The President of Uzbekistan, speaking at an EBRD forum in Samarkand, outlined priority areas of cooperation with the bank, such as reducing poverty, developing a green economy, and increasing PPPs in various sectors, including infrastructure, health, education, transport and ecology.
The IMF says that the economies of Central Asia and the Caucasus were resilient and grew in 2022 despite various shocks, but the growth is expected to slow in 2023, and the region’s outlook is strongly influenced by external factors.
A poverty reduction programme based on China’s experience (with improved road and other infrastructure) is being implemented in 14 districts of Uzbekistan, including the Chilanzar district of Tashkent. Starting next year, the programme could cover the whole country.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced a new $1 billion programme “20,000 entrepreneurs — 500,000 qualified specialists”. The programme will provide entrepreneurs who train and employ poor citizens with loans, tax and customs preferences, infrastructure and land. The programme will start on June 1.
All five political parties in Uzbekistan received permission from the Central Election Commission to participate in the early presidential elections scheduled on July 9.
The Democratic Party of Uzbekistan Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) announced that it would not run its own candidate in the upcoming presidential election and instead support the incumbent head of the state Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who was nominated by the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (UzLiDep).
Ulugbek Rozukulov, head of Uzavtosanoat, and Akylbek Japarov, chairman of the Kyrgyz Cabinet of Ministers, launched the construction of the Altyn Tulpar Unaa Kurulush passenger car and commercial vehicle assembly plant in Chui region.
The Liberal Democratic Party of Uzbekistan (UzLiDEP) nominates Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the incumbent head of state, as a presidential candidate.
At a meeting on energy supply in Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev discussed the expected rise in electricity consumption during the summer period. He criticised hokims and the Energy Minister for failing to calculate expected load coverage.
The Adolat Social Democratic Party nominates Robakhon Makhmudova, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Court, as a presidential candidate on July 9 elections. Since judges have no right to engage in political activities, the Supreme Qualification Collegium of Judges suspended her judicial powers.
The People’s Democratic Party of Uzbekistan nominated its leader Ulugbek Inoyatov as a presidential candidate. He was the Minister of Public Education from 2013−2018.
The President ordered the creation of a fuel reserve for gasoline and diesel. He also announced that loans will be provided to fuel importers to supplement their working capital. In addition, he set a target of installing 900 electric car chargers across the country by the end of 2023.
The Ecological Party of Uzbekistan announced its intention to nominate the party leader, Abdushukur Khamzaev, as a presidential candidate for the early elections on July 9. Khamzaev is a former forestry official and researcher who became party chairman last December.
Uzbekistan’s international reserves in April decreased by $230 million to a total of $35.2 billion. The decline was mainly due to a reduction in foreign currency reserves.
President unveiled measures to reduce poverty and unemployment, such as signing contracts with businesses to train workers, providing preferential access to infrastructure and credit, implementing a new program based on China’s experience, and revising the procedure for granting loans and subsidies.
Uzbekistan plans to introduce a majoritarian-proportional (mixed) electoral system for the formation of the deputy corps of the Legislative Chamber and local kengashes.
The European Union is considering new sanctions over Russia’s war in Ukraine. According to Reuters sources, the sanctions may target companies from China, Iran, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan that help Russia circumvent sanctions already imposed.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called the participation of CIS leaders in the Victory Day parade in Moscow an “unfriendly act towards Ukraine,” whose people are “fighting for their survival and freedom.”
The campaign for the early presidential election, which will take place on July 9, was officially launched by the Central Election Commission of Uzbekistan. The deadline for registering candidates is June 6.
President Mirziyoyev arrived in Moscow on a working visit to participate in the celebrations for the 78th anniversary of the victory in World War II, where he held talks with President Putin to discuss promoting cooperation projects and continuing cultural and humanitarian exchanges.
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