🇺🇿 💱 Uzbekistan to include more bank trades in official exchange rate

🏦 Starting September 15, Uzbekistan’s Central Bank will include direct transactions between banks when calculating the country’s official exchange rate.

📊 The new methodology will combine exchange-based deals with direct interbank transactions using a weighted average, giving the benchmark a broader view of currency trading.

💵 The official exchange rate is used for accounting, reporting foreign-currency transactions and calculating customs and other mandatory payments.

📅 The change also clarifies how rates apply on weekends and public holidays. Rates published after the latest working day will remain in effect until the next working day.

🔎 By including direct interbank deals, the Central Bank expects the benchmark to better reflect prices at which banks actually trade currencies.

⚠️ The bank has not estimated how much the new methodology could change the published rate and has provided no indication of whether it will make the sum stronger or weaker.

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🇺🇿 🏦 Saida Mirziyoyeva to lead Tashkent International Financial Centre

👤 Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Administration of the President of Uzbekistan, has been appointed manager of the Tashkent International Financial Centre (TIFC) alongside her current role.

📋 She will serve as secretary-general of the centre’s council, organise its agenda, chair meetings when the chairman is absent and coordinate work between state institutions and the TIFC.

🌍 Mirziyoyeva will also represent the centre before international organisations, investors and partners, while helping select senior officials including the Financial Services Authority leadership and TIFC executive director.

⚖️ The TIFC was established in March 2026 and is expected to begin operations in early 2027 under a special legal regime based on English common law and principles of equity.

💼 A dedicated Tashkent International Commercial Court will handle commercial disputes, while English will be the centre’s official language.

💰 The TIFC will initially receive $20 million from Uzbekistan’s Fund for Reconstruction and Development, with further funding expected from the state budget, participants and service fees.

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🇺🇿 🔤 Senate approves new Latin-based Uzbek alphabet

📚 Uzbekistan’s Senate has approved amendments introducing a revised Latin-based Uzbek alphabet, replacing several letter combinations with individual characters.

🔤 The new version will have 28 letters and one apostrophe, with O‘, G‘, Sh and Ch replaced by Ö, Ğ, Ş and Ç.

💻 The reform is intended to make Uzbek text easier to type and process in digital systems, including search engines, databases and artificial intelligence tools.

🏫 School textbooks are expected to transition to the revised alphabet between 2027 and 2031, with first-grade materials switching earlier.

⚠️ Senator Husan Ermatov warned that Uzbekistan has not yet completed its transition from Cyrillic to the current Latin script and said another change could leave the country using what he called “three alphabets”.

⌨️ A proposed keyboard layout would give dedicated keys to the new letters, while the Savodxon project has already developed a Windows keyboard for typing them on standard QWERTY keyboards.

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🇺🇿 Uzbekinvest presents Uzbekistan’s economic reforms at Global Insurance Congress in Monte Carlo

🌍 Uzbekistan’s economic transformation and the growing role of its insurance sector were presented at the Rendez-Vous de Septembre (RVS) 2026 in Monte Carlo, which brought together around 4,000 insurance and reinsurance executives from around the world.

📈 Uzbekinvest highlighted the country’s investment potential, financial and insurance market reforms, economic growth, rising foreign investment and improving macroeconomic stability under President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s reform agenda.

🤖 The presentation also focused on the digital transformation of insurance, including the growing use of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence in underwriting, risk assessment and other business processes.

🤝 On the sidelines of the event, Uzbekinvest held meetings with international insurance companies, resulting in new agreements to expand cooperation on investment insurance, foreign trade and Uzbekistan’s export potential. The programme also featured Uzbekinvest Director General Rustam Azimov’s new monograph, “Artificial Intelligence in Insurance,” published in Paris in August 2026.

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“Katta rahmat, Moobina!”: Mobiuz’s voice assistant independently handled more than 3 million calls

Mobiuz’s voice assistant Moobina has handled nearly 9 million calls in Uzbek, more than 3 million of them independently, without an operator.

The AI-powered assistant understands spoken Uzbek and helps subscribers resolve their issues. And now, it increasingly hears “Katta rahmat!” — “Thank you very much!” in response.

Learn more: https://uz.kursiv.media/2026-09-24/mobiuz-2/

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🎨 Mobiuz partners with Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation

🤝 Mobiuz and the Uzbekistan Art and Culture Development Foundation have signed a memorandum to promote Uzbek cultural heritage, support creative projects and expand access to contemporary art.

📱 The partnership will focus on joint cultural events and educational programmes, using Mobiuz's network and digital services to reach audiences across Uzbekistan.

🎤 The agreement follows their collaboration at John Legend's June 8 concert in Samarkand, where Mobiuz served as a gold partner and provided high-speed mobile internet at Registan Square.

🌍 Both organisations plan to continue supporting artists and bringing Uzbek cultural projects to wider audiences at home and abroad.

Learn more: https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2026-10-19/mobiuz-partnership-acdf/

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🚨 Powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake kills 16 and injures 65 in Tibet

🌍 A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck northern Tibet on October 22, killing at least 16 people and injuring 65, including 11 in serious condition.

🏚 More than 12,400 people have been evacuated, while at least 339 households reported damaged or destroyed homes.

🚁 Rescue operations are underway, with over 1,600 personnel mobilised as 413 aftershocks, damaged roads and power outages complicate relief efforts.

🚨 Chinese authorities have activated emergency response measures, while President Xi Jinping has ordered rescue teams to prioritise survivors and provide shelter to displaced residents.

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📱 Apple Plans Better Cameras and a Larger Screen for Future iPhone Duo Models

📸 Apple is considering adding a telephoto camera to future iPhone Duo models, although engineers are still working out how to fit the technology into the foldable design, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

📐 The third-generation iPhone Duo, expected in 2028, could feature an 8-inch folding display, up from the current 7.6 inches.

🔓 Apple is also reportedly testing Face ID beneath the outer screen for the second-generation model, potentially replacing the current Touch ID sensor.

💰 The first-generation iPhone Duo goes on sale on October 23 for $1,999, while its successor is expected in autumn 2027.

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📱 Beyond Connectivity: Beeline Uzbekistan Presents Its Digital Future

🚀 Beeline Uzbekistan hosted a Demo Day for VEON Group leadership, Board members and key partners, showcasing its plans to expand beyond mobile connectivity into everyday digital services.

💡 The company presented its digital ecosystem, including OQ, hambi, Beepul, KINOM, riitm and AdTech, alongside opportunities for integration with Uklon.

🤖 Artificial intelligence is a key part of the strategy, with plans to improve customer support, personalise services and help employees work more efficiently.

🌐 VEON CEO Kaan Terzioglu highlighted Uzbekistan’s importance to the Group’s Digital Operator strategy, while Beeline Uzbekistan CEO Yevgeniy Nastradin emphasised plans to connect digital products, simplify everyday tasks and support long-term business growth.

Learn more: https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2026-10-23/demoday-beeline

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🇰🇷 Uzbeks Rank Second Among Student Visa Overstayers in South Korea

📊 A total of 2,033 Uzbek nationals were living in South Korea without valid residency status as of August 2026 after entering on student or language training visas, according to the country's Ministry of Justice.

🌏 Uzbekistan ranked second after Vietnam, which accounted for 82.8% of the 31,665 foreign nationals who had overstayed their permitted residence.

🎓 Nearly 29.2% of language trainees were living without valid residency status, compared with just 3.6% of university degree students.

⚖️ South Korean lawmaker Kim Hee-jung called for stricter visa screening and better monitoring of international students by universities and government agencies.

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🔝Uzbekinvest retains top (uz)AAA rating from SNS Ratings

SNS Ratings has affirmed Uzbekinvest’s (uz)AAA rating, the highest on its national scale, with a stable outlook.

Over the past five years, gross written premiums grew 4.2 times to UZS 1.6 trillion, total assets reached UZS 2.5 trillion, and net profit increased more than elevenfold to UZS 55 billion.

In July 2026, Moody’s Ratings upgraded Uzbekinvest to Ba1 with a stable outlook.

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https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2026-10-28/uzbekinvest/

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🏆 Ipoteka bank OTP Group receives EBRD award for advancing green finance in Uzbekistan

Ipoteka bank OTP Group has received an EBRD award for its contribution to the green modernisation of businesses in Uzbekistan. Over the past 18 months, the bank has fully utilised its USD 10 million credit line, providing financing to more than 30 businesses.

The projects support the adoption of energy-efficient technologies and electric vehicles and are expected to save 129,950 GJ of energy and reduce CO₂ emissions by 9,382 tonnes annually.

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https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2026-10-30/ipoteka-bank-otp-group-award-ebrd/

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🏃 Mobiuz powers innovation and connectivity as General Partner of Samarkand Marathon 2026

On 7–8 November, Samarkand will host the Samarkand Marathon 2026, with Mobiuz serving as its General Partner. The operator will provide stable mobile connectivity and high-speed internet, as well as interactive brand zones and support stations for runners and spectators.

Visitors can explore Mobiuz’s digital services at the EXPO zone on 6–7 November and enjoy the brand zone at the start-finish village on 7–8 November.

More information: samarkandmarathon.uz

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https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2026-11-03/mobiuz-samarkand-marathon-2026/

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🏃‍♂️From network infrastructure to the starting line: Mobiuz at Samarkand Marathon 2026

More than 80 Mobiuz employees from across Uzbekistan joined thousands of runners at Samarkand Marathon 2026, where the company served as General Partner, providing reliable connectivity and high-speed internet throughout the event.

📸 Discover the standout highlights and read the full story below:

https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2026-11-09/mobiuz-samarkand-marathon-2026-highlights/

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📱 Is Honor Magic8 Pro still worth buying in 2026?

🔋 With the new Magic9 series attracting attention, Kursiv Uzbekistan tested the Honor Magic8 Pro to see how the flagship performs in everyday use.

⚡️ The smartphone features a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, a 6.71-inch OLED display and a 7,100 mAh battery that lasted up to two days during testing.

📸 Its 50 MP selfie camera and 200 MP telephoto lens impressed, although nighttime video quality and unwanted software notifications left room for improvement.

🤔 Despite the arrival of newer models, the Magic8 Pro remains a strong option for users who prioritise battery life, photography and smooth performance.

🔗 Read the full review on Kursiv Uzbekistan

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🇺🇿🇷🇺 “Maybe they’re stronger than Slovenia.”

That’s Russia head coach Valery Karpin on Team Uzbekistan, a day before a much-anticipated friendly in Tashkent.

Four years ago, Uzbekistan and Russia drew 0–0 at Pakhtakor. Since then, The White Wolves have played at their first 2026 World Cup, no matter how. Now former Russia midfielder Alexander Mostovoy is calling it 2–1 to the Russians, while Championat thinks the Uzbek hosts could hold them to a draw.

⚽ Kick-off at 8pm Tashkent time, Pakhtakor Stadium.

📺 Watch live on Futbol TV, Russia's Channel One or Okko.

As you make yourself comfortable in the lead-up to the game, read what Russian football thinks of Uzbekistan 👇

https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2026-11-12/uzbekistan-russia-football-friendly-preview/

Ipoteka Bank’s profit rises 56% in nine months

🏦 Ipoteka Bank OTP Group reported a net profit of UZS 1.8 trillion ($151 million) for January–September 2026, up 56% year-on-year. Its total assets grew by 16% to UZS 57.9 trillion.

📈 The growth was driven by expanding lending, improved net interest margins and higher fee and commission income. The bank also increased its share of Uzbekistan’s auto lending market from 4.9% to 9.1%, while improving loan portfolio quality and customer satisfaction.

Read the full story below 👇

https://uz.kursiv.media/en/2026-11-13/ipoteka-banks-net-profit/

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