According to the latest Regional Economic Prospects (REP) report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Central Asian economies in 2024 are expected to see growth slowing to 5.4 percent. However, a rebound to 5.9 percent is expected in 2025. The report notes that intermediated trade with Russia, which had been a significant growth
The Special Representative of Uzbekistan’s President, Ismatullah Irgashev, and the Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, Ilkhom Makhkamov, arrived in Kabul on May 12, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported. During a meeting with the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate (the Taliban administration of Afghanistan), Ilkhom Makhkamov stated that Uzbekistan supports the Islamic Emirate’s
In 2024, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan commemorates Europe Day and 30 years of partnership between the European Union and Uzbekistan. To mark this significant milestone, a public festival and concert celebrating “30 Years of European Union – Uzbekistan Partnership” will take place on 18 May at the Tashkent Botanical Garden, the EU
The Supreme Court of Uzbekistan has exonerated posthumously 198 individuals convicted by the Soviet regime in the 1920s-1930s for “counter-revolutionary actions, armed uprisings, terrorism, banditry and espionage, and anti-Soviet activities,” RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. The Supreme Court announced on May 6 its decision to exonerate the men, many of whom were sentenced to death and others who were
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is supporting micro, small and medium-sized businesses and improving access to finance for young entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan by providing a financial package of up to US$ 20 million (€18.8 million) to a major private lender, Ipak Yuli Bank. The package consists of a US$ 10 million loan under
Significant steps towards expanding relations between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were made within the framework of the III Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 2-3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan reported. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Nazira Nurbayeva spoke at the event, saying that last year, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan reached
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on May 2 said it is contributing to the development of sustainable transport connections in Central Asia by financing the upgrade and expansion of a key transportation route in Uzbekistan. The EBRD’s sovereign loan of up to US$ 238 million (€224 million) will help rehabilitate around 81 km of
Speaking at the Third Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 2, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that in the past few years, Uzbekistan has attracted over 60 billion dollars in foreign investments, and more than 14 billion dollars from international financial institutions have been directed to social and infrastructure projects. The volume of foreign
The European Union on April 25 granted EUR 6 million to the Government of Uzbekistan to help incentivize the adoption of National Food Security and Healthy Nutrition Strategy. In addition to the grant, technical assistance funded by the European Union will support the Ministry of Agriculture in planning reforms, the Delegation of the European Union
U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick presented 50 CT-40 inspection tool kits valued at over $700,000 to the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan. Chairman Akmalhoja Mavlonov accepted the equipment on behalf of the Committee. The equipment purchased by the Department of State’s Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund, with support from the Export Control and Border Security (EXBS)
The English Speaking Nation (ESN) program has successfully trained more than 18,000 English teachers across Uzbekistan, boosting the language skills of and ensuring high quality English instruction for the nation’s secondary school students. The four-year, $7 million program culminated in a festive closing ceremony in Tashkent on April 20, the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan reported. Launched
The European Union, an EU Consortium under the leadership of GIZ, UNDP Uzbekistan and the Anti-corruption agency of Uzbekistan have launched the Action “Improving Governance in Uzbekistan”, aimed at bolstering the nation’s anti-corruption efforts, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan reported. Funded by the European Union, the Action will be carried out by
During his state visit to Tajikistan on April 18, the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held talks with the President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, and the two leaders signed a Treaty on Allied Relations between their countries. Mirziyoyev said that Tajikistan is the closest, most reliable and time-tested strategic partner of Uzbekistan. “The fraternal Uzbek
Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy has announced that the draft Agreement between the governments of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan on the joint implementation of the project for the construction and operation of Kambarata hydroelectric power plant (HPP)-1 has been posted on Kazakhstan’s official Internet portal, Open Legal Acts, for public discussion. The Agreement determines the terms
On April 15, the Second Foreign Ministerial Meeting of the Strategic Dialogue “Central Asia – Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf” was held in Tashkent under the chairmanship of the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov. The event was attended by the Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar Sheikh Mohammed
Economic growth in Uzbekistan is expected to decrease in 2024 due to the impact of higher prices on household disposable income, according to a new flagship report from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). In its Asian Development Outlook (ADO) April 2024, ADB projects gross domestic product (GDP) growth for Uzbekistan to be 5.5% in 2024, followed
The Uzbek Culture Ministry said on April 5 that the Artdocfest/Asia film festival was blocked because its organizers “did not obtain permission” to hold a public event and failed to comply with regulations, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. The international documentary film festival began on April 2 in the capital, Tashkent, but was suddenly stopped by
Minister of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan Kongratbay Sharipov and Chairman of the Government of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China Erkin Tuniyaz have signed an agreement on granting scholarships to Uzbek citizens to study in higher educational institutions in the western Chinese region, the government portal of Uzbekistan reported. The two sides
Late in March, the Qoshkopir College of Water Resources and Melioration in Khorezm region in partnership with the UNESCO Office in Uzbekistan held the launching ceremony of the newly renovated college. The event marked a crucial advancement in the Skills Development for Employability in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan project, funded by the European Union, the Delegation of
The cover story of the latest issue of Open Central Asia Magazine, which is published for the Eurasian Creative Guild (London), features Gulchekhra-begim Makhmudova — one of the most important women in Uzbekistan and the CIS countries in the field of culture, beauty and perfume. She started in 1985 as a producer of the international
