The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is helping micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Uzbekistan to improve their access to green finance and promote green innovation by providing fresh funds under its Uzbekistan Green Economy Financing Facility II (GEFF II Uzbekistan). An EBRD loan of up to US$30 million (€25.7 million) under
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has presented its Macroeconomic Outlook for the Bank’s member states for 2026–2028. EDB analysts expect aggregate GDP growth across the seven member states to reach 2.3% in 2026, with most countries maintaining high levels of economic activity. In 2026, GDP growth is projected at 5.3% in Armenia, 1.8% in Belarus,
In his Address to the parliament and people of Uzbekistan on December 26, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev identified ensuring environmental balance, advancing green energy, and promoting the sustainable and rational use of water resources as a strategic priority for the nation. Reducing harmful emissions According to the President, in order to mitigate the environmental impact of
On December 26, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed the Uzbek parliament and the people of Uzbekistan. According to the President, significant achievements have been made in all spheres in 2025. For the first time in the country’s history, gross domestic product exceeded $145 billion, exports increased by 23 percent, reaching $33.4 billion, and the gold reserves exceeded
The President of Uzbekistan has identified the doubling of the number of 4- and 5-star hotels by 2030 as one of the key objectives for the development of the tourism industry. As part of the implementation of this strategic goal, special attention is being paid to the development of modern hotel infrastructure in the regions.
A special issue of the Visit Uzbekistan magazine has been published in China in the Chinese language. The magazine was prepared by the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan in cooperation with the Uzbek Embassy in Beijing. The purpose of this publication is to widely promote Uzbekistan’s tourism potential in China, introduce its rich cultural heritage and
The total forest area in Uzbekistan has now reached 4.7 million hectares. This is a result of the implementation of the “Uzbekistan–2030” Strategy, which, among other, includes measures to expand the area under forests and restore degraded lands across the country, according to the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change. The expansion of forests
Aziz Abdukhakimov, Adviser to the President of Uzbekistan on environmental issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, held a series of meetings reviewing the implementation of projects for the incineration of municipal solid waste for electricity generation. According to the National Committee, the discussions were held with representatives of Chinese
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Japan have launched a regional project, “Strengthening the System for Region-Wide Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia.” The new project, within the framework of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue, aims to enhance disaster resilience at both national and regional levels over two years, focusing
An official closing ceremony for the events held within the framework of the “Tourism Year of Uzbekistan in China” took place in Beijing. The event was organized by the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan. The ceremony was attended by official representatives of the tourism authorities of both countries, tourism industry professionals, and media. Speakers at the
On December 22, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Uzbekistan signed the FAO–Uzbekistan Country Programming Framework 2026–2030, which is embedded in the United Nations’ strategic priorities in the country and the globally adopted Sustainable Development Goals. The new agreement was signed by Viorel Gutu, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, and President of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon were awarded with the Leo Tolstoy International Peace Prize at a ceremony held at the Saint Petersburg State Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory on December 21. The prestigious award was presented in the presence of the President of the Russian
On December 20 in Tokyo, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi welcomed the Presidents of the five Central Asian countries as she hosted the first Summit of the “Central Asia plus Japan” Dialogue (CA+JAD) at the leader’s level. Prime Minister Takaichi highlighted the importance and potential of the Central Asian region, including its geopolitical significance as
At the first summit of the “Central Asia + Japan” Dialogue in Tokyo on December 20, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented his vision for the development of cooperation in the “Central Asia + Japan” format. The event, chaired by Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi, was also attended by President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev,
President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of Japan Sanae Takaichi held negotiations in Tokyo on December 20. Following the talks, the President of Uzbekistan and the Prime Minister of Japan signed a Joint Statement on an expanded strategic partnership for future generations. They emphasized that this document will elevate interaction to a
As part of his official visit to Japan, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev on December 19 held a meeting with the heads of leading Japanese companies, financial institutions, and business associations. The event was attended by Japan’s Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Ryosei Akazawa, as well as top managers of Sojitz, Sumitomo, Toyota, ITOCHU,
An event dedicated to the 110th anniversary of the prominent Uzbek art collector Igor Savitsky took place in London on December 16. Organized by the British publishing house Hertfordshire Press, which has specialized in translating and publishing works of classic and contemporary authors from Central Asia for nearly 20 years, the event was attended by
A national workshop in Tashkent on 18-19 December brought together teachers, education specialists, national and international experts to finalize and approve practical recommendations on how to include climate change topics in the 7–11 grade curricula for biology, geography, physics, chemistry, and mathematics, UNDP in Uzbekistan reported. The event was organized by the United Nations Development
According to the latest analytical data published by the World Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) in its World Tourism Barometer report, Uzbekistan ranked among the World’s Top 7 countries in terms of the fastest growth in inbound foreign tourism for January–September 2025. The number of international tourists visiting the country increased by 73 percent compared to
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $100 million loan and a $5 million grant for Uzbekistan to implement the Access to Finance for Jobs and Growth Project (FINGROW). It will expand access to credit and private equity financing for capital-constrained micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). In Uzbekistan, MSMEs account for over
