On June 3, on the sidelines of the 71st meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council, the Government of Uzbekistan, in partnership with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), officially launched the preparatory phase of the Nature4Health Uzbekistan initiative. The launch marks Uzbekistan’s official accession to the second phase of Nature4Health (N4H)
Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan will gain more access to long-term financing following IFC’s commitment of up to $10 million to Highland Central Asia Fund II. The investment will support job creation, private sector growth, and the development of the region’s private equity market, said IFC, a member of the World
Central Asia and Mongolia will remain resilient to geopolitical shocks and record the highest growth rates of the EBRD countries of operation in 2026 and 2027, according to the latest Regional Economic Prospects report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The economies of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan are projected to grow by 5.6 per cent
On June 2, the official opening ceremony of the international environmental exhibition Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 was held in Samarkand. The event brought together representatives from over 100 countries, heads of international organizations, investors, manufacturers of eco-friendly products, eco-innovators, as well as government officials and members of the expert community, according to the National
On June 2, within the framework of the Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 international exhibition, a side event titled “Islands of Resilience: Conserving Ecosystem Services in the Lower Amu Darya and Aral Sea Basin” took place in Samarkand. The event was dedicated to the restoration of ecosystems in the Aral Sea region, sustainable land and
In recent years, the international film industry has increasingly talked about diversity, cultural multiplicity, and the need for new voices. However, in reality, the global screen remains quite hierarchical: some countries are automatically considered “providers of great cinema,” while others are still relegated to the cultural periphery. When Western audiences hear about films from Central
The 71st meeting of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Council has officially opened in Samarkand ahead of the Eighth GEF Assembly and the Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 international exhibition. The event brings together representatives from 186 GEF member countries, international organizations, financial institutions, environmental agencies, civil society and the private sector, according to the
Afghanistan’s trade with Central Asian countries reached more than $1.27 billion in the first five months of 2026, including around $74 million of Afghanistan’s exports, TOLOnews reported citing the Afghan Ministry of Industry and Commerce. According to the ministry, dried fruits, fresh fruits, talc stone, vegetables, medicinal plants, and various types of juice are among
Representatives of the Government of Uzbekistan, the Government of Japan, the Republic of Karakalpakstan, development partners, and local stakeholders gathered in Tashkent this week for the inception workshop of the recently launched project “Strengthening Water Resource Governance and Resilience to Climate Change in the Aral Sea Region,” UNDP Uzbekistan reported. Implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade of Uzbekistan have signed a memorandum of cooperation under the Technical Assistance Fund (TAF). The document is aimed at supporting exports, product certification and the development of non-financial instruments for Uzbek businesses. TAF funds will be used for projects that help local
As part of the international tourism exhibition ITB China, the Chairman of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan, Abdulaziz Akkulov, held a meeting with the Vice President of Trip.com Group, Edison Chen. Trip.com Group is one of the world’s leading online aggregators of travel services and has more than 500 million users. The platform works with
Representatives of government institutions, civil society organizations, academia, the media, and international partners gathered in Tashkent on May 25 for a roundtable to discuss the research study “Gender and Corruption in Uzbekistan: Towards Transformational Change.” The research was completed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Anti-Corruption Agency, with the financial support of
Uzbekistan’s private sector has signed trade agreements and memorandums of understanding worth more than $5 billion with Afghanistan over the past eight months, TOLOnews reported citing the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI). These agreements cover sectors including fresh and dried fruits, precious and semi-precious stones, coal, cement, carpets, cotton, raw materials, food products,
Today, Uzbekistan stands among the fastest-growing e-commerce markets in Central Asia. The sector reached USD 1.2 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow to USD 1.8–2.2 billion by 2027, according to the Uzbek Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. Market development is supported by 32.7 million internet users, the widespread adoption of digital payment solutions, and the steady expansion of logistics
A two-day national seminar titled “Working with Labour Migrants: Theoretical and Practical Approaches for Safe Adaptation and Ethics-Based Recruitment” kicked off on May 25 in the framework of EU-funded regional project PROTECT “Improving Migration Management and Migrant Protection in selected Silk Routes and Central Asian Countries”, implemented by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development
On May 22, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in the launch ceremony of a nationwide movement aimed at promoting a culture of reading in Uzbekistan. Mirziyoyev noted that the world is changing rapidly, with digital technologies, modern gadgets, and artificial intelligence becoming increasingly integrated into everyday life. In such complex conditions, the most important advantage
Local officials in Afghanistan’s Bamyan say Uzbekistan’s private sector is planning to invest in potato production in the province, TOLOnews reported. A delegation led by the head of Uzbekistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Private Investment, during a meeting with the Bamyan governor, pledged to cultivate 40 metric tons of potato seeds on agricultural land in
In Central Asia, much of the conversation still revolves around oil, logistics, borders, and geopolitical influence. Yet the most decisive resource of the region’s future is neither hydrocarbons nor transit corridors. It is water. Stripped of diplomatic language, the reality is stark: the region is entering a phase where the Soviet-era water management system –
The Third Uzbekistan–China Interregional Forum is being held on May 21 and 22, in China’s Xi’an. Under the theme “Shared Modernization through High-Quality Development,” the forum has brought together nearly 2,000 participants, including representatives from ministries and agencies, regional administrations, academic circles, business associations, leading companies, and entrepreneurs from both nations, according to the Uzbek
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has signed a $70 million investment loan agreement with Uzum, Uzbekistan’s largest digital ecosystem, to accelerate the expansion of Uzum’s FinTech business, one of the leading and fastest-growing players in Uzbekistan’s burgeoning digital finance market. The agreement marks the Bank’s first-ever investment in Uzbekistan since the country joined the organization