News

Uzbekistan’s banking industry is expected to maintain strong momentum over the next three to five years, according to new research by the analytical firm Frank RG. The report identifies digitalisation, the rollout of Open Banking and government-led privatisation initiatives as the main drivers of expansion.

Experts note that the sector remains one of the most dynamic in Central Asia. A major factor has been the rapid adoption of digital tools. Open Banking technology is being actively introduced, allowing banks to access transactional data from other institutions and create new lending models. This gives Uzbekistan a technological advantage in certain...

Uzbekistan will experience dry weather during the day on August 20. Air quality index shows exceeding levels of PM 2.5 particles.

Winds are expected at 7–12 m/s, with stronger gusts of 13–16 m/s in the northern parts of the country where blowing dust may occur. Daytime temperatures will range between 32°C and 37°C.

In Tashkent, no rain is expected. Winds will be lighter at 3–8 m/s and temperatures are forecast to reach 34–36°C.

In the mountainous areas conditions will remain dry, with stronger winds of 9–14 m/s. Temperatures there will be slightly cooler at 25–30°C.

Air Quality in...

Warner Bros. Games, TT Games, DC and the LEGO Group have officially announced LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a brand-new action-adventure game that promises to reimagine the journey of Gotham’s hero. Drawing on more than eight decades of Batman films, television, comics and games, the title combines iconic storytelling with TT Games’ trademark LEGO wit.

«We are thrilled to reveal LEGO Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knight, a fantastic experience designed to appeal to all types of players,» said JB Perrette, President and CEO of Streaming & Games at Warner Bros. Discovery.

«Our...

Several banks have updated their rates for exchanging foreign currencies into UZS as of August 20. 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...

Uzbekistan’s tourism sector is strengthening year by year, with visitor numbers rising across all regions and new modern hotels and facilities emerging nationwide. A recently completed hotel complex near New Uzbekistan Park in Tashkent stands as a clear continuation of this momentum. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during his tour of development projects in the city, also visited the site.

From neglected land to modern hub

Land that was once neglected has been transformed into a well-designed area covering more than eight hectares. The complex features 12 modern hotels, the 375-seat New Tashkent conference hall, a 310-seat restaurant, a...

In July 2025 Uzbekistan recorded a significant improvement in its Business Activity Index (BAI), which climbed by 15.9% compared with the previous month, according to the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR). On an annual basis, the index rose by 14.3%.

The strongest influence came from brand registration activity. Trademark protection sub-index surged by 51% over the month, with 468 trademarks officially registered nationwide.

The exchange component of the index also posted strong results, growing by 33.2% compared with June. The average volume of goods per transaction rose by 38.2%, while the number of trades increased by...

Brazil’s Supreme Court has ruled that foreign laws and judicial decisions cannot automatically take effect within the country, a move that immediately drew criticism from the United States. The ruling was issued on August 18, by Justice Flavio Dino in response to a petition from the Brazilian mining industry.

Mining lobby behind the case

The decision stemmed from a request by the Brazilian Mining Association (Ibram), which raised concerns about lawsuits filed in foreign courts seeking compensation for mining disasters in Brazil. These include the 2015 Mariana dam collapse and the 2019 Brumadinho disaster, both of which caused...

As global temperatures rise sharply, climate change is triggering severe environmental challenges across the world. Many regions are already facing disasters such as rising water levels, floods and droughts, all signs of worsening ecological conditions. Central Asia, and particularly Uzbekistan, is not immune to these threats.

Central Asia at the frontline of climate stress

The region is highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Extreme heat accelerates the evaporation of water from lakes and reservoirs, reduces river flows and shrinks glacial reserves. Such pressures intensify water shortages, which in turn create risks for agriculture, energy generation and ecosystems...

On August 18, a working session took place at the Uzatom Agency with a Kazakh delegation led by Zhomart Aliev, Vice Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, to discuss the next stage of cooperation in the nuclear field.

From the Uzbek side, leaders and specialists of Uzatom, the Directorate for Nuclear Power Plant Construction, the Ministry of Defence, the Ministries of Health and Emergency Situations, the Ministry of Ecology Environmental Protection and Climate Change, the Tashkent branch of NRNU MEPhI as well as O‘ZGASHKLITI and Uzliti Engineering took part.

The Kazakh side was represented by senior officials and experts...

U.S. President Donald Trump has promised Zelenskiy to support Ukraine’s security in any eventual peace settlement with Russia, though the scope of that assistance is not yet clear, Reuters reports.

The pledge came during a high-level summit at the White House where Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and a group of European leaders, following Trump’s recent meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

«When it comes to security, there’s going to be a lot of help,» Trump told reporters, adding that Europe would be deeply involved. Zelenskiy called the assurances «a major...

On August 19, Uzbekistan is expected to experience dry conditions across the country. Daytime winds will reach 7–12 m/s, with gusts in desert areas rising to 13–16 m/s, bringing dusty air near the ground. Daytime temperatures will range between 32°C and 37°C.

In Tashkent, the forecast also predicts clear skies with no rainfall. Winds in the capital will be lighter at 3–8 m/s, while the daytime temperature is set to stay between 33°C and 35°C.

Mountainous regions will remain dry as well. Winds are forecast at 7–12 m/s, occasionally strengthening to 13–18 m/s in certain areas. Temperatures in these...

Several banks have updated their rates for exchanging foreign currencies into UZS as of August 19. 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...

On August 17, 2025 Uzbekistan advanced its cultural engagement with Japan on two fronts.

MoU Signed with Nara Partners

In Nara a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation, the City of Nara and the Nara National Museum. The agreement sets out plans to co-organise in 2027 a major exhibition on cultural connections along the Great Silk Road and to expand academic, museum and expert cooperation in heritage fields. The signing marks a new step in Uzbekistan’s cultural diplomacy, opening opportunities to deepen links with Japanese institutions and increase international visibility...

A Liverpool supporter who racially abused Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo has been banned from attending football matches across the UK.

Merseyside Police confirmed that the 47-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence following the incident at Anfield on Friday. He has now been released on conditional bail, which includes a ban from regulated football matches and a restriction preventing him from coming within one mile of any designated stadium.

The abuse took place in the 29th minute of the match when Semenyo went to take a throw-in. Witnesses reported the fan shouting a...

On August 18, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the newly built Olympic Village in Tashkent, a project designed to become a landmark for national sport and modern architecture.

Construction of the complex began on November 9, 2022. At the time, the head of state said it would symbolise the creative potential of the Uzbek people and showcase the country’s sporting ambitions through advanced design, energy efficiency and the use of innovative solutions. Less than two years later, those expectations have been met with the delivery of a facility covering more than 100 hectares.

Developed by CAMC Engineering

The Chief of Staff to the President of Uzbekistan, Saida Mirziyoyeva, has announced that Bishkek will host the second edition of the Zakovat Asian Cup.

The event will take place on August 20, bringing together national teams from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Both delegations will feature some of the strongest players in the intellectual movement.

«Bishkek, get ready for us! On August 20 we are coming to you with the Zakovat Asian Cup II. I am glad that Zakovat is becoming a game that erases borders and unites the best minds of Central Asia,» Mirziyoyeva wrote.

On the eve of Entrepreneur’s Day, the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) released its latest nationwide survey assessing Uzbekistan’s business climate. The results reveal steady improvements across most sectors, with entrepreneurs showing confidence in future growth.

Overall Trends

In July, the composite business climate index rose to 52 points, an increase of five compared with the same month in 2024. The rise was largely due to higher current activity, with the current situation index climbing by 14 points to reach 44. This measure reflects how entrepreneurs assess sales, demand, employment, access to resources and operational stability.

Thailand is preparing to roll out a new pilot scheme that will allow foreign visitors to convert cryptocurrencies into Thai baht for use in the country, the nation’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has announced.

The initiative, known as TouristDigiPay, will begin in the final quarter of 2025 and run for 18 months. It is being developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) and the Ministry of Tourism and Sports.

Payments in baht, not crypto

Under the framework, cryptocurrencies themselves cannot be spent directly. Merchants will instead be paid in baht, while...

A section of the kiswa, the cloth that covers the sacred Kaaba in Mecca, has been brought to Uzbekistan, the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the republic announced.

The fragment, which was positioned above the door of the holy site, was delivered from Saudi Arabia intact. It measures 6.3 metres in height and 3.3 metres in width.

By the initiative of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the cloth will be placed in the museum of the Centre for Islamic Civilisation in Tashkent.

The Kaaba, regarded as the holiest site in Islam, is located in Mecca. According to tradition it was built...

Supernova Strikers 2025 delivered one of the year’s most talked-about fights, as Alana Flores earned a unanimous decision victory over Gala Montes on August 17 at the Palacio de los Deportes.

Venue was sold out and the result was clear: Alana Flores won 30–26 on all three judges’ scorecards. The fighter from Monterrey raised her arms in celebration after overcoming an opponent who held a size and weight advantage but could not match her pace or resolve.

The evening began with theatrical walkouts. Montes entered first, styled in black lace and introduced as «The Bride of Mexico», though her...

On August 17, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a telephone conversation with President of Russia Vladimir Putin. The leaders exchanged views on current international matters as well as the bilateral agenda.

President Putin briefed his Uzbek counterpart on the main outcomes of the Russia–United States summit held in Anchorage on August 15.

President Mirziyoyev welcomed the positive momentum in high-level dialogue between Moscow and Washington and stressed the importance of working towards a peaceful settlement in Ukraine.

The two sides also discussed the need for coordinated measures to maintain the current pace of trade and...

Afghanistan and Uzbekistan have formalised contracts worth about $243 mln for four large-scale electricity infrastructure projects, Ariana News reports. The agreements were signed in Kabul on August 17 in the presence of Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar Akhund, Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, and Uzbekistan’s Minister of Energy, Jurabek Mirzamahmudov.

The contracts were concluded between Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS) and Uzbek energy partners. Once completed within 18 months, the projects will enable Afghanistan to import between 800 and 1,000 megawatts of electricity from Uzbekistan.

Projects Agreed

The four initiatives include:

On August 18, most of Uzbekistan will experience dry weather. Brief showers and isolated thunderstorms are possible in parts of the Fergana Valley during the morning. Winds will reach 7–12 m/s, occasionally strengthening to 13–18 m/s with dust in some areas. Daytime temperatures are expected to range between 30°C and 35°C.

The capital will remain dry with winds at 3–8 m/s. Temperatures in Tashkent will be between 32°C and 34°C.

In the mountain regions, brief showers and thunderstorms are expected in some locations. Winds will be 7–12 m/s, sometimes increasing to 13–18 m/s. Temperatures will vary from 21°C to...

Several banks have updated their rates for exchanging foreign currencies into UZS as of August 18. 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...