About Uzbekistan

Currency: Sum, or som is the official currency of uzbekistan, with floating bank rate. It is illegal to exchange foreign currency in the black market punishable with fine and imprisonment and we very strongly discourage to do so. Every foreigner is supposed to declare foreign currency and other precious holdings at the port of his arrival and can take them back only by showing the old declaration. Custom declaration should be kept like currency.

Language and culture: Uzbek, is the official language of Uzbekistan, which is a Turkic language and is similar to other Turkish Languages as Kazak, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Azerbaijani. However, Russian is widely used for communication in Tashkent and in other regional cities of the country. English speakers in Tashkent & other cities are growing in number but still few by world standards.

Meeting and greetings: Uzbekistan is a country of hand-shakers. People shake hands when meeting and parting. Women should take the lead in greetings and in offering a hand shake; Uzbek women do not normally shake hands, and well behaved men do not take the lead in greeting unknown women. On a more positive note, Uzbeks are very friendly people, especially when foreigners take the trouble to learn a few introductory greetings. Most people will be happy to help you with directions, and Uzbeks often invite people to their homes quite readily. Your hosts are more likely to offer you a small gift or souvenir. Visitors should avoid involving in conversation with strangers because of high incidence of pick pocketing, and other malpractices. Political and religious conversation must be avoided.

Health issues: Travelers are advised to drink only bottled/ boiled water and to eat fruits and vegetables that have been cooked and peeled. Under-cooked meat should be avoided as well.Travelers should avoid eating uncooked dairy products and most food sold on the street. Uzbekistan has well developed health support facilities and any foreigner falling in need should call at 03 or 2697085 for ambulance. Medical stores are working till 19.00 hours but many stores are working 24 hours. Medicines are generally short of demand specially in some seasons so it is always advisable to bring the necessary medicines. AIDS is not wide spread but it is always advisable to take precautionary measures.

Safety and Security: Uzbekistan remains a relatively safe country to live and work. Nevertheless, travelers should exercise caution as they would travel anywhere in the world. While Tashkent is a fairly westernized, cosmopolitan city, the rest of Uzbekistan, especially in rural areas, tends to be a rather conservative with Muslim-oriented culture. This means that travelers, particularly women, should be aware of different standards of dress, behavior, and living that are the norms here. Women should avoid walking alone after it gets dark. Prostitution is illegal. Bars operating after 12 night should have special permission.

Transportation: Taxis: Officially 0.35 USD per km plus 0.35 USD for service. Taxi can be ordered by calling at 062 (in Tashkent). You can also stop any private car but it is always better to agree the price before embarking. It is advisable to use only government Taxis. Metro: Tashkent Metro system is only one in Central Asia with three. The current price for a token is 0.25 USD. You must spare some time for taking a ride on Tashkent Metro. Busses, Trolleys, and Trams: Tashkent has well developed public transport system and cost of one way journey is 0.25 USD for ordinary and 0.30 USD for express service.

For full details always see the   Fact sheet of Uzbekistan


Business environments: Uzbekistan Govt. has crafted a well planned economic strategy based on abundance of natural resources, highly educated labor force, with emphasis on maintaining macroeconomics stability and industrial production. By taking an active role in identifying and even participating in commercial investment, the government has made significant progress. There are excellent business opportunities in manufacturing, services, and agricultural sectors but we recommend before deciding you should take advice from the business consultants in Uzbekistan and after fully ascertaining the situation should venture into the implementation stage. Freedom Holidays Uzbekistan is offering consultancy services in different fields: Any aspiring business man should not only personally go through the laws and regulations in Uzbekistan but should ask for the practical advise from the consultant in the field. Uzbekistan has 25 million population, located in the centre of Central Asia, with highest population density, well developed infra structure, offers to any aspiring and creative businessman wonderful opportunities and excellent returns provided the decisions are based on factual situation. Presently Textile, Leather, Tourism, Hotelling, Consumer goods manufacturing, Football manufacturing, etc sectors have excellent opportunities.

        The Uzbek people has an interesting rich cultural heritage from the merging of centuries old and modem civilizations. Places such as Khoresm, Chach, Sogd, Ustrushan, Margian are considered to be historical. Although most of the Uzbeks are Moslems, their attitudes toward the various religions like Buddhism, Christianity and Judaism are that of respect. At present, Islam is considered to be the religious faith of the Uzbeks, Kazakhs, Turkmen, Tadjiks. The Islam religion was introduced after the Arabic Conquest, it was introduced earlier during the early periods of the medieval state due to the relationship with Sabanid Iran.

Everyone, irregardless of position is always treated as if he was sent by God. Even the poor are always trying to supply travellers with whatever they can offer and their only demand as payment for their hospitality is that the traveller relates his stories to them. Curiosity is another feature of the Uzbeks. They like to communicate with others and interact between themselves. They like meeting people and hope that by treating their guests warmly the gesture will be reciprocated. Another common pastime of the Uzbeks, they like to spend their leisure time in tea-houses and bazaars. The Bazaar is a place of communication apart from its primary sense of buying and selling. And it is here you'll see Uzbeks from all walks of life either trying to sell their wares or just entertaining. Wares like embroidery work, national wardrobe, knives, ceramics, the traditional summer cloth and wooden carvings are some of the things you can find at the Bazaar. And it also here you get your best bargains and souvenirs. Their holidays are spent on enjoying dances, singing, holding horse contests and watching the national wrestling-Kurash and dining on their local dishes like the plov, shashlyk, samsa are Uzbekistan's national favourite dishes. The Uzbek cuisine favourite topic is bread. According to the national ancient tradition, bread is something holy to the Uzbek people. Anyone who find a piece of bread that is unfortunately left on the ground, should take it up and kiss it before attaching it to the forehead three times and leave it there for a while. Traditional Uzbek bread is baked in special Tandoor made of clay.
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