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European Commissioner for International Partnerships, Josef Sikela, will visit Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, from March 12 to 18, in preparation for the EU-Central Asia Summit taking place in Samarkand in April.

During his visit, he will be accompanied by representatives from European financial institutions and businesses. In Uzbekistan, Sikela plans to meet with members of the Uzbek government and business community, as well as representatives from the Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Combine (AMMC).

He will also participate in a signing ceremony for regional projects focused on digital interconnectivity.

Sikela’s visit aims to expand the Global Gateway investment program to...

Nodirbek Yakubboyev. Photo: Prague International Chess

Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Yakubboyev won the Challengers tournament held in the Czech Republic, as reported by UzChess.

He scored seven points over nine rounds, achieving five wins and four draws.

Denmark’s Jonas Byul Bjerre secured second place, while China’s Ma Kun finished third.

Yakubboyev’s victory at the tournament guarantees his participation in the Masters, which will take place in 2026.

Earlier this year, in late January, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that Nodirbek Yakubboyev apologized to Indian chess player Rameshbabu Vaishali.

Uzbekistan Airways diverted several flights bound for Moscow after Russian air defences intercepted over 300 drones in what authorities described as the largest drone attack since the start of the conflict with Ukraine. The attack, which took place overnight on March 11, targeted multiple Russian regions, including Moscow and its surrounding areas.

Flights rerouted due to drone activity

An Uzbekistan Airways flight from Tashkent to Moscow diverted to St Petersburg after Vnukovo Airport activated its “Carpet” defence protocol in response to the drone attack. The airline redirected three additional flights:

In 2024, the Republican Specialised Scientific and Practical Medical Center of Traumatology and Orthopaedics conducted over 11,000 surgeries, as reported by the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan.

Of these surgeries, 62% utilised advanced technology, and there were 30 unique surgical interventions performed.

One of these unique surgeries was successfully carried out in collaboration with Alexei Peleganchuk, the head of the neuroorthopaedics department at the Novosibirsk Research Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics named after Y.L. Tsivyan, who holds a candidate of medical sciences degree.

Following the procedure, the Russian specialist conducted a master class for Uzbek doctors.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also...

Uzbek company Chikako has delivered its first batch of baby hygiene products to Osh, Kyrgyzstan, according to a report from Dunyo News Agency.

Chikako has established a representative office in the Osh Regiont in collaboration with Datka Holding. The company has also begun advertising its products in Kyrgyzstan.

Chikako representatives met with officials from the Kyrgyz Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss increasing the export of Uzbek products.

Based in the Kokand Free Economic Zone (FEZ), Chikako specialises in the production of baby nappies.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that the issuance of corporate bonds in Uzbekistan has...

According to the latest UEFA figures, Manchester City earned €76 mln from the sale of their merchandise during the 2023-2024 season, ranking 11th among European clubs. This revenue has increased 3.5 times since 2019. The club’s sports uniforms are produced by the Puma brand.

Roma ranks 20th in this category, generating €24 mln from merchandise sales.

The report highlights that Real Madrid (€196 mln), Bayern Munich, and Barcelona (€171 mln each) are the top clubs in terms of merchandising revenue.

“Clubs are benefiting from their global fan bases and commercial growth. The top 20 clubs...

The housing policy implemented by the government of Uzbekistan has received high praise from the United Nations, according to a report by the Dunyo news agency.

UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, commended recent reforms in the country for strengthening housing rights, as noted in the updated Constitution.

Rajagopal encouraged Tashkent to continue its ongoing reforms and to enforce the newly adopted legal measures in this area.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that prices for secondary housing in Uzbekistan increased by 4.6% in January of this year.

According to a report from the Central Bank of Uzbekistan, the country’s gold and foreign exchange reserves surpassed $44.9 bn on March 1. This represented an increase of 4.7% over the previous month.

Foreign currency reserves totaled $9.5 bn, up from $7.2 bn a month prior. The total value of gold reserves was $34.8 bn, down slightly from $35 bn in February. The volume of gold decreased from 12.6 mln to 12.2 mln troy ounces over the same period.

In January, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan emerged as the largest buyer of gold, acquiring 8 tonnes of the...

English football club Manchester City awarded its best player for February to defender Abdukodir Khusanov.

Following the award, Khusanov participated in a brief interview that was shared on the club’s Instagram account.

In the interview, the player was asked about his favorite English slang word that he has learned. Khusanov responded that it is “buzzing,” which means to be happy, energetic, or in anticipation.

He also mentioned that his favorite “chitmil” (a planned dietary break) consists of pilaf and kebab.

Khusanov’s favorite place in Manchester is the Etihad Stadium, and he named Vitor Reis as his best friend on...

Nottingham Forest defeated Manchester City in a home match during the 28th round of the English Premier League (EPL).

The only goal of the match was scored by Forest striker Callum Hudson-Odoi in the 83rd minute.

Manchester City defender Abdukodir Khusanov played the entire match, successfully deflecting several dangerous attempts from Forest. At one point, he caught up with Hudson-Odoi near the penalty area, impressing spectators and fans with his phenomenal speed.

In that moment, Khusanov caught up with and overtook Odoi. Video: X.

Sofascore rated Khusanov’s performance in this match at 7.3 points.

As a result of this game...

Turkmenistan is prepared to collaborate with European partners to supply Turkmen gas through the trans-Caspian route, according to Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Chairman of the Khalk Maslahaty and national leader of the state, in an interview with Euronews TV channel.

Berdimuhamedov emphasised that Turkmenistan has always favored a comprehensive partnership in the Caspian energy sector, which includes support for the construction of underwater gas pipelines.

He mentioned that Ashgabat is ready to supply electricity to Europe and is open to cooperation in green and renewable energy initiatives.

As of the end of 2024, the primary gas suppliers to the EU...

Uzbek gymnast Oksana Chusovitina, aged 49, has won the World Cup stage competition in Baku, Azerbaijan, as reported by the RBC news agency.

Chusovitina secured first place in the vault, while gymnasts Teja Belak and Tjasa Kisselef from Slovenia took second and third places, respectively.

At 49 years old, Chusovitina has an impressive Olympic career, having competed in eight Games for the Soviet Union, Germany and Uzbekistan. She has won two medals: gold in 1992 and silver in 2008.

She plans to compete in the 2028 Olympics.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Chusovitina won a bronze medal at the World...

In 2024, the Uzbek government allocated 17 trillion soums to support employment and entrepreneurship among women, as announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

The state’s investments have yielded positive results. By the end of the year, women entrepreneurs in the country produced goods worth 81 trillion soums and exported products valued at $450 mln. This initiative has also contributed to the creation of new jobs, particularly for women from low-income families.

The President highlighted the project “I Am a Participant in the Process of Creation,” which aims to train women in mahallas (neighborhoods) in in-demand professions and crafts.

“I view...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan delivered a statement at a ceremony honoring March 8, emphasising the country’s commitment to enhancing social protection for women. His remarks were reported by the press office of the head of state.

He noted that, following an assessment of the situation of women in each mahalla, 1 mln women in need of support have been documented in a “women’s notebook.” This year, targeted efforts will focus on assisting these women, including 162,000 women with disabilities who will receive medical care in sanatoria, clini, and their local mahallas.

Furthermore, Mirziyoyev announced that 130,000 Uzbek women...

The issuance of corporate bonds in Uzbekistan has surpassed two trillion soums, reaching 2.2 trillion soums as reported by the Central Securities Depository (CSD) on March 1, 2025.

Currently, 80.7% of these bonds are held by various organisations, while 17% are in the process of being placed. Foreign investors own 2.3% of the corporate debt securities.

The total volume of share issuances has exceeded 216 trillion soums, growing by 11.1% from March 2024. The depository manages shares from 688 issuers, with nearly 80% of these securities owned by the state. The remainder is held by investors, companies, organizations...

Being a woman means staying strong and responsible; it is not a sign of weakness, stated Uzbek Presidential Aide Saida Mirziyoyeva in a congratulatory message for International Women’s Day on March 8th.

«We have travelled a challenging path to transform ourselves and society, engaging with men as equals in politics, science and business. Today, we look forward with confidence to achieving our dreams,» Mirziyoyeva wrote on her Telegram channel.

She wished women resilience, recognition of their talents, health, happiness, as well as prosperity and peace in their families.

Mirziyoyeva concluded her message with the...

On March 7, President Donald Trump stated that the United States could impose sweeping banking sanctions against Russia if it fails to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine.

Trump emphasised, “Given that Russia is currently intensifying its military actions against Ukraine, I am seriously considering imposing substantial banking sanctions, as well as tariffs on Russia, until there is a cease-fire and a final peace agreement. Russia and Ukraine need to come to the negotiating table immediately before it’s too late. Thank you!” He shared this message on the Truth Social network.

Additionally, a knowledgeable source...

Over the next three years, Uzbekistan plans to launch 76 projects focusing on 28 rare metals. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev was informed about these developments by Bobir Islamov, the head of the Ministry of Geology.

The total estimated cost of these projects is $2.6 bn. Additional funding is expected to be allocated for geological exploration to enhance the raw materials base.

Technoparks are proposed to be established in the Tashkent and Samarkand regions to strengthen the entire supply chain from raw materials to processing, scientific research and finished products. These regions are known for their rich deposits of molybdenum and...

The fortune of the richest man on Earth, Ilon Musk, decreased by $8.8 bn (114 trillion soums) in one day due to the fall in Tesla shares, the Independent calculated.

Tesla shares fell as the S&P 550 index fell 1.78 per cent on Thursday, a day after Donald Trump imposed tariffs against Canada, China and Mexico.

Musk has lost $121bn since December 2024, more than a quarter of his fortune. It is now estimated at $342bn, or 4.4 quadrillion soums.

In 2025, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are anticipated to lead in Eurobond issuance among CIS banks, according to a forecast by Fitch Ratings (as reported by Kursiv Uzbekistan).

This year, Uzbek banks are projected to issue Eurobonds totaling $0.7 bin, even though some of their liabilities were refinanced in the second half of 2024, as noted in the agency’s report.

Fitch Ratings analysts highlight that foreign debt in foreign currency plays a significant role in the financing of Russian banks. This is evident from the high loan-to-deposit ratio within the sector, which stood at 173% at the end of last year.

Uzbekistan’s leading venture studio, Startup Garage, has announced its expansion into the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) with a new office in Doha, Qatar. This move makes it the first venture studio from Central Asia to establish operations in the region, enhancing opportunities for startups in both markets.

Expansion into MENA

Startup Garage, founded by Muhammad Khalil, has built a strong presence across 14 regions in Uzbekistan within eight months. The venture studio provides mentorship, funding, and strategic support for early-stage startups, backed by Aloqa Ventures. By entering the MENA market, Startup Garage aims to facilitate cross-border expansion...

Road safety remains a major challenge in Central Asia and the Caucasus, with both regions recording some of the highest traffic-related fatality rates globally, Eurasianet reports. Data indicates an increase in road deaths in several countries, highlighting ongoing concerns about vehicle safety, driving behaviour, and infrastructure conditions.

Rising fatalities in Central Asia

Traffic-related deaths in Central Asia have shown an upward trend. Kazakhstan recorded 2,579 road fatalities in 2024, the highest in a decade. Tajikistan also registered 552 deaths, marking the highest total since at least 2005. While Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan have made some progress in reducing fatalities...

On March 5, in anticipation of International Women’s Day, ACWA Power hosted the Women’s Power 2025 Forum, marking the second consecutive year of this impactful event. The forum highlighted the resilience and leadership of women across generations, bringing together influential voices to discuss the role of women in traditionally male-dominated sectors, particularly renewable energy.

Uzbekistan made significant progress in advancing gender equality in recent years. In 2024 alone, more than 30,000 young women received free master’s degrees, and women now make up over 40% of the Legislative Chamber.

The country also became the first in the region to...

The World Bank has released a comprehensive study examining migration patterns, challenges, and opportunities in the Europe and Central Asia (ECA) region. The report highlights that the ECA region hosts 100 mn migrants, representing one-third of the global migrant population. Factors such as income disparities, demographic changes, climate change, and conflicts drive these migration trends.

Central Asia’s migration dynamics

As of 2023, over 80% of migrants from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan have moved to Russia. Uzbekistan’s migration is more varied: 57% of its migrants reside in Russia, 15% in Kazakhstan, and 10% in Ukraine. Labour migration significantly contributes to the...