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On July 1, the capital of Uzbekistan hosted the opening of the business conference Capital Market: New Opportunities for Investment, organised by Kursiv Uzbekistan. The event, streamed online via Zoom, brought together investors, regulators and business leaders to discuss the transformation of Uzbekistan’s financial landscape.

Opening the event, Anastasiya Novikova, CEO of Kursiv Uzbekistan, emphasised the importance of discussing investments during the quieter summer season.

«We deliberately chose the summer: yes, half of Tashkent is on vacation, but this is the best time to talk about investments. While you rest, your money keeps working.»

She...

At the opening panel of the Capital Market: New Investment Opportunities conference in Tashkent, experts explored the shifting focus of investors — with Uzbekistan investment emerging as a standout opportunity among emerging markets.

Karen Srapionov, Managing Partner at Avesta Investment Group, opened the session by noting that while the local capital market in Uzbekistan is expanding rapidly, the majority of funding still comes from strategic foreign investors. He stressed the importance of clearly positioning the country for the global investment community.

Mansurjon Rasulev, Director of the Agency for Foreign Investment Attraction, emphasized that foreign investors in Uzbekistan are drawn by...

Uzbekistan is set to become the fastest-growing telecom market in the CIS over the next three years, according to a new joint study by Nexign and TelecomDaily available to Kursiv Uzbekistan. While other CIS countries are expected to grow at a rate of 4–6% annually, Uzbekistan’s telecom sector is projected to expand by an average of 12.7% per year, driven by 5G deployment, infrastructure modernization and digital service expansion.

Market Growth and Key Drivers

From 2020 to 2024, Uzbekistan’s telecom market doubled in size, reaching 20.9 trln soums. Despite a slight slowdown in 2024 due to market saturation in...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree to introduce digital and automated services across Uzbekistan’s treasury and pension systems, according to the Ministry of Justice.

The government plans to set up compact regional service offices and shift all pension and treasury-related services to electronic and proactive formats.

The Digital Treasury system will launch nationwide from July 2026. From December 1 of the same year, the pension system will undergo full automation. As part of the reforms, a new service called My Pension will be introduced, allowing users to calculate their future pension based on employment history and salary data.

From...

Most high-liquidity stocks listed on the Republican Stock Exchange “Toshkent” showed mixed performance between June 23 and 27, while the Uzbekistan Composite Index (UCI) rose by 0.24%.

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Some stocks, such as SQB and Aloqabank, remained unchanged in value during the week.

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During a meeting with young citizens, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasised the urgent need to improve youth education in Uzbekistan, calling on training centers to focus on professional skills and foreign language education.

He highlighted that Uzbekistan currently has 15,000 educational centers and 7,500 vocational training organizations, which have received over 100 government incentives in recent years.

Mirziyoyev stressed the importance of expanding and modernizing these institutions to align with the country’s vision for a New Uzbekistan, where youth employment and qualified workforce development are national priorities.

«Hokims must treat every child as their...

Russian animation studio Soyuzmultfilm has submitted an application to register the ‘Chebubu’ trademark, according to RIA Novosti, citing the Rospatent database.

The application was filed on June 27 and indicates that the company plans to use the name for a wide range of products, from children’s cosmetics and toys to stationery and musical instruments. In total, the brand covers 45 product categories.

Experts note that registering a broad list of goods is a standard strategy for large media studios. It helps protect the brand name early on, enabling development across various sectors, from animated content to merchandise and digital...

Uzbek students who are admitted to one of the world’s top 300 universities will now be eligible for compensation of tuition and living expenses, according to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. The announcement was made during his recent meeting with youth.

The updated policy will be implemented through the El-Yurt Umidi Foundation and applies to students at the bachelor’s, master’s and PhD levels.

Special emphasis is placed on developing expertise in fields that are strategic for Uzbekistan’s future, with expanded quotas for international study in STEM, energy, transport, architecture, construction, urban planning and agriculture and water management.

In addition, students...

Uzbekistan is preparing a draft resolution aimed at combating the shadow economy, which includes a phased transition to cashless payments for real estate transactions, according to Mubin Mirzayev, First Deputy Chairman of the Tax Committee.

Currently, most property sales are conducted in cash or through payment services, making them difficult to monitor and contributing to informal reporting. The new system would require all transactions to be processed through banks, ensuring legal compliance and improved transparency, Mirzayev told senators.

The draft resolution focuses on promoting cashless payments and the legalisation of salary payments. It has already been approved by relevant...

Cristiano Ronaldo has signed one of the most lucrative contracts in sports history with Saudi Arabian club Al-Nassr. According to SportBible, the Portuguese star’s two-year deal is valued at £500 mln — roughly $635 mln or 8 trln UZS.

Key Contract Details:

Performance Bonuses:

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has set the official exchange rate of the US dollar (USD) at 12,694.97 Uzbek soums (UZS) as of June 30, 2025. This marks a rise of 40.85 soums compared to the previous rate.

From June 23 to June 27, the dollar exchange rate in Uzbekistan increased by 1.9%, reaching 12,654 UZS. According to Bloomberg, the dollar has weakened globally to its lowest level in three years, amid reports that President Donald Trump may replace the Federal Reserve Chair.

USD to UZS Rate Dynamics

On June 26, the US Dollar Index (DXY)

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that Uzbekistan’s leading enterprises will each allocate 10 bn soums to fund overseas internships for 100 young professionals. These investments in international training programs will be tax-deductible, he confirmed during a meeting with youth.

«These funds can be deducted from taxes,» the president said.

According to Mirziyoyev, around 1 mln young people in Uzbekistan are currently employed in strategic sectors such as mining, agriculture, textiles, chemical production and electrical engineering.

To support this emerging workforce, the government is launching a nationwide skill development system focused on industrial training...

Young startup entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan will now be nurtured from an early age.
Photo: Andy Hermawan / Unsplash

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced major new support measures for the country’s fast-growing startup ecosystem. During a meeting with youth, he revealed that Uzbekistan will boost investments in startups to $1 bn, further cementing its role as a leading innovation hub in Central Asia.

As part of the government’s entrepreneurship education reform, preparation for launching innovative projects will begin in schools. A special entrepreneurship skills class will be introduced, and a 100 bn soum grant fund will be established to...

Between January and May 2025, Uzbekistan exported 29.8 thousand tonnes of mung beans worth $25.8 mln, according to the State Statistics Committee. The annual export value declined by 3.7%.

China remained the primary buyer, accounting for 25.4 thousand tonnes of total shipments. Kazakhstan followed with 1.4 thousand tonnes, while Afghanistan imported 690 tonnes. The Netherlands and Russia received 670 and 373 tonnes respectively.

Overall, Uzbekistan exported agricultural products worth $619.6 mln in the first five months of the year — up 47.9% compared to the same period in 2024. Fruit exports amounted to $153.3 mln, vegetables to...

Nearly 39% of Uzbek citizens did not manage to save any money in the past year, according to a new report by the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The findings are based on a survey conducted in January–February 2025 involving 1,200 people across six regions and supported by focus group discussions with 198 participants.

The data shows that 47% of respondents aged 60 and over reported no savings, compared to 30% among young people. Among men, 37% said they had not saved anything, while the figure stood at 41% for women.

Over the past...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that in 2024, Uzbekistan ranked first in Central Asia for the number of young people admitted to the world’s top 500 universities.

Speaking at a youth forum, the president credited the success to long-term national efforts to link education, upbringing, and innovation.

«From the first days of reform, we focused on building a chain of science, education, and innovation — and today, we are seeing the results,» said Mirziyoyev.

According to the president, for the first time in the country’s history, Uzbek students have entered the...

As of June 1, 2025, Uzbekistan’s transport services market has reached UZS 70.7 trillion ($5.6 bn), marking a 14% year-on-year increase, according to the State Statistics Committee.

Tashkent leads the market with a share of UZS 15.5 trillion ($1.2 bn), followed by Samarkand and Tashkent regions, each contributing UZS 4.8 trillion ($381.5 mln). The Fergana region recorded UZS 3.8 trillion, while Andijan stood at UZS 3 trillion ($238.43).

Transport remains one of the key drivers of Uzbekistan’s broader services sector, which totalled UZS 373.4 trillion. Over the past year, transport service prices have risen by 17.4%.

In January, President...

OQ mobile communication app has announced the launch of an exclusive partnership with texnomart, a leading electronics retail chain. SIM cards with remote self-registration capability are now available at more than 10 partner stores in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Fergana. There are plans to expand this presence to all texnomart branches across the country in the near future.

The new format allows customers to purchase an OQ SIM card at the same time as they purchase a mobile device – without the need to visit a telecom service center. This marks the brand’s first offline collaboration. 

The US Senate has advanced President Donald Trump’s budget proposal following a narrow procedural vote, setting the stage for final approval by July 4, Reuters reports.

The bill passed by a margin of just two votes — 51 in favour and 49 against. Two Republican senators, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, broke ranks and joined Democrats in opposition.

The session was marked by intense debate. Senate Democrats insisted on a full reading of the 940-page document and are expected to propose numerous amendments before the final vote — a move Republicans say could delay the...

Uzbekistan Airways will restart direct flights between Tashkent and Tel Aviv on July 1 following a two-week suspension. The airline made the announcement via its official Telegram channel.

Tickets for the first flights are already sold out, with no seats available on July 1 and 3 departures, according to the airline’s website.

Economy class fares for July 8 flight start from UZS 4.6 mln, while business class tickets begin at UZS 12.1 mln.

Uzbekistan Airways suspended its Tel Aviv service from June 16 due to escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The airline also adjusted its schedules...

From August 29 to September 8, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan will co-host the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 — a major international football tournament in the Central Asian region.

This year, the competition will welcome two guest teams: the national squads of Malaysia and Oman. Their inclusion marks an expansion of the tournament, now in its second season, following a successful debut in 2023.

Tajikistan will host part of the group stage, while the final matches will take place in Uzbekistan. The official tournament draw is scheduled for 3 July at 16:00.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that FC Andijan received a new...

Afghanistan has reached full self-sufficiency in 130 sectors and partial self-reliance in 100 more, according to the Economic Deputy Office of the Prime Minister.

Around 6,000 factories across the country now produce 570 types of goods — from cement and steel to flour, salt, and medicine — providing direct employment to 135,000 people, said deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat.

The Islamic Emirate claims recent measures, such as land allocation, reduced customs tariffs, anti-smuggling efforts and trade fairs, have supported industrial development.

However, economists urge further action. Abdul Nasir Reshtia called for more consistent access to land, energy and financing, stressing...

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said the West will once again fail in its attempts to bring about a strategic defeat of Russia, stressing that the ongoing confrontation is unprecedented in scale.

Speaking during an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, Lavrov said the West was using the Ukrainian government as a «battering ram» in its campaign, but insisted that such efforts were doomed to fail.

«They’ve tried to defeat Russia before — and failed. They won’t succeed now either. Perhaps they are starting to realise this,» Lavrov said during talks with his Kyrgyz...

Uzbekistan has secured a seat on the Audit Committee of the World Customs Organization (WCO), marking its first-ever membership in the group.

The Audit Committee monitors internal procedures and financial management across the WCO. Only 12 countries hold seats at any given time.

Akmaljon Mavlonov, Chair of the Uzbek Customs Committee, said the election reflects growing confidence in Uzbekistan’s customs reforms. He noted that the country will prioritise transparency, accountability, and efficient governance in its new role.

The vote took place during the WCO’s annual session. Member states also appointed new leaders to the Council, Policy Commission, and Finance...