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On March 5, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired an expanded meeting to assess the progress in combating corruption and outline future measures. The discussion focused on strengthening transparency, reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies, and reinforcing legal mechanisms.

At the start of the meeting, President Mirziyoyev highlighted the need for a comprehensive evaluation of efforts to create a corruption-free environment.

“The biggest obstacle and stumbling block to reforms is corruption. This is fully confirmed by world experience,” he said.

Strengthening anti-corruption framework

Uzbekistan has implemented a structured system to address corruption. Separate laws...

Almost 15 mln people in Afghanistan face food shortages during Ramadan, with many unsure of their next meal, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

The agency reported that 14.8 mln Afghans experience food insecurity, while 3.1 mn are in a critical situation. Humanitarian organisations warn that reduced funding is limiting assistance as the number of people in need continues to rise.

OCHA estimates that $1.9 bn is required to support those affected in Afghanistan. However, only $9.9 mln has been secured so far, leaving a significant shortfall.

The UN agency has urged the...

On Nowruz, residents of Uzbekistan will enjoy a three-day holiday. The Uzbek Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction has announced the updated weekend calendar.

The holiday is set to begin on Friday, March 21, which is designated as a non-working day according to the Labour Code of Uzbekistan. Therefore, those who work a five-day week will have a break from March 21 to March 23.

Uzbeks will have another three consecutive days off to celebrate International Women’s Day, which will be observed from March 8 to March 10.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reported on how Nowruz will be celebrated...

Photo: Unsplash

Members of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis have approved a draft law on insurance for farmers during its third reading, according to the press service of the Lower House of Parliament.

The proposed law aims to introduce insurance contracts for agricultural enterprises that cover natural and technological incidents. It also plans to involve independent experts in the insurance process, which will help fully digitalise the market.

The adopted document outlines the state support for agricultural insurance, along with the rights and obligations of the involved parties. It also details the creation and responsibilities of...

Uztemiryulcontainer has successfully sent its first freight ontainer train from India to Kazakhstan, as reported by the company’s press service.

The total length of the rail route was 4,300 kilometers, with an additional maritime segment of over 1,500 kilometers. Previously, the company had been sending freight trains from India to Uzbekistan.

The Transport and Logistics Centre of Turkmenistan and Kedentransservice JSC also participated in this cargo shipment.

Uztemiryulkontainer aims to establish regular container shipments between India and Central Asia, which will enhance opportunities for both exporters and importers.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that in 2024, the demand for...

Since the beginning of this year, Uzbekistan has attracted more than $6 bn in foreign investments and loans, as reported during a meeting on investments in the country’s economy with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

In the past two months, 1,100 small and medium-sized projects worth $574 mln have been launched in the republic.

By early March, exports of goods and services had reached a total of $2.8 bn. Over the year, shipments of jewelry products increased sevenfold, while exports of chemical products rose by 1.7 times. Exports of tourist services grew by 1.6 times.

The meeting also addressed poverty...

The Namangan Gold Factory, a jewellery enterprise, is set to be launched in the Namangan region in collaboration with the Turkish Lucca Gold Factory, according to reports from the regional hokimiyat. This project will attract an investment of $5 mln.

The initiative was discussed during a meeting between regional khokim Shavkatjon Abdurazakov and the management team of the Turkish company. Both parties recognised Namangan’s potential for increasing the production and export of jewellery products.

The Turkish company has begun searching for a suitable location to construct the factory, as noted by the hokimiyat.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan plans...

The Uzbek project 1doc.uz has been recognised as one of the 15 most promising startups in the world by the California-based Plug and Play Tech Centre, as reported by the Khokimiyat of the Tashkent Region.

This service facilitates electronic document flow by allowing users to create templates, prepare, approve and send documents. A standout feature of the platform is its ability to automatically transfer edits to files in various formats.

The startup is primarily designed to meet the needs of businesses and entrepreneurs and holds the status of a resident at the IT Park branch in the capital region.

U.S. President Donald Trump extended his congratulations to Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan. This message from the President was shared by the American embassy in Uzbekistan.

«This is a time to find hope, courage, and inspiration to lead a life of holiness and virtue,» Trump emphasised.

The President highlighted that his administration is committed to protecting religious freedoms and building a peaceful future. He mentioned that millions of Muslim Americans in the U.S. have begun fasting in honor of Ramadan.

«I wish you joyful reflections on God’s infinite mercy and boundless love. May God bless...

As of March 4, the dollar exchange rate at currency exchanges in Uzbekistan increased by 6.13 soums, reaching 12,903.33 soums, according to data from the trading floor.

The Central Bank of the Republic set the US dollar rate at a similar level.

Banks are buying dollars for prices ranging from 12,835 to 12,870 soums and selling them for 12,905 to 12,960 soums.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports on the expected trends for the dollar in Uzbekistan this year.

Uzbekistan Temir Yollari has announced that an additional Afrosiyob high-speed train will be launched between Tashkent and Samarkand during the spring holidays. The train will operate daily from March 20 to April 1.

The train will depart from Samarkand at 10:55 AM and will arrive in Tashkent by 1:15 PM. For the return journey, the train will leave Tashkent at 1:56 PM and arrive in Samarkand at 4:14 PM.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports on the additional weekends that Uzbeks can expect in March 2025.

In 2024, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan (CCI) provided support to over 1,200 aspiring business women from various regions, as reported by from the organisation’s press service.

The CCI organised educational courses focused on technology and crafts. Throughout the year, the Chamber launched approximately 100 partnership projects valued at 990 mln soums.

Courses on financial literacy and business skills were attended by 23,600 women across the republic. By the end of the year, the Chamber held 265 training seminars in collaboration with international partners.

In partnership with banks, the Chamber also developed a project aimed at...

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has arrived in Uzbekistan for an official visit, according to the press service of the Uzbek government.

Upon arrival at the airport in the capital, Tashkent, Kobakhidze was welcomed by Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and other officials.

The program for the visit includes a meeting of the intergovernmental commission, tours of industrial enterprises, and various other events.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbekistan and Georgia will collaborate to teach master’s students in viticulture.

The call center experienced a malfunction due to the overwhelming number of people interested in the New Tashkent construction project, according to the Ministry of Employment and Poverty Reduction.

In response to complaints, the ministry explained that the call center has a limit of 50 simultaneous calls. When this limit is exceeded, the system fails, but they assured the public that the issue would be resolved by noon on March 4.

The Ministry of Employment announced the launch of a Telegram bot to collect feedback. Through this bot, job seekers will be able to submit their information and operators...

A painting by Flemish artist Pieter Bruegel the Younger, which was stolen in 1974 in Poland, was found in the Netherlands, reports the publication De Telegraaf.

It is about the painting, which depicts a peasant woman carrying water and tongs with coal. The work before the kidnapping was exhibited in the National Museum in Gdansk.

According to Da Telegraaf, the painting could have been smuggled out of Poland. Also Polish security services may be involved in its theft.

For 50 years it was believed that the work of Bruegel the Younger was lost forever. However, in autumn 2024 detective Arthur...

A week of Women’S Appreciaion starts in Uzbekistan from March 3 to 10, coinciding with International Women’s Day, as reported by the Committee on Family and Women’s Affairs of Uzbekistan.

The week will feature various events to support women, protect their rights and promote women’s leadership and entrepreneurship. During this time, Uzbek women who have significantly contributed to the development of the state and society will be honoured.

Special visits to museums, historical sites, and shrines will be arranged for women listed in the ‘women’s’ and ‘youth’ registries and Veterans of Work. A schoolchildren’s essay competition focusing on the...

Temu’s operations in Uzbekistan will be restricted starting from March 20, according to a statement from the National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP).

«We advise our citizens not to place orders on the Temu platform from today onwards. If there are already placed orders, we recommend initiating a refund,» the agency stated.

The NAPP reminded the public that online marketplaces in Uzbekistan may operate only if they are registered in the country as legal entities.

The agency also urged citizens not to purchase goods from marketplaces that are not registered within Uzbekistan.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Wildberries...

Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and approximately 30 other companies have been fined for breaching outdoor advertising regulations in Tashkent, according to the Committee for the Development of Competition and Consumer Protection of Uzbekistan.

In January and February 2025, the committee’s metropolitan department conducted inspections and issued warnings to various companies and entrepreneurs. The agency initiated cases regarding violations of the Advertising Law and a government decree concerning outdoor advertising.

As a result, fines were imposed on these companies, and they were required to correct the violations and prevent future occurrences.

The agency did not specify the exact reasons for the penalties...

A total of 192 medical institutions across Uzbekistan now offer primary support rooms for individuals affected by violence. These facilities operate 24/7, providing immediate assistance.

Women and their underage children can seek help in these rooms with a referral from a prevention inspector or the Inson centre. They are entitled to psychological and psychotherapeutic support for up to three days.

The initiative began on June 1, 2024, in the Jizzakh, Navoi, and Khorezm regions. From October 1, these rooms have been introduced nationwide.

The recent arrest of a Tajik citizen in New York on charges of supporting the Islamic State (ISIS) has renewed discussions about terrorism-related threats linked to individuals from Tajikistan. The suspect, Mansuri Manuchekhri, 33, faces allegations of financial support for ISIS operatives in Turkey and Syria. Prosecutors state that he transferred approximately $70,000 to individuals associated with ISIS-K, including a suspect involved in a 2024 terrorist attack in Istanbul.

Authorities allege that Manuchekhri, who entered the U.S. in 2016 on a tourist visa and overstayed, later attempted to obtain legal status through a fraudulent marriage. He is also accused...

Kazakhstan plans to raise oil transit through the Aktau-Baku-Ceyhan route to 1.7 mln tons in 2025. The current volume under the agreement with Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company (SOCAR) has reached 1.4 mn tons, reflecting a 27% increase. The expansion aligns with Kazakhstan’s strategy to diversify export routes and strengthen regional energy cooperation.

The agreement between KazMunayGas (KMG) and SOCAR was signed in 2022. In March 2023, a trial shipment of 7,000 tons from the Kashagan field was transported through Azerbaijan. Since then, regular shipments have been facilitated to support Kazakhstan’s long-term export plans.

Kazakhstan transported 83.5 mn tons of...

In 2024, Uzbekistan’s consolidated budget expenditures reached UZS 433.6 tn ($33.3 bn), a 3.3% increase from UZS 381 tn ($29.3 bn) in 2023. The state budget accounted for UZS 310.9 tn ($23.9 bn) of this total, with additional funding from joint operations, extrabudgetary funds, and external borrowings.

Budget growth and deficit reduction

The consolidated budget revenues for 2024 amounted to UZS 385.8 tn ($29.7 bn), marking a 5% rise compared to UZS 321.9 tn ($24.7 bn) in 2023. Joint operations contributed UZS 40.8 tn ($3.1 bn) in 2024, up from UZS 32.4 tn ($2.4 bn) in 2023.

The...

Mobility for all

For many, Yandex is primarily known as a reliable and convenient taxi service. Its features are available to all users of the Yandex Go app, including individuals with disabilities.

“Limited mobility is a significant challenge for people with disabilities. To address this, municipal authorities are working to improve infrastructure and create barrier-free urban spaces. At Yandex, we prioritise accessibility in our services and actively contribute to fostering an inclusive environment in Uzbekistan,” said Izzat Shukurov, Head of Yandex Uzbekistan, in an interview with Kursiv.

The Yandex Go app now...

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on the United States to take a firmer stance in supporting Ukraine following a tense exchange with US President Donald Trump at the White House on March 1. Speaking in the United Kingdom, where he attended a European leaders’ summit, Zelensky stressed the need for continued US assistance despite what he described as a challenging dialogue with the American administration.

US-Ukraine tensions over support and security guarantees

During the White House meeting, Trump told Zelensky that Ukraine should negotiate a deal with Russia or risk losing US support. US Vice-President JD Vance...