Islamic Finance Rollout: Uzbekistan’s Central Bank set up an Islamic Finance Council to coordinate banks and microfinance under the new Islamic banking law that took effect June 29, with Sharia specialists and a financial-sector expert tasked to draft standards and regulatory guidance. Growth Outlook: Uzbekistan raised its 2026 growth forecast to 8.1% in its 2027–2029 fiscal strategy, citing stronger 2025 and early-2026 performance, with inflation expected to ease to 6.5% and unemployment to fall. Foreign Investment Snapshot: Uzbekistan reports foreign-invested companies now exceed 20,000, with China the biggest source of such firms. Middle East Risk Watch: The government flagged geopolitical tensions and commodity-price swings as key macro risks, even though trade with Middle Eastern partners is relatively limited. Air Connectivity Boost: Centrum Air will launch direct Karachi–Tashkent flights from Sept 3, adding two weekly services and lifting total weekly direct links between the two countries. Regional Infrastructure Push: Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov said the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway, once launched, could turn Kyrgyzstan into a transit hub and deliver “a second Kumtor” in long-term income. Self-Employment Formalization: Kazakhstan registered 688,800 self-employed people since the year began, with most working via digital platforms—an indicator of how the region is expanding formal work and tax participation.