The Chairman of the Federation of Egyptian Chambers of Commerce (FEDCOC), Ahmed El-Wakil, called the new state licensing system for shops a 'historic opportunity' to integrate informal business into the formal economy. He strongly urged traders and business owners to take advantage of government incentives to legalize their activities.
El-Wakil highly praised the government's efforts to simplify licensing procedures through the Digital Egypt platform. He noted the reduction in fees, optimization of services, and the provision of discounts of up to 50% during the initial phase of system implementation.
According to him, this system would contribute to improving the business climate by expanding the formal economy, increasing transparency by publishing all official fees online, and preventing unjustified payments.
Furthermore, El-Wakil called for the expansion of the platform's functionality to cover individual entrepreneurs, partnerships, and small businesses in the Suez Canal and Sinai regions. He promised that local chambers of commerce would provide technical support, conduct awareness campaigns, and offer digital assistance for businesses transitioning to the new system.
According to data from the National Statistical Committee, Uzbekistan's gross domestic product (GDP) reached 1,072.7 trillion soums in January-June 2026. Real economic growth was 8.5% compared to the same period in 2025.
The construction industry demonstrated the largest increase among the main sectors, showing a growth of 13.7%. The services sector grew by 9.2%, industry by 8%, and agriculture, forestry, and fisheries by 4.7%.
Within the service sphere, the information and communications sector led with an increase of 23.2%. Growth was also noted in transportation and storage at 15.8%, trade at 15%, and accommodation and food services at 10.8%.
The total volume of added value created by economic sectors amounted to 95.8% of GDP. The share of net product taxes was 4.2%, while their volume increased by 8.3%.
GDP per capita reached 27.95 million soums, which represents a real growth of 6.6%.
The Business Ombudsman of Uzbekistan reported that the supply of natural gas to Bplastuz LLC was restored after an inspection. This inspection was initiated in connection with reports of the company potentially being disconnected due to the cessation of gas supply.
According to the official statement, the reason for the inspection was social media posts claiming that the enterprise had been disconnected from the gas network and was on the verge of suspending operations. A meeting was held with representatives of the company itself and the Hududgaz Poytaxt gas supply branch to study the situation.
After the inspection was completed, the problem was resolved, and the enterprise's natural gas supply resumed. The Business Ombudsman emphasized that he will continue to monitor developments.
The agency highlighted that when state bodies apply coercive measures to enterprises, the primary task must be ensuring uninterrupted production, preventing disruptions in production processes, and supporting entrepreneurs operating within the law.
Furthermore, the Business Ombudsman reiterated that unjustified interference in the lawful activities of businesses is unacceptable, and protecting the rights of entrepreneurs remains one of the key priorities of this organization.
The Chinese automotive market is showing significant growth, reaching 34.4 million sold vehicles in 2025, which is 9.4% more than the previous year. Furthermore, China has established itself as a leading global exporter of vehicles, shipping 8.32 million units in 2025, representing a 30% increase and marking the third consecutive year in this role.
The share of Chinese brands in China's domestic passenger car market exceeds 70%. Among the ten largest global automakers, three companies have Chinese origins: BYD ranks 5th, Geely 7th, and Chery 10th.
The table presents the total shipments of major Chinese automotive groups for 2025. The overall figures for five state-owned groups include products from joint ventures with foreign brands such as Volkswagen, Toyota, General Motors, and Honda, indicated by an asterisk.
Various cities in China are production centers: Shenzhen, founded in 1995 (batteries) and producing cars since 2003, showed a volume of 4.60 million in 2025. Hangzhou, existing since 1986 and producing cars since 1997, reached a volume of 4.12 million. Wuhu, Anhui province, produced 2.63 million since 1997.
Other production centers include Baoding in Hebei province (since 1984, 1.32 million), Chongqing (origins dating back to 1862, 2.90 million), Shanghai (state-owned, about 4.5 million), Changchun (China's first factory, since 1953, about 3.3 million), Beijing (state-owned, about 2.0 million), Guangzhou (state-owned, about 1.72 million), and Wuhan (state-owned, since 1969, about 1.85 million).
The cumulative sales volume of brands such as NIO, Li Auto, XPeng, Leapmotor, and Xiaomi Auto amounted to 2.16 million in 2025. The AITO brand showed a volume of 0.59 million in 2025.
In Uzbekistan, several Chinese groups are simultaneously carrying out local assembly or have already launched it. Among the three prominent centers are Jizzakh, Tashkent, and Bukhara, and the list of brands on the assembly lines continues to expand.
