The economic partnership between Tashkent and Seoul is ascending to its peak capacity. On June 16, the capital will play host to the massive "Uzbekistan – Korea" Business Forum, convened on the sidelines of the 5th Tashkent International Investment Forum. The event will bring together top executives from world-renowned Korean conglomerates and premier financial institutions on a single platform. The forum is designed to act as a direct catalyst for securing multi-million-dollar contracts, transferring cutting-edge digital technologies, and launching long-term infrastructural ventures that will reshape the domestic industrial landscape.
Uzbekistan is scaling its industrial presence in the region, elevating the promotion of domestic brands to a new international level. In Bishkek, the grand opening ceremony of the extensive national stand "Made in Uzbekistan" took place on the sidelines of the prestigious SCO exhibition. Bringing together the core drivers of the Uzbek economy—ranging from heavy manufacturing to cutting-edge digital solutions—this high-tech exposition captured the direct attention of heads of line ministries and major business figures from the participating states.
Mobile Operator Mobiuz Sold to US Consortium for $351M
One of the most high-profile and tech-driven privatization deals in Uzbekistan has been finalized. Mobile operator Mobiuz (Universal Mobile Systems LLC) is transitioning fully into private ownership. More than 15 international players ranging from the US to Japan competed for the right to acquire the 100% state-owned stake. A consortium of institutional investors from the United States emerged as the winner of this prestigious tender. The multi-million-dollar transaction not only establishes a new benchmark for the domestic telecom market but also guarantees a massive digital overhaul of networks across the republic.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced a radical ten percent staff reduction to aggressively pivot the corporation’s focus toward artificial intelligence. The mass layoffs of IT professionals are unfolding alongside internal scandals, office protests, and the deployment of an unprecedented surveillance system to monitor the remaining workforce.
Major German automakers are sequentially declaring their readiness to repurpose production capacities for military needs. Amid escalating geopolitical instability and Berlin's calls for Europe to assume greater responsibility for continental security, even a premium giant like Mercedes-Benz has officially opened the door to manufacturing military hardware.
BMB HOLDING and Malaysian Investors Launch New Projects
The mutual interest of businesses from both countries has expanded far beyond traditional trade. High technologies, halal tourism, the agricultural sector, and Islamic finance have emerged at the crossroads of shared interests. The talks between BMB HOLDING and the Malaysian Ambassador open new vistas for Uzbek exports and the transfer of advanced Asian technologies.
The SelectUSA Investment Summit, held in early May 2026, opened the doors to the major leagues of American retail for the Uzbek conglomerate BMB HOLDING. During the visit, Bekzod Mamatkulov, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, held a series of key negotiations in Philadelphia and New York aimed at expanding the country’s export potential.
Jakhongir Artykhodjayev has officially initiated a major investment project in the US state of Kentucky. The total value of the initiative is estimated at $600 million. The new industrial complex is planned to host production across four key sectors: automobile assembly, solar panel manufacturing, window spare parts, and aluminum products.
BMB Holding Products Presented To The U.S. Secretary Of Commerce At The Selectusa Investment Summit
The participation of the Uzbek delegation in the prestigious SelectUSA Investment Summit, held in Washington from May 3 to 6, was marked by a series of strategic victories for domestic business. BMB HOLDING stood at the center of the events: from presenting a unique national brand to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce to concluding partnership agreements with major financial institutions and a range of cities in California. This visit served as a clear signal of Uzbek manufacturers' readiness to compete at the highest international level, offering eco-friendly and certified products to the U.S. market.
Famous internet personality and former kickboxing champion Andrew Tate has been spotted in Uzbekistan alongside his brother Tristan Tate. Their visit has sparked interest on social media, though official details of the trip have not been disclosed.
Forbes released its annual ranking of the world’s wealthiest individuals. Leading the list is Elon Musk, whose fortune reached a record $839 billion. Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin hold second and third places. The top 20 includes entrepreneurs from the US, China, India, and Europe, with total billionaire wealth reaching $20.1 trillion.
Google Fined More Than the Global Economy
A Russian court has fined Google an astronomical amount — $1.4 quintillion. This exceeds the entire global GDP and is worth more than all the money in the world.
Authorities are investigating actions of Pavel Durov, founder of the messaging platform Telegram, under article 205.1 of the Russian Criminal Code related to possible assistance to terrorist activity.
The 41st General Assembly of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) was held in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. A delegation from the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan, led by First Deputy Chairman Davronbek Kurbanov, took part in the meeting.
xAI Loses Co-Founders Ahead of Major SpaceX Deal
Elon Musk’s AI startup xAI has lost two co-founders in just two days, adding to a broader wave of departures as the company moves toward a major merger with SpaceX and faces regulatory scrutiny.
Elon Musk has become the first person in history with a net worth exceeding $800 billion, following the merger of SpaceX and xAI.
Apple reported record revenue and profit for Q1 of fiscal 2026, which ended December 27, 2025, surpassing analysts’ expectations. Quarterly revenue rose 16% to a record $143.76 billion, with net income up nearly 16% to $42.1 billion. Adjusted earnings per share reached $2.84, exceeding analysts’ estimates of $138.48 billion and $2.67 per share.
Musk Prepares Major Merger as SpaceX and xAI Hold Talks Ahead of IPO
Elon Musk is in talks to merge SpaceX with his artificial intelligence startup xAI ahead of the space company’s planned initial public offering in 2026, according to Reuters. If completed, the deal would bring rockets, the Starlink satellite network, social platform X and the Grok AI chatbot under one corporate umbrella.
In continuation of the program of events of the “Central Asia + Japan” Dialogue, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in a multilateral business forum.
As part of the business program of his official visit to Japan, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a meeting with the heads of leading companies, financial institutions, and business associations of the country.
Largest Deregulation Move in Years
Uzbekistan has taken one of its most significant deregulation steps by abolishing more than 1,600 mandatory requirements, easing conditions for businesses and individual entrepreneurs.
Ford has revised its ambitious electric vehicle plans amid financial losses, deciding to focus on producing hybrids and gasoline-powered vehicles instead.
Elon Musk, the founder of SpaceX and Tesla, has become the first person in history to surpass a net worth of $600 billion, according to Forbes. The milestone follows a sharp increase in SpaceX’s valuation ahead of its planned IPO.
Uzbekistan to Introduce New Tax Rules for Companies Starting in 2026
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree introducing new mechanisms of tax regulation that will come into force on 1 January 2026. The reforms aim to increase transparency in business operations and strengthen tax compliance across the corporate sector.
Wildberries is expanding its presence in Uzbekistan: the company has registered a new subsidiary, WB Taxi, officially entering the country’s taxi and passenger transportation market.
Sustainable Fitch has assigned SOCAR its first ESG rating, giving the company an overall score of 3 and highlighting the maturity of its environmental, social and governance practices.
Tashkent to Host the Region’s Major Developer Summit
On February 11–12, 2026, Tashkent will host the fourth international Move Real Estate Summit — a key platform for discussing Uzbekistan’s growing real estate market, investment climate, and global architectural trends.
Uzbek fintech startup Mulk Protocol won the InBattle Startup Awards in Baku, impressing the jury with its investment platform that enables Sharia-compliant tokenization of real estate and business assets.
Apple CEO Tim Cook may step down after more than a decade leading the company, Bloomberg reported, citing journalist Mark Gurman.
OpenAI topped the ranking of the world's most expensive companies
OpenAI has become the world's most expensive private company. Its value is now estimated at $500 billion - more than Elon Musk's SpaceX and China's ByteDance.
NamAgro Tech, one of the leading agribusiness drivers in Namangan region, has been awarded a prestigious presidential prize.
TBC Bank Group has announced the acquisition of a controlling stake in OLX Uzbekistan, the country’s leading online classifieds platform. The deal, one of the largest M&A transactions in Uzbekistan in recent decades, marks a major step in expanding TBC’s digital ecosystem.
China and the USA increased their presence in the Uzbek market
Over the past year, the number of companies with Chinese capital in Uzbekistan has increased by 1.5 times, with 58 more added in July — a record growth despite an overall decline in foreign investor activity. The United States entered the top 10 for the first time in a year.
Halyk Bank, the largest financial group in Central Asia, has acquired a 49% stake in Uzbekistan's leading payment provider Click for $176.4 million. In return, Click acquired 49% of Tenge Bank, Halyk’s Uzbek subsidiary, for $60.76 million. The landmark transaction is the largest private sector deal in Uzbekistan’s history.
TASS Vision, a startup developing smart cameras for the retail sector, has successfully closed a €1.3 million funding round and is preparing for large-scale expansion. The Czech fund Purple Ventures became the first Central European investor to back a startup from Uzbekistan.
Nvidia became the first company with a $4 trillion capitalization
The American technology company Nvidia became the world's first company whose market capitalization exceeded $4 trillion. This historic achievement came after shares rose by 2.8% to $164.42 per paper immediately after the opening of trading in New York.
Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Today, June 11th, the Uzbekistan-Italy International Business Forum took place at the International Hotel in the capital, bringing together leading Italian companies and organizations with representatives of the Uzbek business community.
Bill Gates stated that he would allocate most of his wealth, which could reach $200 billion by 2045, to the development of healthcare and education in Africa. He announced this during his speech in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.
Centrum Air is strengthening the fleet with a new Airbus A320neo
Centrum Air announced the replenishment of its fleet with a new Airbus A320neo aircraft with registration number UK32075. This is already the ninth aircraft in the fleet and the fourth representative of the Neo family, designed with an emphasis on environmental friendliness and fuel efficiency.
BMB GLOBAL SAYOHAT is one of the leaders in handling all organizational aspects of travel, providing fast, high-quality, and reliable services. The company offers personalized service to each client who wants to organize their trip perfectly, helping to plan and realize their dream travels.
If Google is forced to sell Chrome browser due to an antitrust lawsuit, its new owner could become OpenAI. The company has already announced its readiness to consider the purchase - to create a "best product."
Uzbekistan’s advertising sector sees 5.3% rise in active entrepreneurs
According to the State Statistics Committee, as of April 1, 2025, the number of business entities involved in advertising and market analysis has grown by 5.3%, reaching 1,691.
Marketplace TEMU has become a resident of Uzbekistan, but restrictions remain in place for now.
The State Tax Committee (STC) of Uzbekistan conducted an audit of the activities of the Russian online retailer Wildberries operating in the country. The audit covered the period from 2022 to 2024 and revealed non-compliance with tax legislation.
Chinese BYD is entering the world: the largest share offering and alliance with Tesla
China's electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has made its largest stock offering in Hong Kong in the last four years, attracting $5.6 billion. But the most unexpected news was BYD's statement about cooperation with Tesla.
Japan is taking the lead in Uzbekistan's digital transformation by increasing investments and expanding IT cooperation.
A large-scale program to support youth business has been launched in Uzbekistan. Within the framework of the new "Yoshlar biznesi" initiative, 350 thousand young people will be able to receive financial, educational, and investment support within three years.
Low-income families will be able to receive interest-free loans for business
In Uzbekistan, the system of financial support for low-income families is changing. Instead of subsidies, interest-free loans will now be provided for starting a business. This decision is enshrined in a new presidential decree aimed at developing entrepreneurship among socially vulnerable groups.
By June 1, 2025, the automated information system "Control and Monitoring of Investment Project Implementation" will undergo an expert review, and a special information portal will be launched for conducting electronic procurement within projects funded by international financial institutions and foreign government financial organizations (IFI/FGFO), transitioning to digital procurement procedures.
A consortium led by Musk is offering a record sum for control of OpenAI, escalating the conflict with Sam Altman. If the deal goes through, Musk's xAI could merge with the ChatGPT developer, potentially influencing its commercial future.
Cryptocurrency history's biggest landslide
The cryptocurrency market has experienced the largest decline in the history of digital assets. On Monday, February 3, Bitcoin's value dropped to $94,051, losing more than $10,000 in just three days. The total losses of the crypto market amounted to a record $240 billion.
Tesla, BMW, and Chinese automakers have filed legal challenges against the European Union's tariffs on Chinese-made electric vehicles. On Monday, Tesla submitted its case to the Court of Justice of the European Union, joining the ongoing legal battle.
One of the world’s largest online retailers, eBay, has registered to pay Value Added Tax (VAT) in Uzbekistan. According to the international news agency Kazinform, alongside eBay, other foreign internet companies such as Netflix, Amazon, Google, Apple, Zoom, and others have also registered with the specialized tax authority for foreign companies.
Alstom Plans to Expand Railway Infrastructure in Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan
French engineering company Alstom, a global leader in railway transport manufacturing, is exploring opportunities to expand its presence in Central Asia, including Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
As part of the "Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week" international summit in the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and the UAE signed an agreement to implement waste-to-energy projects using foreign investments.
In 2024, Tesla’s sales in China increased by 8.8%, reaching over 657,000 vehicles, marking a record high. This growth highlights Tesla as a company that achieved stable growth in China despite intense competition. Tesla's factory in China not only saw significant growth in the domestic market but also in exports to Europe and other regions, although global deliveries decreased by 1.1% over the year.
Uzbekistan Exports Saffron to Germany
To effectively establish the export of Uzbekistan-grown saffron to Germany, negotiations were held between representatives of Uzbekistan’s BMB Holding and Germany’s Breitzmann Edelmetalle & Diamanten.
Tesla's market value surged to $1 trillion as Republican candidate Donald Trump's victory in the U.S. presidential election sparked a significant rise in the company's shares.
A meeting took place at the headquarters of “BMB HOLDING” with Gao Weixua, founder of China’s “VOSTOSUN GROUP UC” company. The focus of the meeting was the export of Uzbek saffron to the Chinese market.
Telegram Wallet to Open Official Office in Uzbekistan
Telegram Wallet is set to open its official office in Uzbekistan. This was revealed through a job posting for a regional office manager.