In Washington, Saida Mirziyoyeva, Assistant to the President of Uzbekistan, held a strategic meeting with Ben Black, CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC). The negotiations have paved the way for the launch of a unique investment platform destined to fundamentally redefine the landscape for American business in the region.

Within the framework of the International Transport and Logistics Forum in Saint Petersburg, the Minister of Transport of Uzbekistan, Ilhom Makhkamov, held a series of bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.

Uzbekistan is expanding cooperation with a global financial group to bring major state-owned enterprises to international capital markets, aiming to accelerate privatization and boost investment appeal.

Following the first meeting of the Uzbek-Tajik Supreme Interstate Council, a ceremony was held to sign and exchange bilateral documents.

Paraguay became the last South American country to ratify the MERCOSUR – EU agreement, ending nearly 30 years of negotiations. The world’s largest free trade zone now awaits final approval in the European Union, where legal and political barriers remain.

The military conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran has already triggered a sharp rise in oil and gas prices. Analysts say the economic burden is likely to fall more heavily on Europe and Asia, which depend more on energy imports than the United States.

Tashkent and Beijing plan to raise bilateral trade to $20 billion while expanding investment and economic cooperation. This was announced at the Uzbekistan–China business forum in the capital.

As part of the business program of his visit to Washington, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev took part in a ceremony for the signing of a number of bilateral documents and the presentation of joint projects.

In Dushanbe, Uzbekistan’s Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov and Tajik President Emomali Rahmon met to discuss strengthening economic ties and launching new areas of joint projects.

The United States and Armenia have signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement that could pave the way for up to $9 billion in investments and allow US companies to participate in building a new nuclear power plant.

As part of the Uzbekistan-Pakistan business forum in Islamabad, President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev held a series of meetings with leaders of leading Pakistani companies.

The European Union is considering using its anti-circumvention tool for the first time to ban the export of certain machinery and radio equipment to Kyrgyzstan. The measure is being discussed as part of the preparation of the 20th sanctions package against Russia, expected by the end of February 2026.

Uzbekistan introduces new online lending rules: each citizen can now take only one online loan per day from a single credit institution. The measure aims to protect people from fraud and unauthorized loans.

According to the Central Bank, as of January 1, 2026, the value of gold in Uzbekistan’s international reserves reached $55.1 billion, up from $32.0 billion at the start of 2025.

CIS countries have nearly completed their shift to national currencies in mutual trade, with dedollarization reaching record levels and becoming a stable trend.

On Monday, December 22, the price of gold exceeded $4,400 per ounce for the first time in history, setting an absolute record. In 2025, the yellow metal has risen by more than 68% — the highest annual increase since 1979. Analysts attribute the surge to geopolitical instability, expectations of a Fed rate cut, and active purchases by central banks.

Continuing the business program of his official visit to Tokyo, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev received Nobumitsu Hayashi, governor of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Uzbekneftegaz and U.S.-based Cargill have signed a cooperation agreement to attract up to $3 billion in long-term financing, with the possibility of expanding it to $5 billion. The funds will support Uzbekistan’s energy security and modernization of key infrastructure systems.

The Central Bank of Uzbekistan has imposed fines on several financial institutions and introduced six-month restrictions on the major payment systems Tezpay and National Pay. The decisions follow a series of inspections conducted in October, which uncovered multiple violations in the banking and digital payments sector.

The SCO is stepping into a new phase: nearly one-third of global GDP, the Year of Sustainable Development, and the launch of the strategic “China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan” railway, expected to accelerate trade flows between China and Europe and create a new source of long-term income for the region.