The State committee of Uzbekistan have begun implementing a plan to prevent low quality toys being sold on domestic markets. Last year, there were at least 250 cases of toy smuggling registered in the country. Some misdemeanors include selling toys with no relevant documents, invoices, contracts, quality and hygiene certificates or labels in local language.

The number of monopolies in Uzbekistan has decreased 3.5 times over the past ten years. Their overall share of the GDP has also dropped from 26 to 21 percent during the period of 2004-2007. Most of the drop has been attributed to various laws that have been passed regulating the formation and business practices of many monopolies.

Gazporom will begin buying gas from Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan at European tariffs as of 2009 in accordance with a decision made by senior executives of Gazprom, Kazmunaigaz, Uzbekneftegaz, and Turkmengaz. Gazprom buys 55-60 billion cubic meters of gas from Central Asian countries mostly at the prices already set. East European Gas Analysis Director Mikhail Korchemkin claims that Central Asian gas will cost Gazprom about USD 8 billion this year.

Uzbekistan will get a USD 700 million investment from Russia’s Lukoil. The investment is geared for projects in Gyssar and Ustyurtsk oil fields. These fields are expected reach an annual output of 3 billion cubic meters. Product will be exported through the state-run Gazprom pipelines. Lukoil is Russia’s biggest independent oil company and the investment in Uzbekistan is to fulfill long-term success of the company.

Uzbekistan tightens relationship with Russia through economic agreements. So far, the two nations have 200 various agreements. In 2007, trade is up by 40 percent tipping USD 3 billon between the two nations. In Uzbekistan 40 percent of FDI is supplied by Russia. The two countries are also discussing oil and nuclear project developments.

The Second Power Uzbekistan Internation Exhibition will open on September 25 in Tashkent. The exhibition will be open for the professionals of the energy section until September 27. Power Uzbekistan 2007 is intended, among other things, to provide an opportunity for the demonstration of the scientific and industrial technology and equipment.

Price increases of as much as 16 percent for gas, 25 percent for public transportation and 50 percent for flour in about a month's time have led to increased civil unrest, forcing the interior military to go on alert. Despite having made some official attempts to reduce prices for food, some observers say that the government has largely ignored all recommendations by the IMF to control galloping inflation.

On Wednesday, Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov signed a resolution to establish the Management Development Institute of Singapore in the Uzbek capital of Tashkent. Together with the Management Development Institute, the Uzbekistan Banks Association has contributed much interest and effort in order to set up the educational institution. Graduate and undergraduate degrees in banking, business administration and tourism will be offered as the institute opens its doors in the academic year of 2008-2009 to begin churning out skilled Uzbek businesspeople.

The International Monetary Fund, which visited Uzbekistan last year, has noted that this year's economic indicators have remained strong since last year's high levels. In the interest of economic development, the country has focused on establishing sustainable and balanced growth rates, continuing the structuring and modernization of the economy, technical and technological renovation its important sectors, and further liberalization of the tax policy. Growth rates have exceeded expert predictions and inflation rates did not exceed the forecast parameters in the last six months, evidence that Uzbekistan is committed to its priorities and attaining its goals.

On Wednesday, Uzbek President Islam Karimov arrived in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan to participate in the Bishkek summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) that is to be held on August 16, 2007. Still, President Islam Karimov's early arrival allowed him to hold talks with President of the People's Republic of China Hu Jintao, to which they discussed the state and perspectives of bilateral relations, as well as cooperation within the SCO.