AGP Executive Report

Asian Games Focus: India’s medal push continues on Day 3 with cricket leading the gold hopes, while Day 2 delivered wins including India beating Sri Lanka for cricket gold and securing badminton and wushu medals; the overall Asiad medal table shows China on top and India sitting 13th with 12 medals, while Uzbekistan has 1 gold and 4 silvers. Uzbek Sports & Chess: Uzbekistan chess players and their coaches will receive higher one-time payments after a presidential decree, with top prizes reaching $200,000 for world-level gold; separately, Uzbekistan’s presence in the chess world remains strong as the World Chess Olympiad continues in Samarkand. Digital Economy: YouTube monetization is reportedly being discussed in Uzbekistan after meetings involving Saida Mirziyeva and Google leadership, alongside plans to expand Uzbek-language AI and cloud services. Connectivity & Telecom: Uztelecom and Amazon Leo are partnering to bring satellite internet to Uzbekistan, and new UzCloud data centres have opened in Bukhara and Kokand. Regional Security: Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey have started joint military drills, while Uzbekistan also appears in wider Central Asia transport and energy talks.

Uzbekistan in Focus: Uzbek archaeologists at the ancient city of Odirmon near Samarkand report a possible Zoroastrian fire altar and an ossuary, with traces of combustion and deer/juniper motifs still being studied. Energy & Economy: President Mirziyoyev reviewed medium- and long-term plans for Uzbekistan’s electricity sector, pushing grid upgrades and reserve capacity as demand rises from industry, electric transport and data centers. Regional Connectivity: Uzbekistan and China signed a first air navigation cooperation deal covering air traffic management, digitalisation and training; Uzbekistan also outlined Middle Corridor logistics “lily pads” via Caspian and Black Sea ports, including a planned setup at Georgia’s Poti. Diplomacy: Mirziyoyev held a phone call with Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdimuhamedov, exchanging birthday greetings and reaffirming strategic cooperation. Sports (Samarkand): At the 46th Chess Olympiad, India’s Nihal Sarin was named Player of the Day after an Uzbekistan loss, while Nigeria sought a bounce-back after defeats. EU Sanctions: EU envoys agreed to extend Russia sanctions for three years while removing Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, a move Ukraine and Latvia condemned.

Aviation & Tech: Uzbekistan’s Uzaeronavigation Centre and China’s ATMB signed a Beijing memorandum to cooperate on air traffic management, communications, navigation, surveillance, digitalisation, and training. Satellite Internet: Amazon Leo (LEO broadband) inked a distribution deal with Uztelecom and UZ-SAT, aiming to bring high-speed satellite coverage to remote areas by late 2026, with terminals offered in multiple tiers. Sports (Asian Games): India opened its gold account at Aichi-Nagoya by beating Sri Lanka women’s cricket by 147 runs, lifting India to 8th in the medal table; China still leads overall, with Japan and Korea close behind. Regional Security: “Power of Unity – 2026” joint drills kicked off in Azerbaijan with Azerbaijani, Turkish, and Uzbek troops, focusing on coordination and practical joint training. EU Sanctions Watch: EU envoys agreed to extend Russia sanctions for three years while delisting Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, after a fraught Latvia holdout. Business & Mobility: Wildberries launched WB Taxi in Yerevan, expanding ride-hailing services that already operate in Uzbekistan and other nearby markets.

Tashkent–London Finance Push: Uzbekistan is planning direct ties between its new Tashkent International Financial Centre and the City of London, using an English common-law style legal regime and an independent commercial court to attract foreign investment. Uzbekistan–China Logistics: An Uzbek delegation met Xinjiang Commercial Logistics to discuss cargo consolidation, modern warehouses, and joint logistics projects tied to e-commerce and temporary storage of Chinese goods. Regional Energy/Trade: Russia has suspended motor fuel exports to Afghanistan since April 2026, reshaping supply routes as Belarus ramps up shipments to fill gaps. Chess Olympiad (Samarkand): India slipped in the open section after losing to Uzbekistan 1.5–2.5, while India’s women beat the USA 3–1 to climb to third. Asian Games Day 4 (Japan): India’s medal hopes focus on women’s cricket (final vs Sri Lanka) and shooting events, with multiple knockout matches also on the slate. EU Sanctions Watch: EU talks on extending Russia-linked sanctions hit a snag over delisting Russian oligarchs Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, with negotiations continuing in Brussels.

EU Sanctions Talks: EU ambassadors are close to a deal to lift sanctions on Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, tied to a longer 36-month renewal package for other blacklist cases—negotiations hinge on whether any EU government objects. Uzbek Court Case: Tashkent’s Shaykhantakhur District Criminal Court is trying former Tashkent tax chief Yunusjon Nasimjanov over alleged embezzlement and abuse of authority, alongside former deputy Alisher Ganiev facing related charges. Transport & Trade: Uzbekistan is studying participation in a railway linking Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan to Türkiye for access to Samsun and Istanbul, aiming to diversify export routes. Energy Push: Construction has started on a 1.5 GW wind farm in Karakalpakstan with ACWA Power, targeting commissioning in 2027. Tech Cooperation: Uzbekistan held talks with South Korea’s KT about AI cooperation and possible AI data centres. Sports (Samarkand): At the 46th Chess Olympiad, India’s men lost to Uzbekistan, while Mobiuz launched an online chess competition on its app with a UZS 200m prize fund. Market Shift: China dominates Uzbekistan’s imported passenger cars, supplying 95.7% of imports in Jan–Jul 2026.

Green Energy Corridor: Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan signed a 2026-2028 roadmap in Baku to build a “Green Energy Corridor” linking Central Asian renewable power to EU markets via Azerbaijan, Turkey and the Black Sea, alongside plans to expand SOCAR-branded filling stations and boost refining and upstream exploration. Education Support: From the 2026-27 academic year, Uzbekistan will offer a 30% tuition discount for children of teachers at state universities (with defined exclusions), verified through the Digital Government platform. Trade & Diplomacy: A Uzbekistan-Syria business forum in Tashkent set up a Joint Economic and Trade Committee and discussed B2B/B2G projects, with mutual exhibitions planned for 2027. Sports—Uzbekistan in the spotlight: At the Asian Games, Kyrgyz MMA fighters advanced to semis where one will face Uzbek athlete Firdavs Atamuratov; meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s presence also shows up in regional football and table tennis results. Justice: An Uzbek national wanted internationally was detained in Türkiye and extradited to Uzbekistan over alleged embezzlement causing about 5 billion soums damage to the state budget.

Education Policy: Uzbekistan will start a 30% tuition discount for children of teachers enrolled in state universities from the 2026–27 academic year, with eligibility checks via the Digital Government platform and exclusions for military/police schools and other categories. Business & Trade: Tashkent hosted a Uzbekistan–Syria business forum where officials set up a Joint Economic and Trade Committee and discussed B2B/B2G projects, with mutual exhibitions planned for 2027. Sports—Asian Games: Uzbekistan featured in multiple Asian Games stories as India’s women’s hockey thrashed Uzbekistan 19-0 with Deepika Sehrawat scoring eight, while Uzbekistan also appeared in table tennis and other matchups; India’s Day 1 included two shooting silvers (Elavenil Valarivan) and an assured MMA medal (Suchika Tariyal). Regional Sports Schedule: Day 2 coverage highlights India’s next events in shooting, MMA, hockey, kabaddi and table tennis, with Uzbekistan opponents listed across group fixtures.

Asian Games 2026: India’s women’s hockey team crushed Uzbekistan 19-0 in the opening Pool B match, with Deepika scoring eight goals and Ishika adding a hat-trick, as India built an 8-0 halftime lead and kept pouring it on. Sports Schedule Focus: Day 2 in Aichi-Nagoya brings more medal chances for India, including women’s 10m air rifle and teqball bronze matches, while hockey continues with India facing Uzbekistan again in the women’s pool opener. Chess Olympiad (Samarkand): India kept rolling in the 46th Chess Olympiad with 3-1 wins in both Open and Women’s sections, while hosts Uzbekistan remain among the unbeaten teams after early rounds. Energy & Industry (Uzbekistan): Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan discussed accelerating energy projects, including gas station networks in Uzbekistan and work on Ustyurt investment blocks, with SOCAR involvement highlighted. Regional Development (Karakalpakstan): President Mirziyoyev met in Nukus to review rapid growth in Karakalpakstan, citing major investment inflows, new power capacity, and the start of large wind and infrastructure projects.

Asian Games Kickoff in Japan: The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games officially opened Sept. 19, with competition already running for days and 11,000+ athletes across 43 sports, including Uzbekistan-origin kurash and new events like teqball and esports. Uzbekistan-Syria Trade Push: Uzbekistan and Syria signed an agreement to set up a Joint Economic and Trade Committee, plus a 2026–2028 roadmap and a new Uzbekistan-Syria Business Council to boost direct business ties. Turkic Music Union Founded: The Turkic Union of Composers was established in Baku under the Baku Declaration, bringing together composers and music institutions from Turkic countries including Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan Pension Reform: Uzbekistan plans to add private and corporate pension funds alongside the current state system, with a broader pension overhaul expected via a presidential decree draft by end-2027. Road Upgrade Starts: Uzbekistan launched a major A380 highway upgrade (581–673 km) with a Chinese contractor, aiming to widen and modernize the road for completion by 2029. Energy Update: Construction has begun on a $2.6B wind power plant in northwestern Uzbekistan (1.5 GW), with new transmission lines and substations to feed the national grid. Chess Spotlight: India’s teams continued strong form at the Chess Olympiad in Samarkand, including a 3-1 win over Spain led by world champion Gukesh.

Karakalpakstan Development Push: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev launched 11 projects worth $592m and broke ground on 47 more initiatives totaling $7b in Karakalpakstan, spanning energy, digital economy, industry, transport, healthcare and services, with expectations of 8,000 high-income jobs. Regional Security Talks: Uzbekistan’s Security Council secretary Viktor Makhmudov joined the 5th meeting of OTS security council secretaries in Baku, focusing on threats in the Turkic region and how AI can strengthen national security. Joint Military Drills: “Power of Unity – 2026” will be held in Azerbaijan with Azerbaijani, Turkish and Uzbek forces across three sites, including UAV use to boost readiness and coordination. Chess Olympiad in Samarkand: India beat Italy 3-1 and the women beat Greece 3.5-0.5 in Round 3, while El Salvador stunned Cuba 2.5-1.5 to stay unbeaten. Counter-Terror Operation: INTERPOL’s AI-backed “Operation Shams II” identified 126 suspected foreign terrorist fighters from 108,000+ facial images, with Uzbekistan among participating countries. Uzbek Logistics IPO Plans: Centrum Holding says it plans an IPO in London in 2027, aiming to expand multimodal cargo terminals along the Middle Corridor.

Uzbekistan in Focus: Uzbekistan’s Samarkand is hosting the 46th Chess Olympiad, where the host teams started strong in the opening round with multiple 4-0 wins, and the tournament is drawing a record field of nearly 2,000 players from 200+ countries. Regional Security: Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Uzbekistan will hold the three-stage “Power of Unity – 2026” joint military drills in Azerbaijan, with personnel, equipment, naval/aviation assets and UAVs aimed at boosting joint readiness. EU Sanctions Watch: The EU is trying to break a deadlock over extending Russia-linked sanctions, with France pushing to remove Russian-Uzbek billionaire Alisher Usmanov—an issue tied to a proposed prisoner-release deal involving Azerbaijan. Counter-Terror Tech: Interpol launched “Operation Shams II,” using AI-aided facial recognition to identify 126 suspected terrorists across 11 countries, including Uzbekistan. Sports (Asian Games): In Aichi-Nagoya 2026, Uzbekistan’s women’s football team held China 1-1, while the Philippines’ U-23 men’s team lost 2-0 to Vietnam and now face elimination pressure with Uzbekistan vs Kuwait looming.

Asian Games 2026 (Nagoya): The Philippines edged Hong Kong 2-0 with goals from Skye Leach and Mallie Ramirez, moving closer to the quarterfinals in Group G where Uzbekistan earlier held China 1-1. Central Asia Sports (Samarkand): India’s Chess Olympiad campaign hit a snag as D Gukesh was held to a draw by Indonesia, but Nihal Sarin’s win kept India near the top; Uzbekistan also posted a strong result over Peru. Uzbekistan Economy & Policy: Uzbekistan’s central bank kept its policy rate at 14%, citing lingering inflation risks from global prices and logistics costs. Environment & Industry: Uzbekistan is designing an Emissions Trading System pilot for 50–60 heavy emitters, aiming to shift pollution control toward market-based incentives. Energy & Diplomacy: Uzbekistan and South Korea are pushing new agricultural tech projects, while Uzbekistan and Korea also expand cooperation on water-saving, smart farming and exports. Regional Security: Uzbekistan joined EU, Tunisia and Oman in condemning Houthi attacks targeting Saudi Arabia. Transport Talks: Iraq and Uzbekistan discussed a draft road transport agreement for passengers and goods.

Central Bank Watch: Uzbekistan’s central bank kept its base rate at 14%, citing still-present inflation risks. Energy Diplomacy: Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan signed a 2026–2028 roadmap to expand energy cooperation, including the Central Asia–Azerbaijan Green Energy Corridor, oil and gas work, and efficiency know-how. Nuclear & Safety Ties: Uzbekistan and Türkiye signed a cooperation document on radiation and nuclear safety, covering research, training, and specialist development. Oil & Gas Drilling: SOCAR, BP, and Uzbekneftegaz are preparing exploration drilling in Uzbekistan’s Ustyurt region after 3D seismic work, with one well planned first. Transport Upgrade: Tashkent approved a €157m plan to boost commuter train capacity by 20% using 10 new Škoda electric trains, funded via a long-term EIB loan. Trade & Logistics: SolitAir added Tashkent and Navoiy to its cargo network, targeting perishables and strengthening Uzbekistan’s air-freight role. Security Cooperation: OTS security council meetings in Baku focused on countering modern threats, including digital security and AI for national security. Sports (Samarkand): At the 46th FIDE Chess Olympiad, India stayed on top after key wins, while Pakistan forfeited its opening match against Israel in solidarity with Palestine. Regional News: Uzbekistan condemned a Houthi drone attack targeting Mecca, calling for maximum restraint and strict respect for international law.

Korea-Central Asia push: South Korea is deepening ties with Uzbekistan and the region after the inaugural Korea–Central Asia summit in Seoul, with new cooperation spanning education and AI (Uzbekistan to add Korean to its national academic competition), customs and anti-counterfeit work (MOUs with Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan), and trade deals (KOTRA-led business partnership produced 16 export contracts worth about $14m). Finance and business links: Shinhan Financial Group signed back-to-back agreements to support Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan with a planned $200m financing facility for Uzbek institutions, while UZEX and PhillipCapital launched UZEX Global to connect Uzbekistan with international commodity futures markets. Samarkand spotlight: The World Summit on Child Well-Being and Future will be held in Samarkand on Oct 21–22, drawing 100+ countries and including a pediatric oncology congress. Sports, with Uzbekistan in the mix: Pakistan boycotted its Chess Olympiad match against Israel in Samarkand, and Uzbekistan’s Nasaf drew Bahrain’s Al Khaldiya 0-0 in AFC Champions League Two.

Chess Olympiad Fallout in Samarkand: FIDE stepped in after accommodation chaos left some teams stranded on arrival, promising reimbursement for teams that had to book their own rooms and extra compensation for those stuck in sub-standard official hotels. Sports Diplomacy: Pakistan refused to play Israel in the Olympiad’s opening round, handing Israel a 4-0 walkover, while Pakistan said the boycott reflects government policy and solidarity with Palestinians. Korea-Central Asia Summit: Uzbekistan joined a Seoul Declaration that sets a 30-year agenda with South Korea on critical minerals, energy, logistics, AI and digital transformation, with leaders also agreeing to hold the summit every two years. Regional Security Talks: Intelligence chiefs from Turkic states met in Kazakhstan to coordinate on counterterrorism, border security and emerging threats, including cyber and AI-related risks. Uzbekistan Tech Update: Uzbekistan climbed in global internet speed rankings, topping CIS fixed-line speeds and improving mobile download performance. Trade & Connectivity: The Middle Corridor/TITR got fresh attention as analysts discussed extending China–Central Asia routes toward Azerbaijan via the Caspian Sea.

Uzbek–Korea Economic Push: Korea Eximbank chief Hwang Ki-yeon met President Shavkat Mirziyoyev in Seoul to expand cooperation on critical minerals, bio, digital and energy-linked projects, with MoUs aimed at turning summit deals into concrete financing. Regional Summit Momentum: South Korea and Central Asian leaders, including Uzbekistan, gathered for the first Korea–Central Asia Summit in Seoul, focusing on supply chains, digital innovation and connectivity. UPI MDR Watch (India, but regional impact): India’s RBI backed MDR on high-value UPI payments above Rs 2,000 from Oct 15, keeping person-to-person and payments up to Rs 2,000 free for users. Sports—Uzbekistan on the pitch: Uzbekistan’s U-23 men routed the Philippines 5-1 at the Asian Games in Nagoya; in the AFC Champions League Elite, Al Ain beat Ronaldo’s Al Nassr 4-0. Chess in Samarkand: India named D Gukesh on Board 4 for the FIDE Chess Olympiad, while Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov is set for Board 2. Business in Tashkent: An international business dialogue in Tashkent brought entrepreneurs and project founders together to discuss new cooperation across sectors like finance, energy and tourism.