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Diplomacy
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives in Samarkand
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Samarkand on Sunday evening with his wife. It is his first visit to Central Asia.
Uzbekistan news
Economy
Uzbekistan and World Bank discuss attracting investment
Uzbekistan and the World Bank Group discussed prospects for economic growth, attracting private investment and creating new jobs. The talks took place on 16 October in Bangkok, where Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov met World Bank Group President Ajay Banga. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, according to the Information Service and Communications Department of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Economy
Uzbekistan and IFC discuss transport and energy projects
Uzbekistan and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) discussed cooperation in infrastructure, energy, water management and private sector development. The meeting between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov and IFC Regional Vice President for the Middle East and Central Asia Imad Fakhoury took place on 15 October 2026 in Bangkok, on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank annual meetings.
Health
Uzbekistan to Create Full Cost Coverage System for Childhood Cancer Treatment
Uzbekistan is raising the quality of medical care for children and adolescents with oncological and hematological diseases under a national plan for 2025–2035. The plan focuses on improving sector management and sustainable financing.
Economy
Uzbekistan and EBRD discuss privatization and support for business
Uzbekistan and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) discussed the privatization of state-owned enterprises and banks, expanding financing for small and medium-sized businesses, and developing public-private partnership.
Education
Uzbekistan and Malaysia agree to train semiconductor workforce
Uzbekistan and Malaysia have agreed to expand cooperation on training specialists for the semiconductor industry, developing microelectronics and conducting technological research. The Information Service and Communications Department of Uzbekistan's Ministry of Economy and Finance reported that memoranda of cooperation were signed between organizations and higher education institutions of the two countries during a working visit by an Uzbek delegation.
Energy
Mirziyoyev Discusses New Power Plants and Fuel Supplies With Foreign Investors
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met business representatives from Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, China and other countries on October 16 at the first meeting of the Investors Council in the fuel and energy sector, the presidential press service said.
Energy
Power outages in winter: Uzbek grid operator explains planned cuts and preparations
About 35% of electricity consumers in Uzbekistan used more than 200 kWh in August, according to a press conference held on 8 October with the leadership of the Regional Electric Networks. Gazeta reported that the country has 8,344,000 electricity consumers in total, of whom 5,682,000 used up to 200 kWh in August, 1,135,000 used 200-300 kWh and 354,000 used over 300 kWh.
Politics
Mirziyoyev to visit Samarkand on October 18–19
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will visit Samarkand region on Sunday, according to a statement from the head of state's press service. The visit is scheduled for October 18–19.
History & Heritage
Rare manuscript unknown for centuries found in university library
A manuscript held at Tashkent State University’s library, long considered lost, was found to be a major 14th-century encyclopedic source. It is Badriddin Ibrohim’s explanatory dictionary Zafangʻoʻ va jahonpoʻ, known for centuries only from short quotations in later works.
Diplomacy
Rubio: There are countries we want to visit to strengthen relations
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained the reason for his visit to Uzbekistan and the C5+1 meeting. He spoke to journalists before departing from Joint Base Andrews for Uzbekistan. Asked why he chose to visit Uzbekistan now, amid global crises and instability, Rubio said the timing matched days that were convenient for the leaders of five countries.
Energy
Uzbekistan's green energy output reaches 9.1 billion kWh
Uzbekistan produced 9.1 billion kWh of green energy in January–August 2026. Over the past four years, the development of this sector has helped save more than 6.5 billion cubic metres of natural gas and prevent the release of over 14.5 million tonnes of harmful gases into the atmosphere.
Diplomacy
Traffic into Samarkand and on several central streets to be restricted October 18-22
Uzbekistan's Ministry of Internal Affairs says traffic into Samarkand and along several central streets will be restricted from time to time due to international events. On October 19-20, the city will host a meeting of foreign ministers from Central Asian countries and the United States in the C5+1 format. On October 21-22, it will host a global summit dedicated to child welfare and the future of children.
Society
Uzbekistan: Those who involve children in drug use could face up to 10 years in prison
Uzbekistan has announced that people who involve minors in drug use could face up to 10 years of deprivation of liberty. The provision is set out in a law aimed at strengthening the protection of children from violence, which was signed by the President. Under the law, criminal liability for involving minors in drugs and psychotropic substances has been sharply increased.
Energy
Uzbekistan to expand deep processing of natural gas
Uzbekistan intends to expand deep processing of natural gas to produce high value-added products, rather than limiting its use to fuel for electricity generation. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced this on October 16 at an open dialogue with investors in the fuel and energy sector, stressing the economic value created by processing.
Economy
Mirziyoyev urges China Energy to invest in Navoi region water supply
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan has urged China Energy International to make new investments in the water supply system of the Navoi region. The issue was discussed on October 16 at a meeting with the heads of Chinese companies CAMCE, China Energy and Sinoma Energy, and the chairman of the board of directors of Oman's Voltamp Energy, Sayyid Ayman Al Busaidi. The presidential press service reported the meeting.
Energy
Uzbekistan to publish first national energy master plan through 2050
Uzbekistan will for the first time develop a National Energy Development Master Plan through 2050 and publish it openly. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced this on October 16 at an open dialogue with investors in the fuel and energy sector.
Energy
Fergana Valley to receive part of its electricity from other regions
Part of the electricity demand in Uzbekistan's Fergana, Andijan and Namangan regions is covered by generation in other parts of the country. Officials said the load on electricity grids will rise as new industrial zones and large enterprises are launched. The statement was made on 16 October at an open dialogue between President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and investors in the fuel and energy sector.
Transport & Infrastructure
China pledges quality implementation of railway project in Uzbekistan
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and said China is ready to ensure the quality implementation of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway project and to expand trade and economic cooperation with Tashkent. Li said Beijing wants to expand the presence of competitive Chinese companies in the Uzbek market and hopes Uzbekistan will continue to create favourable conditions for investment and business.
Defense & Security
CIS Defence Ministers Discuss Military Cooperation in Cholpon-Ata
Defence ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States discussed the development of military cooperation at a regular meeting of the Council of Defence Ministers in Cholpon-Ata, Issyk-Kul region, Kyrgyzstan. Uzbekistan's Minister of Defence, Major General Batyr Kudratkhodzhayev, took part. The Uzbek Ministry of Defence reported the meeting.
Technology
Uzbekistan Prepares to Launch DataVolt Data Center
Uzbekistan is preparing to launch a data center under construction on the territory of IT Park Uzbekistan. Minister of Digital Technologies Sherzod Shermatov discussed the project's progress and the timeline for commissioning the facility with DataVolt CEO Rajit Nanda.
Economy
Javlon Vahobov: Fergana Valley – a market of 18 million people
Over the past 10 years, Uzbekistan's trade turnover with Central Asian countries rose from $2.5 billion to nearly $8.5 billion. The region's mutual trade turnover reached nearly $11 billion. Javlon Vahobov says these figures show opportunities to deepen economic cooperation, including by strengthening ties among the seven regions of the Fergana Valley.
Culture & Arts
Cultural Heritage Agency comments on situation around Literature Museum building
Uzbekistan's Cultural Heritage Agency has responded to reports about the State Literature Museum named after Alisher Navoi in Tashkent. A new museum building is under construction in New Tashkent, and its collections are being temporarily moved to the Islamic Civilization Center and the Academy of Sciences' Institute of Anthropology.
Transport & Infrastructure
CIS countries discuss transport corridor development in Astana
According to UzDaily, transport agency representatives of CIS countries discussed the development of international transport corridors, transport digitalisation and transport security at the 46th meeting of the CIS Coordinating Transport Council in Astana. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the New Silk Way forum on 15–16 October, the Kazakh Ministry of Transport press service reported.