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Agricultural exports are vital to Uzbekistan’s economy, but this reliance makes the country vulnerable to climate change. Suna Park, advisor to the Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change and director of the National Center for Green Transformation and Adaptation to Climate Change, told how the weather affects the country’s economy.

The expert underlines that the air temperature in Central Asia has increased by 1.5 degrees over 30 years, double the global average. Moreover, in the past 50-60 years, the region’s glaciers have decreased by 30%.

These factors lead to water scarcity, soil degradation, and an increased risk of...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has approved regulations on Islamic funding for microfinance institutions (MFIs). The regulations are developed in accordance with the standards of AAOIFI (the Accounting and Auditing Organization of Islamic Financial Institutions) and consider local expertise, as explained by the Central Bank.

The regulations outline the core requirements for the provision of services. For instance, an MFI should establish Special Board of Islamic finance coordination (with the option to outsource this function).

In cases where MFIs also provide traditional financial services, the accounting for Islamic transactions must be kept separate.

The regulation details the procedure...

Nowadays, distances seem shorter, and borders are more open, so travelling has become an essential part of the lifestyle. It opens up world destinations for exploring different cultures, promoting tolerance and creating opportunities for international cooperation.

In May 2024, Mastercard released its fifth annual report, Travel Trends 2024: Breaking Boundaries, identifying current travel industry trends. For example, the report revealed that travellers spend one more day on holiday than before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kursiv interviewed Suleyman Sozeri, the company’s vice president for the CIS countries, about how Mastercard turns tourism into a world economic development driver by hard numbers...