The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) and Yashil Energiya have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in renewable energy. The parties plan to jointly finance and implement projects in distributed solar generation, electric vehicle charging infrastructure and small hydropower plants in Uzbekistan. The ceremony took place within the framework of the Tashkent International Investment Forum last
Over the past three decades, the post-Soviet space has embraced megaprojects with a fervour reminiscent of Soviet-era “gigantomania”. A new terminal, a new city, a new tech hub, a new railway – each presented as a leap into the future. Too many of these projects have turned out not to be engines of growth, but
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is providing funds to develop sustainable transportation solutions in Nukus, the sixth-largest city in Uzbekistan and the capital of the autonomous republic of Karakalpakstan, in the latest project under the EBRD Green Cities programme. The EBRD’s sovereign loan of up to US$ 37 million (€ 32.2 million)
On June 18, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a plenary session of the Foreign Investors Council. The meeting was attended by President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Odile Renaud-Basso, executives of leading international companies, banks, and financial institutions. Addressing the meeting, the President noted that in recent years the Council under
The President of the Federal Republic of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in Uzbekistan on an official visit on June 17 and held talks with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The discussions focused on further advancing Uzbek-German cooperation, strengthening political dialogue, expanding trade and economic ties, and enhancing cultural and humanitarian exchanges. The parties expressed satisfaction
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the government of Uzbekistan have agreed to deepen their long-term strategic cooperation, helping to establish a competitive, resilient, green and well-governed private sector and supporting the preparation and implementation of public-sector projects, according to the EBRD. The enhanced partnership framework agreement (EPFA) between the two parties will
Over the past years Uzbekistan has attracted more than $150 billion in foreign investment, of which $123 billion has been secured in the last five years alone, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said in his address at the Fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum. We are implementing systemic measures to improve fundamentally the investment climate in
The Uzbekistan-Turkiye Business Forum was held on June 16 in Tashkent. The event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan Jamshid Kuchkarov, Minister of Trade of Turkiye Omer Bolat, as well as representatives of government agencies, business circles, investors, major corporations, and business associations from both countries, according
On June 15, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on plans to develop the raw material base for critical minerals and expand the production of high value-added products. The President emphasized that the critical minerals sector plays a crucial role in developing new industries, increasing exports, ensuring technological independence, and creating highly skilled jobs. Global demand
From June 16 to 18, Tashkent will host the fifth anniversary Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF), an event that has evolved over five years from a discussion platform into a key indicator of investment interest in Central Asia. Prior to the official opening, the number of registered participants has exceeded 8,316, setting an absolute record
The Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan last week hosted a roundtable discussion to present the findings of the study “The Role of Investigative Journalism in Strengthening Uzbekistan’s Anti-Corruption Ecosystem: Challenges and Solutions,” conducted jointly with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) with funding from the European Union (EU). The study examined the current state of investigative journalism
Central Asia is often defined by its oilfields, mountain ranges, and the revival of the Silk Road trade routes. Yet its most valuable resource, above all, is its people. Since the 1990s, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and their neighbours have undergone profound demographic shifts. Fertility rates, once among the highest in the world, have declined; life
The statistics agency and the Supreme Court have released the 2025 figures reflecting trends in family relationships in Uzbekistan. The number of marriages has declined for the fourth consecutive year, while divorce cases have become one of the most common categories of court cases, Tashkent Today reported. Key indicators: • Age at marriage: The average
On June 11, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals to improve oncological and hematological care, enhance the palliative care system, and strengthen support for employees of public healthcare institutions. In Uzbekistan, systematic efforts are underway to protect public health and ensure the early detection and effective treatment of serious diseases. In this regard, providing specialized medical
Three environmental heavyweights took to the stage at the opening ceremony of Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 in Samarkand on 2 June: Grethel Aguilar, Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN); Inger Andersen, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP); and Aziz Abdukhakimov, Advisor to the President
Hosting the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly and Eco Expo Central Asia 2026 in Samarkand this month, Uzbekistan seized the opportunity to advance its ambitions to become a world leader in green finance and climate innovation. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s speech at the opening ceremony of the GEF Assembly on 4 June, 2026 was delivered by
British publisher and public figure Marat Akhmedjanov has been awarded a medal from the International Organization of Turkic Culture, TÜRKSOY, which unites the states of the Turkic world and is dedicated to preserving their shared historical and cultural heritage. The award was presented in recognition of Akhmedjanov’s long-standing contribution to the development of literature, culture,
In recent years, the number of Chinese tourists visiting Uzbekistan has been growing significantly. According to the Uzbek Tourism Committee, following the introduction of a visa-free regime, the tourist flow from China increased 3.5-fold. In the first five months of 2026, 178,121 Chinese citizens visited Uzbekistan, 78% more compared to the same period in 2024.
On June 9, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was briefed on measures to expand the adoption of digital solutions and artificial intelligence technologies in the mining and geology sector. The mining and geology sector plays an important role in the country’s economy. In 2025, enterprises in the sector accounted for 20 percent of total industrial output. Artificial
The United States and Uzbekistan on June 3 marked the restoration of the Sherdor façade at Samarkand’s Registan Square. The project, which is being implemented between 2025 and 2028, is supported by a grant of $500,000 from the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) — the largest AFCP award ever granted in Uzbekistan, according