Uzbek–Georgia Strategic Pivot: Uzbekistan and Georgia signed a strategic partnership declaration in Tbilisi, with plans to open an Uzbek embassy in Georgia and a roadmap to lift bilateral trade to $1 billion, alongside deals on customs, digitalization, education, agriculture, tourism, labor migration, and nuclear/radiation safety. Air Cargo Connectivity: My Freighter (Centrum) expanded its interline network with Air Canada and Singapore Airlines, adding North America and wider Asia links for Central Asian shippers. Remittances Watch: Uzbekistan’s remittances rose to $3.8bn in Q1 2026, up 13% year-on-year, but Russia’s share fell as patent-based work in Russia declined. Transit-to-Revenue Push: Tashkent is accelerating logistics reforms—more centers, modern border infrastructure, and digital customs—to turn faster China–Europe transit into added revenue and jobs. Central Asia Energy Finance: The World Bank approved a $300m grant for Tajikistan’s Rogun hydropower second phase, aiming to cut winter shortages and support exports to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Regional Trade Manufacturing: Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan plan a joint match-production venture to localize supply and improve export potential. Inclusive Fintech Moves: VEON and Mastercard agreed to expand accessible financial services in Uzbekistan and other markets, including AI-enabled credit scoring and digital wallets. Green Power Investment Test: Uzbekistan targets raising electricity generation from 82bn kWh to 120bn kWh+ in five years, with renewables and grid upgrades drawing major financing interest.