News

On May 28, during the international Plus Forum – Digital Uzbekistan 2025 held in Tashkent, Freedom Pay Uzbekistan officially signed an agreement to join the Central Asian Fintech Association (CAFA).

The agreement was signed by Nazokat Rashidova, General Director of Freedom Pay Uzbekistan, and Otabek Nasirov, Chairman of CAFA. The partnership marks a significant step towards advancing innovation in fintech, blockchain solutions, and cybersecurity, while contributing to the development of a resilient and modern digital financial infrastructure in the region.

Freedom Pay’s membership in CAFA opens new opportunities to expand cooperation, strengthen the digital payments ecosystem, and promote cutting-edge financial technologies across Uzbekistan and Central Asia. The partnership aims...

Uzbekistan plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) and other modern technologies to advance its cultural sector. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree to launch a new creative tech lab to lead these initiatives.

To support young creatives, the government will create a unified ERP Madaniyat platform. Schools and colleges across the country will open youth creative clubs, while a nationwide movement called «Culture Volunteers» will encourage civic engagement in the arts.

The country will also invite at least four prominent international cultural figures each year to share their expertise with Uzbekistan’s emerging talent in the creative industries.

In addition, the...

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have signed a declaration to deepen strategic partnership between the two countries.

Government agencies from both sides also signed a package of agreements, including deals on investment protection and cooperation in the field of critical raw materials.

Tashkent will expand ties with Italian universities as well as with companies such as SIMEST and Danieli.

Earlier, officials announced plans to launch joint industrial projects in a special economic zone near Tashkent. The two countries are also discussing the establishment of a joint investment fund.

Previously, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that Uzbekistan and Italy signed...

Samarkand has named one of its streets after Rome during the official visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Uzbekistan.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the decision at the naming ceremony, emphasising the deep historical and cultural ties between Uzbekistan and Italy, as well as the growing strategic partnership between the two countries.

Rome, the capital of Italy and one of the world’s oldest cities, boasts a history that spans over 2,700 years. Once the heart of the Roman Empire, it is home to iconic monuments such as the Colosseum and the Pantheon.

Previously, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that a street...

During the official visit of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Uzbekistan, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and the Italian delegation signed a bilateral agreement on labour migration, according to the Uzbek President’s press service.

The two leaders also discussed the development of a strategic partnership and ways to strengthen cooperation between Uzbekistan and Italy.

Trade turnover between the two countries has nearly tripled in recent years, while the number of joint ventures has doubled.

Italy expressed readiness to train Uzbek exporters to help them access European markets. In turn, President Mirziyoyev proposed launching a technological partnership programme with Italian companies.

A US Court of International Trade has ruled that former President Donald Trump exceeded his authority when introducing certain tariffs against China and other countries, The New York Times reported.

The panel of judges suspended parts of the presidential order that imposed tariff restrictions on imports from China, Mexico, Canada, and several other nations. The court stated that the president lacked the legal grounds to use tariffs as a tool to protect the country from economic threats.

Trump based the order on the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. However, the legislation does not explicitly grant the president the authority to...

Uzbek footballer Abdukodir Khusanov, who plays for Manchester City and the national team, got married in Tashkent on May 28.

Kursiv Uzbekistan gathered details from the celebration, which took place at a restaurant in the capital. Members of the Uzbekistan national team attended the event and joined in the festivities.

Boxing champion Bakhodir Jalolov posed for a photo with Khusanov during the celebration.

Popular singer Jahongir Otajonov performed at the wedding and kept the guests entertained.

Khusanov’s Manchester City teammate Jack Grealish sent a video message to congratulate him.

Vítor Reis also recorded a video greeting. However...

On May 28, Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni arrived in Samarkand at the invitation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan.

President Mirziyoyev personally greeted the Italian leader upon arrival at Samarkand International Airport. The national flags of both countries were raised, and an honour guard was formed in recognition of the high-level visit.

Following the official welcome, Prime Minister Meloni, accompanied by the President, toured the historic Registan Square — a UNESCO World Heritage site — and the cultural and ethnographic complex “Eternal City” at the Silk Road Samarkand tourism centre.

High-level talks and bilateral meetings are scheduled for...

—ZTE has been working in the Republic of Uzbekistan for a number of years. What projects are you implementing in Uzbekistan, in what sectors?

— ZTE actively supports Uzbekistan’s digital transformation through close collaboration with all major telecom operators. As part of joint projects, we are working to enhance data transfer speeds in existing networks while laying the technological foundation for future 5G deployment. One of the cooperation areas is the introduction of advanced voice technologies like VoLTE, enabling high-quality calls over LTE networks. Concurrently, we are implementing IMS core migration to streamline convergent services and boost operator efficiency.

Our...

The European Union has made progress in restricting the export of military-related goods to Uzbekistan, Serbia, and other nations, according to German media cited by RBC.

Brussels believes that such goods are being diverted to support Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.

The EU has identified China and Hong Kong as the main problematic transit routes. According to David O’Sullivan, the EU’s Special Envoy on Sanctions, Beijing is responsible for 80% of restricted goods reaching Russia. He made this statement during a meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.

O’Sullivan also acknowledged that some European companies continue to profit...

Uzbekistan and China have agreed to establish a unified system of road construction standards and to develop innovative materials, according to the Ministry of Transport of Uzbekistan.

Officials signed the agreement during a visit by Uzbekistan’s Committee for Highways to China. The two countries also pledged to cooperate on the digital transformation of road infrastructure management.

This initiative aims to enhance the sector’s scientific and technological capacity and align development with global standards.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that a Malaysian company would support Uzbekistan in creating a national road condition database.

The administration of President Donald Trump has instructed US embassies and consulates to suspend interviews for student visa applicants, according to Politico, citing a directive from the State Department.

The suspension comes as Washington prepares to introduce stricter screening procedures, including the review of applicants’ social media activity. Politico notes that the measure could significantly impact US universities, many of which rely on international students for both academic and financial sustainability.

Previously, US authorities had monitored social media accounts of students suspected of participating in protests against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.

The move coincides with the peak period for university admissions...

17 international IT companies will open offices in Uzbekistan and join the country’s IT Park following the Tochka Rosta international forum held in Tashkent, the Ministry of Digital Technologies announced.

Five companies have already registered their legal entities through the forum’s one-stop platform. Another 12 firms are expected to complete registration and apply for resident status in the coming weeks.

Held from May 21 to 23 in the Uzbek capital, the forum brought together representatives from more than 160 foreign tech companies, digital agencies, game developers, and creative studios.

The event opened with speeches by Deputy Minister of...

The volume of market services in Uzbekistan reached over UZS 290.3 trillion ($22.4 bn) in January–April 2025, according to the State Statistics Committee.

Compared to the same period last year, the figure increased by UZS 57.4 trillion ($4.4 bn), marking a 12.6% annual growth.

As of early May, the per capita volume of market services stood at UZS 7.7 mln ($595), showing a 10.4% increase year-on-year.

Small businesses accounted for 54.5% of all services provided across the country.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported on trends in Uzbekistan’s education services market.

Protasco Berhad, a Malaysian company, has expressed readiness to support Uzbekistan in developing a digital database on the condition of its roads. Uzbekistan’s Ambassador, Karomiddin Gadoev, discussed the initiative with Chong Ther Vern, Executive Director of Protasco Berhad, and Mohd Fauzi bin Yakob, Director of its subsidiary HCM Engineering, according to Dunyo News Agency.

Alongside the digital platform, the Malaysian side proposed modern technologies for road repair and maintenance. They also presented a project to produce bio-bitumen — an innovative material derived from plant-based waste.

The meeting also explored the potential for launching new projects in Tashkent region. These...

Afghan investors plan to invest $5 mln in Gulistan district of Uzbekistan’s Syrdarya region, according to UzA. The projects include a bottled water plant and the construction of multi-storey residential buildings.

During a meeting with acting Hokim of Gulistan district, Olimjon Juraev, the Afghan entrepreneurs discussed their investment plans. Following the talks, local authorities allocated land for housing development in the Ahmad Yassavi mahalla and space in the small industrial zone of the Akhillik mahalla.

The current Afghan government, led by the Taliban, has expressed strong interest in economic cooperation with Uzbekistan. Kabul is ready to launch large-scale investment...

Uzbekistan hosts 11,900 foreign enterprises as of May 1, according to the State Statistics Committee.

The number of foreign-invested companies increased by 7% over the past year.

Chinese investors have opened more than 3,200 enterprises, while Russian-owned businesses total 2,100. The country also hosts 1,400 Turkish and 844 Kazakhstani firms.

Additionally, there are 4,000 joint ventures operating across Uzbekistan, the committee reported.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan published an overview of changes in business activity across the country.

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will visit Uzbekistan on May 28–29, according to a statement from the Italian government.

The official meetings between the Italian and Uzbek delegations will take place in Samarkand. The talks aim to continue the bilateral dialogue launched two years ago, when President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited Italy. That visit resulted in €9 bn worth of signed contracts. In 2024, bilateral trade between the two countries reached $438 mln.

Meloni’s visit was originally scheduled for late April 2025, but it was postponed following the death and funeral of Pope Francis.

The delay also affected...

Uzbekistan will raise the volume of gold offered on the commodity exchange from 6 to 8 tonnes this year, making more raw material available to local jewellery producers. The decision was announced at an industry development meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

According to the president, jewellery centres have opened in Tashkent, Andijan, and Khiva. Six more are expected to open by the end of the year.

He also stressed the need for greater order and transparency in the sector. To support this, the State Tax Committee and the Prosecutor General’s Office will tighten oversight of the jewellery...

Uzbek and Pakistani companies have agreed to jointly manufacture tractors and other agricultural machinery, according to the Dunyo news agency.

The agreement was reached during a visit by Uzbekistan’s AgroTech Klaster to Lahore, where the delegation reviewed equipment and technologies developed by Pakistani manufacturers.

The Uzbek side also explored marketing methods used in Pakistan’s agricultural machinery sector.

The two parties agreed to:

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that Tulpor tractors will be produced in the Fergana region.

The Central Asia-Italy summit will take place on May 30 in Astana, bringing together the heads of Central Asian states and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The announcement came from the press service of the President of Kazakhstan.

The summit was originally scheduled for late April, and Prime Minister Meloni had planned a visit to Uzbekistan as part of the trip. However, she cancelled due to the passing of Pope Francis.

Looking ahead, Central Asian nations are expected to hold a summit with China this summer, followed by the Central Asia–Russia summit in Dushanbe this autumn.

Kursiv Uzbekistan previously...

The administration of US President Donald Trump has revoked Harvard University’s authorisation to admit foreign students, according to The New York Times.

The decision marks another escalation in the standoff between the White House and the university’s leadership. Foreign student admissions have long been a major source of funding for Harvard.

In the last academic year, international students made up 27% of the university’s total enrolment.

«These retaliatory actions threaten to inflict serious harm on the Harvard community and our country as a whole, and they undermine Harvard’s academic and research mission,» said Jason...

Saidа Mirziyoyeva, Assistant to the President of Uzbekistan, stated that the updated credit rating outlook by S&P reflects growing international confidence in the country’s reform agenda.

«Thanks to the efforts of the Head of State, Uzbekistan has become more attractive to foreign investors, which supports economic growth and directly improves citizens’ quality of life,» she noted.

Mirziyoyeva also added that, as the head of the working group on improving the country’s credit rating, she would continue efforts to further strengthen this indicator.

On May 23, S&P Global Ratings revised Uzbekistan’s sovereign...

Egypt will invest $660 mln in Karakalpakstan, according to the Dunyo news agency. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic signed five memorandums of understanding with Bell Energy and its partner companies.

The agreements were signed during a meeting between Amanbay Orynbaev, Chairperson of the Jokargy Kenes (Parliament) of Karakalpakstan, and Haitham Hussein, Chairman of Bell Energy.

Under the deal, Bell Energy will implement several projects in the region, including waste-to-energy electricity generation, the construction of underground oil storage facilities, and the development of the Kairaktas gold deposit.

In addition, the Egyptian company plans to establish bamboo plantations in Karakalpakstan...