News

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has set the official exchange rate of the US dollar (USD) at 12,694.97 Uzbek soums (UZS) as of June 30, 2025. This marks a rise of 40.85 soums compared to the previous rate.

From June 23 to June 27, the dollar exchange rate in Uzbekistan increased by 1.9%, reaching 12,654 UZS. According to Bloomberg, the dollar has weakened globally to its lowest level in three years, amid reports that President Donald Trump may replace the Federal Reserve Chair.

USD to UZS Rate Dynamics

On June 26, the US Dollar Index (DXY)

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that Uzbekistan’s leading enterprises will each allocate 10 bn soums to fund overseas internships for 100 young professionals. These investments in international training programs will be tax-deductible, he confirmed during a meeting with youth.

«These funds can be deducted from taxes,» the president said.

According to Mirziyoyev, around 1 mln young people in Uzbekistan are currently employed in strategic sectors such as mining, agriculture, textiles, chemical production and electrical engineering.

To support this emerging workforce, the government is launching a nationwide skill development system focused on industrial training...

Young startup entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan will now be nurtured from an early age.
Photo: Andy Hermawan / Unsplash

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced major new support measures for the country’s fast-growing startup ecosystem. During a meeting with youth, he revealed that Uzbekistan will boost investments in startups to $1 bn, further cementing its role as a leading innovation hub in Central Asia.

As part of the government’s entrepreneurship education reform, preparation for launching innovative projects will begin in schools. A special entrepreneurship skills class will be introduced, and a 100 bn soum grant fund will be established to...

Between January and May 2025, Uzbekistan exported 29.8 thousand tonnes of mung beans worth $25.8 mln, according to the State Statistics Committee. The annual export value declined by 3.7%.

China remained the primary buyer, accounting for 25.4 thousand tonnes of total shipments. Kazakhstan followed with 1.4 thousand tonnes, while Afghanistan imported 690 tonnes. The Netherlands and Russia received 670 and 373 tonnes respectively.

Overall, Uzbekistan exported agricultural products worth $619.6 mln in the first five months of the year — up 47.9% compared to the same period in 2024. Fruit exports amounted to $153.3 mln, vegetables to...

Nearly 39% of Uzbek citizens did not manage to save any money in the past year, according to a new report by the Central Bank of Uzbekistan and the Asian Development Bank (ADB). The findings are based on a survey conducted in January–February 2025 involving 1,200 people across six regions and supported by focus group discussions with 198 participants.

The data shows that 47% of respondents aged 60 and over reported no savings, compared to 30% among young people. Among men, 37% said they had not saved anything, while the figure stood at 41% for women.

Over the past...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced that in 2024, Uzbekistan ranked first in Central Asia for the number of young people admitted to the world’s top 500 universities.

Speaking at a youth forum, the president credited the success to long-term national efforts to link education, upbringing, and innovation.

«From the first days of reform, we focused on building a chain of science, education, and innovation — and today, we are seeing the results,» said Mirziyoyev.

According to the president, for the first time in the country’s history, Uzbek students have entered the...

As of June 1, 2025, Uzbekistan’s transport services market has reached UZS 70.7 trillion ($5.6 bn), marking a 14% year-on-year increase, according to the State Statistics Committee.

Tashkent leads the market with a share of UZS 15.5 trillion ($1.2 bn), followed by Samarkand and Tashkent regions, each contributing UZS 4.8 trillion ($381.5 mln). The Fergana region recorded UZS 3.8 trillion, while Andijan stood at UZS 3 trillion ($238.43).

Transport remains one of the key drivers of Uzbekistan’s broader services sector, which totalled UZS 373.4 trillion. Over the past year, transport service prices have risen by 17.4%.

In January, President...

OQ mobile communication app has announced the launch of an exclusive partnership with texnomart, a leading electronics retail chain. SIM cards with remote self-registration capability are now available at more than 10 partner stores in Tashkent, Samarkand, and Fergana. There are plans to expand this presence to all texnomart branches across the country in the near future.

The new format allows customers to purchase an OQ SIM card at the same time as they purchase a mobile device – without the need to visit a telecom service center. This marks the brand’s first offline collaboration. 

The US Senate has advanced President Donald Trump’s budget proposal following a narrow procedural vote, setting the stage for final approval by July 4, Reuters reports.

The bill passed by a margin of just two votes — 51 in favour and 49 against. Two Republican senators, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, broke ranks and joined Democrats in opposition.

The session was marked by intense debate. Senate Democrats insisted on a full reading of the 940-page document and are expected to propose numerous amendments before the final vote — a move Republicans say could delay the...

Uzbekistan Airways will restart direct flights between Tashkent and Tel Aviv on July 1 following a two-week suspension. The airline made the announcement via its official Telegram channel.

Tickets for the first flights are already sold out, with no seats available on July 1 and 3 departures, according to the airline’s website.

Economy class fares for July 8 flight start from UZS 4.6 mln, while business class tickets begin at UZS 12.1 mln.

Uzbekistan Airways suspended its Tel Aviv service from June 16 due to escalating tensions between Iran and Israel. The airline also adjusted its schedules...

From August 29 to September 8, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan will co-host the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 — a major international football tournament in the Central Asian region.

This year, the competition will welcome two guest teams: the national squads of Malaysia and Oman. Their inclusion marks an expansion of the tournament, now in its second season, following a successful debut in 2023.

Tajikistan will host part of the group stage, while the final matches will take place in Uzbekistan. The official tournament draw is scheduled for 3 July at 16:00.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that FC Andijan received a new...

Afghanistan has reached full self-sufficiency in 130 sectors and partial self-reliance in 100 more, according to the Economic Deputy Office of the Prime Minister.

Around 6,000 factories across the country now produce 570 types of goods — from cement and steel to flour, salt, and medicine — providing direct employment to 135,000 people, said deputy spokesperson Hamdullah Fitrat.

The Islamic Emirate claims recent measures, such as land allocation, reduced customs tariffs, anti-smuggling efforts and trade fairs, have supported industrial development.

However, economists urge further action. Abdul Nasir Reshtia called for more consistent access to land, energy and financing, stressing...

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said the West will once again fail in its attempts to bring about a strategic defeat of Russia, stressing that the ongoing confrontation is unprecedented in scale.

Speaking during an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, Lavrov said the West was using the Ukrainian government as a «battering ram» in its campaign, but insisted that such efforts were doomed to fail.

«They’ve tried to defeat Russia before — and failed. They won’t succeed now either. Perhaps they are starting to realise this,» Lavrov said during talks with his Kyrgyz...

Uzbekistan has secured a seat on the Audit Committee of the World Customs Organization (WCO), marking its first-ever membership in the group.

The Audit Committee monitors internal procedures and financial management across the WCO. Only 12 countries hold seats at any given time.

Akmaljon Mavlonov, Chair of the Uzbek Customs Committee, said the election reflects growing confidence in Uzbekistan’s customs reforms. He noted that the country will prioritise transparency, accountability, and efficient governance in its new role.

The vote took place during the WCO’s annual session. Member states also appointed new leaders to the Council, Policy Commission, and Finance...

Ilia Topuria claimed a dominant victory at UFC 317, knocking out Charles Oliveira in the first round to become the new lightweight champion. The Georgian-Spanish fighter delivered on his promise to finish the bout early, confirming his status as the pre-fight favourite.

Topuria Applies Pressure from the Start

Both fighters took a measured stance as the fight began, maintaining a mid-range distance. Within the first minute, Topuria began asserting his dominance, pushing the fight towards grappling exchanges. Oliveira kept his composure, but the pressure from Topuria quickly became overwhelming.

Second and Third Minutes: Topuria Takes Control

By the...

Tashkent will launch a new bus route from July 1, connecting the Mashinasozlar metro station to the Charvak recreation zone.

The service will use MAN tourist coaches, each with 47 seats and air conditioning. A one-way ticket will cost UZS 25,000.

The first bus will depart daily at 06:00, with services running every 90 minutes. The journey is expected to take around an hour and a half. The last bus will leave Charvak at 20:30, arriving back in the city by 22:00.

Passengers can pay for their trip in cash or by bank card.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that buses...

US President Donald Trump has denied claims that Washington plans to allocate $30 bn for Iran’s civilian nuclear programme. Writing on Truth Social, Trump dismissed the rumour as an absurd idea.

«Who is the sleazebag in the fake news media saying ‘President Trump wants to give Iran $30 bn to build non-military nuclear facilities’? I’ve never heard of this ridiculous idea. It’s just another SCAM,» Trump wrote.

Earlier, CNN had reported that the US was considering offering Iran $30 bn in investments for peaceful nuclear development in exchange for Tehran halting...

As of June 1, 2025, juice production in Uzbekistan reached 41,300 tonnes — a 13.6% year-on-year increase, according to the State Committee on Statistics.

Between January and May 2025, Uzbekistan exported beverages worth $31.5 mln. This marks a 57% rise compared to the same period in 2024.

The government plans to introduce a product aggregation system for beverages and bottled water in spring 2026. Originally scheduled for May 2025, the launch was postponed after beverage producers called on authorities to extend the timeline.

The business community expressed concern over the short timeframe and the need to adapt...

The inaugural South Korea–Central Asia Summit, originally scheduled for 2025, will now take place in 2026, according to Yonhap News Agency.

First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Park Yoonjoo explained that the current political situation in South Korea was among the reasons for the delay.

«We aim to organise the summit at the earliest and most convenient time for both sides,» he told the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and unification.

The summit idea emerged in June last year during former President Yoon Suk Yeol’s visit to Central Asian countries...

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has married American broadcaster Lauren Sánchez, according to Vogue. The couple is celebrating their wedding in Venice, Italy, from June 26 to 29, in what many have dubbed the wedding of the century.

For both Bezos and Sánchez, this is their second marriage. They became engaged in spring 2023.

The celebration has drawn major attention, with around 250 high-profile guests in attendance, including actor Leonardo DiCaprio and talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Venice residents staged protests against the event, reportedly planning to block off streets and canals. In response, Bezos and Sánchez asked...

Mongolia will export 2,000 tonnes of horse meat and halal mutton to Uzbekistan, according to Montsame news agency following discussions between representatives of both countries.

The parties agreed on a unified quarantine and tariff policy to ensure uninterrupted trade. Tashkent also expressed interest in purchasing 100,000 Mongolian sheep and goats. In 2024, Mongolia already exported 7,000 sheep to Uzbekistan.

They also discussed cooperation in livestock farming, agri-industry, and veterinary services.

By early June 2025, Uzbekistan had imported live animals worth \$44.6 mln — up 7.8% year-on-year. Imports of meat and meat products totalled \$268 mln, marking a...

Uzbekistan’s Central Bank imposed penalties worth UZS 16.6 bn ($1.3 mln) on 52 financial institutions over the course of 2024, according to Governor Timur Ishmetov during a report to the Senate of the Oliy Majlis.

Ishmetov announced that the regulator had also drafted legislation to strengthen oversight of borrowing by enterprises considered key to the national economy.

Addressing the growing instalment payment sector, he noted that the market reached UZS 8.5 trillion ($687.1 mln) last year. Of this amount, 26% was accounted for by two microfinance institutions, 7% by banks, and 67% by private businesses.

To increase transparency, the...

In late June, Uzbekistan’s uranium producer Navoiyuran issued debut Eurobonds worth $300 mln on the London Stock Exchange, the company announced on its website.

«The initial interest rate on the five-year Eurobonds, totalling $300 mln, was set in the range of 7.250–7.375%, and the order book was officially opened,» the statement read.

Navoiyuran has become the first Uzbek company to list securities on the London exchange. Finasia Capitals acted as the financial advisor, Dentons provided legal support, and Deloitte served as the external auditor.

Demand from 93 investors exceeded $1.3 bn, oversubscribing the offer by 4.3 times. This enabled the company to lower the interest...

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a new law on the resolution and liquidation of banks in Uzbekistan, which will come into force on September 25, 2025.

The Central Bank has been designated as the responsible authority for bank resolution — a set of measures aimed at restoring the stability of financial institutions. It will also be in charge of preparing resolution plans for systemically important banks. According to the law, these plans must be reviewed at least once a year or whenever a bank undergoes significant structural or financial changes.

Resolution measures will apply when a bank becomes...