Uzbekistan highlighted its gender equality reforms at a global conference in Serbia, where officials noted that women hold 38% of parliamentary seats and announced an upcoming Inter-Parliamentary Union’s Global Conference of Young Parliamentarians in Samarkand.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reviewed the development of Alatau City, a planned business and innovation hub near Almaty, where authorities have assembled a portfolio of 53 investment projects worth more than KZT 2trillion ($4bn) and introduced a special legal regime aimed at attracting investors.

Uzbekistan has approved a new package of measures aimed at supporting more than 300,000 young people between 2026 and 2028 through preferential loans, entrepreneurship programs and job creation initiatives, with nearly 100,000 new jobs targeted nationwide.

Scientists from Uzbekistan's Academy of Sciences have agreed on a new joint research initiative with leading Chinese institutions following meetings in Beijing and Shandong, expanding scientific cooperation, technology exchange and innovation partnerships.

Uzbek prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into a UZS 643.2bn ($50mn) embezzlement scheme involving officials from the Tax Committee, Uzbekneftegaz and several private companies connected to the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex expansion project.

Having lifted the World Cup as Italy's captain in 2006, Fabio Cannavaro now faces a different challenge — guiding Uzbekistan at its first-ever FIFA World Cup as the country invests heavily in football infrastructure and long-term international ambitions.

EU member states are reportedly exploring cooperation with several non-EU countries, including Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, on plans to establish migrant return hubs outside the bloc, while both Central Asian countries have denied any negotiations or agreements on hosting such facilities.

Uzbekistan’s Competition Committee took action against several companies for violating regulations requiring certain highly liquid goods to be sold through commodity exchanges rather than direct contracts.

Uzbekistan has supplied agricultural seeds to Afghanistan as part of ongoing cooperation aimed at supporting farming activities, agricultural productivity, and food production.

Shirak Avia has launched direct weekly flights between Tashkent and Yerevan, restoring regular air service between Uzbekistan and Armenia after a gap of nearly ten years.

Uzbekistan’s chemical industry continues to lag behind overall industrial growth, prompting the government to accelerate reforms, expand value-added production, and launch new investment projects across the sector.

Uzbekistan and Russia are advancing cooperation on an integrated nuclear power plant project that includes large and small reactor units, with construction preparations already underway in the Jizzakh region.

Uzbekistan’s Central Bank survey found that trade workers reported the highest perceived inflation in April, while both households and businesses expect prices to continue rising over the next year.

Kazakhstan and Japan have reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in peaceful nuclear energy, scientific research, and workforce training during talks between Kazakhstan Atomic Energy Agency Chairman Almassadam Satkaliyev, Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) President Masanori Koguchi, and Marubeni Corporation representatives, focusing on joint projects, nuclear safety, and research collaboration.

Russian companies from Tatarstan could begin repairing military equipment used by the Taliban following a newly signed military-technical cooperation agreement, with plans for training centers, spare parts supplies and maintenance facilities in Afghanistan.

Uzbekistan has introduced a new framework for leasing water fund land for tourism, agriculture and other economic activities, aiming to create employment for 100,000 people and generate an additional UZS 220bn ($17mn) in income by the end of 2027.