Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan has officially commenced the voting phase for the first season of the "Initiative Budget" program for 2026. According to the Ministry of Economy and Finance, this process will run until March 20 at 23:59, with results from the traditional voting to be announced on March 21—coinciding with the Navruz holiday. An additional phase to identify supplementary winning projects will take place from March 21 to 31.

Tashkent is planning to establish new public parks covering approximately 140 hectares, with a requirement that at least 30% of construction areas be allocated to green zones. This was announced by Sherzod Kudbiyev, Chairman of the National Committee for Sustainable Development of Urbanization and the Housing Market, during a press conference on March 5. He stated that such requirements are being reinforced at the level of higher regulatory documents, including presidential decrees and Cabinet of Ministers resolutions.

Uzbekistan's 2024 cotton harvest is showing significant progress, approaching historical highs in the country's agricultural output. According to state statistics, the volume of cotton collected so far has increased by 8% compared to the same period last year, indicating positive outcomes from ongoing reforms in the agricultural sector.

The Tax Committee of Uzbekistan conducted inspections at 78 trading facilities in Tashkent over two months as part of measures to reduce the shadow economy. According to the committee's press service, during the raids, 2,068 citizens who previously worked in markets and shopping complexes without employment contracts were officially registered.

According to the Agency for Drug and Firearms Control under the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, law enforcement agencies identified and closed eight illegal drug manufacturing laboratories in January-February 2026. These measures successfully prevented the release of 375 kilograms of narcotics, psychotropic, and potent substances into the market before they could enter circulation.

A 21-year-old resident of the Naryn district in Namangan region, Uzbekistan, has been detained on suspicion of conducting illegal operations with crypto assets worth over 982 million Uzbek som. According to the regional Department of Internal Affairs, the violation was uncovered during operational and preventive measures.

Uzbekistan has begun accepting project proposals for its "Academic Mobility" program, aimed at supporting the scientific activities of young researchers. The state will fully cover all expenses associated with the implementation of selected projects. This was announced by the press service of the Agency for Innovative Development under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev of Uzbekistan held a meeting on the socio-economic development of Kashkadarya region, setting ambitious goals for 2026. Due to its rich resources and developed industry, the region has shown steady growth: last year, gross regional product (GRP) increased by 6.8%, and the service sector grew by 13.6%. Notably, from 2017 to 2025, per capita GRP in the region grew 3.2 times, reaching 26.9 million soums.

The government of Uzbekistan has introduced a new measure allowing foreign tourists to receive refunds of the value-added tax (VAT) in cash for purchases made within the country. This initiative, set to launch on April 1st at all international airports, is part of a broader strategy to boost tourism and retail trade, aiming to enhance the country's economic appeal to international visitors.

The Competition Committee conducted reviews of over 23,000 state procurements carried out by state customers in 2025, with a total initial value of 18.8 trillion Uzbek soums. According to the agency's press service, 28,304 actions violating competition were identified in the process of 16,135 trades, involving both customers and participants.

Uzbekistan has introduced a seasonal ban on fishing in natural water bodies, effective from March 11, aimed at preserving aquatic bioresources during the spawning period. The restrictions are designed to safeguard fish populations and maintain ecosystem health, with the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change announcing that the ban first took effect on the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers.

The government of Uzbekistan has introduced a new regulatory framework for the export of fruit and vegetable products, following a surge in complaints from importing countries, including Russia, and cases of artificial price underreporting by entrepreneurs to evade taxes. According to the Agency for Quarantine and Plant Protection, in 2025, some businesses failed to document products worth $192 million, leading to significant tax revenue losses.