In a week, Uzbek authorities launched and announced several major changes at once – from new rules in public procurement with an AI module and apartment building management reforms through “Mening uyim” to energy efficiency measures, and in the financial sector, the publication of results and bank ratings and the revocation of “Yangi bank’s” license became landmark.
Tour operators will be paid $100 for each pilgrim to Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan is introducing subsidies for the development of pilgrimage tourism and will pay additional payments to tour operators until the end of the year for attracting pilgrims from Indonesia and Malaysia under the Umrah Plus program. The goal is to form a stable flow from Southeast Asia, while simultaneously expanding air travel and tourism infrastructure. In the next two years, it is planned to attract 100 thousand tourists, paying $100 for each from the Tourism Support Fund. Additionally, a working group is being formed, advertising campaigns are being launched, and solutions are being prepared for competitive flights through Samarkand or Bukhara to Jeddah.
Gold in Uzbekistan has set a new record — 1.8 million soums per gram
In Uzbekistan, the price of gold has set a new record: as of January 12, the price of one gram of gold reached 1,802,000 soums, according to the Central Bank. The increase is linked to price increases in the global market, where the price is equivalent to $147.36 per gram, and in COMEX, the ounce also reached its peak. In the domestic market, due to this, the price of bars increased: 5 grams — 9,010,000 soums, 10 grams — 18,020,000 soums. The situation increases interest in gold as a protective asset and influences the decisions of private buyers of bars.
Uzbekistan’s commercial banks’ revenues exceeded 180 trillion soums
Commercial banks of Uzbekistan received 180.6 trillion soums in revenue in January-November 2025, and the sector’s net profit amounted to 13.5 trillion soums, according to the Central Bank. A significant portion of the growth came from non-interest income, indicating an increase in commission and service operations alongside lending. Compared to last year, profit grew by 57% (to 13.501 trillion soums), interest income — by 14.6%, non-interest income — by 37.3%. Commercial banks’ tax payments reached 2.57 trillion soums, increasing by 117 billion soums year-on-year.
Samarkand will be created in 3D: the entire city will be digitized from space
In Samarkand, all buildings, structures, and land plots will be digitized based on space data and presented in 3D format. The objects will be entered into a specialized information platform, and the results of the work will be published on a separate geoportal. The model will include not only ground facilities, but also underground utilities to monitor the condition of gas, water, and electricity networks. The project creates a unified geospatial database for infrastructure management and more accurate urban planning.
Google has launched an open standard for AI agent purchases
Google on NRF announced an open standard Universal Commerce Protocol, which should allow AI agents to accompany a purchase from product search to purchase support without the need to connect to different agents. The standard is developed in collaboration with Shopify, Etsy, Wayfair, Target, and Walmart and will be used in Google’s AI Search and Gemini apps. Customers will be able to place orders directly while searching at American retailers, and payment will be made through Google Pay with data from Google Wallet, and PayPal will also be supported. Google states that UCP is also compatible with other agency protocols, including AP2, A2A, and MCP.
The ceiling worked: the price of propane at Uzbek Commodity Exchange fell to 7.8 million soums per ton
After the price ceiling tightened on January 12, the average wholesale price of propane on the exchange decreased by 18%, the Committee on Competition reported. According to the results of trading on Uzbek Commodity Exchange, a ton of liquefied gas cost 7.8 million soums compared to 9.3 million soums before the introduction of restrictions. Simultaneously, the supervisory body initiated cases against 92 propane importers from 10 regions, citing “coordinated anti-competitive actions” for unjustified price increases and artificial understatement of trading volumes. The committee also announced monitoring of gas stations to prevent unjustified price increases.
CERR updated the bank’s activity rating for the IV quarter of 2025
The CERR published an updated rating of the “Bank Activity Index” for the IV quarter of 2025, which assessed 35 commercial banks and divided them into two groups — large and small. In both groups, following the results of the quarter, a number of banks rose by 1-3 positions, some declined, while many participants retained their positions. The rating is based on 27 indicators, and against the backdrop of the quarterly results for the sector (assets — 892.9 trillion soums, liabilities — 759.8 trillion soums, net profit — 13.5 trillion soums), the dynamics of lending and deposits and the reduction of the share of non-performing loans to 3.5% were noted separately.
A special regime for investment platforms has been established in Uzbekistan
The NAPP approved the Regulation on the provision of a special legal regime “Regulatory Sandbox” for investment platforms, enshrining the rules for admission and work of participants. The document defines who can obtain platform operator status, how the registry is maintained, and under what conditions the status is terminated, as well as the basic requirements for disclosing information and protecting investors. Only resident legal entities operating as investment platform operators can participate, and settlements for transactions must be made through nominal and/or escrow accounts in compliance with AML/CFT requirements.
The number of operating enterprises in Uzbekistan has exceeded 470 thousand
As of January 1, 2026, there were 474.9 thousand operating enterprises and organizations in Uzbekistan, the National Statistics Committee reported. The main part of the structure consists of small and micro-enterprises, which emphasizes their dominant role in current business activity. By region, the largest number of operating companies were recorded in Tashkent and Tashkent region, followed by Samarkand and Fergana regions. In figures: 403.8 thousand companies (85%) — small and micro, 15% — large; Tashkent — 108,678 enterprises, Tashkent region — 46,479, Samarkand — 41,091, Fergana — 37,846, Kashkadarya — 30,424.
A certified Airbus helicopter maintenance center has been opened at a plant in Chirchik, Uzbekistan
Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited the Chirchik Aviation Repair Plant after the expanded meeting of the Security Council and reviewed the modernization results of the enterprise. At the factory, the work of the new units and the Airbus helicopter service center, which passed the manufacturer’s certification, were demonstrated. The President also inspected the renovated Su-25 aircraft overhaul and deep modernization workshops and instructed to further strengthen the potential of the defense industry. Within the framework of the project, a full cycle of service and repair of Western equipment (including H-125, H-215, and H-130) has been announced, and the modernization of the Su-25 includes the installation of modern navigation systems, night vision devices, and onboard self-defense systems.
Uzbekistan will expand defense training through esports, UAVs, and robotics
The leader of Uzbekistan stated that the army must be mobile and highly technological, and called for more active implementation of modern technologies in the defense sphere. He identified the equipping of troops with unmanned AI systems, robotic complexes, and light equipment, as well as the implementation of digital technologies and AI in the defense industry, as priority areas. Among the tasks, cybersecurity and the sustainability of national digital infrastructure were highlighted, and responsible officials were tasked with defining measures to protect personal data and digital systems. Starting from 2026, along with traditional sports disciplines, competitions in esports, control of UAVs, and robotics are also planned.
An AI module for calculating market prices will be launched on the Uzbekistan government procurement portal
In Uzbekistan, a decree on increasing the competitiveness and transparency of public procurement has been adopted, introducing AI tools for price control and new mechanisms for business participation. Starting March 1, 2026, an AI-based electronic module will be launched on the state procurement portal, calculating the average market price of the purchased item. In parallel, procedures are being established that simplify the participation of local producers: after the publication of procurement plans, they will be sent electronic notifications, and local auctions between budget customers and local suppliers will be introduced.
The Central Bank of Uzbekistan revoked the license from “Yangi bank”
The Board of the Central Bank of Uzbekistan revoked the license of “Yangi bank” JSC to carry out banking activities and launched the liquidation procedure with the appointment of a liquidation commission. The regulator explained the decision by the fact that the measures taken to eliminate violations were insufficiently effective, including non-compliance with the minimum level of the authorized capital and non-compliance with certain legislative requirements. According to preliminary calculations, out of 32,526 depositors, 32,153 should receive a full refund of the guaranteed amounts, and 373 should receive a refund of the remaining funds in the manner determined by the liquidation commission; the exact calculations for returns will be announced separately by the Deposit Insurance Agency.
Uzbekistan is preparing large-scale measures to reduce energy losses in buildings and heating networks
Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed plans to improve the energy efficiency of social facilities and housing, develop the ESCO market, and introduce market mechanisms in electricity supply, including the formation of a wholesale electricity market. By 2030, the goal is to reduce energy consumption in the economy by at least 20% and in government institutions by 15%, while modernizing 770 out of more than 30,000 social facilities will involve $264 million. The list of measures also includes projects in industry and heat supply (including solar panels at 142 textile enterprises), and the transfer of low-voltage networks to the private sector is planned to begin in the Samarkand region and then expand to other regions.
In Uzbekistan, cluster management of apartment buildings will be launched in 2026-2030
The leader of Uzbekistan also considered proposals for reforming apartment building management, including launching a cluster system in 2026-2030 as a legal experiment, analyzing houses, dividing them into “green”, “yellow” and “red” categories, and preparing five-year programs. Key procedures are planned to be digitized: selecting a management organization through voting in “Mening uyim”, accounting for contributions and income in the billing of this system, as well as the phased implementation of the “Turar joy” national system with data on the technical condition of houses, land, and resource consumption.
The number of enterprises with foreign capital in Uzbekistan has increased 1.9 times in five years
As of January 1, 2025, 18,164 enterprises with foreign capital participation operate in Uzbekistan, the National Statistics Committee reported. In the structure, there are 4,247 joint ventures and 13,917 foreign ones, while the total number has increased 1.9 times over the past five years. The largest number of enterprises belong to companies from China (5,044), Russia (3,181), Turkey (2,137), Kazakhstan (1,212), South Korea (693), Afghanistan (635), UAE (414), Tajikistan (389), India (375), and the USA (340).
Uzbekistan has been tasked with strengthening the protection of labor migrants’ rights abroad
The authorities announced the priority of finding high-paying jobs abroad for Uzbek citizens and expanding the geography of organized labor migration to more than 30 countries. Ambassadors and consuls were instructed to intensify negotiations and sign migration agreements, strengthen vocational and language training and expand the legal protection of citizens, and reduce bureaucracy in consular procedures. Among the stated targets are the Japanese company’s project for 10 thousand specialists, the demand in Northern Europe (including 300 thousand workers), and the willingness of Norwegian employers to train 3 thousand people, while the work of embassies in several countries was called unsatisfactory and negotiations were instructed to accelerate in several areas.
Reading culture development fund to be established in Uzbekistan
In Uzbekistan, a resolution was adopted that aims to increase the average annual reading rate to 10 books per person in 2026-2030, and provides for the establishment of a Reading Culture Development Fund under the Youth Affairs Agency. The fund’s resources will be allocated for grants and the publication of works by young authors and children’s literature, monthly payments to talented writers (BHM 50 times up to one year), and support for translations (50% of preparation and publication, 80% of copyright).
