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Uzbekistan has introduced penalties for the illegal keeping of wild animals following President Shavkat Mirziyoyev‘s signing of amendments to the Administrative Code.

Under the new law, individuals who keep wild animals in captivity or artificially created conditions will face fines ranging from five to ten times the Base Regulatory Value (BRV), which is equivalent to 1.88 to 3.75 mln soums. Additionally, the wild animals involved may be confiscated.

If a violation of this ban results in damage to someone else’s property or poses a threat to public health, the fine will increase to 10 to 50 times the BRV...

Rare historical manuscripts from Uzbekistan will be showcased at the Islamic Biennale in Jeddah, according to the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art of Uzbekistan.

Visitors to the exhibition will have the opportunity to view pages from the 8th-century Qatta Langar Quran, Book of Instructions on the Basics of Astrology by Abu Rayhan Beruni, and Zij-i Ulugbek by Mirzo Ulugbek. Additionally, the 16th-century “Tashkent Scroll” will also be on display.

The Islamic Biennale is scheduled to take place from May 24 to 26.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that Bukhara will host an international biennale in September.

The United States Senate has approved the Laken Riley Act, which mandates the deportation of illegal migrants convicted of even minor crimes, according to a report by Reuters.

Sixty-one senators voted in favor of the bill, allowing it to advance for further discussion. The legislation could be passed as early as next week.

Laken Riley is a 22-year-old American student who was attacked during a morning jog last February. She was the victim of an attempted rape and was subsequently strangled. DNA evidence led to the arrest of Jose Ibarra, a migrant who was sentenced to life imprisonment for the...

Photo: Unsplash

Reuters reports that the Chinese social network TikTok intends to cease operations in the United States of America (USA) on Sunday, January 19, if the outgoing administration of President Joe Biden does not provide it with security guarantees.

The platform says it needs guarantees for Apple and Google that they will not face coercion and liability when working with TikTok.

TikTok issued the statement hours after the US Supreme Court upheld the legality of an order banning social networks in the country.

The agency added that the White House has already made it clear that Biden, who...

Farrukh Rustamov has been appointed head of Uzkomnazorat inspection. The decree was signed by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

He will oversee the sphere of informatization and telecommunications under the Ministry of Digital Technologies.

Previously, this position was held by Azam Abdullayev, who headed the agency since 2022.  

The art of making and playing the rubab, a traditional musical instrument, has been recognized as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity, according to the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Arts of Uzbekistan.

This decision was made during the UNESCO Intergovernmental Committee session for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Paraguay. Several countries, including Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Iran, prepared the nomination.

The foundation also noted that the rubab has become the sixteenth item proposed by Uzbekistan to be included on the UNESCO list.

The rubab (or rebab) is a stringed musical...

A special event is planned for the 43rd session of the UNESCO General Conference, which will take place in Samarkand. The event will focus on development and collaboration within the organisation’s mandate.

This initiative was discussed in Paris during a meeting between Begonia Lasagabaster, UNESCO’s Director for Gender Equality, and representatives from Uzbekistan, including Gayane Umerova, Chair of the Foundation for the Development of Culture and Art, and Kamol Mukhtarov, the country’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO.

The meeting highlighted the Uzbekistan-2030 strategy to support women’s roles in culture, art and digital technologies. Emphasis was placed on fostering women’s leadership...

Nigeria has officially joined the BRICS association as a partner country, according to an announcement from the Brazilian Foreign Ministry, which currently holds the organisation’s presidency.

“In fulfilling its interim presidency of BRICS, the Brazilian government announces the official entry of Nigeria as a partner country in the group,” the Foreign Ministry stated on its website.

With this development, Nigeria becomes the ninth partner country in BRICS. Previously, countries such as Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Malaysia, Thailand and Uganda have received this designation.

The Brazilian Foreign Ministry also noted that Nigeria is one of the largest economies in...

Kazakhstan’s National Bank opted to keep its base rate at 15.25%. This decision comes as inflation remains a key challenge in the country’s economic landscape.

Inflation and economic growth insights

In December, inflation in Kazakhstan stood at 8.6%, staying within the predicted range of 8-9% for 2024. Rising service prices and a sharp increase in non-food product costs since August have contributed significantly to inflation. These factors are further exacerbated by the ongoing Tariff-for-Investments initiative and the depreciation of the tenge. At the same time, stable inflationary trends indicate continued demand-side pressures driven by government fiscal policies.

Public...

Trade volume between Afghanistan and Iran grew significantly in 2024, with a reported increase of 84% compared to 2023, according to Iran’s trade advisor, Hossein Roustaei. The total transactions between the two countries reached $3.2bn, with Afghanistan exporting goods worth $54mn to Iran.

The rise in trade is attributed to challenges faced by Afghan traders with Pakistan, prompting many to prioritise trade relations with Iran. Afghan traders have called on authorities to address logistical and tax-related barriers to further enhance export opportunities.

Iran’s exports to Afghanistan in 2024 included petroleum products, gas, eggs, potatoes, tomatoes, powdered milk, agricultural tractors...

Samarkand Airport (SKD), the second-largest airport in Uzbekistan, achieved a new record for passenger traffic, serving over 1.38 mn passengers in 2024, CentralAsia+ Aero reports. This marks an increase of 36.6% compared to the previous record set in 2023. The growth is attributed to the effective public-private partnership model, with the airport being managed by the privately-run Air Marakanda since 2022.

Growth in international traffic and challenges in domestic operations

While the achievement is notable, the airport did not meet its initial target of reaching 2 mn passengers. The closure of Uzbekistan’s first low-cost carrier, Humo Air, alongside...

The National Agency for Prospective Projects (NAPP) and the cryptocurrency exchange Binance have reached an agreement regarding the platform’s operations in Uzbekistan, as reported by the agency’s press service.

“Access for residents of Uzbekistan to the Binance platform will be provided through the relevant resources of Coinpay LLC (coinpay.uz). Additionally, users will also be able to deposit and withdraw funds in the national currency using bank cards and national payment systems,” the NAPP statement reads.

For residents of Uzbekistan, the system with Binance will be launched after the integration of all modules is completed. Coinpay and Binance will announce...

In 2025, Uzbekistan plans to employ 5.2 mn people, as reported to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a presentation on poverty reduction measures.

This year, 60 cities and districts are set to become poverty-free zones for the first time. With the support of mahalla bankers, 1.5 mn people will secure permanent employment, and over 2 mn citizens will be engaged in business activities. UZS 120 trln will be allocated in loans to support small business projects.

The government plans to implement 32 new poverty reduction mechanisms based on international experience. For instance, solar power plants with a total capacity of...

According to his press service, the Uzbek government aims to exceed $30 bn in goods exports by 2025, as instructed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a recent meeting.

«This year, we plan to increase exports to more than $30 bn,» the statement indicated.

It was also noted that the authorities intend to boost exports in the textile and electrical industries by two to three times. The country has established its raw materials base to support growth in these sectors.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that in 2024, Uzbekistan exported goods worth $27 bn for the first time. To enhance...

According to Alisher Kadyrov, the leader of the Milliy Tiklanish party, signboards, announcements, and instructions in Uzbekistan should be written in Uzbek. He stated that this change is essential for improving attitudes toward the Uzbek language in the country.

«It is disappointing that, in all our cities, starting with Tashkent, external signs, announcements, and instructions are written in other languages, sometimes even in different alphabets! In Uzbekistan, all external signs and announcements should be in Uzbek,» Kadyrov expressed in his Telegram channel.

He added that it is acceptable to include translations in other languages «if necessary.» Kadyrov emphasized that...

A new factoring company, with a capital of $100 mln, will be established in Uzbekistan to support exporters. This announcement was made during a meeting with the President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

As part of the initiative, a portion of the costs for product certification will be reimbursed to enterprises, and laboratory equipment used for research will be exempt from customs duties. Additionally, $2 mln will be allocated to promote local products on international platforms.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that President Mirziyoyev criticised state companies and agencies for their shortcomings in investment policy.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan issued a strong warning to the leaders of Uztransgaz, Uzmetkombinat and Uzsuvta’minot due to issues with implementing their investment plans, according to the Press-Office of the head of state.

Investments have reportedly halved in Uztransgaz and Uzmetkombinat, while Uzsuvta’minot has seen a 20% decrease in its investments.

Mirziyoyev also criticized the Ministry of Ecology, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Agency for State Assets Management for failing to meet their grant attraction goals, which were not even achieved by 25%.

Grants obtained by the Ministry of Construction, the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry...

For the first time since the end of October 2024, the price of a five-gram gold bar has risen above 5.8 mln soums, according to the Central Bank of Uzbekistan.

In response to the increasing global gold prices, the bank has adjusted the prices as follows: five-gram gold bars are now priced at 5.83 mln soums, ten-gram bars at 11.66 mln soums, 20-gram bars at 23.32 mln soums, and 50-gram bars at 58.3 mln soums.

Additionally, 100-gram gold bars are being sold at 116.6 million soums.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan had previously set a record for gold...

Turkish law enforcement authorities seized 32,900 liters of methyl and ethyl alcohol in Istanbul, which have been linked to a series of poisonings that resulted in fatalities, according to TASS.

A total of 32 individuals have died from consuming counterfeit alcoholic drinks, with the majority of the deceased being from Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Since the beginning of the week, over 80 people have sought medical attention in the city’s healthcare facilities for methanol poisoning.

In response to the mass poisoning incident, Turkish authorities have initiated a criminal investigation, resulting in the arrest of nine individuals.

Kursiv Uzbekistan also reports that...

A branch of Startup Garage, a project aimed at supporting startups and young entrepreneurs, has opened in Kashkadarya Province, as reported by IT Park.

The innovation center will offer workspace for startup teams and provide consultations. Additionally, it will host educational and business events organized by Startup Garage.

AloqaBank and the venture fund AloqaVentures have partnered on this project. During the branch’s opening ceremony, guests learned about the opportunities available through the project, including startup development programs and assistance in finding initial investments.

Subsequently, 20 teams presented their ideas for innovative projects. Experts selected 12 startups that will...

The Board of the Republican Stock Exchange (RSE) Toshkent has approved the listing of securities for Oq Oltin Don Mahsulotlari JSC, as reported by the trading floor’s press service.

The common shares and preferred shares of the company, with stock tickers OODM and OODMP respectively, are set to begin trading on January 17.

Oq Oltin Don Mahsulotlari specializes in the production of bakery products. The main shareholder of the company is Uzdonmahsulot Company, which holds an 89.3% stake.

According to the financial report for the third quarter of 2024, net profits for Oq Oltin Don Mahsulotlari exceeded 1.8 trillion soums...

At the end of December 2024, the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan approved the general plan for Tashkent. The capital city plans to build 647 kilometers of new streets and roads, expanding its area to 43,700 hectares.

Saidazim Sharipov, head of the Department for Preparation of Urban Planning Documents at the New Tashkent Construction Directorate, outlined how the authorities will regulate the building and reconstruction processes in the capital.

Under the new program to manage the development and reconstruction of the capital, residential areas will be divided into four categories, according to Sharipov.

The first category will encompass neighborhoods with...

In 2024, an average of 14 Uzbeks applied for each vacancy on the hh.uz platform, according to a report from HeadHunter obtained by Kursiv Uzbekistan. This marked a 44% increase in applicant competition compared to the previous year.

During the year, employers posted 130,000 active vacancies on the platform, which represents a 28% increase over 2023.

The peak period for employer activity occurred between May and October. In October alone, Uzbek employers posted nearly 18,000 vacancies. Conversely, January and December 2024 saw the fewest new job offers.

The largest share of vacancies was in sales and customer service, accounting for...

U.S. Secretary of State candidate Marco Rubio described the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, which affects Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries, as a relic of the past during a Senate hearing. He stated that using this amendment as a tool to exert pressure on these nations is no longer relevant. Rubio emphasised that abolishing the initiative would require changes in legislation.

He also highlighted the importance of Washington paying greater attention to the Central Asian region.

In 2023, U.S. Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut supported the repeal of the amendment against Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. He argued that the U.S. should grant...