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Uzbekistan’s rare earth elements sector. Short guide for lawyers, investors and lenders
Uzbekistan is increasingly viewed as a prospective jurisdiction for rare earth elements and associated critical minerals (“REEs”). The sector is primarily policy-driven, with state authorities actively promoting exploration and foreign investment. Under subsoil legislation, REEs fall within categories subject to heightened regulatory oversight, reflecting their economic and strategic significance. As a result, licensing, export, and commercialization conditions may differ from those applicable to ordinary construction or industrial minerals. Our team has prepared a comprehensive guide outlining the most recent developments in the sector. Click on the image below or use this link to read our overview
Understanding the legal landscape of private credits
Private credit has become one of the fastest‑growing segments of modern finance, offering flexible alternatives to traditional lending. Our cross‑border overview brings together the key legal questions that arise across 12 jurisdictions, helping investors, lenders, and borrowers navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment. This guide highlights the most important considerations—including licensing, security, financial assistance, tax aspects, and insolvency implications—to support more informed decision‑making in private credit transactions throughout Emerging Europe and Central Asia. Partner Tomáš Melišek drove the preparation of the material with the support of local teams of legal experts
Digital Product Passports: The regulatory shift fashion brands need to plan for
Fashion and luxury brands selling into the EU should prepare for a regulatory shift that will directly affect how products are documented, traced and placed on the market. Regulatory work is now intensifying on implementing measures, including the rollout of Digital Product Passports (DPPs). DPPs are becoming a central instrument in the EU’s strategy to advance circularity, transparency and sustainability. For the fashion industry, DPPs represent not only a compliance obligation, but a shift in how product data and supply chains are managed. DPPs as a new regulatory standard A Digital Product Passport will function as a product’s digital identity, containing information on origin, material composition
Navigating the MiCA landscape: Considerations for forum shopping in CEE and beyond
As the European financial market undergoes a major digital transformation, the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) stands out as a defining milestone. By introducing a harmonised legal framework, the EU is transforming from a frag mented regulatory landscape into the world’s largest single market for regulated digital assets. For crypto-asset service providers (CASPs) and institutional investors, this shift offers a “single passport”, legitimising the industry and enabling growth. Yet the practical application of these rules varies across Member States, influenced by differences in administrative capacity, supervisory culture, and national legal traditions. Choosing a “home” jurisdiction
AI automation: The buzzword behind the layoff waive?
Layoffs have reached historic highs this year, and the AI arms race could be partly to blame. In the United States, over one million jobs were cut between January and October, up 65% from the same period in 2024, according to a report by outplacement specialists Challenger, Gray & Christmas. From Amazon and UPS to Microsoft and Meta, a growing number of companies are restructuring their workforce as they adopt AI at scale. These decisions raise a broader question: how far and how fast can companies go when replacing human work with artificial intelligence? While automation at scale is not a one-size-fits-all solution, the hard truth is that the skills and jobs needed in the future of work are still largely unknown. As
New mechanisms for monitoring external borrowings by large enterprises in Uzbekistan
Starting from 1 January 2025, any Uzbek resident (or a group), public or private, deemed as systemically important and with an outstanding debt that exceeds USD 50 million, potentially falls under the new CoM Regulation No. 670 "[O]n further improvement of the system of attracting bank loans and foreign debts by large enterprises of systemic importance for the economy of Uzbekistan" ("Regulation 670"). Whether an entity is deemed systemically important to the national economy is decided by the by the Coordination Commission on Risk Management for Systemically Important Enterprises (the "Coordination Commission") on an annual basis; If an entity falls under Regulation 670, it must get the Commission’s
Kinstellar welcomes Otabek Suleymanov as Partner, further strengthening its capabilities in Uzbekistan
Kinstellar is pleased to announce that Otabek Suleymanov, a highly reputable and experienced lawyer, has joined its Tashkent office. His addition as the fourth Partner in the local team underscores Kinstellar’s continued commitment to strengthening its presence and expanding its capabilities in Uzbekistan and the wider Central Asia region. Otabek has over two decades of experience in cross-border Banking and Finance, M&A, as well as a variety of projects matters in the key sectors in Uzbekistan’s growing economy. He is widely recognised for his deep sector knowledge and his ability to structure and execute complex transactions: his clients describe him as a “strong and well-experienced lawyer” with “impeccable
Kinstellar advises on Dual-Currency Eurobond issuance by Ipoteka Bank OTP Group, in Uzbekistan
Kinstellar has advised J.P. Morgan, Citi, Société Générale, OTP Bank as Joint Global Coordinators, Joint Bookrunners, and Joint Lead Managers and Bank of China and Mashreq as Co-Bookrunners; and BNY Mellon Corporate Trustee Services Limited as Trustee, on the successful Eurobond issuance by Ipoteka Bank OTP Group. This is the first-ever public Eurobond issuance by a private bank in Uzbekistan setting a new milestone for the development of country’s banking and financial sector. The Reg S-only dual-currency offering comprised USD 300 million of 5-year senior unsecured notes and the UZS 1.2 trillion of 3-year senior unsecured notes. This landmark transaction marks a major milestone for Ipoteka Bank OTP Group
Kinstellar advises ADM Global on strategic joint venture with Sojitz Corporation in Uzbekistan’s automotive industry
Kinstellar has recently advised ADM Global on its landmark strategic partnership with Japan’s Sojitz Corporation in Uzbekistan’s automotive industry. Under the transaction, Sojitz acquired a stake in ADM’s automotive distribution business and committed USD 100 million in additional investment. The partnership will enhance ADM Global’s operational capacity and contribute to the modernization of Uzbekistan’s automotive sector, bringing in advanced expertise, new technologies and expanded international cooperation. Kinstellar provided full legal support for the establishment of the joint venture – including preparing and negotiating the share purchase agreement, shareholders agreement, charter and founding
Kinstellar advises Halyk Bank on strategic cross-border fintech partnership with Click
Kinstellar has recently advised JSC Halyk Bank on its USD 237 million strategic partnership with Uzbekistan’s leading fintech platform, Click – a landmark transaction reflecting the growing convergence of banking and digital services in Central Asia. Under the deal, Halyk acquires a 49% stake in Click for USD 176.4 million, while Click’s shareholders take a 49% stake in Halyk’s Uzbek subsidiary, Tenge Bank, for USD 60.76 million. Representing the largest private sector transaction in Uzbekistan to date, the deal features an innovative and balanced structure that enables both parties to remain independent while forming a powerful alliance in Uzbekistan’s rapidly evolving digital finance landscape. The partnership
Kinstellar strengthens Tashkent office with the appointment of Dilshad Khabibullaev, as Partner
Kinstellar is delighted to announce that Dilshad Khabibullaev has joined our Tashkent office as a Partner. With over two decades of experience in infrastructure, investment, and public-private partnership (PPP) projects—particularly in the transportation sector—Dilshad brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to our team in Uzbekistan and the broader Central Asia region. Throughout his notable career, Dilshad has played a key role in pioneering transport infrastructure projects in Uzbekistan, including the country’s first airport PPP, first toll road PPP, and first traffic video surveillance investment project. His expertise spans both the automotive and aviation industries, where he has consistently delivered
Navigating the legal landscape: The implementation status of MiCA
As the cryptocurrency market continues to captivate investors worldwide, understanding the regulatory landscape becomes more crucial than ever. In this respect the Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (the MiCA) is a ground-breaking initiative by the European Union (the EU) aimed at establishing a robust framework for digital asset markets. With MiCA application having taken effect on 30 December 2024, EU member states are now in the process of aligning their national legislation with the new rules and addressing the practical challenges of implementation.Click on the image below or use the following link to read our overview in English. For more