AGP Executive Report

Uzbekistan Sports: Neftchi and Navbahor played out a 1-1 draw in the Uzbekistan Championship, with Navbahor’s Jamshid Iskanderov scoring first and Neftchi’s Abbosbek Faizullaev equalizing after the break. Humanitarian Appeal: A grandmother from Besh-Badam, Bazar-Korgon, Kyrgyzstan, Minavar Rahmanova, is seeking about 500,000 soms for treatment in Tashkent for her two granddaughters, Zura (cerebral palsy) and Ayana (achondroplasia and hydrocephalus). Energy Update: Uzbekistan’s natural gas output fell to 18.3 billion cubic meters in the first half of 2026, down about 18% year-on-year, as the country leans more on imports. Healthcare Diplomacy: In Tashkent, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met Saudi Health Minister Fahad Al-Jalajel to discuss expanding healthcare cooperation, including digital transformation and plans for a multispecialty hospital. Finance & Sanctions: Uzbekistan banks are switching Zolotaya Korona’s technical operator after EU sanctions hit a correspondent bank; the Central Bank says transfers should continue without interruption.

Wages Rise: Uzbekistan’s average monthly nominal accrued wage jumped 18.4% year-on-year to UZS 7.09mn in the first half of 2026, with Tashkent leading at UZS 12.01mn. Heritage & Culture: UNESCO added 25 new World Heritage sites, including modernist architecture in Tashkent, while separate coverage highlights Uzbekistan’s growing cultural footprint. Ancient Science: Researchers report evidence of silk production in southern Uzbekistan dating to around 2000 BCE, far earlier than the classic Silk Road timeline. Cotton & Trade: Uzbekistan plans to import 100,000 tonnes of cotton from Afghanistan and Afghan-Uzbek firms signed 25 agreements worth $50mn in Mazar-i-Sharif. Crypto Policy: Uzbekistan launched the Beshkala Mining Valley crypto mining zone in Karakalpakstan with tax incentives and regulated licensing through 2035. Defense Update: Uzbekistan unveiled new domestically developed combat systems, including Arslon APCs and a Tofon 155mm self-propelled howitzer. Sports Spotlight: Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov will face D Gukesh in the 2026 FIDE World Chess Championship in Geneva (Nov 25–Dec 15).

World Chess: FIDE confirmed the 2026 World Championship match will be played in Geneva from Nov 25 to Dec 15, with reigning champion D Gukesh facing Uzbekistan’s 20-year-old challenger Javokhir Sindarov—set to be the youngest title match in history. Energy Shake-up: Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev dismissed Energy Minister Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov and appointed Sherzod Khodjaev after reports of major power-grid failures during peak summer months. Uzbek-Kyrgyz Business: A Kyrgyz-Uzbek forum kicked off in Bishkek to push industrial cooperation, joint ventures, and deeper trade, with Uzbekistan’s investment and development fund projects in focus. Mining Policy: Uzbekistan launched a tax-free crypto mining zone in Karakalpakstan under the Besqala Mining Valley plan, offering zero taxes until 2035 for eligible local operators. Diplomacy: Kuwait’s ambassador presented credentials to President Mirziyoyev, signaling plans to expand cooperation. Regional Trade Routes: Uzbekistan is reportedly exploring China-linked routes that bypass Afghanistan as security uncertainty continues to affect trans-Afghan transit plans.

Chess & Sports Diplomacy: FIDE confirmed Geneva will host the 2026 World Chess Championship match between reigning champion Gukesh and Uzbekistan’s Javokhir Sindarov from Nov 25 to Dec 15, with both players aged 20 and the event set for 14 classical games. UNESCO & Culture: UNESCO added 25 new World Heritage sites, including the D-Day landing beaches in Normandy and Greece’s Mount Olympus, expanding the global spotlight on heritage beyond the Silk Road. Uzbekistan–Kyrgyzstan Trade: Uzbekistan’s investment minister said about 450 Uzbek-capital enterprises operate in Kyrgyzstan, while 362 Kyrgyz-participated firms run in Uzbekistan; a Kyrgyz-Uzbek development fund backed 37 projects worth over $100m. Border & Logistics: A trade and logistics complex at the Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan border (over 12,000 sq m) is finished and could become a multifunctional trade zone. Business Services & AI: Uzbekistan’s Global Business Services Forum 2026 in Tashkent highlighted AI and outsourcing, with IT Park reporting 3,800 resident companies and $1bn+ in tech service exports. Crypto Policy: Uzbekistan approved rules for a Karakalpakstan crypto mining zone, offering tax exemptions for residents until 2035. Regional Connectivity: Analysis on Mirziyoyev’s Georgia visit frames a westward push for Middle Corridor/CKU railway durability via the South Caucasus.

Energy Overhaul: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev appointed Sherzod Khodjaev as Uzbekistan’s new energy minister, replacing Jurabek Mirzamakhmudov, and set probation through year-end for top heads of major energy companies after reports of system management failures and frequent power outages. Population Update: Uzbekistan’s population reached 38.5 million (38,519,500) as of July 1, 2026, with growth slowing to 1.7% in 2026. Trade & Diplomacy: Uzbekistan and Afghanistan signed 22 cooperation agreements worth about $200m at a business forum in Kabul, with both sides aiming to lift annual trade to $5bn. Regional Connectivity: eTIR began fully digital operations across the Caspian Sea, linking Azerbaijan–Turkmenistan–Uzbekistan and boosting Middle Corridor efficiency and security. Sports: Korea will host Venezuela and Uzbekistan in October men’s friendlies; meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov was named among top World Cup Goal of the Tournament nominees as Sidny Lopes Cabral won the public vote. Culture: Ten Tashkent modernism buildings were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, highlighting Uzbekistan’s 20th-century architecture.

UNESCO Spotlight: Tashkent’s modernist architecture is now on the UNESCO World Heritage List, with 10 sites added at the 48th committee meeting in Busan—Uzbekistan’s sixth UNESCO cultural listing and its first individual national nomination in 25 years. Regional Trade: Afghanistan and Uzbekistan signed 22 trade MoUs worth over $200 million in Kabul, aiming to push bilateral trade toward $5 billion, including trial cotton exports and a commitment to buy more. Business & Finance: TBC Bank Group completed its majority acquisition of OLX Uzbekistan, expanding its digital footprint after receiving Uzbekistan competition approval. Security & Diplomacy: SCO foreign ministers’ meeting in Kyrgyzstan drew China’s Wang Yi, who highlighted a 10-year development blueprint and new cooperation platforms. Sports (Uzbekistan in focus): Uzbekistan’s Eldor Shomurodov was among nominees for the 2026 World Cup best goal, while Uzbek MMA fighter Ramazan Temirov scored a first-round KO at UFC Abu Dhabi. Environment/Industry: ACWA Power discussed a $260m hazardous waste management project in Uzbekistan and a dust-storm monitoring cooperation idea with Saudi partners.

Uzbek-Afghan Trade Boost: Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev says trade with Afghanistan has surged to about $1.6 billion, with Tashkent ready to speed up projects, invest in Afghanistan’s mining, and expand imports of meat and cotton, including plans for a $50 million zinc ore processing plant in Hairatan. UFC Abu Dhabi Spotlight: Uzbek fighter Ramazan Temirov knocked out Steve Erceg in the first round, while Magomed Ankalaev dominated Bogdan Guskov in the main event—another big night for Central Asian combat sports. Football/Business: Manchester City extended Uzbekistan defender Abdukodir Khusanov’s contract to 2031, rewarding his breakthrough season. Education & Research: Uzbekistan and Japan agreed to set up a joint university in Tashkent, with master’s programs in AI, digital transformation and business administration starting in the 2028–2029 academic year. Sports (Tashkent): At WTT Youth Contender Tashkent II, Bahrain’s Ali Alhashemi won silver (U-11) and bronze (U-13), with Uzbekistan players featuring heavily in the finals and medal matches. Regional Logistics: My Freighter will launch daily cargo flights from Liège to Uzbekistan and the wider region in August, adding more reliable freight capacity for Central Asia.

Afghanistan-Uzbekistan Talks: Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev led a high-level delegation to Kabul to push faster trade and investment implementation, with officials citing $150m in Afghan exports to Uzbekistan last year and 5,000 visas issued so far; Taliban officials also said Tashkent wants to speed up joint projects and remove barriers to trade and transit. Healthcare Partnership: Uzbekistan and France agreed new steps to modernize medical services, including a Gustave Roussy Cancer Center branch in Uzbekistan, specialist training in France, trauma care centers in Tashkent region resorts, and pilot diagnostic technology upgrades. Sports Spotlight: Abdukodir Khusanov signed a new five-year Manchester City deal through 2031, while UFC Abu Dhabi delivered a win for Magomed Ankalaev over Uzbekistan’s Bogdan Guskov, putting Ankalaev back in title contention. Digital Trade Logistics: Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan launched real-time eTIR data exchanges for freight across the Caspian corridor, supporting smoother customs clearance for routes linking Europe, Central Asia, Türkiye, and Uzbekistan. Economy & Industry: Uzbekistan’s large textile enterprises produced $3.58bn worth of goods in Jan–May 2026, up 15.4% year-on-year.

UFC Spotlight: Magomed Ankalaev returned to form in Abu Dhabi, dominating short-notice opponent Bogdan Guskov and winning by TKO in round five, setting up renewed talk of a title run. Sports—Co-main Shock: Uzbek fighter Ramazan Temirov crushed Steve Erceg with a brutal first-round knockout, handing the Aussie a major setback. Uzbek Diplomacy at SCO: Pakistan’s FM Ishaq Dar met counterparts including Uzbekistan’s Bakhtiyor Saidov on the SCO sidelines in Cholpon-Ata, reaffirming strategic cooperation across trade, connectivity, energy, culture and people-to-people ties. Central Asia Connectivity: My Freighter will start daily cargo flights from Liège in August 2026, boosting freight links for Uzbekistan and the wider region. Bilateral Health Talks: Uzbekistan and Afghanistan discussed expanding health cooperation, including cancer and heart-disease treatment, plus pharmaceutical industry and lab training. Football—Club News: Abdukodir Khusanov signed a new five-year Manchester City deal through 2031, extending his long-term stay after a breakthrough season. Trade & Industry: Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are deepening ties through growing bilateral trade and joint value chains, with 2026 momentum continuing into the first half.

Uzbek Sports in the Spotlight: Manchester City have extended Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov’s deal for five years, keeping him at the Etihad until 2031, after a breakthrough season that included starts in major cup finals and World Cup appearances. UAE–Uzbekistan Diplomacy: UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed and Uzbekistan’s Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a phone call to review bilateral ties and push joint cooperation. Afghanistan–Uzbekistan Health Links: Afghan and Uzbek officials discussed expanding health sector cooperation, including treatment of Afghan patients and work on pharmaceuticals and medical equipment. SCO Track: Pakistan’s Ishaq Dar said Pakistan will host the SCO Heads of State Council Summit in 2027 and reaffirmed regional cooperation priorities, while China’s Wang Yi met Uzbekistan’s FM Bakhtiyor Saidov ahead of SCO meetings. Regional Connectivity: Kyrgyzstan and China discussed trade and joint projects, with attention on the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway. Sports Calendar: UFC Fight Night 282 in Abu Dhabi features Uzbek-linked headlines as Bogdan Guskov takes on Magomed Ankalaev, while Uzbekistan’s presence also shows up in regional volleyball results.

Education & Research: Uzbekistan’s higher-education official Fazliddin Muminov says academic exchanges and joint projects are key to strengthening Central Asia ties and building trust across the Turkic world. Diplomacy: Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev called Uzbek leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev to congratulate him on his birthday and reaffirm the strategic alliance between the two countries. Regional Trade: Uzbekistan’s Deputy PM Jamshid Khodjaev leads a large business delegation to Kabul for high-level talks and a B2B forum, with deals expected to support trade, investment and transit. Economy & Exports: Uzbekistan reports $12.6bn in exports in the first five months of 2026, with services leading and strong growth in industrial and manufactured goods. Energy & Industry: Uzbekneftegaz and China’s XIBU move into a new phase of the Ustyurt drilling project, targeting 30 deep exploration wells. Sports (Tashkent): The Asian Youth and Junior Weightlifting Championships will be held in Tashkent in August, with the Philippines sending 13 athletes. Culture/History: Research highlights that silkworm cocoons and mulberry trees existed in Uzbekistan more than 2,000 years before the Silk Road era.

Uzbek Economy Watch: Uzbekistan’s economy grew 8.5% in the first half of 2026, with services up 16.9% and construction up 13.8%, as investment hit about €24.6bn and exports about €12.7bn; President Mirziyoyev urged officials to squeeze more value from existing projects and target 9–10% growth to lift living standards. Rail Freight Crunch: Mirziyoyev ordered a 10-day plan to bring 10,000 idle freight wagons into Uzbekistan and pushed for $200m in World Bank railway financing to ease rolling-stock shortages. SCO Diplomacy: Deputy PM and FM Ishaq Dar joined SCO foreign ministers in Cholpon-Ata, urging the bloc to press Afghanistan’s Taliban to honor counter-terrorism commitments, warning terrorism from Afghan soil remains a major threat. Regional Deals: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan announced 80 joint projects worth $1.8bn and signed commercial documents worth over KZT80bn, while leaders also exchanged birthday congratulations and discussed trade, transport and cultural ties. Payments Disruption: Korona Pay suspended Russia-to-Kazakhstan and Russia-to-Georgia transfers, leaving Russia-to-Uzbekistan, Türkiye, Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan as the remaining supported routes. Sports & Culture: Uzbekistan-linked cultural cooperation continued as Uzbek scholars visited Azerbaijan’s National Library, while Uzbekistan also appears in Asian Games football draws and in Uzbekistan-hosted youth weightlifting plans.

FIDE Leadership Shake-Up: Russian chess boss Arkady Dvorkovich has suspended his FIDE duties after EU sanctions, with Viswanathan Anand stepping in as interim president while the restrictions remain. Uzbekistan in the Spotlight: The chess Olympiad is set for Sept 15–27 in Samarkand, and India has named its teams—Open led by Gukesh, Women led by Humpy—adding fresh attention to Uzbekistan’s hosting role. Regional Security Talks: China’s FM Wang Yi met Uzbekistan’s Bakhtiyor Saidov on SCO sidelines in Bishkek, urging deeper law-enforcement cooperation and pushing forward major projects like the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway. Energy & Justice: In Tashkent, the trial of former Uzbekneftegaz chairman Bahodir Siddiqov begins over alleged large-scale embezzlement and related crimes, as Uzbekistan’s energy contracting scrutiny widens. Digital Economy Win: Uzum, Uzbekistan’s digital ecosystem operator, was named among the world’s top fintech companies by CNBC and Statista for the first time. Health & Climate Risk: UN-linked reporting warns drought and land degradation are worsening across Central Asia, with Uzbekistan and neighbors facing mounting pressure on water and ecosystems.

Asian Games Football Draw: Uzbekistan’s women have been placed in Group G alongside China and Hong Kong, setting up a tough path to the quarterfinals as the Philippines also face Uzbekistan in the same tournament draw. Regional Water Security: The World Bank approved a $20m grant to boost cross-border water cooperation in Central Asia, targeting better management of the Amu Darya and Syr Darya basins through improved data sharing and water accounting. Uzbek Migrant Pay Debate: Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko said Uzbek workers shouldn’t expect “several thousand dollars” in Belarus and suggested higher wages are more realistic in Russia, after complaints about low pay. Crime & Justice: Uzbekistan extradited three Interpol fugitives from Türkiye, including suspects wanted for sexual offenses and large-scale fraud. Business Pulse: Uzbekistan’s regional business activity picked up in June, with tax revenues up 45.6% and exports rising 27.6%, alongside faster lending growth. Sports—UFC Spotlight: Uzbekistan’s Bogdan Guskov stepped in on short notice to face Magomed Ankalaev in UFC Abu Dhabi on July 25.

Labour Migration Deal: Bulgaria and Uzbekistan have approved a draft agreement to regulate labour migration, letting Uzbek workers work in Bulgaria without a separate work permit for up to a year (extendable to three) and setting rules for seasonal exchanges. Middle Corridor Security Gap: Analysis says the Middle Corridor’s growth is running into a security shortfall, with Azerbaijan pushing for stronger Turkic security cooperation as e-permit and single-transit-document steps expand freight flows. Transit Trade Reroute via China: Pakistan and Uzbekistan are set to amend their transit trade plan so cargo can move through Pakistan’s Sost Dry Port, cross western China, and reach Central Asia as older routes face security disruptions. Rail Links with Afghanistan: Afghan and Uzbek officials discussed feasibility work for the Trans-Afghan railway and the Herat–Mazar-e-Sharif line, aiming to boost freight and transit between Central and South Asia. SAF Export Logistics: Allied Biofuels signed a logistics agreement with Pro Logistic Services to move Uzbekistan-made SAF/e-SAF to Europe and the UAE via rail and sea corridors. Sports (Uzbek angle): Uzbekistan’s Shomurodov featured in Inter Turku’s UEFA Conference League draw, while Uzbekistan’s Guskov is set for UFC Abu Dhabi after stepping in as a late replacement.

UFC Spotlight: Magomed Ankalaev returns to the octagon in Abu Dhabi this weekend, aiming to beat late replacement Bogdan Guskov and keep alive his push for a trilogy with Alex Pereira. Chess in the Region: French GM Alireza Firouzja won the Chennai Grand Masters after drawing Arjun Erigaisi in the final round; Uzbekistan’s Nodirbek Abdusattorov was in the title mix but fell short, while world champion Gukesh finished last. Trade & Transit: Pakistan and Uzbekistan agreed in principle to reroute parts of their transit trade through China, with amendments expected during the Uzbek deputy prime minister’s visit to Pakistan. Energy & Aviation Fuel: Allied Biofuels outlined planned SAF and e-SAF export routes from Uzbekistan to Europe and the UAE via rail and sea corridors, under a logistics deal with Latvia-based Pro Logistic Services. Security & Justice: A fraud suspect was extradited from Uzbekistan to Azerbaijan. Diplomacy & Economy: Uzbekistan’s president dismissed its ambassador to Belarus over “indifferent attitude” toward investment and trade. Human Rights Watch: A new report says Uzbekistan continues to suppress freedoms of expression, association, and assembly, citing digital repression and Karakalpakstan-related concerns. Uztelecom & Skills: Uztelecom signed a cooperation memo with Skolkovo Moscow School of Management on corporate education and cybersecurity training.