Nuclear Power Push: Russia and Uzbekistan have officially started construction of Uzbekistan’s first nuclear power plant, with Rosatom’s RITM-200N design and a hybrid setup (two large units plus two small modular reactors) in Jizzakh Region, expected to cover about 15% of national power demand. Capital Markets & Investor Mood: Uzbekistan’s GDRs on the London Stock Exchange jumped after Fitch revised the country’s outlook to positive, signaling growing confidence in the reform agenda. Trade Snapshot: Uzbekistan’s foreign trade hit $26.3bn in Q1 2026, with imports rising faster than exports as machinery and industrial inputs drove demand. Logistics Investment: Oman’s Asyad Group agreed to acquire a controlling stake in key Uzbek logistics platforms, aiming to link Omani port operations with Central Asian rail/road, warehousing, customs and last-mile delivery. Digital Mobility Deal: VEON’s Kyivstar unit Uklon will buy electric scooter operator E-wings for about $2.2m, expanding ride-hailing into a broader multimodal mobility ecosystem. Agribusiness Acceleration: ICBA and Uzbekistan’s Agency for Innovative Development launched a Farmers’ Accelerator Program in Karakalpakstan to help farmers commercialize crop value chains and improve market access. Regional Diplomacy: Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan reaffirmed strategic partnership, while Uzbekistan and Hong Kong moved toward a 30-day mutual visa-free arrangement and deeper fintech/green cooperation.