News

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan are launching a joint project to plant saxaul trees across the dried-up Aral Sea bed in the border region. Leili Seitova, Minister of Ecology of Karakalpakstan, shared the update in an interview with Kazinform.

She noted that the two countries aim to co-develop and implement solutions focused on saxaul planting, as the tree plays a key role in containing salt and dust storms. A delegation of Kazakh experts has already visited Karakalpakstan to study Uzbekistan’s experience in this area.

Seitova emphasised that fully restoring the Aral Sea is no longer possible, but protecting the remaining water bodies...

From January to April 2025, the number of tourists from Italy visiting Uzbekistan grew by 11.3% compared to the same period last year, according to the State Statistics Agency.

Over four months, more than 11.1 thousand Italian citizens entered the country. Of these, 10.4 thousand came for tourism purposes.

An additional 385 Italians visited relatives, while 247 arrived for business and 34 for education.

In April alone, Uzbekistan welcomed 1 mln foreign visitors — the highest monthly figure ever recorded for inbound tourism.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported that tourist arrivals from Iran to Uzbekistan had tripled.

From January to May 2025, Uzbekistan became the second-largest importer of goods from Belarus via the Belarusian Universal Commodity Exchange (BUCE), according to data shared on BUCE’s official Telegram channel.

Belarusian exporters increased their trade volume with Uzbekistan through the exchange by 2.8 times.

The main products included sawn timber, meat products, and powdered milk. The total export value reached $47.6 mln.

To boost trade, the exchange signed an information cooperation agreement with the Uzbekistan National Economic Cooperation Association.

«BUCE has accredited 216 Uzbek resident companies, including three brokers. Since the beginning of...

In 2024, the Russian energy giant Gazprom increased natural gas exports to Uzbekistan via the Central Asia–Center trunk pipeline system by a factor of 4.4, according to the company’s annual report reviewed by Kursiv Uzbekistan.

Over the past year, gas deliveries reached 5.64 bn cubic meters, compared to 1.28 bn cubic meters in 2023 — a 340.6% increase.

During the winter of 2023–2024, exports operated at the maximum technically allowable capacity of the pipeline system.

Exports to Uzbekistan began in October 2023 and are conducted in reverse flow mode through a special route utilizing sections of Central Asia–Center IV and...

UEFA has released its updated club coefficient rankings as of June 2025, reflecting the performance of European teams in UEFA competitions over the past five seasons.

Manchester City secured second place, trailing only Real Madrid. The English club continues to deliver strong results in the Champions League and remains one of Europe’s most consistent powerhouses.

AS Roma climbed to ninth place, overtaking the likes of Barcelona and AC Milan. The Italian side continues to earn points in UEFA competitions, steadily strengthening its position in European football.

Top 5 clubs in the ranking:

Argentina secured an important victory over Chile in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying match, held at the Julio Martínez Prádanos Stadium. The game ended with a 1–0 win for the visitors.

The only goal of the match came in the 16th minute, when Julián Álvarez finished off a fast team attack. The early strike proved decisive, helping Argentina strengthen its position at the top of the South American qualifying table.

A highlight of the match was the return of Lionel Messi, who stepped onto the field in the 57th minute, replacing midfielder Pass. His comeback was a major...

English football club Manchester City has officially congratulated Abdukodir Khusanov, the club’s young defender, and the Uzbekistan national football team on their historic achievement—qualifying for the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the country’s history.

The club shared a message of celebration on its official website and social media platforms following Uzbekistan’s 0–0 draw with the United Arab Emirates, a result that secured the crucial point needed to advance to the 2026 World Cup, set to take place in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

«Congratulations to Kodir from everyone at Manchester City on...

Italian football club AS Roma has congratulated Eldor Shomurodov, striker for the Uzbekistan national football team, on securing a historic spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

«Congratulations to Eldor on qualifying for the World Cup with Uzbekistan for the first time in history,» the club posted, accompanied by applause emojis and the Uzbekistan flag.

On June 5, the Uzbek national team secured World Cup qualification for the first time ever after drawing with the United Arab Emirates in the ninth round of the Asian qualifiers.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that President...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has officially recognised the success of the Uzbekistan national football team following their historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In a presidential decree, the team’s head coach, players, and support staff were awarded national honors for their contributions.

Head coach Timur Kapadze and all team players received the prestigious honorary title «Uzbekiston Iftixori» (Pride of Uzbekistan). The recognition includes both key squad members and rising young talents who contributed to the team’s success in the Asian qualifiers.

Ravshan Irmatov, First Deputy Chairman of the Uzbekistan Football Association, was awarded the...

In honour of Kurban Hayit (Eid al-Adha), a group of Ukrainian children has arrived in Tashkent, Uzbekistan for a 12-day program focused on rest, rehabilitation and psychological support.

The children come from various war-affected regions of Ukraine, including Kharkiv, Kherson, Mykolaiv, Kyiv, Sumy, Khmelnytskyi, Lviv and Zaporizhzhia.

Each day of the program includes themed events such as National Values Day, Sports and Wellness Day, creative competitions, and educational excursions. Nearly all relevant ministries and government agencies in Uzbekistan are involved in organizing the initiative.

This humanitarian gesture underscores Uzbekistan’s ongoing support for international solidarity.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also...

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has received an official letter of congratulations from FIFA President Gianni Infantino following the national football team’s historic qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

In his message, Infantino noted that Uzbekistan was among the first Asian teams to secure a spot in the tournament. He praised the achievement as a result of the collective efforts of players, coaches, the Uzbek Football Association, and the country’s dedicated football fans.

«On behalf of the global football community, please allow me to congratulate you and the people of Uzbekistan on this well-deserved and historic...

The Langar-Ota cultural and religious complex in Uzbekistan’s Kashkadarya region has reopened after a major restoration, according to the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan.

The restoration project was funded by the U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation, which allocated $250,000 for strengthening the foundation, replacing the roof, and preserving the site’s historic Timurid-era tilework.

Work on the monument began in autumn 2023, led by specialists from the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures at the University of Chicago. In addition to carrying out the restoration, they shared their expertise and trained local professionals in heritage preservation techniques.

At the reopening...

Tickets are now on sale for Jennifer Lopez’s concert in Tashkent, scheduled for August 7 at the Milliy Stadium. According to iTicket, the cheapest ticket starts at 1.04 million UZS.

Prices vary depending on seating:

Note: All tickets are non-refundable and non-exchangeable. Organizers strongly advise fans to purchase...

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev extended his heartfelt congratulations to the people of Uzbekistan and Muslims around the world on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, also known locally as Kurban Hayit.

«The values of this sacred holiday—such as humanism, solidarity, compassion, and generosity—fully align with the wide-reaching reforms being implemented in our country under the noble principle ‘For the sake of the individual, for their happiness,’» Mirziyoyev said.

He emphasised that these values contribute significantly to Uzbekistan’s national efforts to reduce poverty, support vulnerable populations, care for the elderly, empower youth and women...

Kazakhstan has announced the launch of CryptoCity, a pioneering pilot project aimed at integrating cryptocurrency and blockchain technology into everyday life. Introduced by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev at the Astana International Forum on May 29, 2025. CryptoCity represents a major step in the country’s strategy to become a regional hub for digital innovation and financial technology (fintech).

«We are planning to create a pioneering pilot zone called CryptoCity where cryptocurrencies might be used for purchasing goods, services, and even beyond,» President Tokayev stated to an audience of world leaders, economists, and tech innovators.

Building a...

Abdukodir Khusanov and the incredible nation of Uzbekistan are bursting with pride and celebration as they achieve a monumental milestone by securing their very first spot at the FIFA World Cup!

The dynamic 21-year-old Manchester City defender showcased his remarkable skills with a stellar performance, helping Uzbekistan hold on for a thrilling goalless draw against the United Arab Emirates in Abu Dhabi. This result earned them the crucial point they needed, sealing their place in next summer’s World Cup extravaganza across the USA, Canada and Mexico!

Khusanov stood tall and strong at the heart of a determined Uzbek defense...

The business climate in Uzbekistan is improving steadily in 2025, according to the latest report from the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) available to Kursiv Uzbekistan. Key economic sectors, including industry, agriculture, services and construction, are showing positive performance, with strong confidence among local entrepreneurs.

Business Confidence Reaches New Highs in Uzbekistan

The Composite Business Climate Index rose by 13 points year-on-year, reaching 61 in May 2025. This index reflects the overall health of the business environment based on surveys of over 1,000 enterprises across Uzbekistan.

Starting June 19, 2025, Centrum Air launches direct flights from Tashkent to Tamchy, situated on the picturesque shores of Lake Issyk-Kul. Now, reaching crystal-clear waters and refreshing coolness takes just a couple of hours.

Flights will operate twice a week — on Thursdays and Sundays.

Current schedule:

This new route offers a chance to enjoy a weekend getaway at a lakeside resort without the hassle and fatigue of extended travel. Centrum Air brings Issyk-Kul not only closer but more affordable too...

Between January and April 2025, 2.1 mln Uzbek citizens travelled abroad, according to the National Statistics Committee. The number increased by 23.6% compared to the same period last year.

Around 1.7 mln people went overseas to visit relatives. Over 399,000 travelled for leisure, 15,200 for medical purposes, 9,900 for education, and 4,700 for work.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported a 35.5% increase in the number of Uzbek tourists visiting Turkey.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) plans to provide between $130 mln and $150 mln for the first phase of constructing Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant in Kyrgyzstan, according to the country’s Ministry of Energy following talks with the bank’s senior management.

Officials believe ADB could play a key role by offering financial, technical and expert support throughout the project.

During the meeting, both sides discussed terms of investment cooperation, including plans to coordinate financing stages with another major stakeholder — the World Bank.

Representatives from Kyrgyzstan’s energy ministry noted that the construction requires significant funding and the involvement of reliable partners...

Kazakhstan’s state oil company KazMunayGas is exploring the possibility of issuing yuan-denominated bonds to access cheaper financing from international markets.

The firm may tap both dim sum bonds (offshore) and panda bonds (onshore in China), CEO Askhat Khassenov told Bloomberg. He also confirmed interest in Arab debt markets, where borrowing conditions appear favourable.

Khassenov said the company had reviewed several options and found yuan bonds to offer rather good conditions. If approved, this would mark KazMunayGas’s first debt issue in Chinese currency.

At the same time, Kazakhstan has refused to cut oil output despite being a member of OPEC...

A court in Kyrgyzstan sentenced former president Almazbek Atambayev to 11 years and two months in prison. Authorities found him guilty of corruption, illegal enrichment, unlawful land acquisition, and organising mass unrest.

Judges delivered the sentence in absentia after the Supreme Court ordered a retrial of an earlier case. Local media linked the charges to the violent clashes in August 2019, when special forces attempted to arrest Atambayev at his residence.

Atambayev served as president from 2011 to 2017. He led the country through its first peaceful transfer of power but later fell out with his hand-picked successor.

Security forces arrested him in 2019, briefly released him during the 2020 revolution, and...

Kazakhstan ranks near the bottom of the global cost of living index for 2025, taking 114th place out of 139 countries. Daily expenses in the country are 73.4% lower than in New York City, which serves as the benchmark with an index of 100%.

The data reflects the cost of food, transport and services, but excludes housing. Kazakhstan’s overall score stands at 26.6, with a food index of 27.4, restaurant prices at 28, and local purchasing power at 50.8. Rental prices remain especially low, with a rent index of just 10.5.

Across the CIS region, Kazakhstan’s cost of living is more affordable than in Armenia, Moldova and Azerbaijan, but higher...

In the first quarter of 2025, 2,600 people from Uzbekistan and 982 from Russia relocated to Kazakhstan, according to data from the Kazakh Bureau of National Statistics.

Other countries of origin included China (427 arrivals), Mongolia (129), and Turkey (57).

Most foreign nationals settled in Almaty city, Almaty region, and Mangystau region.

Earlier, Kursiv Uzbekistan reported long queues at border checkpoints between Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan due to the high volume of people attempting to cross.