoting Kazakh exports to the Chinese market. Opening the forum, the Minister emphasized that Kazakhstan views China as a strategic partner
On April 1, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in a tree-planting event as part of the nationwide “Yashil Makon” initiative and launched the National Dendrological Park project. The National Dendrological Park is being established in Tashkent on an area of 108 hectares. This year, an in vitro laboratory, as well as centers for medicinal plants,
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a 90 billion tenge ($173.6 million equivalent) loan to Otbasy Bank JSC to expand access to affordable housing finance for women and offer green mortgage products for low- to moderate-income households across Kazakhstan. The Promoting Inclusive and Green Housing Finance Project will provide residential mortgage financing to more than 2,000
In accordance with a Presidential Resolution of March 25, 2026, three new national natural parks have been established in Uzbekistan and the territory of one existing park has been significantly expanded, according to the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. The Ovjazsoy – Moviy Toglar and Pskem national natural parks have been established in
China’s General Administration of Customs has confirmed that Kyrgyz frozen fruit are now allowed for export to China after the registration of local frozen fruit producers with the China Import Food Enterprises Registration (CIFER) system, according to the Kyrgyz Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture and Processing Industry. Importantly, a separate quarantine permit, as for fresh
The Central Bank of Uzbekistan and the Asian Development Bank presented the results of a joint study of the financial situation of the population. The survey reflects the subjective perception of economic stress and the coping strategies of citizens, Tashkent Today reported. Key findings of the study: • 44% of respondents stated that their income
Small enterprises in Uzbekistan’s capital are announcing their closure. The number of posts on social media about the closure of stores, cafes, restaurants, and photo studios is growing. Owners cite a sharp decline in profitability amid rising costs as the main reasons, Tashkent Today reported. The key factors putting pressure on businesses are rising rental
The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan has approved the Regulations on National Natural Heritage Sites of Uzbekistan. The document defines the status and categories of national natural heritage sites, sets out the procedure for compiling their official list and establishes rules for carrying out construction activities within these areas, according to the National Committee on
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,