AGP Executive Report

Nuclear Milestone: Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant moves from plans to reality as Rosatom begins construction, with the regulator issuing a license and “first concrete” marking the start under IAEA standards. Elections Watch: IPA CIS international observers have started short-term monitoring of Armenia’s June 7 parliamentary elections, meeting election bodies and parties ahead of polling-day visits. Trade & Diplomacy: Uzbekistan’s foreign trade hit $26.3bn in Q1 2026, while Afghan and Uzbek officials push to boost trade and economic ties via planned delegations and trade houses. Regional Mobility: Uzbekistan and Hong Kong are advancing a 30-day mutual visa-free arrangement, alongside broader fintech, green energy and direct-flight cooperation. Sports Spotlight: Uzbekistan’s World Cup debut is driving fresh football buzz at home, with the team set to open against Colombia on June 17. AVC Women’s Cup: Uzbekistan is in Pool A for the June 6-14 AVC Women’s Nations Cup in Candon, facing the Philippines in the opener.

Uzbekistan–South Korea Aquaculture: A Uzbekbaliksanoat delegation and fisheries researchers visited Jeju to discuss marine fish farming, disease control, feed production and training, aiming to bring eco-smart aquaculture tech to Uzbekistan. Anti-Corruption Crackdown (Namangan): An investigator and a lawyer were detained in Chust after an alleged $40,000 bribe scheme to end a criminal case; the lawyer was caught receiving $30,000 as intermediary. Environment Milestone: Uzbekistan completed the first-ever full mapping and digitization of forest boundaries across 7+ million hectares under the RESILAND project with World Bank support, using satellite and aerial imaging. Public Health & World Cup Risk: Health agencies warn the 2026 World Cup could worsen measles spread and urge travelers without proof of vaccination to get measles-rubella shots before travel. Visa-Free Boost (Hong Kong–Uzbekistan): Hong Kong and Uzbekistan exchanged notes to move toward a mutual 30-day visa-free arrangement, with implementation details now being negotiated. Bukhara Biennial Leadership: Architect Kulapat Yantrasast was appointed artistic director of the 2027 Bukhara Biennial, set for September–November 2027, expanding the event’s collaboration with local experts and scholars. World Cup Warm-up Disruptions (DR Congo): DR Congo’s friendly in Spain was blocked over Ebola concerns, pushing the team to seek an alternative venue. Logistics Deal: Oman’s Asyad Group agreed to acquire a controlling stake in key Uzbek logistics platforms, including terminals tied to major railway container traffic and premium warehousing. Construction Safety: Uzbekistan removed several Chinese-made children’s toys from sale after lab tests found safety violations, including excessive formaldehyde and weak small-part attachments.

World Cup Countdown: FIFA has confirmed record squads of 1,248 players from 48 nations for the June 11–July 19 tournament, with Uzbekistan making its debut and Qatar drawn in Group B with Switzerland, Canada and Bosnia & Herzegovina. Uzbekistan on the Move: Fitch upgraded Uzbekistan’s sovereign outlook to “Positive” while keeping the “BB” rating, citing reform progress and stronger reserves. Visa & Connectivity: Uzbekistan and Hong Kong are moving toward mutual visa-free travel for up to 30 days, and a direct Hong Kong–Tashkent flight is expected to launch this year. Regional Trade & Transit: Afghanistan and Uzbekistan agreed to deepen transit and trade cooperation, focusing on logistics and easing barriers for Afghan exporters. Public Health & Sports Disruption: Spain’s mayor cancelled DR Congo’s pre-World Cup friendly vs Chile over Ebola fears, leaving the team to adjust its warm-up plans. Environment Watch: A new lake has emerged in Uzbekistan’s Kyzylkum Desert after unusually heavy rainfall and water-management efforts. Security & Diplomacy: Ukrainian drone strikes hit Saint Petersburg as Russia’s economic forum opened, with Kyiv calling it “fair response.”

World Cup build-up: Algeria stunned the Netherlands 1-0 in Rotterdam as Feyenoord winger Anis Hadj Moussa scored late, with both teams now heading to the US; the Netherlands are set to play Uzbekistan in New York. Uzbekistan–sports logistics: Atlanta United’s Marietta training complex was picked as an official Georgia base camp for World Cup 2026 teams, with Uzbekistan scheduled to move in during June after a $25m expansion. Uzbekistan–international ties: Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan discussed expanding cooperation across trade, transport, communications, and culture after a phone call between their foreign ministers. Visa access: Uzbekistan and Hong Kong agreed to move toward a mutual 30-day visa-free regime, with implementation details to be negotiated. Aviation: Shirak Avia resumed direct Yerevan–Tashkent–Yerevan flights weekly using Boeing 737 aircraft. Business & finance: Fitch upgraded Uzbekistan’s outlook to Positive (rating ‘BB’), while the EBRD forecasts 6.5% GDP growth for 2026. Economy & regulation: Uzbekistan’s competition authority opened cases over violations worth over 8 billion soums, and new rules for insurance agents were approved. Energy & investment: Renewable capacity reached 8 GW, and IFC committed up to $10m to Highland Central Asia Fund II to back SMEs.

World Cup Update: FIFA has confirmed the final 2026 World Cup squads: 48 teams, 1,248 players, 104 matches, with 891 first-timers and 357 returning. Ebola Disruption: DR Congo’s pre-World Cup friendly in Spain against Chile was cancelled after Spanish local authorities cited Ebola-related health risks, though Congo officials say they’re trying to find a way forward. Regional Security: Ukraine struck targets in Russia’s St Petersburg ahead of Putin’s “Russian Davos” forum, while Russia reported large drone waves and attacks elsewhere. Uzbek Culture Push: President Mirziyoyev signed a decree to overhaul culture, arts and literature support, including a new “Investments in Creativity” fund with 200 billion soums starting in 2026, plus broader tax breaks and new creative governance. Human Rights Oversight: Uzbekistan’s reforms were positively assessed by OSCE ODIHR during meetings with the national human rights ombudsman in Warsaw. Samarkand Environment: CAREC is participating in the GEF Assembly and Eco Expo Central Asia 2026, promoting regional water-land and ecosystem restoration work.

World Cup squads & Uzbekistan’s debut: FIFA has confirmed a record 1,248 players from 48 nations for the 2026 World Cup across Canada, Mexico and the United States, with Uzbekistan among the first-timers making their tournament bow. Canada vs Uzbekistan warm-up: Canada beat Uzbekistan 2-0 in rainy Edmonton as Alphonso Davies returned to training but said he won’t be ready for Canada’s opener, while the match raised questions about Uzbekistan’s defense under pressure. Uzbekistan football leadership: Uzbekistan’s first World Cup coach is former Italy defender Fabio Cannavaro, taking over after Timur Kapadze, as the squad trims and final preparations continue. Diplomacy in the region: Uzbekistan will host the second Termez Dialogue (June 4–6) focused on Afghanistan engagement and regional connectivity, while foreign ministers Bakhtiyor Saidov and Jeyhun Bayramov discussed expanding cooperation. Energy & investment: Mirziyoyev is set to visit Russia on June 4–5 for SPIEF and talks with Putin, and Uzbekistan’s renewable push is drawing partners including Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Education & connectivity: Uzbekistan’s quality assurance agency has joined INQAAHE in London, and Shirak Avia launched direct Yerevan–Tashkent flights after decades.

World Cup Warm-up (Canada–Uzbekistan): Canada beat Uzbekistan 2-0 in a rainy Edmonton friendly, with Jonathan Osorio scoring after coming on and Jayden Nelson adding a late second. The result is a morale boost ahead of Canada’s June 12 opener, while Uzbekistan continues its debut-at-the-tournament build-up. Injury Update (Alphonso Davies): Canada captain Alphonso Davies has joined the squad but is still not ready to play, continuing hamstring rehab while being monitored day by day. Regional Diplomacy: Uzbekistan will host the 2nd Termez Dialogue on connectivity (June 4–6), focusing on peace, security, climate and cooperation, with visits to logistics and trade sites. Trade & Business Links: Qatar and Uzbekistan chambers met in Tashkent to activate the Qatari-Uzbek Joint Business Council, including halal-industry cooperation. Culture Support: Hyosung donated to Good Neighbors to support descendants of Korean independence activists living in Uzbekistan. Environment Governance: At the GEF Council meeting in Samarkand, leaders pushed for unified global action to avoid fragmentation in environmental reporting and financing.

World Cup build-up: DR Congo defender Gédéon Kalulu says the Leopards are ready to face “big names” in Group K alongside Portugal, Colombia and Uzbekistan as the 2026 tournament kicks off June 11. Uzbekistan sport spotlight: Uzbekistan’s debut at the expanded 48-team World Cup is part of the latest squad-and-schedule rush, with Canada set to host Uzbekistan in an international friendly in Edmonton on June 1 ahead of the World Cup. Anti-doping reform: Uzbekistan says it has become the first country to align its laws with the new WADA code, praising progress in strengthening its national anti-doping system. Culture policy: President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced major support for the culture sector, including expanded tax incentives for cultural organizations and compensation for regional concert and event expenses, plus monthly payments for recognized creative workers. Film industry overhaul: Uzbekistan will reform film governance by abolishing several state bodies and changing state financing and expert review rules, with new incentives for producers. Energy & city updates: A transformer fire at Tashkent’s 110 kV “Vystavochnaya” substation caused temporary outages in parts of Shaykhantahur and Almazar; meanwhile, Sergeli district authorities deny claims that the Sergeli car market will be demolished, saying renovations are underway. Trade & diplomacy: Uzbekistan joined the UN Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice for the first time, and a Senate delegation will visit Serbia June 2–4.

World Cup Build-Up: Canada hosts Uzbekistan in an Edmonton friendly on June 1 as both teams fine-tune squads ahead of the 2026 World Cup; Canada’s camp is still dealing with injuries, including Marcelo Flores ruled out after a torn ACL, while Uzbekistan prepares for its debut. Regional Connectivity: FLYONE Asia launches new regular flights linking Tashkent with Baku and Ganja, boosting travel and business ties between Central Asia and the South Caucasus. Trade & Diplomacy: Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan sign a roadmap for trade and economic cooperation in Astana, covering industry, logistics, agro-sector, tourism and “green” energy. Environment & Water Security: Delegates at the GEF-8 council meeting in Samarkand push for stronger safeguards so local communities aren’t left behind as climate and biodiversity funding scales up; meanwhile, water-focused diplomacy events in Dushanbe highlight trust-building and women’s roles in transboundary water talks. Tashkent & Uzbekistan Domestic: Uzbekistan prepares 1,100+ buses for children’s summer camps with road patrol oversight and route inspections; heavy rain warnings for June 2–5 raise mudslide and flash-flood risks in multiple regions. Economy & Energy: Uzbekistan’s state debt hits $47bn in Q1 2026; battery storage capacity reaches 13.5% of peak evening load, supporting renewables growth.

GEF in Samarkand: Uzbekistan hosted the 71st Global Environment Facility Council and the Eighth GEF Assembly kickoff, with final GEF-8 funding of $144.3m approved and a 16-project program aimed at biodiversity, climate action and nature-positive investment through 2030. Summer safety for kids: Uzbekistan prepared 1,100 buses for children’s summer camps, with 314,000 youngsters expected to join 179 stationary camps and 1,242 school-based recreation sites, plus 692 road patrol officers and thousands of road checks. Road tragedy in Türkiye: President Mirziyoyev sent condolences to Erdoğan after a bus crash in Denizli killed at least eight and injured 33. Energy tariffs explained: Uzbekistan’s energy ministry said recent electricity and gas tariff increases are indexed to inflation (about 10% on average) and argued population rates remain among the lowest globally. Customs cooperation with the U.S.: Uzbekistan’s customs delegation met U.S. agencies to expand work on risk management, anti-trafficking, radiation safety and border infrastructure. Creative economy push: Tashkent unveiled “Uzbekistan Creative Park” with tax and incentive support for creative businesses, plus a new puppet theatre premiere “Caliph-Stork” from 1 June. Sports note: Canada’s Marcelo Flores is out of the World Cup after an ACL injury, ahead of a friendly vs Uzbekistan in Edmonton.

Motorsport & Youth Tech: Tashkent hosted a stage of the Open Central Asia Drift Cup at CAEx, with 28 cars from Uzbekistan and abroad plus an eSports GT3 segment under FIA rules, highlighting growing interest in technical sports. Culture & State Honors: Senate chair Tanzila Narbaeva visited families to award posthumous state decorations to prominent Uzbek artists and writers, including People’s Artist and Honoured Artist titles. Uzbekistan’s Trade & Energy Push: Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan signed a practical roadmap in Astana covering automotive, energy, chemicals, logistics, construction and agriculture; meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s BESS capacity reached 1,545 MW, covering over 13.5% of evening peak demand, and LPG imports from Russia surged to 231,000 tons in Jan–Apr. Business Relief: A presidential decree raises the VAT threshold for small businesses from June 1 and offers a simplified VAT option for many catering, trade and services firms. Customs & Security: Uzbekistan expanded customs cooperation with the United States, while Ferghana saw major medicine and drug seizures and separate bribery detentions in Jizzakh and Ferghana. Regional Connectivity: Uzbekistan will host the second Termez Dialogue on connectivity between Central and South Asia in Tashkent June 4–6.

World Cup Spotlight: DR Congo has finally ended a 52-year absence from the FIFA World Cup, clearing the way for its 2026 campaign despite a deadly mpox outbreak and ongoing security turmoil in the east; FIFA clearance also follows Ebola-related travel restrictions that have kept many fans away. Canada’s Squad Watch: Canada confirmed its 26-man World Cup roster with Bayern’s Alphonso Davies included despite a hamstring injury, while coach Jesse Marsch said the team is its strongest yet but fitness will be tested through friendlies vs Uzbekistan and Ireland. Uzbekistan in the Mix: Uzbekistan is set to face DR Congo in World Cup group-stage action, with the tournament schedule also highlighting Uzbekistan’s matches across major US venues. Trade & Compliance: Russia’s Rosselkhoznadzor has restricted fruit and vegetable imports from 10 Uzbek exporters starting May 30, citing phytosanitary violations and quarantine inconsistencies. EAEU Digital Push: Uzbekistan’s president outlined new priorities for deeper Uzbekistan–EAEU cooperation, including a unified digital space for barrier-free trade and updated roadmaps for practical integration. Local Business: JAC officially opened a joint venture plant in Tashkent, signaling deeper automaker expansion into Central Asia.

Joint Venture in Tashkent: JAC has officially opened a joint venture plant in Tashkent’s Yangi Avlod Industrial Park, showcasing models like M3, M4, JS8, RF8, T8 and T9 as it pushes deeper into Central Asia. Small Business Relief: Saida Mirziyoyeva says a presidential decree raises the VAT registration threshold from 1 billion to 5 billion soums, aiming to cut tax complexity, inspections and reporting burdens for family businesses and services. EAEU Cooperation Push: President Mirziyoyev, in Astana, outlined five priorities for Uzbekistan’s Eurasian Economic Union ties, including a single digital space for barrier-free trade and closer industrial, transport and labor mobility cooperation. Fruit & Veg Export Hit: Russia’s Rosselkhoznadzor will temporarily restrict imports of fruit and vegetables from 10 Uzbek exporters from May 30 over phytosanitary non-compliance. Aviation & Tourism Links: Uzbekistan is in talks with China’s Spring Airlines about launching direct flights, with joint marketing plans to boost Chinese tourist flows. AI Adoption Snapshot: Microsoft data shows only 7.2% of Uzbekistan’s working-age population uses generative AI, though adoption is rising. Floodwater Infrastructure: Uzbekistan plans five floodwater reservoirs (2027–2030) to improve irrigation and manage mudflows, supporting thousands of hectares of farmland.

WTO Push: Uzbekistan signed a protocol with India to complete bilateral market-access talks, a fresh step toward joining the World Trade Organization. Air Connectivity: FlyKhiva will start regular Termez–Istanbul–Termez flights from May 30, twice a week, boosting travel for Surkhandarya and supporting tourism. Tech & Telecom: Ucell and ZTE rolled out an AI energy-efficiency solution across Uzbekistan’s mobile network, reporting a 10.6% improvement in energy efficiency. Digital Silk Road Tourism: Uzbekistan showcased its “Digital Silk Road” and tourism platform plans at China’s World Intelligence Expo 2026, pitching deeper cooperation with Chinese partners. Sports & Youth Football: The AFC U20 Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers groups were announced: Uzbekistan is in Group B with Syria, India and Bangladesh, with matches set for Aug 25–Sept 6, 2026. Business & Trade: Uzbekistan–Afghanistan private-sector deals topped $5 billion in eight months, covering sectors from food and textiles to pharmaceuticals. Governance & Economy: Uzbekistan’s audit services sector keeps expanding, with audit firms up 14% to 175 and auditors up 12% to 1,296 by end-2025.

World Cup Watch: FIFA’s 2026 tournament starts June 11, with Uzbekistan in Group K alongside DR Congo, Portugal and Colombia; meanwhile, Mexico, the U.S. and Canada have tightened Ebola-related travel and surveillance rules after DR Congo qualified. Football & Youth: Uzbekistan’s rivals are set for the AFC U-20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifiers in Tashkent (Aug 25–Sep 6): India, Syria and Bangladesh join Uzbekistan in the draw, while Oman’s U20 group includes Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Hong Kong. Trade & Economy: Uzbekistan’s foreign trade hit $26.3bn in Jan–Apr 2026 (+5.8%), but the deficit widened to $6.4bn as gold exports fell sharply; services exports rose strongly, led by tourism and travel. Transport & Infrastructure: New Tashkent airport negotiations continue for a 20m-passenger hub; a $2.185bn Tashkent–Samarkand toll road tender is won by a Chinese contractor; and Tashkent signed $3.5bn in China deals for roads, BRT lanes, housing and drainage. Energy: Uzbekistan plans a 1.4 GW coal plant in Angren (Nisbosh) and aims to boost aviation fuel output to 600,000 tons by 2030. Digital & Society: Uzbekistan will launch an annual national reading promotion movement for school students, and early intervention services for children with disabilities or developmental-delay risk are approved.

AFC U20 Qualifiers: India’s U20 were drawn with Uzbekistan, Syria and Bangladesh in Group B for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2027 qualifiers, with Uzbekistan hosting Group B in Tashkent from Aug 25 to Sept 6, 2026. World Cup Health Update: DR Congo says FIFA has confirmed its World Cup delegation is compliant with US Ebola protocols, including cancelling a Kinshasa camp and moving preparations abroad. Tech in Uzbekistan: Viasat, working with Uzbekistan’s digital ministry, UZ-SAT and Uztelecom, demonstrated satellite-powered direct-to-device messaging between smartphones over satellite. Sports Spotlight: Netherlands named a World Cup squad led by Virgil van Dijk; Memphis Depay must prove fitness ahead of the tournament, with a friendly vs Uzbekistan on June 8. Business & Finance: Uzbekistan’s telecom operator Ucell and ZTE completed a large-scale rollout of an AI-powered RAN energy-saving solution, reporting a 10.6% network energy-efficiency improvement.