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

Cotton harvest

Uzbekistan Cotton Harvest Reaches 4.63 Million Tons as Water Losses Persist

Uzbekistan's Ministry of Agriculture says the country had harvested 4.63 million metric tons of raw cotton as of October 22, exceeding its target by 3%. About 76% of the cotton harvested so far was harvested mechanically, reflecting the industry's shift away from manual labor. A new study, however, highlights another challenge: extensive water losses in the country's irrigation system. According to the Ministry of Agriculture, nearly 3,000 harvesting machines collected 3.52 million metric tons of cotton. Mechanized harvesting accounted for 98.5% of the crop in the Jizzakh region, 94.2% in the Syrdarya region, and 81.2% in the Tashkent region. In other regions, the figure was as low as 61%. Although the national target has been exceeded, the first picking is continuing on more than 49,000 hectares. Machines have reduced the need for seasonal workers in an industry that depended on large-scale manual labor for decades. Nevertheless, approximately 1.1 million metric tons of cotton was still picked by hand. At an international seminar on October 19–20, the government-linked Center for Economic Research and Reforms presented a study reporting that cotton yields had increased by 71% and grain yields by 48% between 2017 and 2025, while water withdrawals had declined by 22%. Water-saving technologies now cover 2.6 million hectares of agricultural land, according to the study. The same study, however, estimates that approximately 37% of irrigation water is lost during transportation through canals, while nearly half of irrigated farmland is affected by soil salinization. A 2021 World Bank report estimated that agriculture accounts for nearly 90% of the country's freshwater withdrawals, with cotton the largest user of irrigation water. These losses are particularly significant for Uzbekistan, whose agricultural sector depends on water from the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers. Decades of river water diversion for irrigation have been among the main causes of the Aral Sea's decline. The study also assesses the climate impact of agricultural production, finding that agriculture accounts for 17.5% of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. Methane, primarily associated with livestock farming, makes up nearly two-thirds of the sector's emissions. Proposed measures include reducing water losses, restoring pastures, and improving fertilizer efficiency. The pressure on Uzbekistan's water resources is also expected to increase. In July, the OECD warned that shrinking glaciers, rising temperatures, and growing demand threaten to reduce the country's water availability in the coming decades.

3 weeks ago

Children’s Health

International Network Launched to Support Childhood Cancer Care in Uzbekistan

An international network to support children with serious and life-threatening illnesses, including cancer, was announced in Samarkand on October 21. The new initiative will bring together first ladies and spouses of heads of state. The network's establishment was announced by Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo, executive vice president of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the United States and director of St. Jude Global, which works to improve childhood cancer care worldwide. Uzbekistan's First Lady Ziroat Mirziyoyeva was named chair for a two-year term. Participants in the initiative intend to share expertise and help expand children's access to diagnosis, treatment, and quality medical care. The announcement came during the second International Congress on Pediatric Oncology, held on October 21–22 alongside the World Summit on Children's Well-Being. The events brought together representatives from more than 100 countries, international organizations, and the medical community. Summit partners include UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Bank. Mirziyoyeva also chairs the board of trustees of the Zamin Foundation, which co-hosted a UN event with St. Jude and the WHO in September 2025 aimed at improving survival rates among children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Uzbekistan is already participating in an international program to improve access to childhood cancer treatments. In February 2025, Uzbekistan and Mongolia became the first two countries to receive essential cancer medicines through a WHO–St. Jude initiative. The program aims to provide children in lower-income countries with a reliable supply of quality-assured cancer medicines free of charge. Uzbekistan is also preparing changes to its national cancer care system. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, the country plans to reform its oncology services beginning in 2027, while a pediatric palliative care center is planned for the Samarkand region to support children with serious and incurable illnesses.

3 weeks ago

Migration

Russia Expels 32 Uzbek Migrants as Deportations Rise in Novosibirsk

Russian authorities expelled 32 Uzbek citizens from the Novosibirsk region on October 16 for violating migration regulations. Court bailiffs escorted a reported total of 47 foreign nationals out of the country that day, including citizens of Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Azerbaijan. Over the course of the week, 91 people were expelled from the region. The migrants were identified during police raids in two districts of Novosibirsk and the surrounding Novosibirsky district. Those expelled paid for their own tickets home. Violations of Russia's entry and residence regulations can result in fines ranging from 2,000 to 5,000 rubles (approximately $25–62), as well as administrative expulsion. Under Russian law, expulsion generally also means a five-year ban on re-entering the country. Expulsions from the region have risen sharply. By mid-September 2026, authorities had expelled 1,524 foreign nationals from the Novosibirsk region, compared with 958 during the same period a year earlier, an increase of approximately 59%. Uzbek citizens account for a substantial share of those expelled. By July, authorities had removed 618 Uzbeks out of a total of 1,314 foreign nationals, or approximately 47%. Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan were the next most frequently represented countries. The increase in expulsions comes as fewer foreign workers are obtaining work permits in the region. According to figures presented to regional lawmakers, approximately 27,000 work patents were issued in the first eight months of 2026, down from 34,000 during the same period last year. Russia is also tightening national requirements for migrant workers and their families. In July, Russia enacted legislation requiring migrant workers to demonstrate that they can financially support themselves and dependent family members. The changes also require children covered by the provisions who turn 18 to obtain their own work patent or another legal basis to remain in Russia. The main provisions take effect on January 1, 2027. As The Times of Central Asia previously reported, work-related entries into Russia by citizens of Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan fell by approximately 15% in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier.

3 weeks ago

Taxi Competition

Yandex Go Outage Boosts Rival Taxi Services in Uzbekistan

The ripple effects of this month's Yandex Go outage are still being felt across Uzbekistan's taxi market. Rival ride-hailing services have reported a surge in bookings, while a senior government official has raised the prospect of further competition, revealing that a Chinese company plans to launch its own taxi app with a fleet of 5,000 vehicles. Uzbekistan's First Deputy Minister of Transport Mamanbiy Omarov disclosed the unnamed investor's plans in an October 16 interview with Spot, although further details were scant. On October 11, Yandex Go users in Uzbekistan experienced disruptions when trying to book rides. The app also operated intermittently in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. The outages coincided with a series of drone strikes targeting Yandex data centers in Russia. Between October 8 and 11, attacks affected company facilities in the Ryazan and Kaluga regions, followed by a strike in Vladimir. Server disruptions also hit delivery and other digital services used by people across Central Asia. Yandex Go accounted for approximately 85% of receipts issued through taxi aggregators in Uzbekistan in 2024, according to figures from the country's Tax Committee. Between October 11 and 13, orders through Uklon rose to two to three times normal levels, while MyTaxi, which operates only in Tashkent, reported 15 times its usual volume, according to Spot. MyTaxi said its own servers are located in Uzbekistan and outlined plans to retain the new passengers attracted during the disruption. It remains unknown where the Chinese operator's servers will be located or which companies will provide its technical infrastructure. These details would help establish how dependent the service might be on infrastructure outside Uzbekistan. Chinese automakers already operate in Uzbekistan, while companies from China are involved in developing the country's transport infrastructure. The proposed fleet could give the new operator a significant presence, particularly if it concentrates on Tashkent. However, Chinese companies have not always succeeded in challenging Yandex's position in Central Asia. Ride-hailing giant DiDi entered neighboring Kazakhstan in 2021 but withdrew in March 2022, less than a year after launching. The company cited changing market conditions and other challenges, although it did not explain its decision in detail.

3 weeks ago

Language Politics

Rubio’s Remarks Reignite Debate on Russian Language in Uzbekistan

A brief exchange between United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and a Bloomberg journalist in Samarkand has revived debate over the status of the Russian language in Uzbekistan. Speaking to reporters at Registan Square on October 19, Rubio asked Bloomberg correspondent Eric Martin whether he spoke Uzbek. Martin replied that he spoke Russian fluently. "Oh, okay. That's no longer the official language here, but it's good. A lot of people speak it. I understand," Rubio said. The exchange circulated on Uzbek social media, with some foreign outlets identifying Rubio's interlocutor as a local journalist. However, a Daryo correspondent at the event reported that Rubio was speaking to Martin. Russian remains widely used in Uzbekistan in business, education, the media, and everyday communication, particularly in major cities. Uzbek is the country's only state language. Unlike Kazakhstan, where Russian is officially used alongside Kazakh in state institutions, Uzbekistan does not grant Russian equivalent legal status. A similar controversy emerged in April 2025 after Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov visited Samarkand’s Grieving Mother memorial, dedicated to those who died in World War II. "There is an inscription in English, but I didn't see one in Russian. A mother is the most sacred figure," Lavrov remarked in the presence of Uzbekistan's Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov. Lavrov's comments drew criticism from Uzbek public figures, who viewed them as interference in the language policy of an independent state. Lavrov was questioning the absence of Russian at a public memorial, while Rubio was speaking informally with a foreign journalist. There is no indication from the exchange that Rubio intended to make a formal statement about Uzbekistan's language policy. During the summit of U.S. and Central Asian leaders at the White House in November 2025, Uzbekistan's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev addressed U.S. President Donald Trump in Russian, speaking through an interpreter. Russian was widely used in government administration and higher education across the Soviet Union. Rubio's exchange came two days before Uzbek Language Day, observed on October 21. On that date in 1989, legislation was adopted granting Uzbek the status of state language. In 2020, a separate law formally established the date as an official holiday.

3 weeks ago

FINNEXT Asia Forum

FINNEXT Asia Forum in Tashkent to Discuss Central Asia’s Financial Markets

The third international FINNEXT Asia 2026 forum will take place in Tashkent on November 19. Organizers expect more than 600 representatives of the banking and financial technology industries to discuss AI adoption and changes in financial regulation across the region. The forum will be held at the Hyatt Regency Tashkent, with executives from financial institutions and technology companies in Uzbekistan, Russia, other Central Asian countries, and Europe expected to attend. The agenda includes open banking and digital assets. Yevgeniya Yakunina, chair of the FINNEXT Asia organizing committee, told The Times of Central Asia that organizers hope the event will lead to business agreements and joint projects. [caption id="attachment_58791" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Image: TCA[/caption] “In 2025, we received 954 registrations from representatives of 520 companies. Banks accounted for 41% of participants,” Yakunina said. According to Yakunina, this year’s priorities include closer cooperation between banks and technology companies, with startups helping address banking challenges and regulatory changes. For the first time, the forum will host the Startup Center: New Wave competition. Teams from Central Asia will present fintech innovations, including projects concerning the digital soum. The judging panel will include representatives of banks and venture capital funds from Central Asia and Russia. Organizers hope the competition will help startups find partners for pilot projects and attract investment. A separate discussion will focus on the economic returns from artificial intelligence, including its use in credit assessments and fraud detection. Yakunina believes financial companies still face difficulties measuring the practical results of AI adoption. “Many companies launch isolated projects without understanding how to measure their impact. Data and specialists are necessary conditions, but they are not the ultimate goal,” she told TCA. The program also includes discussions on digital identity verification and open-banking interfaces for consent-based sharing of customer data. Participants will examine digital assets and regulatory experiments in Uzbekistan. The investment agenda will cover venture capital financing and opportunities for regional companies to access international stock markets. A dedicated insurance track, INSUR Asia, will explore automation in the industry. The forum will conclude with a discussion of prospects for Central Asia’s financial markets in 2027. Announced participants include representatives of Uzbek banks and IT Park Uzbekistan, alongside Gazprombank and Russia’s state development corporation VEB.RF. Insurance companies from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Russia are also expected to attend.

3 weeks ago

C5+1

Uzbekistan Announces $12 Billion in Agreements During Marco Rubio’s Visit

Uzbekistan has announced 54 agreements covering trade, investment, and technological cooperation during U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s visit to Samarkand. The agreements are worth a total of $12 billion, according to Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Investment, Industry and Trade. The agreements were announced at the second meeting of the Uzbekistan–U.S. Business and Investment Council on October 19. Rubio also met President Shavkat Mirziyoyev that day. The ministry said the agreements cover transport and energy infrastructure, critical minerals, finance, digital technologies, agriculture, healthcare, and education. Rubio’s visit coincided with a C5+1 ministerial meeting, bringing together the United States and the five Central Asian countries. The Uzbek ministry stated that more than 400 business representatives participated in the program, including over 100 from the United States, 100 from other Central Asian countries, and 200 from Uzbekistan. It did not specify how much of the announced $12 billion has secured financing and how much remains at the planning stage. Several international companies were named in the agreements announced during the visit. According to the announced arrangements, cooperation with Wabtec is focused on localizing the production of railway equipment and components. Agreements involving ReElement Technologies, Traxys, and Trafigura cover mineral exploration, development, technological cooperation, and supplies. Other announced projects involve satellite communications with Amazon Leo, medical technologies with GE HealthCare, and agricultural efficiency with Valmont Industries. Speaking to reporters in Samarkand on October 19, Rubio said the visit was expected to produce concrete commercial results. “I think we’ll have some concrete deals to announce, meaning companies that are going to be doing business here that are being welcomed here and that are excited about doing business here,” Rubio said. He emphasized that the agreements should be viewed as the beginning of a broader economic relationship. “I also think that’s just the foundation that we intend to build on. We want to do more. This is not the end. This is the beginning,” he said. In their joint statement, the C5+1 governments supported expanding mineral processing and higher-value production within Central Asia. They also backed further development of the Trans-Caspian Trade Route and closer regional economic integration. The visit also marked the launch of the Enhanced Strategic Partnership Dialogue and Uzbekistan’s signing of the Artemis Accords on peaceful space exploration. From Investment Announcements to Projects In an interview with The Times of Central Asia (TCA), political analyst Abduvali Soyibnazarov described Rubio’s visit and the C5+1 meeting as a potentially important stage in Washington’s relations with Central Asia. Recalling the first C5+1 ministerial meeting, attended by then-U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry in Samarkand in November 2015, Soyibnazarov said the agenda has changed considerably over the past decade, with investment, critical minerals, advanced technologies, and new trade routes moving to the forefront. The analyst argued that Uzbekistan’s main measure of success should not be the number of memorandums signed, but how many projects ultimately secure financing and move forward. Uzbekistan’s investment minister, Laziz Kudratov, put the country’s portfolio of commercial agreements with the United States at...

3 weeks ago

IT Industry

IT Park Uzbekistan Named Asia-Pacific’s Best Knowledge Zone

IT Park Uzbekistan won the Knowledge Zone of the Year – Asia-Pacific category at the Global Free Zones of the Year Awards 2026, organized by fDi Intelligence, a publication of the Financial Times Group. The awards assess economic zones on their ability to attract businesses and investment. The publication considered 16 knowledge zones worldwide, with Dubai Silicon Oasis in the United Arab Emirates winning the global title. According to Uzbekistan's Ministry of Digital Technologies, IT Park has more than 4,100 resident companies, including over 1,200 with foreign participation. Together, they employ more than 56,000 people. More than 1,100 companies export services to 102 countries, while IT Park companies exported $392.5 million in services in the first half of 2026, an increase of $90.3 million compared with the same period last year. IT Park statistics for the first half of 2026 show that North America was the largest export market for its resident companies, accounting for 54% of exports. Commonwealth of Independent States countries and other markets accounted for 22%, the European Union and the United Kingdom for 16%, and the Middle East and North Africa for 8%. In 2017, the export network covered just eight countries. The government has also invested in technology training. According to official figures, 1.7 million young people have participated in the One Million Uzbek Coders program, while 1.3 million have taken part in Five Million AI Leaders, an initiative focused on artificial intelligence (AI). More than 18 billion Uzbek soums (approximately $1.5 million) have been allocated to reimburse expenses for international information technology certification and training, benefiting 4,926 young professionals. Another 3.17 billion soums (approximately $263,000) was provided to educational institutions through the IT Talents program for training graduates who secured jobs with companies exporting digital services. In late 2025, the government launched the AI initiative, which provides free online courses. Universities are also establishing AI laboratories, with 20 currently operating. Other initiatives support young people and women in technology, including the ICT4Girls programming competition and startup incubators. Based on its Global Startup Ecosystem Index 2026, StartupBlink named Uzbekistan Country of the Year and identified it as the world's fastest-growing startup ecosystem. Its score in the ranking increased by 227.3% over the previous year, reflecting improvements in measures such as startup activity and the business environment rather than growth in employment or revenue. The country climbed 31 places over two years to rank 79th globally, while Tashkent placed 229th among cities. Analytics platform Dealroom estimated the combined value of the country's venture-backed startups at $4.3 billion. What remains unclear is how many participants in the government's training programs go on to find work in the technology sector. The 56,000 people employed by IT Park companies represent only part of the industry, while the training initiatives cover different levels of education and skills. The ministry's announcement offers no overall figures on participants' subsequent employment or earnings, making it difficult to assess the impact of these large-scale programs.

3 weeks ago

Labor Migration

Uzbekistan Seeks Recognition of Its Driver’s Licenses in Germany

Uzbekistan is seeking recognition of its driver's licenses in Germany to make it easier for its citizens to work in the country's transport sector. The talks are linked to efforts to place Uzbek citizens in jobs with German transport and logistics companies. No agreement on license recognition has been reached so far. The issue was discussed at a meeting between Elyor Toshtemirov, deputy head of Uzbekistan's Migration Agency, and representatives of the German companies Global Talent Alliance and TSK Logistik. The participants discussed driver training and the requirements of German employers. The Uzbek agency intends to raise the possibility of license recognition with the relevant German authorities. Another proposal involves establishing a joint German-Uzbek driving school to train bus and truck drivers. Training would follow German standards so that graduates could qualify for jobs with transport companies in Germany. Under current German rules, drivers with licenses issued outside the European Union and European Economic Area can generally use them for six months after establishing residence in Germany. After that, they must obtain a German license. Professional truck and bus drivers must also meet separate qualification requirements. The meeting also addressed difficulties Uzbek citizens face in obtaining German work visas. Following the talks, the Migration Agency and Global Talent Alliance signed a cooperation agreement. Its terms have not been disclosed in detail. Uzbekistan has already reached an agreement with the United Arab Emirates on mutual recognition of driver's licenses. The relevant memorandum entered into force on January 27, 2024, allowing citizens of both countries to use their national licenses during short-term visits. It also allows Uzbek residents in the UAE to exchange their licenses without taking theoretical or practical driving tests.

4 weeks ago

Child Protection Laws

Uzbekistan Introduces Life Imprisonment for Rape of Children Under 14

Uzbekistan has introduced penalties of 15 to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment for rape and certain other serious sexual offenses against children under 14. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a law eliminating the statute of limitations for prosecuting these crimes. The amendments affect five codes and six laws and expand legal protections for children against physical and psychological violence, including abuse by relatives and educational staff. For intentional crimes resulting in a child's death, suspended sentences and early release on parole will be prohibited. “Violence against a young child can never be tolerated, and punishment must be inevitable and uncompromising,” Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration, wrote on her Telegram channel. Children who have experienced or witnessed violence will be entitled to free state-funded legal assistance from the moment they become involved in legal proceedings. If a parent, adoptive parent, guardian, or another relative is suspected of the crime, a representative of the guardianship authorities must also protect the child's interests during the investigation and trial. In schools and other educational institutions, staff responsible for teaching or caring for children can be dismissed if held legally responsible for violence against a child. The legislation was approved following a high-profile case in the Namangan region, where reports emerged of alleged sexual violence against a five-year-old girl at a state-run kindergarten in the Uchqurgan district. The case sparked public outrage and debate over appropriate punishment for those responsible. Mirziyoyeva previously stated that responsibility should extend to both the direct perpetrators and officials whose negligence may have allowed the alleged assault to take place. According to the Oliy Majlis, Uzbekistan's parliament, 445 criminal cases involving the rape of children under 14 were opened in the country between 2022 and 2025. The amendments passed the lower house of parliament on September 30, following a first reading on September 29, and were approved by the Senate on October 2.

4 weeks ago

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