"The second priority for 2026 will be switching of the economy to a technological and innovative growth model. In the light of increasing global competition, only countries that produce high-value-added products are gaining a stable position in the world market."

The international congress reaffirmed Moscow’s status as a global center of expertise in business tourism, bringing together professionals from 37 BRICS and Global South countries. Attendance almost doubled compared to last year, reaching 2,500 industry specialists. A diverse program covered the success of leading MICE destinations, the effectiveness of business events, the future of neurotechnologies and the experience economy in the industry, while also enabling a record number of business meetings.

“Uzbekistan hosted a number of major international events, in particular, the 150th anniversary Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union, the session of the UNESCO General Conference, the Central Asia-European Union summit, and the international Climate Forum.”

“Expanding multifaceted and mutually beneficial relations with Uzbekistan’s main foreign partners - Russia, China, the United States, Turkey, Germany, France, Italy, Great Britain, South Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, India, Pakistan and other countries, will continue to be the focus of attention."

“We will focus on further advancing close cooperation with international and regional organizations and economic institutions. In particular, will continue technological modernization of the economy, infrastructure development, and implementation of sustainable energy and transport projects in cooperation with leading financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.

In his address to the nation, the President Shavkat Mirziyoyev proposed declaring 2026 as Year of Development of Mahalla and Social Prosperity.

The Health Minister Asilbek Khudayarov and Japan’s Ambassador Shinichiro Nakamura signed exchange notes under Japan’s Economic and Social Development Program on 17 December worth 360 million yen (over $2.3 million), the Japanese Embassy said.

Today at 11:00 a.m., President Shavkat Mirziyoyev will address the nation, his press service announced. The address will be broadcast live simultaneously on the O'zbekiston 24, O'zbekiston (with sign language translation), Mahalla, Madaniyat va Ma'rifat, O'zbekiston Tarixi, Mening Yurtim, Sevimli, Milliy, Zo'r TV, and Renessans TV channels.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed the Approving Strategy for Protection of Children from All Forms of Violence for 2026–2030 Decree, the presidential press service said.

Photo and video footages from traffic violation cameras in Uzbekistan discovered by foreign experts are the footages that are hosted on a test server where a system is being tested, and it is not a driver tracking system, officials of the Road Safety Service of the Interior Ministry said in a press briefing on Wednesday, commenting on an article published the day before by the American IT publication TechCrunch.

Today, the Akhangaran City Criminal Court sentenced a 31-year-old convict in a closed hearing for escaping from a local penal colony while working at a local enterprise on October 16 and raping a 9-year-old girl.

Deputy chief and a worker of Namangan provincial branch of Kumir Taminot (Coal Supply) have been detained on suspicion of corruption, the State Security Service said.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, congratulated the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on his birthday over a telephone conversation Wednesday.

By his December 24 decree, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed decree approving additional bank holidays (days off) during official celebrations in 2026.

At a meeting of the Legislative Chamber on Tuesday, MPs heard a report from the Health Minister Asilbek Khudayarov on the progress of healthcare development programs.

Visitors threw snowballs at animals at the Tashkent Zoo, the zoo's press service said. "The snowballs were aimed at the white Bengal tiger Fufuni and the Amur tiger Navruz. After the managing director intervened, it was discovered that stones had been rolled into the snowballs to hurt the animals," the zoo administration underscored.

The Senate reviewed and rejected a new version of the Housing Code at its December 19 meeting, the Senate’s press service said.

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev spoke to the U.S. President Donald Trump over the telephone Tuesday. According to the Uzbek president's press service, Shavkat Mirziyoyev congratulated his American counterpart on the New Year holidays, wishing the American people peace, well-being, and prosperity.

The Competition Committee urged retailers not to raise prices for food items ahead of the New Year celebrations Tuesday.

No additional days-off will be provided for the New Year holidays this year. In line with Article 187 of the Labor Code, the day before the holiday on December 31, the business day will be shorter by 1 hour.