The collapse of the Soviet Union is rarely seen as a deliberate project. Rather, it is viewed as a crisis or a chain of events that spiralled out of control. Yet, when the early years of independence across the post-Soviet space are examined through the lens of sustainable development, it becomes clear that this period
The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) has joined the Foreign Investors Council (FIC) under the President of Uzbekistan as a full member. The FIC is an advisory body under the President of Uzbekistan, established to attract foreign direct investment and improve the investment climate. Its members include leading international financial institutions and major foreign companies operating
A new transit corridor has been established for transporting goods from China to Afghanistan via Uzbekistan, TOLOnews reported. Officials from the country’s transport sector and the company Uztemiryulkonteyner have stated that this route is a combination of rail and road transport. According to the plan, containers first move from China by railway, pass through Kazakhstan
On May 6, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Pre-school and School Education of Uzbekistan handed over 4,060 Climate Box educational toolkits to schools across the country, UNDP Uzbekistan reported. The initiative aims to strengthen climate education nationwide by equipping teachers with practical, ready-to-use materials and increasing students’ awareness
During the ADB Annual Meeting in Samarkand on May 6, the Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan and the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM) signed a Memorandum of Strategic Cooperation. The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev and Deputy Minister of Investment, Industry, and Trade Shokhrukh Gulamov on behalf of
Uzbekistan’s total external debt as of January 1, 2026, amounted to $82.2 billion. For the first time, private sector borrowings ($41.7 billion) exceeded public debt ($40.5 billion). Over 92% of private loans are long-term and do not have government guarantees, Tashkent Today reported with reference to official data. Key indicators: • Debt to GDP ratio
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has signed a $116 million financing package with Acwa, the world’s largest private water desalination company and a leader in the energy transition, to support the development, construction, operation and transfer of a 300-megawatt (MW) wind power plant in Uzbekistan’s Bukhara region, further accelerating the country’s transition to renewable energy. The financing
A bilateral technical meeting of the working group on the implementation of the provisions of the Agreement between the Governments of Tajikistan and Uzbekistan on the mutual application of electronic systems for the certification of origin of goods was held in Tashkent, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan reported. The initiative is being
Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has put forward an initiative to create a Central Asia Tourism Ring. The proposal was made at the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in the city of Samarkand on May 4, the Uzbek Tourism Committee reported. The President of Uzbekistan highlighted
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and with financial support from the Government of Japan, has officially commissioned five energy-efficient pilot sites in the Syrdarya and Tashkent regions. These sites, now handed over to local Khokimiyats, mark a significant step forward in Uzbekistan’s journey toward decarbonization
Today, Uzbekistan’s economy is undergoing an entirely new phase of development. Since 2016, the country has embarked on major reforms to liberalize the economy, create an attractive investment environment, participate proactively in global value chains, renew the social and production infrastructure, and improve living standards, Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in his address at the
On May 1–2, the opening of the “Central Asian Moto Season 2026” was held through the cooperation of the Tourism Committee of Uzbekistan and the Central Asian Motorcycle Association. According to the Tourism Committee, this project, now held for the third time, is one of the most vibrant events of motorcycle culture in Central Asia
From May 24 to July 12, the 65th International Flower Festival will be held in Namangan. As part of the festival, organized by the Tourism Committee and the Namangan regional administration (khokimiyat), more than 150 events of international and national scale are planned, including cultural and educational programs, theatrical and circus performances, gala concerts, fashion
Negotiations were held on April 30 in Tashkent between the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic Andrej Babiš, who was on an official visit to Uzbekistan. Mirziyoyev emphasized that the current visit would be a breakthrough and would open a qualitatively new stage in the history of multifaceted Uzbek–Czech
On April 29, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on measures for the further development of the hydropower sector. At present, the majority of electricity production relies on natural gas and coal, while the share of hydropower remains at approximately 10–12 percent. In this context, the development of hydropower plays a crucial role in ensuring the
Central Asia is a region prone to disasters, and earthquakes remain among its greatest risks. In April 1966, Tashkent was struck by a devastating earthquake that left more than 300,000 people displaced. Although the city was rebuilt and transformed into the modern Tashkent we know today, the remnants of that tragedy continue to endure. Other
Foreign visitors encounter critical difficulties using public Wi-Fi networks in Uzbekistan. The main obstacle is the mandatory SMS authorization using a local phone number, which makes internet access unavailable immediately upon arrival, Tashkent Today reports. Key problems: • Tashkent Airport: Connecting to the Wi-Fi network requires an Uzbek SIM card, which tourists do not have
On April 25, in Bishkek, energy and water ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Tajikistan discussed ensuring the sustainable and coordinated operation of Central Asia’s water and energy systems during the upcoming 2026 growing season. The meeting focused on mutual obligations of each country. The ministers noted the historical interconnectedness of national energy systems, with
The opening ceremony of the Burhonuddin Marginoni Complex, a new scientific, educational, and tourist facility, was held in the city of Margilan in the Fergana region on April 27 with the participation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The President emphasized that the complex will play an important role not only in the life of Margilan but
A meeting was held last week between the Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan on Environmental Issues and Chairman of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Aziz Abdukhakimov and the Minister of Ecology and Environment of China, Huang Runqiu. The parties discussed environmental cooperation between Uzbekistan and China, with a focus on the