The World Bank allocated $250 million to Uzbekistan to improve living conditions in 16 districts and cities. The Livable and Productive Cities Program will help develop municipal infrastructure, access to water and sanitation, public transport, schools, polyclinics and parks.

Uzbekistan will host a regional office of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) in Tashkent as part of broader preparations for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup, which the country will co-host with Azerbaijan..

China has overtaken Uzbekistan to become Kazakhstan’s largest supplier of fruit and vegetables, according to trade data for the first nine months of 2025..

A Jeddah–Tashkent flight made an emergency landing in Bahrain after a medical incident occurred on board..

Remittances to Uzbekistan totaled $17.3 billion in the past 11 months of 2025, up 25 percent year-on-year, according to the Central Bank..

According to the Pension Fund, there are 461 people in Uzbekistan aged 100 and older..

Citizens of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan who became victims of human trafficking in Myanmar have been repatriated with the assistance of diplomatic missions..

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors has approved a $250 million loan to Uzbekistan to support a nationwide reform of student financing in higher education and technical and vocational education and training (TVET)..

Uzbekistan’s youth para-athletes finished first in the overall medal standings at the V Asian Youth Para Games, which were held in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, from December 7 to 14..

Uzbekistan may introduce a 50% electricity tariff discount for households living in non-gasified areas..

The Project Syndicate reports that annual economic losses linked to desertification, land degradation, and drought amount to $878 billion – far more than the investments needed to mitigate their impact.

Customs posts will simplify oversight of non-tariff restrictions and streamline import procedures..

Tax authorities will refine individuals’ tax bases using online data on their incomes and expenses..

Uzbekistan is launching the EduImkon program to modernize its educational loan system. It will cover 600,000 students in higher education, as well as technical and vocational education programs. The World Bank allocated a $250 million loan, with additional private capital expected.

Enterprises whose founders or executives have a record of tax evasion will no longer qualify for expedited VAT refunds..

Uzbekistan has updated its list of offshore jurisdictions subject to heightened foreign-exchange monitoring, with Panama no longer included among the countries requiring enhanced oversight of transactions..

Relations between Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan are entering a phase of deep strategic interaction.

The Project Syndicate reports that climate change is rapidly melting the glaciers that feed Central Asia’s rivers, pushing the region toward an ecological tipping point.

The Ministry of Energy has introduced temporary restrictions on the operation of compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations due to a sharp reduction in imported natural gas caused by a technical malfunction in a neighboring country’s gas network..

Uzbekistan’s inflation forecast for the end of 2025 has been revised down to 7.3 percent, with inflation expected to remain around 6.5 percent in 2026..

A Turkish investor has purchased a 75.2 percent state stake in the charter capital of Samarkand Automobile Plant LLC (SamAuto) for $80 million and has committed to invest an equivalent amount in the company’s further development..

The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, held high-level talks with the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña, at the Kuksaroy residence. The discussions focused on advancing practical cooperation and identifying new areas for partnership..

Several Russian airports were closed last night following drone attacks. Uzbekistan Airways has warned passengers about resulting delays..

The National Committee for Ecology and Climate Change has reported on eco-raids conducted in the city of Tashkent and Tashkent region..

The Ministry of Justice has issued a warning about fake notifications that redirect recipients to websites designed to steal personal data..

Uzbekistan plans to protect and reward whistleblowers reporting corruption by issuing protection orders. In 2024, only 31 people were rewarded for reporting corruption, mostly with letters of appreciation. According to surveys, about 30% of citizens are afraid to report corruption.

A Venture Investor on Common Mistakes and What the Local Ecosystem Lacks.

Starting from 1 March 2026, residents of Navoi and Chirchik, as well as tax officials working there will submit a declaration of their total annual income as part of the experiment. If discrepancies are identified, there will be no additional charges or penalties.

President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev will pay a working visit to Turkmenistan on 11–12 December..

Uzbekistan will ban purchasing real estate and cars with cash. According to a presidential decree, from 1 April, such transactions must be made via bank cards or electronic payment systems. Payments over 25 million soums (approximately $2,080) and others will also move to a cashless form.

The discounts apply to all domestic flights and passenger trains, except Afrosiyob services..

At a meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, measures to combat corruption were presented, including a proposal to introduce an Anti-Corruption Cluster aimed at taking efforts in this sphere to a new level..

The train named Jaloliddin Manguberdi is expected to operate on the Tashkent–Khiva route in 2026..

Kun.uz conducted an interview with Abid Malik, President of ACWA Power Central Asia, to discuss the Saudi developer’s rapidly expanding investments in Uzbekistan’s energy sector, which now span large-scale renewables, grid infrastructure, workforce training and the country’s first operational green hydrogen facility. .

President of Paraguay Santiago Peña will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan on 11–13 December..

Starting from 1 January 2026, Georgia will require mandatory health insurance for all foreign nationals entering the country..

The "Economic Review" journal continues to cover issues related to the implementation of the “mahallabay” system. We present to our readers an interview with Ilyas Muratov, the assistant to the hokim of Bulungur District of Samarkand region.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced new support measures for intensive horticulture and steps to ensure stable food prices during the Agriculture Workers’ Day ceremony..

The tax base for real estate will be determined based on its market value..

A 25-year-old man from Surkhandarya who fought in Russia’s war against Ukraine has been convicted. He sustained severe injuries after a shell explosion during the fighting. In court, he stated that Russian law enforcement officers deceived him into signing a military service contract, claiming it was “deportation documents”..

Yandex Uzbekistan acquired 100% of Allplay, a popular online movie and TV streaming service. The deal value has not been disclosed. The service will be integrated into the Yandex Plus subscription ecosystem.

Uzbekistan will introduce a permanent intervention system in the food market. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced the measure on 10 December during a meeting with agricultural workers..

The process of getting a driver’s license in Uzbekistan takes about five months and costs between 8 and 10 million UZS. Below, we break down the medical certification requirements, the enrollment procedure for driving schools, and the format of the final exam..

Non-cash payments will be expanded..

Uzbekistan expects to end its imports of petroleum products thanks to a new project with Azerbaijan’s SOCAR. According to the head of Uzbekneftegaz, even the minimum exploration scenario in the Ustyurt region would provide the country with sufficient domestic resources. Since the beginning of the year, Uzbekistan has imported petroleum products worth $1.4 billion..

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, speaking at a meeting with agricultural workers, said Uzbekistan has the potential to increase next year’s cotton harvest to 4.5 million tonnes and grain output to 10 million tonnes. He outlined specific tasks for introducing new agrotechnologies and high-yield varieties to achieve these targets..

Uzbekistan’s food exports have grown by 37 percent to reach $3 billion since the beginning of the year, and by year-end this figure is expected to exceed $3.2 billion for the first time, according to information shared at a presidential meeting. Agriculture has become the country’s second-largest source of foreign currency earnings after the textile industry, the president noted..

A resident of Tashkent’s Yashnabad district, Arsen Avanesyan, who used his own funds to transform an abandoned plot near railway tracks into a landscaped green area, has been fined for violating land regulations. He has been ordered to return the site to its original state – an empty lot. The fine amounts to UZS 82.4 million..

On 9 December, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received a delegation led by Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), who is visiting Uzbekistan to attend the FIA General Assembly scheduled to take place in Tashkent..

Repairs at the Syrdarya Thermal Power Plant and a decline in “green” generation have led to temporary electricity limitations. The restrictions will be lifted once maintenance is completed..