Entrepreneurial Activity in Uzbekistan Shows Steady Growth

The Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) has presented an overview of the business climate in Uzbekistan.

According to CERR, the analysis revealed that more than one-third of entrepreneurs report improvements in business activity, while the majority anticipate rising demand and employment in the coming months. Overall, the country’s entrepreneurial environment has continued to strengthen, maintaining the positive momentum of recent years.

In July, the composite business climate index increased by 5 points compared to the same period last year, reaching 52. This improvement was driven primarily by higher current activity: the indicator of the present business climate rose to 44 points (+14) compared to July last year.

Survey results confirm that entrepreneurial activity in the country is showing positive trends. More than one-third of respondents (37%) stated that their business performance improved over the past three months, while 42% noted an increase in demand for products and services. One in four entrepreneurs (24%) reported an expansion in staff, indicating growing business activity and a demand for additional labor resources.

In July, the agricultural sector also showed improvements in the business environment. The business climate index reached 50 points, 4 points higher than last year. The current situation indicator rose from 35 to 39 points, reflecting notable improvements in recent months, while expectations increased from 59 to 61, maintaining positive sentiment among entrepreneurs.

In industry, the business climate rose to 50 points, 6 points above last year’s level. More than half of entrepreneurs (51%) assessed the current situation as satisfactory, while 21% reported an increase in employment over the past three months.

The business climate in the services sector reached 54 points in July, 3 points higher than the previous year. The current assessment of the business climate strengthened significantly, rising from 34 to 48 points.

In the construction sector, the business climate also improved, reaching 50 points, 5 points higher than last year. The current assessment rose from 28 to 38 points, while expectations increased from 62 to 63, remaining at a relatively high level.

Overall, 42% of entrepreneurs reported improvements in their business over the past three months (compared to 25% a year earlier), while 24% expect further improvements in the near future, reflecting the positive outlook of market participants.

Uzbekistan continues to demonstrate steady progress in building a favorable business environment. The growth in current activity and the high share of optimistic business expectations confirm the resilience of domestic demand and the private sector’s ability to adapt to changing conditions.