Uzbekistan

In Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the National Agency for Social Protection, in collaboration with UNICEF, organized a seminar focused on pressing issues in inclusive education. The main topic of the meeting was the behavioral barriers faced by parents when attempting to enroll their children in inclusive kindergartens and schools, marking a significant step toward creating an equal-opportunity educational environment in the country.

The government of Uzbekistan has developed a comprehensive project for a radical transformation of the system providing psychiatric and narcological care to the population. According to the draft presidential decree "On Measures to Transform the System of Providing Narcological and Psychiatric Care to the Population," the salaries of psychiatrists, narcologists, medical psychologists, and suicidologists may be doubled through the introduction of a 100% bonus for work in conditions of increased danger and harmfulness. This bonus will be provided starting January 1, 2027, to all specialists working in multidisciplinary polyclinics and specialized institutions, regardless of their position.

The Uzbek government has officially confirmed that in 2025, eight assistants to local district governors (hokim yordamchisi) were involved in corruption crimes. This was announced by Marat Juraev, First Deputy Minister of Poverty Reduction and Employment, during a press conference at the Content Preparation Center on March 12. According to him, nearly 9,000 neighborhoods across the country have active assistants to district governors, with their direct employers being the district governor's offices, although methodological support for their activities is provided by the Ministry of Employment.

According to the Tashkent city administration, traffic will be temporarily restricted on a section of Temur Malik Street in the Mirzo Ulugbek District. The restrictions apply to the segment from the intersection with Mirzo Ulugbek Street to the intersection with Sultoniy Street. All types of motor vehicles are affected, although the exact start and end dates for the restrictions have not been specified in the announcement.

Uzbekistan's cotton harvest in 2024 has reached a record level, with official data indicating over 3.5 million tons collected. This represents a 10% increase compared to the previous year and is noted as a significant achievement in the country's agricultural sector. However, despite this success, challenges such as water scarcity, soil salinization, and labor issues in the cotton cultivation process continue to persist.

In Tashkent, repair work has commenced at the intersection of Temur Malik and Buyuk Ipak Yuli streets, leading to temporary traffic restrictions in the area. This has resulted in changes to the routes of several bus lines.

In Tashkent, at the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a discussion was held on the draft presidential decree to create a unified state control system in the field of food safety in Uzbekistan. The meeting involved members of the Public Council for Entrepreneurship Support under the President and representatives of expert groups.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan reviewed proposals on March 11 to improve the project expertise system, as reported by the head of state’s press service. According to the information, by 2026, the country plans to attract over $50 billion in investments into the economy, allocate 24 trillion soums in budget funds for the construction of social and infrastructure facilities, and implement state procurements worth more than 300 trillion soums. Under such ambitious plans, the efficient and timely operation of the expertise system is deemed crucial.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan signed a law on March 11th that strengthens penalties for unauthorized connections to electricity, gas, heating, and water supply networks. The amendments were introduced to the Administrative Responsibility Code and the Criminal Code, imposing significant fines and other measures for illegal hookups and violations of utility usage rules.

Uzbekistan and Japan have signed a memorandum of cooperation in the field of ecology. The document outlines joint actions to combat climate change, reduce air and water pollution, and improve waste management systems.

Uzbekistan's accession process to the World Trade Organization (WTO) may face further delays as some member countries are slowing down the review of Tashkent's documents. This was announced on February 17 by the president's representative on WTO issues, chief negotiator Azizbek Urunov, in a conversation with journalists. According to him, the membership deadline could extend beyond March, as certain states are currently prolonging the document verification process.

In the Vobkent district of Bukhara Region, Uzbekistan, law enforcement agencies have uncovered illegal cryptocurrency trading operations as part of the "Safe and Healthy Country" campaign. A local resident allegedly conducted shadow trading via the international crypto exchange Binance for one and a half years, bypassing existing legislation and operating without a license.