Public Transport Reform: Uzbekistan extended a zero recycling fee for imported buses, electric buses and trolleybuses until end-2027, tied to Euro-5+ standards, and will roll out a new validator-based exit payment system from 1 Sept 2026 using cards, NFC phones, QR and other digital methods. AI & Jobs: At SPIEF, Digital Technologies Minister Sherzod Shermatov said Uzbekistan’s AI strategy is human-centric, aiming to create jobs and bring remote work home as foreign IT offices expand rapidly. Education & PPP: ADB will back Samarkand’s preschool expansion via PPP: about 100 kindergartens (37 new, 49 reconstructed, 66 renovated), with land allocation first and an international tender expected next. Competition Oversight: Uzbekistan’s regulator gave preliminary approval for Tapuz Limited’s planned 100% OLX acquisition, but imposed conditions to prevent dominance abuse and misuse of user data. Nuclear Power Push: Uzbekistan set the integrated nuclear plant cost ceiling at $9.5bn and signaled financing talks (including BRICS New Development Bank), while a “first concrete” ceremony marked construction start with Russia. Eurasian Trade & Diplomacy: Mirziyoyev told SPIEF that Uzbekistan-Russia trade has risen to $13bn and proposed deeper industrial and digital integration; Belgium also announced it will open an embassy in Tashkent. Regional Business Climate: Ferghana officials are looking at new chemical projects after a Chirchiq technopark visit, building on recent investment and job creation.