News

The global electric vehicle (EV) market saw sales surpass 17 mn units in 2024, with China maintaining its position as the leading producer and exporter, Rho Motion reports. Chinese EV manufacturers continue to expand internationally, offering cost-competitive vehicles in various markets. However, access remains highly dependent on regional policies and trade restrictions.

The United States and Canada remain the only major markets without Chinese EVs. In 2024, the U.S. imposed a 100% tariff on Chinese-made EVs, followed by further restrictions banning Chinese technology in vehicles operating on U.S. roads. Canada adopted the same tariff measures, aligning with its trade relationship with the U.S. These policies have effectively blocked Chinese EVs from entering North...

Kyrgyzstan has officially become a pilot country in the Green Agriculture Initiative, marking a significant step toward sustainable agricultural development. The initiative, launched in 2022, aims to address climate change, environmental degradation, and food security challenges while promoting green technologies and resource-efficient farming practices.

Commitment to sustainable agriculture

Kyrgyzstan has already experienced a 1.12°C rise in temperature over the past 40 years, nearing the 1.5°C threshold set by the Paris Agreement. If current trends continue, up to 80% of the country’s glaciers could melt by 2100, leading to severe water shortages. Additionally, unsustainable monoculture farming, pesticide overuse, and...

Over 9 mn people in Afghanistan risk losing access to healthcare and support services due to reductions in international financial aid, according to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The funding cuts are expected to suspend hundreds of mobile medical teams and disrupt essential programs, particularly in remote areas where these teams provide critical care.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) highlighted climate change as a major factor driving displacement and the rising need for aid. IOM’s Afghanistan head, Mihyung Park, called for continued international support to prevent a worsening humanitarian crisis.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Economy acknowledged a decline in UN agency activities and urged that humanitarian aid remain independent of politics, emphasizing its...

Kazakhstan and China continue to strengthen their collaboration in the renewable energy sector and other key industries. During a recent meeting, Chairman of the Board of Samruk-Kazyna Nurlan Zhakupov and Chinese Ambassador to Kazakhstan Han Chunlin discussed new opportunities for cooperation in energy, oil and gas, and logistics. The upcoming Kazakhstan-China Business Council meeting was also on the agenda.

Strategic partnerships in key sectors

Samruk-Kazyna is actively working with China’s leading corporations across various industries. Among them are China National Nuclear Corporation, China National Petroleum Corporation, and State Power Investment Corporation (SPIC) in the energy sector. Huawei and...

In February of this year, Uzbekistan’s annual inflation rate was reported at 10.1%, according to the State Statistics Agency.

Throughout the year, food prices increased by 2.9%, service costs rose by 27.1% and non-food prices went up by 7.7%.

The agency also noted that prices for public utilities surged by 36.5%, healthcare services increased by 20.9% and transportation costs rose by 11%.

Specifically, the prices of meat products grew by 14.4%, vegetables by 6.1% and oils and fats by 15.9%. Conversely, prices for sugar and confectionery decreased by 18.8%.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Uzbeks anticipate an overall...

Chess players from Uzbekistan will participate in the second stage of an international chess tournament in Russia, according to TASS, which cites the organisers of the event.

In addition to players from Uzbekistan, participants will include competitors from the Middle East and other CIS countries. The prize fund for the tournament will total 2 million rubles, which is over $22,300.

The third stage of the chess tournament is scheduled for May of this year, while the final will take place in July.

The first stage of the competition was held at the end of 2024, attracting more than...

Uzbekistan footballer Abbosbek Faizullaev, who plays for CSKA Moscow in Russia, recently confirmed in an interview with Championship that German Bavaria has expressed interest in him.

He stated, “There have indeed been certain contacts with my agency, ProSports Management. They informed me that Bavaria was interested in the overall situation and some details. However, we are calm about it and understand that it doesn’t mean anything definitive yet.”

Faizullaev emphasised that his current focus remains on playing for CSKA Moscow, but he acknowledged that Bavaria would be a great opportunity.

The Uzbek player dreams of playing...

In 2024, more than 2.9 tonnes of gold and silver were traded on the Uzbek Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange (URTSB), as reported by the press service of the exchange.

Out of this total, gold accounted for over 2.5 tonnes, while silver comprised 377 kg. The exchange prices for precious metals were set at 977,500 soums per gram for gold and 11,300 soums per gram for silver.

In January of this year, entrepreneurs purchased a total of 195.7 kg of gold through the exchange.

The Almalyk Mining and Metallurgical Company JSC and the Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Company...

Assistant to the President of Uzbekistan, Saida Mirziyoyeva, extended her congratulations to the people of Uzbekistan on the upcoming month of Ramadan through her Telegram channel.

“May Almighty God make this holy month a time of peace, tranquillity, harmony and grace for our Motherland and for all Muslims around the world,” her message reads.

Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that President Shavkat Mirziyoyev also congratulated his fellow citizens on the beginning of Ramadan.

Uzbekistan’s mobile operator, Perfectum, plans to establish its own Standalone 5G (SA 5G) network within the next three years, as reported by Finland’s state-owned financial company, Finnvera.

SA 5G is a type of mobile communication that operates independently, without relying on existing 4G networks.

The necessary equipment for this network will be supplied by the Finnish telecommunications company Nokia, which signed a delivery agreement in April of last year.

Nokia has emphasised that this will be the first autonomous 5G network in Central Asia, expected to significantly accelerate Uzbekistan’s digital transformation. The construction of the network is set...

At the end of February, the world witnessed a tense meeting between American President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. During their discussion, the leaders exchanged mutual reproaches, and Washington and Kyiv did not reach an agreement on rare earth metals.

Kursiv Uzbekistan has compiled the opinions of foreign leaders regarding this meeting.

The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, expressed support for Ukraine through his press office. Similarly, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz emphasised that Ukraine can count on Germany, stating, “No one desires peace more than the Ukrainians. That is why we are working toward...

In 2024, Uzbekistan’s public debt reached $40.2 bn, accounting for 35% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the Ministry of Economy and Finance reports. This development indicates a consistent upward trend in the country’s debt levels over recent years.

The external debt stands at $33.7 bn, representing 84% of the total public debt. Of this, $17.9 bn comprises fixed-rate loans, while $15.64 bn is attributed to variable-rate loans. Notably, in 2024, external borrowing reached $7.3 bn, surpassing the legally mandated cap of $5 bn.

Domestic debt experienced growth, rising from $5.9 bn to nearly $6.5 bn within the...

By the end of 2024, approximately 40% of Uzbekistan’s population did not have personal savings, according to the Central Bank of Uzbekistan surveys. This figure represents an increase from less than 35% at the end of 2023 and is the highest since the 2020 pandemic.

The rise in individuals without savings coincides with a decrease in those holding short-term reserves, specifically savings covering one to six months. Conversely, there has been an increase in residents possessing savings sufficient for more than six months, indicating growth among larger depositors.

In the first half of 2024, Uzbekistan’s banking system maintained financial...

The new storage solution is fully compatible with the S3 protocol, allowing seamless integration with existing applications and services that support this standard. This enables users to access local storage via standard APIs and utilities designed for S3 protocol interaction.

The storage is ideally suited for working with backups, archives, logs and media files. It does not require the placement or transfer of sensitive data to third-party services or storage outside Uzbekistan.

fortifAI S3 storage integrates with commonly used business backup systems, analytical tools and other applications that support the S3 protocol.

“Our customers can create...

Temu, an international e-commerce platform, has been operating in Uzbekistan since 2024. However, it may soon face restrictions. Kamronbek Mukhamadiev, head of the e-commerce development and regulation department at the National Agency for Perspective Projects (NAPP), stated that the platform has not obtained a license. It has also not taken steps to formalize its status.

In December 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers approved new regulations for e-commerce. These rules will take effect on July 1, 2025. They apply to marketplaces, order aggregators, streaming services, and self-employed individuals like couriers and taxi drivers.

The regulations require all e-commerce platforms to...

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Afghanistan has become one of the largest sellers of military equipment, utilizing American weapons and vehicles left behind following the U.S. withdrawal. Speaking during his first Cabinet meeting of the new administration, he compared the volume of abandoned hardware to the largest used car lots in the United States.

Scale of U.S. military equipment left in Afghanistan

According to Trump, Afghanistan possesses approximately 777,000 rifles and 70,000 armored trucks and vehicles. He referenced an official report estimating that $7.12 bn worth of U.S.-funded military equipment remained in the country after the previous...

Uzbekistan scored 12 out of 100 in the Freedom in the World 2025 index by Freedom House, categorizing it as a «not free» country. Among Central Asian nations, Uzbekistan ranked third in terms of political and civil liberties.

Uzbekistan’s position in Central Asia

The country outperformed Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, which scored 5 and 1 points, respectively. Kazakhstan received 23 points, while Kyrgyzstan led the region with 26 points, maintaining its position as the most free country in Central Asia despite a decline from 39 points in 2020.

Despite its classification as «not free,» Uzbekistan has shown gradual improvement. In 2020, it scored 10 points, while in 2017, it had only 3. The report...

Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan have reached an agreement on the delimitation of their state border, with the ratification process set to be completed within a month. The decision follows negotiations between the two countries’ governmental delegations, culminating in the signing of a border agreement on February 21 in Bishkek.

At a joint committee meeting of the Jogorku Kenesh on February 27, Chairman of the State Committee for National Security Kamchybek Tashiev provided updates on the border negotiations, particularly regarding the Vorukh enclave. He noted that since 1991, the Tajik side had been using 19 hectares of land outside the enclave...

Uzbekistan and Qatar signed an agreement to enhance collaboration in information technology, the digital economy, and innovation. The agreement was formalized during a meeting between Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Digital Technologies and Sheikh Ali Al-Walid Al-Thani, CEO of Invest Qatar.

The discussions focused on training IT specialists, creating international employment opportunities, supporting local startups, and advancing Uzbekistan’s IT sector. Invest Qatar, established in 2019, plays a key role in attracting foreign investments to Qatar and supporting its economic growth.

This agreement aligns with broader efforts by the governments of Uzbekistan and Qatar to deepen strategic ties. Earlier, President of Uzbekistan...

On March 31, 2025, the presidents of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan will meet for the first-ever trilateral summit in Khujand, Tajikistan. This landmark event is set to play a significant role in fostering regional cooperation. Discussions will focus on key issues such as security, economic development, and infrastructure, with an emphasis on strengthening ties between the three countries.

The announcement was made by Kyrgyz Deputy Prime Minister Edil Baisalov during the 58th session of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. He called the summit a historic victory of diplomacy and political will, crediting Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov’s dedication...

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is considering providing $500 mln in support for Tajikistan’s Rogun Hydropower Plant (HPP) project in 2025. This announcement was made by ADB’s new country manager, Ko Sakamoto, on February 25, signaling the bank’s ongoing commitment to supporting Tajikistan’s energy infrastructure.

The Rogun Hydropower Plant project holds strategic importance for Tajikistan. Sakamoto emphasized its crucial role in ensuring the country’s energy independence, regional stability, and efforts to combat climate change. The plant is expected to significantly contribute to the country’s energy capacity, positioning Tajikistan as a potential energy exporter in Central Asia.

Tajikistan has requested...

Kazakhstan’s oil exports through the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) are unaffected by recent disruptions, the country’s Energy Minister confirmed on February 26. Despite damage caused by a Ukrainian drone strike on Russia’s Kropotkinskaya pumping station on February 17, Kazakhstan’s oil exports are continuing as scheduled.

Energy Minister Almasadam Satkaliyev assured reporters that there was no risk of a decline in oil loading volumes. He emphasized that there were no restrictions on oil intake and noted that Kazakhstan’s oil storage capacity remains sufficient to maintain stable operations. This statement follows concerns regarding the impact of the recent attack on Russia’s oil...

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Energy has outlined a detailed plan for the country’s energy sector in 2025, focusing on oil, gas, and renewable energy growth. The country aims to raise oil production to 96.2 mln tons in 2025, driven by key projects at Tengiz, Karachaganak, Kalamkas-More, and Khazar fields. In 2024, Kazakhstan produced 87.7 mln tons of oil. The government has also set a goal to increase domestic sourcing for natural resource purchases from 61.9% to 62%.

Oil and gas production plans

In gas production, Kazakhstan targets 62.8 bn cubic meters in 2025, an increase from 59 bn cubic...

Tajikistan’s Ministry of Transport signed a major contract with Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group Co., a Chinese company, to reconstruct the Dangira-Guliston highway. Supported by an $86.7 mln grant from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), this project aims to establish Tajikistan’s first green corridor.

Funding and project scope

In addition to the ADB grant, the project will be backed by a $40 mln loan from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and $23 mln from the Tajik government. The 49 km Dangira-Guliston highway, originally built in the 1930s and last renovated in the 1970s, will be...