Our People > Sadokat Jalolova

Sadokat Jalolova

Journalist

Jalolova has worked as a reporter for some time in local newspapers and websites in Uzbekistan, and has enriched her knowledge in the field of journalism through courses at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Amsterdam on the Coursera platform.

Articles

News Consumption

Telegram Leads News Consumption in Uzbekistan, but Television Remains Most Trusted

Telegram channels are Uzbekistan’s most widely used news source, but television remains the most trusted, a national survey has found. The study, presented by the Mass Media Foundation in Tashkent on November 2, found that 51.6% of respondents used Telegram channels for news. Television followed at 44.6%, while 41.6% used social media. Trust followed a different pattern. Television was the most trusted source for 44.3% of respondents, compared with 11.3% for Telegram channels and 7.4% for news websites. The findings also show demand for more reliable reporting and greater attention to everyday problems. Some 41.3% of respondents said they lacked information about prices, employment, and social support. Another 40.6% wanted more coverage of people’s everyday problems. A Generational Divide The gap between Telegram and television was particularly pronounced across age groups. Among respondents aged 18–24, 66.2% used Telegram channels for news. Television led among those aged 55 and older, cited by 77.4%. However, the audiences overlap. Respondents could select up to three news sources, so the findings do not represent separate groups. Among Telegram users, 40% also received news from television. The study also examined the languages people prefer when receiving information. Uzbek remains the leading choice, with 71.7% preferring publications in Uzbek Cyrillic and 49.8% also selecting Uzbek Latin. Russian was mentioned by 43.3% of respondents, while 11.3% said they prefer English-language information. Smaller shares selected Karakalpak (7%), Kazakh (5.6%), and Tajik (4.8%). Respondents could select more than one option. The preferences differ across generations. Older respondents are more accustomed to reading Uzbek in Cyrillic, reflecting the language and writing systems used during their education. Younger people are more oriented toward Latin-script Uzbek, while English is also more prominent among younger audiences. Telegram’s overall reach extended well beyond news consumption: 86.1% of respondents used the platform for communication or other activities. That figure should not be confused with the share using Telegram channels as a news source. Speed was the most frequently cited reason for choosing information sources, mentioned by 48.6% of respondents. Access at any time and from any location followed at 31%. Demand for Reliable Reporting Nearly half of social media users, 48.7%, said they had encountered false or unreliable information. Some 37.5% reported a shortage of verified news, while 31.6% wanted more objective coverage. These findings do not establish why television received higher trust ratings than Telegram, but they do show concerns about the quality of information available online. Across the full sample, 46.6% considered the spread of false information the main problem in the media environment. When asked what improvements they expected, 27.6% called for more in-depth analysis and 22.5% for an objective presentation of different viewpoints. Television viewers also identified shortcomings, including repetitive programming and excessive advertising. Rural respondents wanted more educational programs and coverage of life outside the capital, including everyday social and economic problems. How the Study Was Conducted Interviewers spoke face-to-face with 1,411 adults at their homes across all 14 regions from September 8 to 19, 2026. The organizers said the...

1 week ago

Joint Investment Projects

Uzbekistan’s Mirziyoyev Proposes 100 Joint Projects for Turkic States

Uzbekistan’s President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has proposed a program for 100 joint investment and industrial projects among members of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS). Speaking at the OTS summit in Ankara on October 30, Mirziyoyev said the “Turkic World – 100” program would support industrial cooperation and help companies from OTS countries compete in international markets. The president proposed focusing on processing rare and strategic minerals, manufacturing renewable energy equipment, and producing goods with higher added value. He suggested financing the program through the Turkic Investment Fund and international financial institutions. To protect business interests, Mirziyoyev proposed a multilateral treaty on mutual legal assistance in commercial matters that would allow court decisions to be recognized and enforced across member countries. He also proposed a digital platform for exchanging legal documents. In transportation, he called for a network of logistics hubs managed jointly by OTS countries, with a focus on the Middle Corridor trade route. Mirziyoyev also called for an agreement that would expand opportunities to travel using national identity cards instead of passports and simplify border-crossing procedures and rules governing stays in other member countries. To attract tourists, he proposed establishing a Turkic Tourism Alliance to promote the region’s historic cities, natural attractions, and cultural heritage. Uzbekistan is prepared to offer 200 scholarships a year to students from other Turkic states through its New Uzbekistan Scholarship program. Mirziyoyev thanked participants for supporting Uzbekistan’s proposal to designate 2027 the OTS Year of Nature Protection. He called for regular consultations on international and regional issues to coordinate members’ positions and promote their shared interests. For engagement with third countries, he proposed an “OTS Plus” format, starting with meetings of ministers responsible for specific sectors. Alisher Qodirov, leader of the Milliy Tiklanish (National Revival) Democratic Party, wrote on Telegram that cooperation among Turkic countries should rest on shared history and cultural ties rather than political or economic interests alone. He argued that alliances based solely on economic benefits could weaken as national interests change. Uzbek diplomat Mirvokhid Azimov was appointed OTS secretary-general at the October 30 summit. He became the first representative of Uzbekistan to hold the position, succeeding Kyrgyz diplomat Kubanychbek Omuraliev. Participants also agreed to hold the next summit in Uzbekistan in 2027.

1 week ago

Mobile Payments

Google Pay Uzbekistan Launch Enabled by Data Reforms, Executive Says

Google Pay’s launch in Uzbekistan follows changes to the country’s personal data protection rules, which have made it easier for international technology companies to enter the market, according to a senior Google executive. Doron Avni, Google’s vice president for government affairs and public policy for emerging markets, said in a LinkedIn post that replacing strict rules on storing data locally with a more flexible approach had enabled the launch. Under legislation signed on March 26, most categories of personal data can now be stored and processed abroad under certain conditions. However, biometric and genetic data, as well as data belonging to customers of telecommunications operators in Uzbekistan, must still be stored in the country. “Modern policy isn't just written on paper – it's felt directly in people's pockets,” Avni wrote. Google Pay was announced in Uzbekistan on October 19, with support for cards issued by participating Uzbek banks becoming available on October 27, alongside Apple Pay. The introduction of both platforms allows users to make contactless payments through compatible smartphones and other devices. Initially, both services support eligible Visa and Mastercard cards, while integration with Uzbekistan’s domestic UZCARD and HUMO payment systems remains under development. Avni linked the launch to technology cooperation between Uzbekistan and the United States. It was announced during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Samarkand for the C5+1 ministerial meeting with his counterparts from the five Central Asian countries. He said the visit reflected a shared interest in advancing digital modernization in Central Asia, including cybersecurity, cloud technology, and digital education. “My sincere gratitude to the Government of Uzbekistan and the U.S. Ambassador Jonathan Henick for their exceptional vision and partnership,” Avni wrote.

1 week ago

Trade agreements

Uzbekistan–Türkiye Trade Agreement to Cover More Products

Uzbekistan and Türkiye have agreed to expand the list of goods eligible for preferential trade treatment and signed agreements on business support and social security. Five documents were signed in Ankara on October 29 following talks between Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Turkish Trade Minister Ömer Bolat explained the expansion in an interview with Aziza Kurbonova, first deputy head of the Communications Department of Uzbekistan’s Presidential Administration. "In addition to the 12 products on each side already benefiting from preferential treatment, we mutually agreed to add another eight products each," Bolat said. The minister estimated annual bilateral trade at approximately $3.25 billion, with the two countries aiming to increase it to $5 billion in the near term and $10 billion in the medium term. Their presidents set the near-term target in January 2026. The new trade preferences will take effect once both countries complete their approval procedures. The other agreements signed in Ankara include one establishing a High-Level Business Support Council. Two cover social security and the implementation of those arrangements, while the fifth amends a 2022 agreement on exchanging customs information about goods and vehicles before they cross borders. According to Bolat, a Turkish business delegation led by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan on November 18 to discuss joint projects. A meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on economic cooperation is expected to take place in Ankara in December. A Turkish Trade Ministry delegation is also expected to visit Tashkent to share its experience with free trade zones. Under the existing preferential trade agreement, Uzbek agricultural exports, including onions, nuts, and dried fruit, receive preferential access to Türkiye, while Turkish industrial products, including machinery and electrical equipment, benefit from reduced import duties in Uzbekistan. The additional products covered by the new agreement have not yet been disclosed.

2 weeks ago

Energy Security

Central Asia Electricity Demand Expected to Rise 27% by 2030, EDB Says

Electricity demand across Central Asia is expected to increase by 27% by 2030, putting additional pressure on the region’s power grids, according to the Eurasian Development Bank. Arman Akhunbayev, head of the bank’s Center for Sectoral Analysis, announced the projection during an October 29 presentation of its report, Energy Without Borders: The Architecture of Power Connectivity in Central Asia. “To prevent energy shortages from becoming an obstacle to economic growth, generation capacity and power grids must be prepared now for new factories and expanding cities,” Akhunbayev said. The bank stressed that building additional power plants alone would not be enough. With countries in the region planning to add more than 35 gigawatts of new solar and wind capacity by 2035, it called for grid upgrades and investment in energy storage and backup generating capacity. The report noted that during peak demand on December 10, 2024, around 6.6 gigawatts of generating capacity in Central Asia’s interconnected power system was unavailable or restricted because of technical and resource constraints. In a separate report published in March, the bank had projected that electricity consumption could reach 370 billion kilowatt-hours annually by 2030, up nearly 40% from around 270 billion in 2024. The October presentation does not specify the baseline for its 27% forecast.

2 weeks ago

Rogun Hydropower Plant

Rogun Hydropower Plant Accident Sparks Conflicting Injury Reports

A water tank ruptured in a construction tunnel at Tajikistan’s Rogun Hydropower Plant on October 21, sending water rushing toward workers below. While the authorities maintain no one was injured, witnesses have reported that more than five workers were hurt. The accident occurred inside the plant’s tunnel system, Asia-Plus reported, citing Tajikistan’s industrial safety regulator. An upper tank used to collect water ruptured, damaging a second drainage tank below it. Water from both tanks then flowed into the lower section of the tunnel, where workers from the Chinese subcontracting company Sinohydro were carrying out construction work. The regulator said none of the workers suffered physical injuries. They received first aid and subsequently returned to work. A Dangerous Workplace However, Radio Ozodi, citing witnesses, reported that more than five workers were injured. The broadcaster obtained footage showing water and debris falling from the tunnel onto several people. Witnesses also said the incident occurred on October 22, a day later than the date given by authorities. During the first six months of 2026, 32 workplace accidents were recorded at industrial and mining enterprises across Tajikistan, leaving 23 people dead and 19 injured. Among those killed were two Chinese nationals and one Iranian working on the Rogun hydropower project. Eight workplace accidents were also recorded at Rogun in 2025, although officials have not disclosed the number of casualties. In November 2024, three workers were killed and another was injured when a lifting platform fell onto them. Rogun’s Role in Tajikistan’s Power Supply Located on the Vakhsh River, approximately 110 kilometers from Dushanbe, the Rogun Hydropower Plant is Tajikistan’s largest energy project. Construction began in 2017, although the original plans date back to the Soviet period. Once completed, the plant is expected to have a capacity of 3,780 megawatts, with six turbines generating 630 MW each. Its projected annual electricity output is 14.4 billion kilowatt-hours. Completion is currently scheduled for 2033. According to the World Bank, the plant's projected annual output would be equivalent to about 60% of Tajikistan's current electricity generation. It is expected to help address chronic winter electricity shortages, improve power supplies for approximately 10 million people, create more than 30,000 direct and indirect jobs, and support electricity exports to neighboring Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The project has also faced criticism over its potential impact on water supplies downstream. The environmental coalition Rivers Without Boundaries has argued that the project's environmental assessments are outdated and warned that filling the reservoir could harm communities that depend on the Amu Darya River. The World Bank's Inspection Panel recommended an investigation into the project in 2025, but the bank's board declined to approve it in November that year.

2 weeks ago

Private Sector

World Bank: Central Asia Private Sector Needs Room to Grow

Central Asia is attracting growing interest from international investors, but turning that attention into lasting economic growth will require giving the private sector more room to develop, a senior World Bank official has said. Najy Benhassine, the World Bank’s division director for Central Asia, said the region had enjoyed strong economic growth, but much of it had been driven by public investment, favorable commodity prices, and remittances rather than improvements in productivity. In an interview published on October 27 by Novastan, an independent European news outlet, Benhassine discussed the region’s economic prospects over the coming decade. “The interest is real and, in some respects, historic,” he said, referring to growing engagement from foreign investors and governments. “Global attention generates visits, pledges, and headlines, but these are just the start.” Benhassine said Central Asia had seen expanding trade and transit activity, alongside increased foreign direct investment in extractive industries and transport infrastructure. However, these investments had yet to produce the wider economic benefits needed to make the region less dependent on natural resources. One of the main challenges is the gap between economic growth and productivity. According to Benhassine, labor productivity in manufacturing has stagnated or grown only modestly across most Central Asian countries, while small businesses continue to struggle to expand. Access to finance remains a major obstacle. Small and medium-sized enterprises often face high interest rates and collateral requirements that make investment difficult. Meanwhile, state-owned enterprises continue to absorb capital that could otherwise support private businesses. Uneven enforcement of regulations adds to the difficulties facing smaller firms. Benhassine pointed to the World Bank Group’s Access to Finance for Jobs and Growth (FINGROW) Program as one initiative intended to address these problems. The $4 billion FINGROW program aims to mobilize up to $6 billion in additional private capital across Europe and Central Asia, he said. Its first phase includes Uzbekistan, where the World Bank approved $105 million in financing in December 2025. The project aims to help around 7,000 businesses obtain credit by 2030. Education systems must focus on equipping graduates with skills that match employers’ requirements, rather than simply increasing enrollment, he said. In Uzbekistan, more than half of employers identify an inadequately skilled workforce as a significant constraint on growth. Benhassine identified Uzbekistan as one of the countries that had made significant changes to its economic system since 2017. He highlighted the liberalization of the exchange rate and the opening of previously state-dominated sectors to private investment. He also praised progress toward joining the World Trade Organization. Kazakhstan is seeking to reduce the dominance of state-owned enterprises. Tajikistan has introduced reforms aimed at increasing competition in telecommunications and aviation. In Kyrgyzstan, the government is working to expand opportunities for private participation in utilities. Benhassine said these reforms could help major projects, including the Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant and the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, generate employment and wider economic benefits. Transport links have become increasingly important as Central Asia seeks to expand trade between Asian and European markets. But Benhassine warned that...

2 weeks ago

Diplomatic Protest

Iran Says Samarkand Heritage Posts Targeted U.S.

Iran has said that posts by its embassies about Samarkand’s Persian heritage were directed at the United States. The explanation followed a diplomatic protest from Uzbekistan, which demanded the removal of posts describing the city’s architecture as part of Persian civilization. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on October 26 that Tehran attaches great importance to its relations with Uzbekistan and views their shared cultural heritage as a foundation of friendship between the two countries. "Some of our colleagues at certain embassies published their messages as an address to the American side," Baghaei explained. In the reported remarks, Baghaei did not specifically address the architectural claims made in the embassy posts. The dispute followed U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Samarkand on October 19. Accompanied by Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of Uzbekistan’s Presidential Administration, he visited Registan Square, one of Central Asia’s best-known landmarks. Rubio spoke about Samarkand’s historical role in international trade and the region’s importance to relations with Washington. The posts appeared to be a response to a speech Rubio gave in Athens on October 7, in which he recalled the Persian destruction of the Acropolis in 480 BC and sharply criticized Iran’s current leadership. Following Rubio’s visit to Samarkand, Iranian embassies in several countries posted photographs and videos on X showing him in front of the city’s historic monuments, arguing that he was surrounded by the Persian cultural heritage he had attacked earlier that month. Iran’s embassy in Armenia wrote that the site visited by the U.S. secretary of state was part of Persian civilization and architecture. The Iranian diplomatic mission in Zimbabwe described Registan’s arches as a characteristic feature of Iranian-Islamic civilization. On October 23, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Ali Eskandari and delivered a diplomatic note of protest. Tashkent regarded the posts as one-sided and politicized, saying the heritage of Samarkand and other historic Uzbek cities reflected centuries of cultural development and formed part of Uzbekistan’s history. By October 26, Iranian embassies in Armenia, Bulgaria, Zimbabwe, Finland, and China had removed the posts, according to Uzbek Foreign Ministry spokesperson Omonulla Fayziev. The dispute touched on the sensitive issue of competing claims to Central Asia’s cultural heritage. Samarkand was one of the centers of ancient Sogdiana and later belonged to states ruled by different dynasties. Persian language and culture played an important role in the city’s life for centuries. Samarkand also remains home to a substantial Tajik population, and Tajik, a variety of Persian, is still widely spoken, particularly in the historic center. The monuments around Registan Square, built between the 15th and 17th centuries, reflect the city’s history under different rulers and the influence of several cultural traditions. Since Uzbekistan’s independence in 1991, they have also become national symbols.

2 weeks ago

Electricity supply

Uzbekistan Secures $300 Million in Loans for Power Grid Upgrades

Uzbekistan has secured $300 million in loans from the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to modernize 60 electrical substations across the country. The upgrades aim to reduce power outages and electricity losses while making it easier to connect new solar and wind power plants to the grid. Electricity demand is growing as Uzbekistan’s cities and industries expand. Much of the country’s power grid was built decades ago, and aging equipment and overloaded substations contribute to electricity losses and supply disruptions. On October 27, the World Bank approved a $100 million loan. The ADB had previously approved a $200 million loan, with the agreement signed on October 15. The Uzbek government will contribute another $71 million, bringing the total program cost to $371 million. Substations direct electricity through the grid and adjust voltage before it reaches consumers. The funding will be used to replace outdated equipment and install digital control systems that allow operators to monitor electricity loads and detect faults more quickly. Uzbekistan plans to increase its installed capacity from solar, wind, and other renewable energy sources to 25 gigawatts (GW) by 2030. The substation upgrades are expected to allow the grid to accommodate at least 3.3 GW of additional renewable energy capacity. The World Bank expects annual electricity losses at the modernized substations to decline by 20 million kilowatt-hours by 2031. That is roughly equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of several thousand households. The bank also estimates that improved electricity supplies could help create or support 11,700 jobs over the five years after the upgraded facilities enter service. The state-owned National Electric Grid of Uzbekistan will carry out the program, which also includes improvements in maintenance, financial oversight, and cybersecurity. With the ADB as lead lender, the two banks have agreed to coordinate their assessments and oversight to reduce duplication and administrative costs. Since 2010, the ADB has provided Uzbekistan with more than $3.4 billion in financing and guarantees for the energy sector. In 2023, the bank separately approved $200 million to digitalize 26 distribution substations. For residents and businesses, the main measure of success will be whether electricity supplies become more reliable and power losses fall.

2 weeks ago

Payments

Apple Pay and Google Pay Begin Rollout in Uzbekistan

Apple Pay and Google Pay began rolling out in Uzbekistan on October 27, allowing customers of local banks to add eligible Visa and Mastercard cards to their digital wallets to make contactless payments. The launch marks another step in Uzbekistan's efforts to integrate its banking system with international payment services, following changes to the country's data protection laws and months of negotiations with Apple and Google. Which Banks and Cards Are Supported? Apple Wallet initially supports cards from eight banks and financial institutions: Uzum Bank, Orient Finans Bank, the National Bank of Uzbekistan, Kapitalbank, Hamkorbank, Ipak Yuli Bank, TBC Bank, and Octobank. Uzum Bank and Hamkorbank currently support Visa cards only, while the other six institutions are listed as supporting both Visa and Mastercard. Google Wallet, meanwhile, lists nine participating banks, including seven of those supporting Apple Pay, alongside AVO Bank and Aloqabank. Customers can add eligible cards through Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, with payments authorized using their phone's security features. Once activated, the services allow customers to pay at compatible contactless terminals without using a physical bank card. However, the rollout is still in its early stages. Some banks are continuing to test Apple Pay, and not all eligible cards can yet be added successfully. As of October 27, Uzbekistan was also absent from Apple's published list of countries where Apple Pay is supported. Google Pay's launch was announced on October 19 by Marcin Krasuski, Google Cloud's director of government affairs and public policy for Central and Eastern Europe, during an event in Samarkand. Support for locally issued bank cards became available on October 27. Changes to Data Protection Laws The rollout follows changes to Uzbekistan's personal data legislation in March 2026, which relaxed restrictions on storing certain types of personal data outside the country. The previous rules had been an obstacle to the introduction of international digital payment services. As The Times of Central Asia reported in July, the Central Bank subsequently began negotiations with Apple and Google, while commercial banks and the national payment systems Humo and Uzcard worked on the technical requirements. For now, support is limited to eligible Visa and Mastercard cards. The Central Bank is also working to make cards issued through Humo and Uzcard compatible with the international digital wallets. Click Adds Apple Pay to Online Payments Local payment companies are also adapting to the new services. On October 27, Uzbek payment provider Click announced that it had added Apple Pay to its online payment processing system, allowing retailers using Click's payment page to accept Apple Pay without a separate technical integration. "We wanted to make enabling Apple Pay as simple as possible for both users and businesses. Our partners don't need to turn the launch of a new payment method into a separate technical project – Click takes care of that part," said Ulugbek Rustamov, CEO and co-founder of Click. Merchants can request activation of the service from Click, which will handle payment processing, settlements, reporting, and refunds. Click describes itself...

2 weeks ago

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