Saturday, 04, July, 2026

Economy

In January-May 2026, Uzbekistan imported $724.7 million worth of natural gas, the State Statistics Committee said in a report.

In Uzbekistan, extraction of natural gas, oil, coal, and gas condensate continued to decline in January-May 2026, the State Statistics Committee said in a report.

At the end of the first quarter of 2026, Uzbekistan's total external debt stood at $82.2 billion. By comparison, the figure was $68.4 billion in the first three months of 2025 — meaning debt grew by nearly $13.8 billion, or 20 percent, over the year.

In January–March, Uzbek residents made $153.1 million in direct investments into foreign assets. That is 33 times higher than the figure for the same period last year ($4.7 million). This historic surge follows the government's decision to abolish, effective January 1, 2026, the requirement for Uzbek residents to obtain government permission before investing in the United States.

During the first quarter of 2026, the number of Uzbek citizens traveling abroad reached 1.63 million, marking an 11.6% increase compared to the same period last year. This trend was highlighted in the Central Bank's latest labor market review.

The price of Ai-92 gasoline on the Uzbekistan Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange has reached an all-time high.

Regional connectivity is no longer just a matter of engineering and logistics; it has evolved into a cornerstone of sustainable economic growth. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Jamshid Kuchkarov shared this insight today, June 29, at a seminar dedicated to regional cooperation for enhanced connectivity, private investment mobilization, and the expansion of open trade.

On the sidelines of the Tashkent International Investment Forum (TIIF-2026), Uzbekistan and Saudi Arabia launched a strategic partnership aimed at youth professional development and employment. The initiative is designed to bridge the skilled labor gap in high-tech industries and establish direct pipelines connecting young professionals with global employers.

Uzbekistan is considering a phased increase of its national minimum wage to reach 40% of the median salary by 2030, according to a new policy proposal. The comprehensive reform package also suggests decoupling the minimum wage from the salary calculation formulas used in the public sector, while exploring the introduction of provinceal and industry-specific minimum pay scales.

Between January and April 2026, Uzbekistan's total imports reached $16.4 billion. While machinery and transport equipment accounted for the largest share of these imports, food products registered the fastest growth rate.

Uzbekistan has published its official registry of Public Interest Entities (PIEs), according to the press service of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF), in its Selected Issues report on Uzbekistan, has evaluated the scale and role of the state-owned sector in the country's economy.

A comprehensive global salary index released by the independent publication CEOWORLD ranks Uzbekistan 117th out of 197 countries in terms of average monthly net income. Based on data evaluating take-home pay after all mandatory taxes are deducted, the study highlights both a vast global wage gap and Uzbekistan's distinct position within the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

The technological emergency involving a gas explosion and leak at the "Mustaqillikning 25 Yilligi" (M25) gas field in the Boysun district of the Surxondaryo region will be resolved by the first half of 2027. This was announced by Abdugani Sanginov, the chairman of Uzbekneftegaz JSC, as reported by Uzdiplomat.

Uzbekistan is moving forward with its efforts to streamline tax and customs exemptions. However, making high-quality decisions requires more than just knowing the total volume of these incentives.

In December 2025, a presidential decree was signed to introduce a unified QR-code payment framework. Under the decree, the rollout of unified QR codes began on January 1 for all legal entities operating in the retail and service sectors, and their use will become mandatory starting July 1 [of this year, 2026].

British energy giant BP is highly optimistic about discovering oil and gas reserves in the northeastern region of the Ustyurt Plateau. Michael Fiedler, BP's Business Development Director, shared these insights during an interview with the "Uzbekistan 24" TV channel on the sidelines of the Tashkent International Investment Forum. 

The fifth Tashkent International Investment Forum (TMIF) concluded with the signing of 166 investment agreements totaling $43.1 billion, according to the Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade of Uzbekistan.

The BOD of the Central Bank has decided to keep the interest rate unchanged at 14% per annum, the Central Bank's press service said.

The Minister of Transport, Ilkhom Makhkamov, held a meeting with the chief of the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment, Mohammad Karim Hashemi.