The Safe Migration in Central Asia (SMICA) project, supported by USAID and implemented by Winrock International, successfully wrapped up its activities in Uzbekistan, marking notable accomplishments in the realm of safe migration and human trafficking prevention, the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan said. The regional Safe Migration in Central Asia (SMICA) project fostered safe migration practices
Russia and Uzbekistan have signed an agreement to build a small nuclear power plant in the Central Asian country. The agreement was one of several deals signed on May 27 in Tashkent between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Uzbek counterpart, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, RFE/RL’s Russian Service reported. The Uzbek leader hailed the project as “vital” in a
Major companies from Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan have shown interest in investing in Afghanistan’s oil and gas mines, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported citing the country’s Ministry of Mines and Petroleum. Homayoon Afghan, spokesperson for the ministry, says they welcome foreign companies to invest in Afghanistan’s oil and gas mines. According to Mr. Afghan, recently two large
The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on May 24 approved a $100 million concessional loan for Uzbekistan to implement the Innovative Social Protection System for Inclusion of Vulnerable People (INSON) Project. The project aims to improve access to and quality of social services for vulnerable people in Uzbekistan. The project is also co-financed by a
The Central Asian Women Leaders’ Caucus Meeting concluded on 23 May in Bishkek. The event, centred on “The role of women in the economies of Central Asia: leadership for promoting digital, social, and environmental innovation,” brought together women leaders from across the region to strategize and commit to enhancing women’s roles in these critical sectors, the
The World Bank Group, Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company PJSC (Masdar), and the Government of Uzbekistan have signed a financial package to fund a 250-megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic plant with a 63-MW battery energy storage system (BESS). The project aims to expand clean and reliable electricity access to approximately 75,000 households, the World Bank said
Uzbekistan’s Foreign Labor Migration Agency on May 17 called on the Central Asian nation’s citizens who may have broken laws in Russia to avoid travel to neighboring Kazakhstan, citing Kazakh-Russian agreements on joint efforts against crime, RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. According to the agency, Uzbeks registered in Russia’s database as violators will be arrested if they cross
Alisher Kadyrov, the leader of the National Revival party and vice-speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Uzbek parliament, has proposed that those who do not know the Uzbek language should not work in the civil service and should not be able to use government services in Uzbekistan, Radio Ozodlik reported. Kadyrov made such comments
According to the latest Regional Economic Prospects (REP) report published by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Central Asian economies in 2024 are expected to see growth slowing to 5.4 percent. However, a rebound to 5.9 percent is expected in 2025. The report notes that intermediated trade with Russia, which had been a significant growth
The Special Representative of Uzbekistan’s President, Ismatullah Irgashev, and the Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, Ilkhom Makhkamov, arrived in Kabul on May 12, Afghan broadcaster TOLOnews reported. During a meeting with the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Emirate (the Taliban administration of Afghanistan), Ilkhom Makhkamov stated that Uzbekistan supports the Islamic Emirate’s
In 2024, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan commemorates Europe Day and 30 years of partnership between the European Union and Uzbekistan. To mark this significant milestone, a public festival and concert celebrating “30 Years of European Union – Uzbekistan Partnership” will take place on 18 May at the Tashkent Botanical Garden, the EU
The Supreme Court of Uzbekistan has exonerated posthumously 198 individuals convicted by the Soviet regime in the 1920s-1930s for “counter-revolutionary actions, armed uprisings, terrorism, banditry and espionage, and anti-Soviet activities,” RFE/RL’s Uzbek Service reported. The Supreme Court announced on May 6 its decision to exonerate the men, many of whom were sentenced to death and others who were
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) says it is supporting micro, small and medium-sized businesses and improving access to finance for young entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan by providing a financial package of up to US$ 20 million (€18.8 million) to a major private lender, Ipak Yuli Bank. The package consists of a US$ 10 million loan under
Significant steps towards expanding relations between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan were made within the framework of the III Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 2-3, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan reported. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kazakhstan Nazira Nurbayeva spoke at the event, saying that last year, the trade turnover between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan reached
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on May 2 said it is contributing to the development of sustainable transport connections in Central Asia by financing the upgrade and expansion of a key transportation route in Uzbekistan. The EBRD’s sovereign loan of up to US$ 238 million (€224 million) will help rehabilitate around 81 km of
Speaking at the Third Tashkent International Investment Forum on May 2, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev said that in the past few years, Uzbekistan has attracted over 60 billion dollars in foreign investments, and more than 14 billion dollars from international financial institutions have been directed to social and infrastructure projects. The volume of foreign
The European Union on April 25 granted EUR 6 million to the Government of Uzbekistan to help incentivize the adoption of National Food Security and Healthy Nutrition Strategy. In addition to the grant, technical assistance funded by the European Union will support the Ministry of Agriculture in planning reforms, the Delegation of the European Union
U.S. Ambassador to Uzbekistan Jonathan Henick presented 50 CT-40 inspection tool kits valued at over $700,000 to the Customs Committee of Uzbekistan. Chairman Akmalhoja Mavlonov accepted the equipment on behalf of the Committee. The equipment purchased by the Department of State’s Nonproliferation and Disarmament Fund, with support from the Export Control and Border Security (EXBS)
The English Speaking Nation (ESN) program has successfully trained more than 18,000 English teachers across Uzbekistan, boosting the language skills of and ensuring high quality English instruction for the nation’s secondary school students. The four-year, $7 million program culminated in a festive closing ceremony in Tashkent on April 20, the U.S. Embassy in Uzbekistan reported. Launched
The European Union, an EU Consortium under the leadership of GIZ, UNDP Uzbekistan and the Anti-corruption agency of Uzbekistan have launched the Action “Improving Governance in Uzbekistan”, aimed at bolstering the nation’s anti-corruption efforts, the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan reported. Funded by the European Union, the Action will be carried out by
