Uzbekistan Railways will launch daily electric train service between Tashkent and Bekabad on July 18, with the new route expected to serve up to 300,000 passengers annually using modern six-car trains.

Uzbekistan has unveiled an ambitious international cultural promotion program featuring exhibitions in Qatar, Italy, Japan and the U.S., restoration of historic museums, and performances of the national opera Tamerlano at some of the world's most prestigious venues.

Uzbekistan had 596,856 operating enterprises and organizations as of July 1, 2026, up 7.2% year-on-year, while the number of foreign-invested companies rose 22.9% to 20,502, with Chinese businesses accounting for nearly 30% of the total.

Uzbekistan's Foreign Ministry has moved to dispel confusion over reports that all migrants traveling to Russia would be required to purchase special smartphones, calling the claims a misinterpretation of a draft proposal.

Uzbekistan's boxing team finished first overall at the Asian U-19 and U-23 Championships in Jakarta after winning 33 medals, including 21 golds, as the country's male and female boxers topped the standings across every age category.

The International Monetary Fund has reclassified Uzbekistan's exchange rate regime as "floating" after increased currency flexibility since April 2025, while the country's international reserves reached $66.3bn at the end of 2025, covering more than 12 months of imports.

Uzbekistan has begun containerized flour exports to Afghanistan, launching a new cross-border logistics initiative aimed at improving cargo efficiency, expanding export capacity, and strengthening regional transport corridors.

Uzbekistan and Turkiye have agreed to expand the list of goods covered by their Preferential Trade Agreement following a new round of negotiations, supporting efforts to increase bilateral trade turnover to $5bn.

Residential property prices in Uzbekistan increased by 4% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2026, driven by a 5.5% rise in apartment prices, while the country also introduced a new methodology to measure housing market trends.

Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan plan to expand air connectivity with new direct routes, including twice-weekly Bishkek–Tashkent flights from August 23, to strengthen tourism and business cooperation.

Uzbekistan has joined nearly 30 countries as a founding member of the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization (WAICO), signing the agreement in Shanghai to strengthen international collaboration on AI development, technology exchange, and global governance ahead of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference.

Uzbekistan has established a five-member Islamic Finance Council under the Central Bank to develop Islamic finance standards, coordinate regulation, and oversee the expansion of Islamic banking services.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced wide-ranging reforms to Uzbekistan's mahalla governance system, including expanded funding, greater powers for local officials, new social services, and performance-based incentives aimed at strengthening community development and public service delivery.

Kazakhstan has reached agreements to import metallurgical raw materials from Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan as the country seeks to strengthen supply chains after the sector's output slowed to 97.3% in the first half of 2026.

Tajikistan has planted more than 201,000 trees and shrubs across the country as part of a nationwide greening campaign, while authorities plan to establish 350 hectares of saxaul forests and expand fast-growing paulownia plantations.

Uzbekistan will launch a unified electronic registry for urban master plans from November 1, 2026, banning the implementation of unregistered plans while introducing digital construction passports and stricter oversight of urban development.