Uzbekistan: weekly briefing
7 Nov – 14 Nov 2026
Top stories
- Uzbekistan plans UZS 464 trillion 2027 budget with UZS 48 trillion deficit (kun.uz, 14 Nov) — The government presented a proposed 2027 budget to President Mirziyoyev, forecasting revenues of UZS 416 trillion and assuming 7% economic growth. Officials also said a pilot digital system will track public construction spending.
- Uzbekistan reports $44.1 billion in foreign investment and loans for nine months (Trend News Agency, 14 Nov) — A Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade report, read to parliament's committee, put inflows at 23.9% above target. The figures are government-reported aggregates rather than independently verified totals.
- Mirziyoyev to make state visit to Oman from 16 November (Times of Oman, 14 Nov) — Oman's Royal Court Diwan announced that President Mirziyoyev will visit the Sultanate to discuss bilateral cooperation and mutual interests. Omani media have framed the visit as a push for trade and investment ties.
- Iran and Uzbekistan agree to ease transit barriers and expand rail links (Tasnim News Agency, 14 Nov) — Iranian Minister Sadeq said both sides agreed to set up a joint committee on regional corridors, after discussing rail, road and air links. The account comes from Iranian media; no equivalent Uzbek statement was among the sources.
- Uzbekistan cites US trade growth after Washington talks with officials and firms (gov.uz, 12 Nov) — Uzbekistan's government said bilateral trade with the United States reached $905 million in January to September 2026, a 20% rise. Its readout also cites 78 joint projects worth $35 billion, and it says talks covered the Commerce Secretary and other US officials.
Trends
Economic themes dominate this week's coverage. Uzbekistan's government set out a proposed 2027 budget with projected spending of UZS 464 trillion and a UZS 48 trillion deficit, framed around 7% growth and a push toward higher-value manufacturing. A ministry report to parliament, cited by Trend, put foreign investment and loans at $44.1 billion for the first nine months of 2026, while the government's own account of Washington talks highlighted a 20% rise in bilateral trade with the United States. The Oman state visit and the Iranian transit talks point the same way, toward trade links and corridors. The Belgian consultations on Afghanistan stand apart as a diplomatic matter with little direct economic link.
What it means (opinion)
Opinion: The week's stories suggest Tashkent is pairing fiscal planning with an outward push for trade partners. The 2027 budget relies on 7% growth and on attracting $65 billion in foreign investment, so the reported $44.1 billion for nine months looks like a meaningful but incomplete base. These figures are government-reported, and the sources do not independently verify them. The Oman visit, the proposed Iran corridor committee and the Washington meetings all aim to diversify partners and routes. Next week, watch for outcomes from the Oman visit, which Omani media have framed around trade and investment, and for whether the draft budget moves to local councils as planned. Also watch whether Uzbek officials confirm the Iranian account of a joint committee, since so far only the Iranian side has reported it.
AI-assisted summary of public reporting; the analysis is opinion. Sources are linked above.