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In 2025, Rothschild & Co. plans to participate in the privatization process of a significant state-owned enterprise in Uzbekistan.

On January 15, representatives from the company, led by Baroness Ariel Malard de Rothschild, met with the leadership of the State Assets Agency. The Baroness congratulated the agency on successfully completing the People’s IPO program and expressed the company’s commitment to contributing to Uzbekistan’s development.

During the meeting, both parties discussed plans for implementing the privatization process jointly and agreed to foster close cooperation and share experiences. The specific enterprise involved in the discussion was not disclosed.

The Rothschild & Co...

In December 2024, ChatGPT ranked fourth among the most visited websites in Uzbekistan, according to data from SEMrush.

Over the year, the platform experienced an increase of 6 mln 261 thousand visits, which translates to a remarkable 948.5% growth, bringing the total to 42.73 mln visits per month.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the technology company OpenAI has introduced a new subscription plan for its clients called ChatGPT Pro.

Specialists with an English proficiency level of B2 and above are in high demand at IT Park Uzbekistan, as the company’s press service reported.

Knowledge of Japanese, Korean, German and English, in addition to English, is sought after, creating opportunities to work with international companies such as Sunnydays and Alex Solutions.

The most popular positions include Middle Project Manager, Senior Software Engineer, Help Desk Specialist and Frontend Engineer.

Salaries for junior specialists range from 6 to 12 mln soums per month. Middle-level specialists can expect to earn between 12 and 25 million soums, while wages for senior specialists exceed...

Kotrina Kulbite, a Lithuanian coach, will lead Uzbekistan’s women’s national soccer team, as reported by the UzA news agency.

Representatives from the Uzbekistan Football Association recently held preliminary discussions with Kulbite about her role.

During the meeting, it was emphasised that the new coach’s main objective will be to prepare the team for upcoming competitions, including the Asian Cup in 2029, the World Cup, and the Olympics.

As of mid-January, Uzbekistan’s women’s national team was 46th in the FIFA rankings.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that a coach from Uzbekistan will take charge of the Afghan national soccer...

From January to November 2024, Uzbekistan exported 125.2 thousand tons of carrots, generating $29.6 mln in revenue, according to the State Statistics Agency.

Kazakhstan was the largest buyer of Uzbek carrots, importing 50.2 thousand tons. Other significant buyers included Kyrgyzstan, which imported 41.7 thousand tons and Russia, which purchased 30.5 thousand tons.

By early December of the previous year, Uzbekistan had exported $1.4 bn worth of fruits and vegetables, marking a 30% increase compared to the same period in 2023. The primary markets for these exports were Russia, Kazakhstan and Pakistan.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that carrot prices...

The Agency for Agro-Industrial Development under the Uzbek Agriculture Ministry has announced plans to plant ten thousand hectares of industrial orchards and vineyards in the capital region.

To facilitate this initiative, the region aims to reduce the area dedicated to cotton and grain crops by 30%. Additionally, some new plantations may be established in the foothill areas, replacing low-yield orchards and vineyards.

Specialists are currently working to identify lands that have low and declining yields.

High-yielding varieties of grapes and fruit trees will be certified for the new orchards. The Ministry plans to develop recommendations for agricultural enterprises and...

Sara Raza has been appointed as the artistic director and chief curator of the Center for Contemporary Art in Tashkent.

The center aims to promote international creative exchange and will serve as a venue for art exhibitions, master classes and educational programs.

The opening of this cultural institution, following its reconstruction, is scheduled for the fall of 2025.

Sara Raza is an educator and the author of Punk Orientalism: The Art of Rebellion. Her accomplishments include exhibitions at the Mathaf: Arab Museum of Modern Art, the Rubin Museum of Art in New York and the International Center of Photography.

Uzbekistan has introduced penalties for the illegal keeping of wild animals following President Shavkat Mirziyoyev‘s signing of amendments to the Administrative Code.

Under the new law, individuals who keep wild animals in captivity or artificially created conditions will face fines ranging from five to ten times the Base Regulatory Value (BRV), which is equivalent to 1.88 to 3.75 mln soums. Additionally, the wild animals involved may be confiscated.

If a violation of this ban results in damage to someone else’s property or poses a threat to public health, the fine will increase to 10 to 50 times the BRV...

Rare historical manuscripts from Uzbekistan will be showcased at the Islamic Biennale in Jeddah, according to the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan.

Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to view pages from the 8th-century Qatta Langar Quran, Book of Instructions on the Basics of Astrology by Abu Rayhan Beruni, and Zij-i Ulugbek by Mirzo Ulugbek. Additionally, the 16th-century “Tashkent Scroll” will also be on display.

The Islamic Biennale is scheduled to take place from May 24 to 26.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Bukhara will host an international biennale in September.

The United States Senate has approved the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the deportation of illegal migrants convicted of even minor crimes, according to a report by Reuters.

Sixty-one senators voted in favor of the bill, allowing it to advance for further discussion. The legislation could be passed as early as next week.

Laken Riley is a 22-year-old American student who was attacked during a morning jog last February. She was the victim of an attempted rape and was subsequently strangled. DNA evidence led to the arrest of Jose Ibarra, a migrant who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the...

Photo: Unsplash

Reuters reports that the Chinese social network TikTok intends to cease operations in the United States of America (USA) on Sunday, January 19, if the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden does not provide it with security guarantees.

The platform says it needs guarantees for Apple and Google that they will not face coercion and liability when working with TikTok.

TikTok issued the statement hours after the US Supreme Court upheld the legality of an order banning social networks in the country.

The agency added that the White House has already made it clear that Biden, who...

Farrukh Rustamov has been appointed head of Uzkomnazorat inspection. The decree was signed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

He will oversee the sphere of informatization and telecommunications under the Ministry of Digital Technologies.

Previously, this position was held by Azam Abdullayev, who headed the agency since 2022.  

The art of making and playing the rubab, a traditional musical instrument, has been recognized as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, according to the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan.

This decision was made during the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee session for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Paraguay. Several countries, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran, prepared the nomination.

The foundation also noted that the rubab has become the sixteenth item proposed by Uzbekistan to be included on the UNESCO list.

The rubab (or rebab) is a stringed musical...

A special event is planned for the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, which will take place in Samarkand. The event will focus on development and collaboration within the organisation’s mandate.

This initiative was discussed in Paris during a meeting between Begonia Lasagabaster, UNESCO’s Director for Gender Equality, and representatives from Uzbekistan, including Gayane Umerova, Chair of the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art, and Kamol Mukhtarov, the country’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO.

The meeting highlighted the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy to support women’s roles in culture, art and digital technologies. Emphasis was placed on fostering women’s leadership...

Nigeria has officially joined the BRICS association as a partner country, according to an announcement from the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, which currently holds the organisation’s presidency.

“In fulfilling its interim presidency of BRICS, the Brazilian government announces the official entry of Nigeria as a partner country in the group,” the Foreign Ministry stated on its website.

With this development, Nigeria becomes the ninth partner country in BRICS. Previously, countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand and Uganda have received this designation.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry also noted that Nigeria is one of the largest economies in...

Kazakhstan’s National Bank opted to keep its base rate at 15.25%. This decision comes as inflation remains a key challenge in the country’s economic landscape.

Inflation and economic growth insights

In December, inflation in Kazakhstan stood at 8.6%, staying within the predicted range of 8-9% for 2024. Rising service prices and a sharp increase in non-food product costs since August have contributed significantly to inflation. These factors are further exacerbated by the ongoing Tariff-for-Investments initiative and the depreciation of the tenge. At the same time, stable inflationary trends indicate continued demand-side pressures driven by government fiscal policies.

Public...

Trade volume between Afghanistan and Iran grew significantly in 2024, with a reported increase of 84% compared to 2023, according to Iran’s trade advisor, Hossein Roustaei. The total transactions between the two countries reached $3.2bn, with Afghanistan exporting goods worth $54mn to Iran.

The rise in trade is attributed to challenges faced by Afghan traders with Pakistan, prompting many to prioritise trade relations with Iran. Afghan traders have called on authorities to address logistical and tax-related barriers to further enhance export opportunities.

Iran’s exports to Afghanistan in 2024 included petroleum products, gas, eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, powdered milk, agricultural tractors...

Samarkand Airport (SKD), the second-largest airport in Uzbekistan, achieved a new record for passenger traffic, serving over 1.38 mn passengers in 2024, CentralAsia+ Aero reports. This marks an increase of 36.6% compared to the previous record set in 2023. The growth is attributed to the effective public-private partnership model, with the airport being managed by the privately-run Air Marakanda since 2022.

Growth in international traffic and challenges in domestic operations

While the achievement is notable, the airport did not meet its initial target of reaching 2 mn passengers. The closure of Uzbekistan’s first low-cost carrier, Humo Air, alongside...

The National Agency for Prospective Projects (NAPP) and the cryptocurrency exchange Binance have reached an agreement regarding the platform’s operations in Uzbekistan, as reported by the agency’s press service.

“Access for residents of Uzbekistan to the Binance platform will be provided through the relevant resources of Coinpay LLC (coinpay.uz). Additionally, users will also be able to deposit and withdraw funds in the national currency using bank cards and national payment systems,” the NAPP statement reads.

For residents of Uzbekistan, the system with Binance will be launched after the integration of all modules is completed. Coinpay and Binance will announce...

In 2025, Uzbekistan plans to employ 5.2 mn people, as reported to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a presentation on poverty reduction measures.

This year, 60 cities and districts are set to become poverty-free zones for the first time. With the support of mahalla bankers, 1.5 mn people will secure permanent employment, and over 2 mn citizens will be engaged in business activities. UZS 120 trln will be allocated in loans to support small business projects.

The government plans to implement 32 new poverty reduction mechanisms based on international experience. For instance, solar power plants with a total capacity of...

According to his press service, the Uzbek government aims to exceed $30 bn in goods exports by 2025, as instructed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a recent meeting.

«This year, we plan to increase exports to more than $30 bn,» the statement indicated.

It was also noted that the authorities intend to boost exports in the textile and electrical industries by two to three times. The country has established its raw materials base to support growth in these sectors.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that in 2024, Uzbekistan exported goods worth $27 bn for the first time. To enhance...

According to Alisher Kadyrov, the leader of the Milliy Tiklanish party, signboards, announcements, and instructions in Uzbekistan should be written in Uzbek. He stated that this change is essential for improving attitudes toward the Uzbek language in the country.

«It is disappointing that, in all our cities, starting with Tashkent, external signs, announcements, and instructions are written in other languages, sometimes even in different alphabets! In Uzbekistan, all external signs and announcements should be in Uzbek,» Kadyrov expressed in his Telegram channel.

He added that it is acceptable to include translations in other languages «if necessary.» Kadyrov emphasized that...

A new factoring company, with a capital of $100 mln, will be established in Uzbekistan to support exporters. This announcement was made during a meeting with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

As part of the initiative, a portion of the costs for product certification will be reimbursed to enterprises, and laboratory equipment used for research will be exempt from customs duties. Additionally, $2 mln will be allocated to promote local products on international platforms.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that President Mirziyoyev criticised state companies and agencies for their shortcomings in investment policy.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan issued a strong warning to the leaders of Uztransgaz, Uzmetkombinat and Uzsuvta’minot due to issues with implementing their investment plans, according to the Press-Office of the head of state.

Investments have reportedly halved in Uztransgaz and Uzmetkombinat, while Uzsuvta’minot has seen a 20% decrease in its investments.

Mirziyoyev also criticized the Ministry of Ecology, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Agency for State Assets Management for failing to meet their grant attraction goals, which were not even achieved by 25%.

Grants obtained by the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry...