News

Israel’s GCI Gemological Centers has signed a partnership agreement with Uzbek company Expert One to establish a gemological centre in Tashkent, according to Dunyo news agency.

The new centre will focus on the analysis and certification of diamonds and other precious stones, applying GCI’s international standards. Alongside its core work, GCI Gemological Centers Uzbekistan plans to introduce educational programmes in gemology – the scientific study of gemstones and ornamental minerals.

Once operational, the Tashkent facility will become GCI’s first in Central Asia and only its second branch globally. The company is headquartered in Tel Aviv and currently operates gem...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan met with Turkmenistan’s National Leader and Chairman of the Halk Maslahaty, Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov, during a visit to the city of Turkmenbashi.

At the start of the meeting, President Mirziyoyev warmly congratulated Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov on the successful organisation of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, stressing the importance of the issues discussed for sustainable development in the region.

The two leaders reviewed progress on strengthening bilateral ties, following up on agreements made during their April meeting in Samarkand. They noted with satisfaction the steady growth in cooperation, grounded in friendship, trust and mutual...

Russia’s Supreme Court has refused to revisit a case brought by Russian company Telemarket, which sought to recover more than 46 bn roubles ($576.8 mln) in penalties from Uzbekistan-based enterprise Inspired. The claim was related to an alleged violation of rights to the trademark Рауmе.

In its ruling, the court stated that lower courts had fully reviewed the evidence, confirmed the relevant facts, and properly interpreted the applicable legal norms before reaching a decision.

Dispute rooted in use of similar app name

Telemarket had claimed exclusive rights to the Рауmе brand in relation to a number of goods...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has started accepting corporate bonds in its repo operations, expanding its list of eligible assets and giving commercial banks more ways to raise funds. The announcement came during a recent media dialogue with Central Bank officials.

Previously, only government-issued securities were accepted in repo deals. Now, the “collateral list” also includes corporate and mortgage refinancing bonds, according to Khumoyun Usmonaliev, Deputy Director of the Monetary Operations Department.

New rules introduce risk-based adjustments

To manage risk, the Central Bank applies what it calls a “correction factor” for each type of bond. This reduces the value...

Weather conditions across Uzbekistan on August 5, 2025 remain hot and dry, with no rain expected during the day. Winds are forecast at 7 to 12 metres per second, and daytime temperatures will range between 33°C and 38°C.

In Tashkent, dry weather also prevails, with lighter winds of 5 to 10 m/s and temperatures expected between 35°C and 37°C.

Mountainous areas will mostly stay dry as well, though isolated parts of the Fergana Valley’s highlands may experience brief rain showers or thunderstorms. Winds there are expected to reach 7 to 12 m/s, with gusts potentially increasing to...

The US President Donald Trump has spoken in support of actress Sydney Sweeney after her advert for American Eagle received criticism on social media.

On August 4, Trump posted on Truth Social: «Sydney Sweeney, a registered Republican, has the HOTTEST ad out there. Go get ’em Sydney!»

Sweeney, known for her roles in Euphoria and The White Lotus, appears in a new American Eagle advert that was released on 23 July. In it, she says:

«Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair colour...

Several banks have updated their rates for exchanging foreign currencies into UZS as of August 5. This article contains information about the most favourable rates.

Here are Central Bank Reference Rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Several banks offer the best rates to exchange USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, or KZT into soums:

Financial institutions may change the value...

The majority of highly liquid stocks on the Republican Stock Exchange (RSE) «Toshkent» showed mixed performance from July 28 to August 1, as the Uzbekistan Composite Index (UCI) slipped by 0.7%.

Several stocks posted modest gains, while others saw sharp declines.

Uzbektelecom shares led the gains with a 3.82% increase, followed by Uzbek Republican Commodity Exchange (UzRCE) at +3.32% and Ipak Yuli Bank at +3.11%.

However, Kokand Mechanical Plant shares recorded the steepest decline of the week, falling 12.71%. Biokimyo JSC dropped 11.10%, while Uzbekneftegaz lost 6.57%.

Common shares of Ipoteka Bank and preferred shares of Hamkorbank remained unchanged during...

Tesla has awarded CEO Elon Musk 96 mln shares valued at approximately $29 bn, according to a recent filing, in a move aimed at retaining the billionaire amid ongoing leadership and compensation tensions, as reported by The Telegraph.

The interim 2025 grant comes as the company continues to battle shareholder unrest over a previously voided $56 bn pay package from 2018, which a Delaware court ruled was «excessive.» Musk is currently appealing that decision.

Musk, already Tesla’s largest shareholder with a 12.7% stake, has publicly stated he would be uncomfortable leading the company without at least 25% voting control...

Uzbekistan will attract loans and private investments to finance the construction of infrastructure for the Sea Breeze Uzbekistan resort near Lake Charvak, according to a new government resolution.

The Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade (MIIT) has been instructed to secure funding from international financial institutions and private investors by January 1, 2026.

The planned works include the construction of a bridge, access roads, and utility infrastructure for the site. The resort will be developed on leased plots of land, and developers are required to pay an infrastructure fee of $50 per square meter of built-up area. These funds will...

As of January 1, 2025, Uzbekistan had 9.6 mln young people aged 14 to 30, accounting for 25.7% of the country’s total population, according to new data from the State Statistics Committee (UzStat).

The Samarkand region recorded the highest number of youth, with 1.1 mln individuals in this age group. It was followed by the Fergana region with 1 mln, and Kashkadarya with 969,200.

Other regions with significant youth populations include Andijan (870,800) and Namangan (790,100).

In the capital city Tashkent, the youth population reached 729,900 as of the beginning of the year.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that...

Uzbekistan has shown interest in importing cotton from the United States, according to the Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade (MIIT).

Discussions on potential purchases took place in late July between Uzbek officials and representatives of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Cotton Council International. The proposed deliveries would be facilitated through Washington’s GSM-102 credit guarantee program, which supports agricultural exports.

The two sides also explored the launch of a “Made from U.S. Cotton” initiative to promote products made using American raw cotton.

In 2024, the U.S. harvested 14.4 mln bales of cotton, marking a 19% year-on-year increase...

A new pilot project launched in Tashkent will allow residents of the capital to track the real-time location of emergency ambulance teams, Kursiv Uzbekistan learned from Yandex Uzbekistan’s press service.

Currently, the service is available via a web browser and only for emergency calls. After contacting a dispatcher, the caller receives an SMS with a link to an interactive map displaying the live location of the assigned ambulance.

In the future, the project is expected to scale up, with plans to integrate ambulance tracking directly into the Yandex Go mobile app.

According to the project’s developers, this feature will help...

Uzbekistan’s Competition Committee has given the green light to a major acquisition involving the cloud-based commerce platform Billz.

The British-headquartered TBC Bank Group PLC, part of the wider TBC Bank conglomerate, has been authorised to acquire a 46.67% share in Shoppe Group, the company behind Billz.

Billz provides businesses with digital tools to manage inventory, track sales, and offer online services through cloud technology.

While the regulator approved the transaction, it also imposed certain conditions to ensure fair competition. Specifically, Billz must not restrict access to its services for rivals of TBC Bank or its affiliated payment service Payme...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has issued its first-ever bonds denominated in Uzbek soums, raising 312 bn UZS (equivalent to $24.7 mln), the institution’s press service reported.

The bonds were placed at par with a coupon rate of 14.5% per annum and a three-year maturity. The issuance was arranged by Merrill Lynch International, a subsidiary of U.S. financial giant Bank of America.

According to the ADB, proceeds from this gender bond will be used to support women-owned businesses outside the capital city of Tashkent.

In addition, ADB also successfully placed 30 bn Mongolian tugrik-denominated bonds (approximately $8.4 mln). Standard...

Seventy-two foreign IT companies paid a total of 78.2 bn UZS (approximately $6.1 mln) in taxes to the state budget of Uzbekistan during the first half of 2025, according to the country’s Tax Committee.

This figure marks a 42% increase compared to the same period last year. The total value of digital services provided by these foreign companies in Uzbekistan reached 656.8 bn UZS.

Among the major international tech firms, Meta, owner of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, topped the list with 22.6 billion UZS in tax payments from January to July.

Apple came in second, contributing 22.1 bon UZS...

Russia emerged as the biggest buyer of construction materials from Uzbekistan in the first half of 2025, according to Sputnik. Between January and June, Russian importers purchased materials worth $107 mln, making them the top trading partner in this segment.

Other major buyers included Kazakhstan, which imported $94.7 mln worth of products, and Kyrgyzstan, with imports totalling $64.4 mln. Uzbekistan also shipped construction materials to Tajikistan ($53.7 mln), Azerbaijan ($9.7 mln) and Turkmenistan ($9.3 mln).

In total, Uzbekistan exported $428.4 mln worth of construction materials during the six-month period. More broadly, Uzbekistan’s total exports reached $16.9 bn in the...

A rare Labubu figure was sold on eBay for an astonishing $10,500, setting a new resale record for the quirky, «ugly-cute» collectible toy line that has taken the internet by storm. The sought-after grey-brown character, dressed in full Vans-branded streetwear, including trainers, a hoodie, and a two-tone cap embroidered with «The Monsters», was originally launched in 2023 as part of a Pop Mart x Vans blind box collaboration.

With an original retail price of just $85, the toy’s resale value has skyrocketed more than 100-fold, confirming its place at the top of the collectible market.

Limited Editions Fuel...

Officials from both Afghanistan and Uzbekistan, along with private sector representatives, have expressed optimism about significantly expanding bilateral trade and investment. Uzbek and Afghan entrepreneurs signed 45 agreements worth a total of $20 mln.

Nuruddin Azizi, Afghanistan’s Acting Minister of Industry and Commerce, said the country is actively working to increase its trade volume with Uzbekistan to $3 bn, stressing the need for a balanced approach to imports and exports.

«We must raise the ceiling of our trade and reinforce our commercial commitments. We should focus on expanding exports and not remain only importers,» Azizi...

From October 15, 2025, Malaysian budget airline AirAsia X will begin operating direct flights between Tashkent and Kuala Lumpur, creating a new travel corridor between Central and Southeast Asia. The announcement was made by the portal Travel and Tour World.

One-way tickets on the new route start from 2.7 mln UZS (approximately $199) for bookings made by August 3, with the fare including 7 kg of cabin baggage.

The service will run three times weekly, with flights departing on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

According to the schedule, planes will leave Tashkent at 19:30, arriving in Kuala Lumpur at...

OPEC and its allies have agreed in principle to a substantial increase in oil production for September, aiming to reclaim global market share by fully restoring a previously halted tranche of supply. A delegate from the group confirmed that the decision will be formally ratified during an upcoming video conference on August 3, Bloomberg reports.

The proposed increase of 548,000 barrels per day will mark the completion of a phased reversal of 2.2 mln barrels per day, a voluntary output cut made by eight OPEC+ members in 2023. The agreement also includes an additional quota adjustment for the...

Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has published an updated list of countries that Uzbek passport holders can visit without a visa or through simplified entry procedures. The list includes 40 countries with visa-free access and an additional 42 countries offering streamlined entry, either through visas on arrival or electronic visas.

Visa-Free Travel Now Available in 40 Countries

Citizens of Uzbekistan may enter the following destinations without requiring a visa:

Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers has officially approved the development of the Sea Breeze Uzbekistan resort, a major tourism project to be built on the shores of the Charvak Reservoir in the Tashkent region. The project, led by Agalarov Development, is now valued at $5 bn, significantly lower than the previously estimated $7–10 bn. Details of the resolution have been published on the government’s legal portal Lex.uz.

Spanning over 570 hectares, the resort area has been allocated to the developer on a 25-year lease. With a reduced rental coefficient applied, the company will pay 17 bn UZS ($1.3 mln) over...

Dry conditions are expected across Uzbekistan today with no rainfall predicted during daylight hours on August 4. Winds will range from 7 to 12 metres per second and daytime temperatures are set to rise between 33 and 38°C.

In the capital, Tashkent, the weather will remain clear and dry with light winds of 5 to 10 m/s. The temperature is forecast to reach 35 to 37°C.

In mountainous regions, brief rain showers and isolated thunderstorms may occur in some areas. Winds will generally blow at 7 to 12 m/s but may strengthen locally to 13 to 16 m/s. Daytime...