The beginning of December was memorable for major infrastructure solutions, environmental initiatives, and important steps for foreign trade and regional development of the country. FRANK has compiled a selection of the week’s most significant events.
Inflation in Uzbekistan has reached its lowest level: the annual rate has dropped to 7.5%
In November, monthly inflation was 0.7%, while annual inflation decreased to 7.5%, falling below the Central Bank’s forecast. The main contribution to the price increase was made by food products, while non-food items were priced significantly slower. Accumulated inflation over 11 months slowed to 6.4% against 8.7% a year earlier, indicating a general weakening of inflationary pressures.
Tashkent will be divided into ecological zones and quality stickers for cars will be introduced
Starting January 1, 2026, a system of ecological zones with entry restrictions for “dirty” vehicles based on three-color eco-stickers will be implemented in Tashkent. The category of transport will be determined by fuel type and the “Euro” standard, and stickers will become a mandatory control tool. In the future, this will lead to a phased restriction on the entry of the most polluting vehicles into certain areas of the city.
Citizens with land and property tax debts will not be able to pay for electricity
Starting January 1, 2026, land and property tax debtors with debts exceeding 1 million soums may be restricted from paying for electricity through the billing system. The experiment is starting in the Namangan region and will become a new tool for influencing non-payers. Based on its results, the authorities will consider the possibility of extending the mechanism to other regions.
A unified portal “Intellectual Property Protection” will appear in Uzbekistan
The government approved goals for the development of the intellectual property sector for 2026-2027, including increasing the number of registered objects to 100 thousand and reducing examination periods by half due to AI. A unified portal “Intellectual Property Protection” for online services, contracts, and counterfeiting will also be launched. The new measures are aimed at accelerating the registration of rights and the digitalization of the entire system.
Shavkat Mirziyoyev familiarized himself with the construction of the nuclear power plant in the Jizzakh region
During his visit to the Jizzakh region, the President of Uzbekistan reviewed the progress of the integrated nuclear power plant construction. He was presented with information on the construction of two low-power and two large reactors, the construction of a temporary residential complex, and the preparation of infrastructure. The concept of a future mono-city for nuclear power plant specialists with 10 thousand residents was also shown.
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan opened their borders for the first time since 2021
Uzbekistan and Afghanistan opened the Termez—Hairatan border crossing, restoring direct border crossing for citizens of both countries after its closure in 2021. This is expected to simplify logistics and allow increasing exports to Afghanistan to $2.5 billion by 2026. At the same time, visa requirements for entry will remain for citizens of both countries.
A Center for Organizing Traffic will appear in Tashkent
Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed plans to implement an intelligent transport system in Tashkent and establish a unified traffic management center to combat traffic jams. The new digital platform will use data from cameras, sensors, and GPS to predict traffic jams, regulate traffic lights, and coordinate the work of emergency services. This is expected to increase the capacity of roads, reduce accidents, and improve the city’s ecology.
Two trillion will be allocated in Uzbekistan to support women entrepreneurs
The President of Uzbekistan signed a decree on expanding support for women’s entrepreneurship, which provides for a large-scale program of concessional lending for 2026-2027. Through Hamroh company, 2 trillion soums will be allocated for financing 6 thousand enterprises established by women with state guarantees and a limited rate. The program also includes training, infrastructure development, and targeted lending for business expansion and job creation.
