Kursiv Uzbekistan (Eng)

📈 Bloomberg: Uzbekistan Rising as Central Asia’s New Investment Hub 💼 Bloomberg reports that Uzbekistan is fast becoming a key capital market centre in Central Asia, fuelled by upcoming IPOs tied to state privatisation. 🌍 Investors from the Gulf and China are showing strong interest, with Barclays and Citibank organising investment tours to explore opportunities. ⚡️ Major projects driving this momentum include ACWA Power’s $15 bn renewables, Allied Green Ammonia’s $5.5 bn aviation fuel plant, and a planned nuclear power project with Rosatom. Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

💰 ADB Approves $500 Mln Loan to Boost Uzbekistan’s Reforms 🏦 The Asian Development Bank has approved a $500 mln loan to support Uzbekistan’s economic transformation, focusing on fiscal transparency, SOE reform, and stronger governance. 💬 ADB Country Director Kanokpan Lao-Araya said the programme reflects Uzbekistan’s commitment to institutional reform and global integration. ⚙️ The initiative includes new competition laws, unified public investment rules, modernised SOE management, and steps toward WTO accession. 🤝 The loan coincides with 30 years of ADB–Uzbekistan cooperation, totalling $14.6 bn in support since 1995. Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

📚 Taliban Bans 679 University Textbooks Deemed Contrary to Islamic Principles 🚫 The Taliban’s Ministry of Higher Education has banned 679 academic and educational books from Afghanistan’s universities after a review by religious scholars and academics concluded they conflicted with Islamic principles. 📄 According to a letter seen by Afghanistan International, Deputy Minister Ziaur Rahman Al-Aryubi said a committee had examined the materials for belief, intellectual, religious, political, cultural, and scientific content. Universities have now been instructed to replace the banned titles with alternatives consistent with Islamic values and the Taliban’s governing policies. 📘 The prohibited books cover a wide range of fields, including economics, sociology, law, arts, journalism, and literature. Titles such as Principles of Law, Foundations of Organisational Economics, Sociology of Art, and Political Thought in the 20th Century are among those removed from university curricula. ⚖️ Since regaining power, the Taliban has formed a censorship commission within the Ministry of Culture to oversee publications and eliminate works it considers incompatible with its interpretation of Islam. Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

🥊 Khabib Nurmagomedov Spotted in Tashkent 📍 Former UFC champion Khabib Nurmagomedov has been spotted in Tashkent, where he was seen training at a local gym, businessman Dmitry Seredin shared on Instagram. 🍽 Later, Khabib posted from a Dagestani restaurant in the city. Local media report that his visit is linked to the opening of a new restaurant specialising in Caucasian cuisine. Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

⚡️ Uzbekistan: $4.2 Bn Kambarata HPP Project Attracts $5.6 Bn in Global Funding Interest 💧 Uzbekistan’s Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov said the Kambarata Hydropower Plant-1 project, valued at $4.2 bn, has drawn $5.6 bn in interest from major international banks and investment funds. 🌍 The project was highlighted at a Brussels meeting of energy ministers from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, backed by the World Bank, as a model of regional cooperation and a step toward expanding renewable energy in Central Asia. 🏔 Construction will not require resettlement of residents and aims to improve joint water resource management. Kyrgyzstan holds 34%, while Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan each own 33%, with electricity to be shared proportionally. Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

📦 Russian Export Centre Names Uzbekistan’s Top Trade Opportunities 🇷🇺 The Russian Export Centre (REC) has outlined the most profitable sectors for Russian exporters in Uzbekistan, including steel products, metal pipes, polymers, confectionery, wood panels, aluminium, and pharmaceuticals, RBC reports. 📊 Russia already exports metals, timber, machinery, and plastics to Uzbekistan and remains one of its largest investors — accounting for 10% of all foreign capital inflows in Q1 2025, or $660 mln. 💼 By July 2025, Russian business investment in Uzbekistan surpassed $15 bn, with joint project portfolios valued at about $60 bn. Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

🏅Five-Gram Gold Bar in Uzbekistan Reaches Record $683 📈 The Central Bank of Uzbekistan announced that the price of a five-gram gold bar hit a record 8.3 mln soums ($683.15) on October 14. 💰 Current prices: 10 g – 16.6 mln soums ($1,366), 20 g – 33.2 mln ($2,733), 50 g – 83.1 mln ($6,840), and 100 g – 166.2 mln soums ($13,680). 🏦 In August, the Central Bank purchased two tonnes of gold, while global central banks added 15 tonnes in total, including eight tonnes by Kazakhstan. 🌍 As of 11:29 a.m. Tashkent time, gold traded at $4,100 per ounce, up 0.17%. Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

💼 BAT Uzbekistan Investment Acquires Final State Stake in UzBat 🇬🇧 British firm BAT Uzbekistan Investment has purchased the government’s remaining 2.6% stake in tobacco producer UzBat for 269.7 bn soums ($22.2 mln), according to the State Asset Management Agency (UzSAMA). 📊 Following the deal, BAT Uzbekistan Investment now owns 97.3% of UzBat, while UzSAMA and company employees each hold 2.6%. 🏭 Established in 1994, UzBat earned over 1 trln soums ($82.3 mln) in profit during the first nine months of 2024, with revenue reaching 2.6 trln soums ($214 mln). Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

📦Possible Wildberries Investment Could Spark UzPost’s Digital Transformation 💰 Economist Shukhrat Bobokhuzhaev says Wildberries’ reported acquisition of a stake in UzPost could drive the company’s long-awaited digital transformation. He noted that previous upgrade plans in 2018 stalled due to lack of funds, but a strong investor could revive the postal operator. 🇷🇺 On October 13, local media reported that a Russian marketplace, believed to be Wildberries, had purchased the state’s share in UzPost. Officials have yet to confirm the deal, though UzPost said it welcomes investment to modernise its infrastructure, logistics, and services. 📨 Meanwhile, Uzum has also expressed interest in partnering with UzPost to boost e-commerce and delivery operations. CEO Jasur Jumaev announced plans to open 1,000 pickup points and expand collaboration with UzPost as part of a $1.5 bn national investment plan through 2028. Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

🛍 Study Highlights Shopping Habits and Challenges at Airitom Free Zone 📊 A year after opening, the Centre for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) found that 91% of visitors come to Airitom Free Zone for food, 48% for clothing, and 38% for appliances. Prices are seen as competitive, but transport access remains a major issue. 🏪 Of 490 commercial units, 218 are active, with strong demand in hospitality and healthcare. The Hilton Garden Inn hosted over 9,000 guests, and Akfa Medline treated 76,000 patients, mostly from Afghanistan. 💸 Traders cite high rent and limited customer flow as key challenges, while visitors call for easier border procedures and 24-hour operations. 🌍 Since its 2024 launch, Airitom Free Zone has drawn 740,000 visitors, including 400,000 Afghans, reinforcing its role as a major cross-border trade hub in southern Uzbekistan. Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

⚔️ Deadly Pakistan–Afghanistan Border Clashes Leave Dozens Dead 💥 Fierce overnight fighting along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border killed dozens in the worst violence since 2021. Pakistan reported 23 troops dead, while the Taliban claimed nine casualties, with both sides issuing conflicting figures. ✈️ The clashes followed Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan territory, prompting retaliatory fire from Taliban forces. Fighting eased Sunday after mediation by Qatar and Saudi Arabia. 🚧 Pakistan has closed all major crossings, including Torkham and Chaman, amid rising regional tensions. Telegram/Site/LinkedIn

📦 Russian Marketplace Acquires State Stake in UzPost 📰 A Russian e-commerce platform has bought the government’s stake in UzPost, Uzbekistan’s national postal operator. ❓ The buyer hasn’t been officially named, but several sources suggest Wildberries may be involved in the privatisation. 📊 Data from the Unified State Register of Enterprises shows that as of 13 October, UzPost’s shares are now fully distributed among private shareholders. 🏦 Previously, 29.4% of UzPost’s shares were held by Aloqabank, but this summer, ownership shifted to UzSAMA, the National Investment Fund, and other institutions. 💰 In Q2 2025, UzPost posted a net profit of 442.7 mln soums ($36K) and revenue of 378.1 bn soums ($31 mln), with authorised capital exceeding 38 bn soums ($3.1 mln). Telegram/Site/LinkedIn