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Uzbekistan — Daily

Uzbekistan Daily: Avaza summit sets transport-energy agenda, jobs rise amid skills gap, and som strengthens

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Politics

Cabinet Approves Procedure for “Credit Ban” Registry and Instant Digital Filings

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan’s Cabinet of Ministers has approved rules for managing a new registry of individuals who prohibit lenders from extending them credit, formalizing self-imposed credit bans and removals. Under the regulation effective 21 August 2025, applications to add or remove personal data from the registry can be filed via the Unified Public Services Portal, service centers, or credit bureaus. In-person requests trigger issuance of a QR-coded certificate by bureaus, while public service centers must deliver outcomes to an applicant’s email within 10 minutes and notify via the state IT system. The date and time of requests, activation or removal of bans, and related conditions will be reflected in the applicant’s credit history. Service centers and credit bureaus are required to ensure data confidentiality. The document is published in the National Database of Legislative Acts and entered into force on 21 August 2025.

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Surprise Labor Inspections to Begin 1 September Under New Presidential Decree

Published: 2025-08-22

Starting 1 September 2025, labor inspectors in Uzbekistan can conduct unannounced checks at companies under presidential decree PF-126 signed on 4 August. The reform aims to strengthen compliance and protect workers’ rights by preventing employers from staging compliance ahead of visits. It aligns with ILO Convention No. 81, which permits inspectors to enter workplaces “as necessary and at any time.” However, the removal of the prior 10‑business‑day notification rule raises legal predictability and corruption concerns, particularly for SMEs facing documentation and legal-resource constraints. The article urges procedural safeguards—mandatory ID presentation, clear grounds for inspections, transparent risk-based selection, minimum intervals between visits, involvement of a business ombudsman, and a public inspections registry—to balance enforcement with business certainty. Without such measures, experts warn of higher dispute volumes and pressure on administrative courts.

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Tax-Debt Builders Named as President Reviews New Tashkent Construction; Anti-Corruption Arrests Reported

Published: 2025-08-22

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inspected ongoing works in the New Tashkent development while authorities publicly identified construction firms with the largest outstanding tax debts, signaling tighter fiscal enforcement in the sector. The digest also reports an employee of the People’s Reception Office detained on bribery charges and a popular TikToker sentenced to prison, underscoring stepped-up anti-corruption and online conduct scrutiny. For investors and contractors, the naming of delinquent companies suggests increased transparency and potential procurement risks, while the presidential site visit highlights the political priority of New Tashkent’s timelines and quality standards. Legal actions against public servants and influencers indicate continued efforts to police official integrity and digital spheres, with possible implications for compliance expectations in public-facing activities.

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Citizen Voting Opens for Second Round of Participatory Budgeting 2025

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan’s Economy and Finance Ministry launched the voting phase for the 2025 second season of the “Tashabbusli budjet” participatory budgeting program. Authorities said 22,263 citizen-proposed projects were submitted, with 18,656 advancing to the ballot. Voting runs until 31 August at 23:59, with winners to be announced on 1 September, coinciding with Independence Day. The first 2025 season drew over 10 million votes, allocating 3.2 trillion soums to more than 2,300 projects focused on school, road, and facility repairs. According to the Open Budget portal, 2,369 projects won in Season 1, up from 1,772 previously; local councils added 33 more using 7.5 billion soums in extra local funds. The scale signals continued institutionalization of citizen input into local infrastructure priorities and budget execution timelines.

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Judicial Reforms, Regional Diplomacy and Trade Data Drive Busy Policy Day

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan advanced justice-sector reforms as presidential decrees were detailed to make courts a “formative educational institution” fostering rule-of-law. Plans include lifetime appointments for effective judges after five years, AI-assisted case prediction, restructuring economic courts, and building 162 new “Digital Court” facilities by 2030. A new Justice Academy will train judicial candidates and upskill staff. Personnel shifts included a new first deputy health minister and a district governor. Regional diplomacy intensified with President Shavkat Mirziyoyev meeting Turkmen leaders and trilaterally engaging Azerbaijan on hydrocarbon development, power exports, Caspian ferry logistics, and the Zangezur corridor. Trade turnover reached $44.4 billion (+19.9%) in Jan–Jul, with a $4.2 billion deficit; gold exports surged 80.9% to $7.7 billion (38% of total). The som appreciated 4.2% YTD, and authorities launched voucher-based training for unemployed and low-income residents.

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Economy

Job Vacancies Surge While Candidate Activity Slows, Signaling Skills Mismatch in Key Sectors

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan’s Q2 labor market saw vacancies rise 28.7% from Q1, led by trade (19.4%), food service (17.5%), and manufacturing (16.8%), according to Central Bank monitoring of online listings. Active resumes increased notably in trade, services, marketing, and advertising, yet overall online job-search activity trailed 2023–2024 levels, pointing to demand–supply frictions for skilled roles. Firms temper hiring plans: the share expecting to expand headcount over the next three months fell to an average 30.2%, with declines in industry (26.8%) and services (29.1%), while those planning to hold staffing steady rose to 61.2%. Nominal wages grew 17.2% y/y in Q2 (real +7.3%), with finance/insurance and ICT highest; construction lagged, posting a real decline. As of 1 July, 14.6 million were employed and around 800,000 unemployed, amid ongoing formalization measures affecting benefits and reporting obligations.

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Som Strengthens to 20-Month Low for Dollar as Official Rate Falls to 12,357

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan’s som appreciated for a third consecutive session, with the Central Bank setting the official dollar rate at 12,357.09 UZS for 25 August—its lowest since early January 2024 and the weakest level for the dollar in roughly 20 months. The euro and ruble also declined to 14,330.52 UZS and 153.49 UZS, respectively. Year to date, the som is up about 4.2% (+547.8 UZS), reversing the trend of 2023–2024 when the currency steadily weakened. Analysts link the strengthening to higher export receipts, sterilization of gold-export proceeds, a catch-up effect from rising remittances amid a firmer ruble, and a narrower trade deficit. External factors include a near 10% drop in the global dollar index over the past 6–7 months. No immediate policy changes were announced by the Central Bank.

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Trade Expands Sharply as Gold Sales and Fresh Produce Drive Exports

Published: 2025-08-22

January–July data show foreign trade turnover up 19.9% to $44.4 billion, with exports rising 34.9% to $20.1 billion and imports up 9.9% to $24.3 billion, leaving a $4.2 billion deficit (gazeta.uz). Gold dominated export dynamics at $7.7 billion, an 80.9% year-on-year surge, aligning with record-high gold reserve valuations of $38.68 billion even as physical holdings edged down to 363.9 tons (gazeta.uz). Non-commodity flows also strengthened: fruit and vegetable exports reached $1.1 billion (+35.2%), including 29.5 thousand tons of fresh grapes worth $24.9 million to 12 markets—chiefly Russia (20k tons) and Kazakhstan (7.3k tons) (uzdaily.uz). China, Russia, and Kazakhstan remained top partners; services exports grew 30.2% to $4.8 billion, led by travel and transport. Import composition stayed capital-heavy, dominated by machinery and transport equipment at 33.3%.

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Beijing to Host Uzbekistan–China Trade and Investment Forum

Published: 2025-08-22

Beijing will host a bilateral “Uzbekistan–China” trade, economic, and investment forum bringing together government bodies and private-sector representatives for structured negotiations. The program includes talks between state agencies and business associations, as well as direct B2B meetings among entrepreneurs. While specific sectors and deal values were not disclosed, such forums typically focus on manufacturing supply chains, infrastructure, energy, and technology tie-ups, reflecting China’s rising role in Central Asian investment. For Uzbekistan, the event aligns with efforts to diversify export markets, attract industrial capital, and integrate with regional logistics corridors linked to China. For Chinese firms, it offers access to Uzbekistan’s reforms, tax incentives, and a growing consumer base. Outcomes to watch include memoranda of understanding, project pipelines, and potential financing commitments from Chinese banks or policy institutions.

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Three Major Gold Deposits Auctioned for $20 Million; One Lot Jumps 24x After Day-Long Bidding

Published: 2025-08-22

Authorities sold rights to three large gold deposits—Temirchi and Pirali in Navoiy region and Terekli in Tashkent region—for a combined $20 million over the past three days, according to kun.uz. One auction reportedly ran for nearly 24 hours, pushing the final price to 24 times the opening bid, signaling intense investor interest and competitive bidding. The sales underscore the government’s continuing push to monetize subsoil assets through transparent electronic auctions and diversify ownership in the mining sector. For international stakeholders, the outcome hints at evolving market dynamics in Uzbekistan’s extractives industry, where heightened competition may lift asset valuations and set new benchmarks for future tenders, particularly in gold—one of the country’s most strategic exports. No buyers were named in the initial report.

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TBC Bank to Acquire 100% of OLX Uzbekistan Through Joint Venture with Titan Investments

Published: 2025-08-22

TBC Bank Group will acquire all shares of OLX Uzbekistan from OLX Group (Prosus), executing the deal via a joint venture with Titan Investments. TBC will hold a controlling stake (50% + 1 share), while Titan owns the remainder. Following regulatory approval, OLX Uzbekistan will be integrated into TBC’s ecosystem but continue operating under its own brand. The bank plans to embed its digital banking products into the classifieds platform. OLX Uzbekistan ranks among the country’s top websites (6th), with more than 5.4 million monthly active users and over 2.2 million active listings. For TBC, the acquisition opens access to mass-market consumer segments and a high-traffic channel for cross-selling financial services, signaling deeper convergence of fintech and e-commerce in Uzbekistan’s digital economy.

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Real Wage Growth Trails Regional Peers as Minimum Pay Lags Behind Neighbors

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan’s real wage growth is underperforming regional trends, according to the Central Bank’s Labor Market Review. In Q1, average real wages in Central Asia rose 9.8% (9.1% including parts of the Caucasus), while Uzbekistan recorded 7.2%. In Q2 2025, nominal wages grew 17.2% year-on-year and real wages 7.3%, with the average monthly salary at 6 million soums. The statutory minimum wage stood at about $91—well below Belarus ($243), Azerbaijan ($235), and Mongolia ($222). Sectorally, finance and insurance, and information and communications retained the highest pay levels, while information, transport, and social services saw faster wage growth. Construction lagged, with nominal wages up 6.1% and real wages down 2.8%. As of July 1, total employment reached 14.6 million, unemployment about 800,000, and 22.5 million people were outside the labor force, including 12 million below working age.

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Gas Import Bill Falls One-Third as Exports to China Rise in Early 2025

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan reduced natural gas imports by 30.6% in January–July 2025, purchasing $734 million worth of gas, according to the National Statistics Committee. Over the same period, gas exports rose 38.2% to $438.6 million. Russia and Turkmenistan remained the primary suppliers, while most exports flowed to China. The shift suggests tighter import needs—potentially from seasonal demand patterns, domestic output adjustments, or infrastructure optimization—while higher exports indicate improved external sales channels and pricing. For the trade balance, a narrower import bill alongside expanding exports eases pressure on foreign currency needs. Energy-sector players should watch bilateral dynamics with Russia and Turkmenistan for supply stability, and China’s downstream demand for export consistency. No official commented on short-term contract structures or volumes, leaving uncertainties around winter procurement and transit capacity.

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Market Services Expand 13.5% to UZS 542.6 Trillion in First Seven Months

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan’s market services sector reached UZS 542.6 trillion in January–July 2025, up UZS 105.8 trillion year-on-year for a 13.5% increase, according to the National Statistics Committee. Per capita market services rose 11.3% to UZS 14.4 million, indicating both broader service consumption and potential pricing effects. Small business providers accounted for UZS 296.2 trillion, or 54.6% of total market services, underscoring their central role in service delivery and job creation. The figures suggest sustained domestic demand and a maturing services economy following recent liberalization and digitalization efforts. For investors and operators, the strong share of small enterprises points to competitive fragmentation and potential partnership opportunities, while the per capita gains signal expanding consumer-facing service niches across regions. No official statements were cited in the report.

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Bahrain’s GPIC Explores Strategic Chemical Industry Projects with Tashkent

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan and Bahrain’s Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) discussed potential strategic cooperation under Uzbekistan’s national program to develop its chemical industry. During a meeting in Tashkent between Munira Aminova, advisor to the foreign minister, and GPIC Deputy CEO Adnan Al-Mahmud, the Bahraini side highlighted Uzbekistan’s geographic advantages and capacity for deeper raw material processing, signaling interest in investment projects. The parties agreed to prioritize agrochemical collaboration, prepare a GPIC delegation visit to Uzbekistan, and establish a joint working group to shape project pipelines. The planned mission and task force suggest due diligence and early structuring for potential JV models, technology transfer, and feedstock-to-fertilizer chains—areas aligned with Uzbekistan’s push to upgrade value-added production and export potential in chemicals. No timelines or specific project values were disclosed.

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Diplomacy

Over 20 Heads of State to Convene in Tianjin for SCO Summit, Agenda to Refocus Cooperation and Governance

Published: 2025-08-22

China will host the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin on 31 August–1 September, drawing leaders from more than 20 countries and representatives of over 10 international organizations, including the UN. Invitees include the presidents of Russia, Belarus, Iran, Turkey and Central Asian states—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan—as well as India’s prime minister and leaders from Azerbaijan and Armenia. The meeting is expected to review the SCO’s track record, set development directions, and adopt cooperation decisions, following Belarus’s accession last year. Officials signaled an emphasis on cohesion and institutional refinement to support joint action across security, economic, and connectivity initiatives.

"President Xi Jinping will meet leaders from over 20 foreign countries and 10 international organizations to take stock of the SCO’s successful experience, support its development and structural reconfiguration, and unite participants for cooperation and joint work." - Liu Bin, Assistant Foreign Minister (qalampir.uz)

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Tashkent and Doha Advance Joint Projects in Pharma, E‑buses, Real Estate and Tourism

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan’s investment minister Laziz Kudratov held two days of talks in Doha with Qatari ministers and executives from major firms including Qatar Pharma, Tamam International, Almana Group, Ariane Real Estate, Retaj Group, Al Mansour Group, Petro White, Qatar Mining, Global Infrastructure Partners, Qatar Investment Authority and Al Jabor Trading. Uzbekistan presented opportunities across energy, pharmaceuticals, machinery, building materials, food, textiles, mining and tourism, emphasizing investment safeguards, tax and customs incentives, and tailored terms for strategic projects. Agreements cover localizing pharmaceutical production, establishing an electric bus plant, developing construction and real estate projects including smart-city zones, expanding mining and processing, and investing in tourism infrastructure and hotels. The sides will also prepare a preferential trade agreement, host a “Made in Uzbekistan” expo in Doha in 2026, and form an Uzbekistan–Qatar Business Council, setting the stage for a broader pipeline to be confirmed at upcoming high-level meetings.

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Published: 2025-08-22

A delegation from Uzbekistan met with Stavropol Krai Deputy Governor Nikolay Afanasov on 21 August to strengthen protections for Uzbek workers in the region and formalize cooperation on skills recognition and vocational training. The sides agreed to create a joint working group to combat illegal migration and widen legal employment channels, alongside developing a “roadmap” and maintaining regular dialogue. Broader economic, investment, logistics, education, and cultural collaboration was also discussed, with interest in deepening interregional ties and joint business initiatives. The delegation engaged Uzbek students at North Caucasus Federal University and met community members working at YugInvestStroy and the Yantar mall. The initiatives signal a move toward structured labor mobility and improved worker safeguards that could reduce compliance risks for employers and migrants while aligning skills development with regional labor needs.

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Balkan Leaders Share Transition Lessons as Tashkent Hosts High-Level EU–Caucasus Dialogue

Published: 2025-08-22

"The country is moving in the right direction… Your geopolitical position creates good conditions for sovereign development." - Borut Pahor, former President of Slovenia (gazeta.uz)

At a high-level meeting in Tashkent on cooperation among Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Europe, former leaders from Slovenia and Bosnia and Herzegovina outlined market-transition takeaways relevant to ongoing reforms. Slovenia’s Borut Pahor credited his country’s faster EU and NATO integration to pre-existing business culture and political traditions despite Yugoslavia’s breakup, noting Uzbekistan’s constructive regional role and balanced ties with China and Russia. Bosnia’s ex-president Mladen Ivanic recalled difficult 1990s reforms with mixed privatization outcomes and industrial losses, but said investment is gradually returning and the Western Balkans are converging toward the EU. Pahor endorsed WTO accession as a “new impulse” for the economy and society, and highlighted Uzbekistan’s youthful demographics and momentum as assets for deeper market reforms.

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Foreign Minister’s First Bahrain Visit Seals Visa-Free Travel for Diplomatic Passports, Eyes Investment Deals

Published: 2025-08-22

Foreign Minister Baxtiyor Saidov paid his first official visit to Bahrain on 19–20 August, meeting Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa and the ministers of foreign affairs, finance, national economy, industry, and trade in Manama. The sides signed a bilateral agreement enabling visa-free travel for diplomatic passport holders, a step that can streamline official exchanges and pave the way for deeper sectoral cooperation. Talks prioritized expanding political dialogue, trade and investment flows, and institutional know-how sharing, with emphasis on linking Central Asia and Gulf economies. Saidov also met executives from Bahrain’s sovereign fund Mumtalakat, Lamar Holding (PPP-focused infrastructure and energy), and Aluminium Bahrain (Alba) to explore green energy, advanced manufacturing, and joint ventures. Tashkent views Bahrain’s Islamic finance expertise and business infrastructure as strategic, while Manama is interested in agriculture, energy, textiles, tourism, and regional market access via Uzbekistan.

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Tashkent and Bishkek Bodies Plan MoUs to Expand Cooperation on Strategic Reforms

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan’s Agency for Strategic Reforms (ASR) and Kyrgyzstan’s National Institute of Strategic Initiatives (NISI) agreed to prepare memorandums of understanding to broaden collaboration on governance and reform projects. During a meeting in Tashkent, ASR Director Baxodir Rakhmatov outlined priority workstreams, including implementation of strategic reforms, regional development through data-driven analysis, engagement of foreign experts, the “Country Platform” for coordinating international partners, the “For the Future” initiatives forum, and creation of a geoportal for social facilities. Kyrgyz deputy director Shumkarbek Adilbek uulu highlighted Kyrgyz projects such as optimizing state bodies, introducing a digitalization index for government agencies, annually assessing the necessity of regional branches under a “territorial guillotine” approach, and outsourcing select public services. Both sides proposed drafting roadmap documents to deepen cooperation, with emphasis on digital governance and reducing bureaucracy.

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Tashkent–Doha Elevate Ties with First Strategic Partnership Council Meeting

Published: 2025-08-22

"This partnership opens broader horizons for political consultations and regional and international coordination on issues of shared interest." - Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar (uza.uz)

Uzbekistan and Qatar convened the inaugural meeting of their Strategic Partnership Coordinating Council, led by the countries’ foreign ministers, to deepen cooperation across politics, trade and investment, academic and cultural exchanges, transport connectivity, and climate action. Qatar’s top diplomat underscored that relations have reached a strategic level, framing the council as a platform for policy alignment. The sides highlighted upcoming multilateral milestones hosted in Uzbekistan: UNESCO’s General Conference in Samarkand from 30 October to 13 November 2025, and the second Gulf Cooperation Council–Central Asia summit in 2026. Uzbek Foreign Minister Baxtiyor Saidov expressed gratitude for Qatar’s hospitality and acknowledged Doha’s selection to host the Second World Social Summit on 4–6 November this year, signaling intensified high-level engagement and expanded regional diplomacy.

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Infrastructure

Caspian Triangle Sets Transport, Energy and Trade Agenda at Avaza Summit

Published: 2025-08-22

Leaders of Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan met in Turkmenistan’s Avaza zone to formalize a new phase of trilateral cooperation across transit, energy and commerce, capped by a joint statement and sectoral MOUs (transport and logistics, shipbuilding, civil aviation, commodity exchanges). The agenda prioritizes linking existing and planned corridors—China–Uzbekistan rail, the Trans-Afghan route, Middle Corridor including Zangezur—while expanding capacity at Turkmenbashi and Baku ports, harmonizing tariffs and procedures, and digitizing controls. Tashkent signaled readiness to cut freight tariffs and develop its own Caspian ferry capacity, aligning with plans to co-develop logistics and export electricity and hydrocarbons, plus explore “green” power deliveries to Europe. Bilateral Mirziyoyev–Berdimuhamedov talks noted 2025 YTD trade at $700 million and progress toward a Shovot–Toshovuz trade zone.

"We agreed to work together on Caspian logistics infrastructure and ferry services, and to coordinate policies so businesses can access global markets on better terms." - President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (gazeta.uz)

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Talks with Chinese Firms Advance Railway Upgrades and Electro-Tech Investments

Published: 2025-08-22

Tashkent hosted two sets of engagements with Chinese companies, signaling momentum in transport and manufacturing cooperation. At the Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade, Deputy Minister Ilzat Kasimov met a delegation led by Ke Dimin of Beijing China Railway Construction Electrification Design & Research Institute to explore projects across locomotive repair, leasing, driver training, diesel modernization, and electrified rail support, with Zhengzhou Gongying Railway Equipment, China Railway Construction Corporation, and Tangshan Baichuan Intelligent Machinery participating. The sides agreed to continue work on new railway infrastructure initiatives. Separately, the "O‘zeltexsanoat" association, led by Mirziyod Yunusov, held talks in China with HKC (including a visit to its Changsha plant), CEC and its units China Sendind and Great Wall, and Gotion, discussing joint investments and technology transfer to expand Uzbekistan’s electro-technical production. The discussions point to deeper supply-chain integration and capability upgrades across strategic sectors.

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National Standard Sets Unified Technical Requirements for Early Warning Systems

Published: 2025-08-22

A new national standard, O‘zMSt 520:2025, establishes unified technical requirements for early warning and public notification systems on threats and emergencies, aiming to strengthen civil defense and climate resilience. Developed by the Ministry of Emergency Situations with UNDP support and Green Climate Fund financing, the standard consolidates classification, application rules, and quality testing for equipment used in existing and new systems. Authorities expect the framework to reduce incompatibilities across devices, lower operating and maintenance costs, and accelerate modernization and integration of the country’s early warning infrastructure. The measure supports a broader UNDP–Ministry of Emergency Situations–Uzhydromet project focused on high-risk, densely populated mountainous areas, targeting floods, mudflows, landslides, avalanches, and hydrological drought. The standard is positioned as a strategic step to improve reliability and nationwide scalability of integrated early warning systems.

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Court Clears 5-Story Hotel Project in Yakkasaroy After Residents’ Legal Challenge

Published: 2025-08-22

A Tashkent court has ruled in favor of developer “Toshneftgazishchita’minot” LLC, allowing construction of a five-story hotel in Yakkasaroy’s To‘qimachi mahalla to proceed. Local residents had filed suit to block the project, triggering a temporary injunction that halted work for several months. Following the court’s decision, that injunction has been lifted and construction is set to resume. The case underscores ongoing tensions in central districts where infill development meets community pushback over density, infrastructure load, and neighborhood character. For investors and operators, the ruling signals continued legal viability for hospitality projects in prime urban areas, though litigation risk and potential delays remain material considerations in project timelines.

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Temporary Gas Outage to Hit Five Tashkent Neighborhoods During Repair Work

Published: 2025-08-22

Natural gas supply will be suspended on 22 August from 10:00 to 18:00 across parts of Uchtepa district in Tashkent due to maintenance by Hududgaz Poytaxt. The outage affects five neighborhoods—Foziltepa, Katta Cho‘ponota, Ko‘ksaroy, O‘rikzor, and Zarafshon—impacting 1,840 households, 196 apartment blocks, and 297 large consumers. Authorities say the disruption is temporary and tied to repair works, with service expected to resume once tasks are completed. Businesses and residents in the affected areas should plan for an eight-hour interruption, which may impact food service operations, small manufacturers, and residential cooking and heating where alternatives are limited. No advance mitigation measures were outlined beyond the scheduled timing, suggesting reliance on prior notification and rapid restoration following completion of maintenance.

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Tashkent City Tops Regional Development Ranking as Navoiy and Bukhara Follow; Surxondaryo, Namangan, Jizzakh Trail

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan’s Progress Center for Innovative Reforms (PIM) published its 2024 composite regional development ranking, placing Tashkent city first overall, with Navoiy and Bukhara next. The methodology assesses 57 indicators across seven pillars: health, education, economy, infrastructure, opportunities, crime and corrections, and natural environment, scoring each from 0–100. Tashkent leads five of seven areas, including economy (98.21) and infrastructure (93.21); it also tops education (89.47) and opportunities (91.63). Health results are led by Tashkent (61.84) and Jizzakh (60.48), though Sirdaryo and Tashkent region face pediatric shortages and higher disease burdens. Sirdaryo excels in crime and corrections (80.61), while Surxondaryo leads the natural environment (87.48). Lower performers include Surxondaryo, Namangan, and Jizzakh overall, with internet/transport gaps in Surxondaryo and Jizzakh and weak pre-school coverage dampening human capital in Qashqadaryo. PIM prioritized official statistics while incorporating international and media data.

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Society

Tashkent Duo Arrested for Attempted $4M Sale of Non‑Owned Land

Published: 2025-08-22

Security services detained two men in Tashkent for allegedly attempting to sell a 50‑sotix (0.5 ha) plot in Mirzo Ulug‘bek district for $4 million despite not owning it. Investigators say an office manager at a construction‑design firm and a broker won a businessperson’s trust, took a $100,000 advance, and sought an additional $200,000 to purportedly reclassify the land from non‑residential to residential, secure building permits for cottage‑type housing, and process architectural and project documents via “high‑level contacts.” The suspects were arrested during a sting while receiving $200,000. Authorities opened cases under Criminal Code Article 168 (large‑scale fraud) and Article 28,211 (complicity in large‑scale bribery), and a detention measure was applied. Officials are identifying potential accomplices. The case underscores ongoing scrutiny of land transactions and permit reclassification in the capital.

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Outbound Leisure Travel by Uzbek Citizens Jumps 28% in First Seven Months of 2025

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbek citizens made over 4.3 million outbound trips for tourism from January to July 2025, a 28.2% increase year on year (+954,400), according to the National Statistics Committee. Regional destinations dominated: Kyrgyzstan drew 1,918,904 travelers, Kazakhstan 799,429, and Tajikistan 754,123. Beyond Central Asia, Russia received 274,356 visitors, while Saudi Arabia (151,705) likely reflects continued demand for Umrah travel. Turkey (141,753) and the UAE (82,587) remained key air-linked markets. Lower-volume destinations included Egypt (38,081), Vietnam (22,762), and China (20,484), with 132,339 trips spread across other countries. The data points to rising disposable incomes, improved connectivity, and diversified travel preferences, with neighboring countries still capturing the bulk of short-haul tourism flows.

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Environment

FAO Council Seat Highlights Push to Boost Agri-Food Exports

Published: 2025-08-22

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has prioritized agriculture as a strategic sector, advancing reforms to modernize production and raise international competitiveness. During a July 30 videoconference on increasing fruit, vegetable, and food exports, officials highlighted recent gains, including Uzbekistan’s election to the FAO Council this year—an acknowledgment of ongoing agrarian reforms and a platform for deeper policy coordination with global partners. The government continues to promote technological upgrades and export growth to diversify markets and enhance quality standards. An interview with Sherzod Umarov, Deputy Representative of FAO in Uzbekistan, discussed the prospects of Council membership and cooperation results, underscoring expanded avenues for technical assistance, standards alignment, and sectoral capacity-building. The full conversation is available on O‘zA’s YouTube channel.

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Innovation

Voucher-Based Training to Fund Skills and Language Courses for Unemployed in Low-Income Households

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan approved a voucher system to finance vocational and foreign-language training for unemployed individuals, including members of the “Poor Families Register” and jobseekers without formal income. Under Cabinet Resolution No. 527 (effective 21 August 2025), training will align with employer demand through the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment’s skills centers, with payments drawn from the State Employment Assistance Fund. Stipends will be paid via district and city poverty reduction and employment offices to people with disabilities and unemployed members of poor families enrolled in courses longer than three months. An electronic registry of eligible training providers will be maintained on ecosys.mehnat.uz, where institutions must register to participate. Vouchers are issued once, valid for three months, and can be obtained online or in person regardless of place of residence. The framework establishes financing rules for both state and non-state providers.

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Courts to Go Fully Digital by 2027 as New Justice Academy Trains AI‑Ready Judges

Published: 2025-08-22

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed two decrees to overhaul the judiciary: a nationwide “Digital Court” rollout and the creation of a Justice Academy to train judges and court staff. Tashkent will pilot AI-enabled courtrooms by end-2025, with phased expansion through 2027. All filings will move to electronic-only; hearings can be attended remotely; costs will be calculated and paid online; and AI tools will draft documents, transcribe hearings in real time, and forecast case outcomes and expenses to inform litigants. Structural reforms include consolidating economic courts and shifting high-volume uncontested matters to administrative bodies, while introducing extraterritorial review to reduce regional bias. Judges with five successful years may receive indefinite appointments, with clearer promotion criteria. The new Justice Academy, under the Supreme Judicial Council, launches six‑month state-funded training for judge candidates from October 2025, mandatory upskilling for sitting judges, and “virtual court” simulations, positioning the judiciary for data-driven operations and international collaboration.

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Agroportal to Orchestrate Drone-Based Farm Services as Uzbekistan Digitizes Land and Irrigation Management

Published: 2025-08-22

Uzbekistan approved a decree expanding drone and robotics services for agriculture, routing applications, contracts, and payments through the national Agroportal. Drone services operating up to 30 meters will be allowed in designated zones with annual permits agreed by competent authorities. The reform aligns with a broader digitization push: over 4 million hectares of sowing and irrigation processes will be digitized, and more than 30 sector IT systems will be unified on a single platform. New online functions will roll out in phases—by 1 December 2025, land sublease mapping, contracting, state registration, and payments; by 1 March 2026, applications to change agricultural land categories with end-to-end online tracking. The framework aims to standardize service delivery, improve regulatory oversight of low-altitude UAV operations, and increase transparency in land-use transactions.

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Unified “Digital Agriculture” Platform to Consolidate Systems and Map Crops by 2026

Published: 2025-08-22

"From the 2026 harvest, agricultural organizations will independently upload planned crop data for their land plots to the unified Digital Agriculture platform (Agroportal)." - Presidential Decree (uzdaily.uz)

Uzbekistan will accelerate agricultural digitization through a presidential decree creating a unified “Digital Agriculture” integration platform (Agroportal). More than 30 existing sector IT systems will be merged into a single access point to improve data interoperability and reliability, while digitizing sowing and irrigation processes across over 4 million hectares. Starting with the 2026 harvest cycle, producers and service providers must submit planned crop information directly into Agroportal, which will function as the sector’s “one-stop” service hub. The reform aims to streamline state–producer interactions, standardize data flows for land use and water management, and enable efficiency gains in input planning, monitoring, and service delivery—key steps as the government seeks higher productivity and tighter resource control in a water-stressed environment.

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Airline Denies Data Breach as Darknet Sale Claims Circulate

Published: 2025-08-22

Social media posts alleged a 300GB trove of “Uzbekistan Airways” data, including passport scans from multiple countries, is being sold on the darknet. The flag carrier rejected the claims, stating there is no confirmed incident of unauthorized access or exposure of passenger or employee personal data, and its systems are operating normally. The airline added that purported samples circulating online do not relate to its IT systems and may have been fabricated or edited to create a false impression of a breach. An internal review is underway under existing incident-response procedures, and the company says findings will inform further security enhancements. No regulators or third-party forensics were cited in the report, and no disruption to services has been reported.

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