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In Tashkent, passengers who pay for bus fare in cash will face fines, according to Allayor Norbotaev, the deputy head of the capital’s transport department.

The fine will be set at 1/10 of the basic calculation value of 37,500 soums. If a passenger is caught violating this rule for the first time, they will receive a warning.

It is important to note that cashless payments for public transport were introduced in January 2025 by the decision of the Tashkent Mayor. To pay for a journey, passengers must use a bank or a transport card or purchase disposable tickets with...

Uzbekistan imported 68,600 passenger cars and electric vehicles, totalling $1.1 bn, from January to November 2024, according to the Uzbek Statistics Agency.

The majority of these vehicles were purchased from China (55,700 units), followed by South Korea (11,200 units) and the United States (633 units). Additionally, 577 cars were imported from India and 152 from Japan.

As of early December of the previous year, Uzbekistan had produced 382,300 passenger cars, reflecting an annual growth of 1.6%.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the Cobalt Midnight will be launched soon.

Photo: Depositphotos

According to the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Uzbek boxer Shahram Giyasov has apologised for his involvement in a bout with a bear at the Buka Gym sports club. He has been fined three basic calculation units, amounting to 1.1 mln sums.

Giyasov was also summoned to the ministry, where he received a warning about the unacceptable treatment of animals and the regulations governing their captivity.

A scandalous video of the fight with the bear surfaced online at the end of December, leading to widespread anger among many Uzbeks. The Uzbek Environment Ministry...

According to a draft law approved by the Oliy Majlis, the state will support Uzbek agricultural producers in suring against animal and plant diseases and natural disasters.

This document lays out the rules for insuring agricultural risks and establishes the creation of an Agricultural Insurance Fund in the republic.

The state will offer subsidies to farmers to help them pay insurance premiums and receive compensation for losses.

The deputies have also backed the complete digitalisation of the insurance process and the state’s industry regulation. This bill aims to create a unified insurance system for agricultural products and foster favourable...

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan purchased nine tonnes of gold by the end of November 2024, according to statistics from the World Gold Council (WGC).

Over the first 11 months of the year, the Central Bank bought a total of 11 tonnes of gold, increasing the nation’s gold reserves to 382 tonnes.

Based on WGC’s November data, the largest gold buyer globally was the Polish Central Bank, which acquired 21 tonnes. Uzbekistan ranked second, followed by the Reserve Bank of India, which purchased eight tonnes.

In total, global central banks bought 53 tonnes of gold in November, as reported...

Uzbekistan has moved up two places in the Global Passport Power Ranking 2025, taking 68th place.

This year, Uzbeks can visit 32 countries without a visa. Entry permits will be required in 120 countries.

Citizens of Kazakhstan (52nd place) have the ‘strongest’ passport in Central Asia. Kyrgyzstan is in 68th position, and Tajikistan is in 72nd place.

The top five ‘strongest’ passports in the world include the UAE, Spain, Finland, France, Germany and Spain.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbeks are able to obtain a German visa online.

In 2024, taxes contributed 199.6 trillion soums to Uzbekistan’s state budget, according to Dildora Khoshimova, spokeswoman for the republic’s Tax Committee.

This amount represents a 20% increase compared to 2023. Tax collection saw significant growth in several regions: Tashkent experienced a 27% rise, Syrdarya increased by 25% and Tashkent Region grew by 23%.

Khoshimova noted that revenues from property and land taxes paid by individuals rose by 31.4%.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the Finance Ministry anticipates the state budget will garner 308.5 trillion soums in 2025.

Photo: KazTransOil

In 2024, the volume of oil transiting through Kazakhstan to China and Uzbekistan reached 10.2 mln tonnes. This represents an increase of 70,000 tonnes compared to 2023, according to a report from the press service of KazTransOil.

Over the past year, the total volume of hydrocarbon deliveries through KazTransOil’s main oil pipelines increased by 2%, totalling 44.8 mln tonnes.

Kazakh oil exports in 2024 amounted to 17.2 mln tonnes, a 4% increase from 2023.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports the discovery of a hidden tunnel designed for ferrying oil along the Uzbek-Kazakh border.

The Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis has approved the draft law on a complete ban on electronic cigarettes, the Parliament’s press service reported.

It is planned to ban the sale and production of e-cigarettes and e-cigarette liquids in the country.

Vapes contain various carcinogenic and toxic chemical compounds and heavy metals, the Oliy Majlis said.

Nicotine addiction can lead to brain pathologies and lower intelligence among young people.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports about the leader-smoking region of Uzbekistan.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has announced a limit on the number of bank cards that can be issued to an individual. According to an anonymous source speaking to Kursiv Uzbekistan, a person can have a maximum of five cards from one bank, with a total limit of 20 cards across all banks.

This initiative will remain in effect until the end of this year.

In late November of last year, the regulator hinted at the potential introduction of this limit, stating that such measures are intended to combat fraud. However, the proposed changes are not expected to apply...

On January 1, the fee for Kazakhstani trucks entering Uzbekistan increased to $300 per vehicle. This decision sparked outrage from Kazakh parliamentarian Bolatbek Aliyev.

He pointed out an «obvious imbalance» in the transit relations between the two countries. «Uzbek carriers can use 2,100 kilometers of Kazakhstani roads, while Kazakhstani carriers have access to only 600 kilometers of Uzbek highways. Surprisingly, both sides view this as parity,» he stated on his Facebook page.

According to Aliyev, Uzbekistan’s transit traffic through Kazakhstan is significantly higher than the reverse situation. «For us, Uzbekistan is essentially a dead-end country for road carriers in...

The Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan has adopted a decree aimed at the development of e-commerce. According to this document, only legal entities that are registered in the country can operate as electronic trading platforms, order aggregators, or streaming services.

Companies and entrepreneurs who merely provide information about goods, services, or digital products through their platforms will not be classified as e-commerce operators.

Beginning July 1, 2025, these operators must register as legal entities and comply with laws regarding e-commerce, personal data protection, consumer rights, and advertising. They will also be required to provide data about their activities upon...

Uzbekistan ranks second in Central Asia for foreign direct investment (FDI) in greenfield enterprises, according to a report by the UN’s Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), as noted by press-office.

This year, the country attracted $4 bn in FDI for new projects, a decrease of 49% compared to the previous year.

Kazakhstan leads the region with an 88% increase in FDI, reaching $15.7 bn. This amount represents 63% of such investments in North and Central Asia.

Kazakhstan’s growth is largely attributed to the investment activity of Qatari company UCC Holding, which plans to invest...

South Korea’s Corruption Investigation Office (CIO) has formally requested the police to arrest President Yoon Suk Yeol, the Yonhap news agency reports. Previous attempts to detain him were unsuccessful due to clashes with the military.

The police are currently conducting an internal legal review of the request. The CIO sought police assistance one day before the arrest warrant for the president was due to expire.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the CIO had earlier abandoned efforts to detain the president due to resistance from the military and supporters of Yoon Suk Yeol.

In December, the president declared martial law. Although...

The United States plans to ease sanctions on the delivery of humanitarian aid to Syria for six months, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Aid providers involved in essential services such as water and electricity supply will no longer be required to obtain approval from Washington to transfer goods.

However, the US does not intend to lift all sanctions imposed on Syria. Washington seeks assurances from Damascus regarding its commitment to protecting the rights of women and ethnic minorities.

Following the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad, the group Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham seized control of the country. This organisation has been designated as...

Uzbekistan has inaugurated a Trade House and Cultural Centre in Karachi, Pakistan, the Dunyo news agency reported.

The opening ceremony was attended by Alisher Tukhtaev, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, alongside representatives of Uzbek and Pakistani business communities. The establishment of the Trade House and Cultural Centre was supported by the Pakistani company Diners Group.

The Trade House will showcase products from Uzbek companies, including textiles, leather goods, dried fruits, and industrial items. It is expected to serve as a platform for trade, investment, and cultural cooperation between the two nations.

During the inauguration ceremony, Tukhtaev highlighted the prospects for strengthening regional...

The first 2025 pre-order for the Chevrolet Cobalt will open on Tuesday, January 7, at 10:00, UzAuto Motors announced.

Customers in Uzbekistan will be able to purchase the vehicle in two configurations: GX-Style Plus AT and GX Midnight AT. Both versions come equipped with automatic transmission and engine compartment protection.

Pre-orders can be made through the UzAvtoSavdo website and mobile app. The company has promised to provide updates on the remaining stock and each customer’s queue number via a Telegram bot.

After signing the contract, buyers will have seven days to complete payment. Failure to do so will result...

Qanot Sharq will suspend flights operated on Airbus A320 aircraft from January 20 to March 6 due to operational requirements, the company’s press service announced.

From 20 January to 5 March, the Samarkand-Tashkent route (NN18) will be temporarily unavailable. The Tashkent-Moscow route (NN701) will also be suspended from 25 January to 1 March.

Additionally, flights from Moscow to Tashkent (NN702) will be paused from January 25 to March 1, while the Fergana-Moscow route (NN703) will be suspended from January 24 to February 28.

A detailed list of cancelled flights is available on the airline’s official Telegram channel.

On January 6 several banks in Uzbekistan began selling the US dollar at rates exceeding UZS 13,000, noted Kursiv Uzbekistan’s correspondent.

Infinbank exchange offices sold the US dollar at UZS 13,000, while KDB Bank Uzbekistan set the rate at UZS 13,005. Orient Finans Bank, Tenge Bank, and Hamkorbank also offered the currency at UZS 13,000.

Nuriddin Lafizov, the head of Alif in Uzbekistan, told Kursiv Uzbekistan that the US dollar is projected to reach an exchange rate of 13,700–13,800 sums by the end of this year.

From January to November 2024 Uzbekistan exported 178,300 televisions valued at $33 mn, according to the country’s Statistics Agency.

Russia accounted for the largest share of exports receiving 60,700 units. Azerbaijan and Turkey followed, importing 50,500 and 17,100 units, respectively.

As of the beginning of December 2024, Uzbek enterprises produced lighting and household appliances worth UZS 21.7 trln reflecting an annual growth rate of 4%.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan exported textiles worth $2.6 bn in the same 11-month period.

Taiwanese electronics manufacturer Foxconn reported a 15.2% increase in revenue for Q4 2024 reaching a record $64.7 bn, according to Reuters citing the company’s report.

Foxconn attributed this growth to strong demand for equipment used in artificial intelligence (AI) systems. A significant portion of the company’s revenue also came from partnerships with Apple and other major technology companies.

Foxconn produces electronics for Sony, Canon, Nvidia, Microsoft, and other tech giants. It is the largest company in Taiwan employing over one million people across its divisions.

On January 3 ahead of the report’s release Foxconn’s shares closed 0.8% lower. However...

Graduates of the International Islamic Academy of Uzbekistan and the Tashkent Islamic University will no longer receive salary bonuses, as outlined in a presidential decree by Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the state budget.

The decree nullifies a previous resolution by Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers that provided financial support to university graduates. This resolution in effect since 2003 allowed graduates to receive a monthly bonus of 20% of their salaries.

The bonus is applied to public and private organisations employees working in their respective fields.

In 2018 the benefit was extended to include graduates of the International Islamic Academy...

China’s Extol Global Capital plans to implement four investment projects in Nurafshon, Tashkent Region, according to the regional khokimiyat’s press service.

The company intends to invest $12.5 mn in creating a cluster for the production of construction materials. Additionally, the investors plan to construct multi-storey residential buildings, a hotel complex, cafes, and restaurants within the Nurafshon Business City area.

Extol Global Capital also plans to establish a cosmetics manufacturing facility in Nurafshon.

The total estimated cost of the four investment projects is $106 mn, which is expected to create over 2,000 jobs in the city. The city administration and...

From January to November 2024, Uzbekistan exports 106,600 tonnes of mung beans worth $85.5 mn, according to the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan.

China is the largest importer, receiving 96,300 tonnes of Uzbek mung beans. Kazakhstan ranks second with 5,300 tonnes.

Other key importers include Russia (1,400 tonnes), the Netherlands (689 tonnes), and South Korea (332 tonnes). An additional 2,500 tonnes go to other countries.