Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- As of 1 March 2020, the number of operating enterprises and organizations operating in the service sector in Uzbekistan reached 270,500 units, or 65.8% of their total number. Compared to the same period in 2019, their growth increased by 19.1%, the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said.

As of 1 March 2020, the share of enterprises and organizations engaged in industry reached 17.7%, construction - 9.0% and, only 7.5% operate in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

Currently, intellectual human labor is gaining particular development and value, the division of which creates a large number of specialties and professions that require in-depth scientific training, a significant number of jobs, a high degree of integration of joint human efforts and the growth of social welfare.

These trends are directly related to the service and management sector, which leads to its accelerated growth relative to other areas of human activity. For example, it is characterized by higher profits than the industrial and agricultural sectors of the economy. At the same time, the list of services is constantly expanding.

In the structure of operating enterprises and organizations related to the service sector, the predominant share is engaged in trade activities (39.5%). The share of functioning enterprises and organizations providing accommodation and catering services was 9.8%.

The proportion of operating enterprises and organizations related to transportation and storage and related to the service sector, in their total number reached 5.8%. The share of functioning enterprises and organizations involved in information activities and providing communication services is 3.0%. The number of operating enterprises and organizations providing services in the field of healthcare and social security amounted to 3.0% of their total number.

Currently, the service sector is a complex, branched specific socio-economic system with various properties, functions, resources, connections, due to the nature of services, their purpose, the functioning of various types of activities and the characteristic features of service processes.

According to preliminary data, the volume of market services provided in January-February 2020 reached 33.24 trillion soums, the nominal volume of which increased by 6.42 trillion soums. In comparable terms, compared with the same period last year, the growth rate was 12.9%.

It should be noted that the dynamic development of the service sector as a large-scale sector of the economy of the republic, capable of satisfying the growing needs of individuals and legal entities in services, is impossible without the successful functioning of this industry in the regions.

In the total volume of services, the share of the city of Tashkent is the most significant - 34.1%. This is due to the fact that the real incomes of the population are higher than in other regions.

The largest share was recorded in Tashkent (7.2%), Samarkand (6.3%), Ferghana (5.8%) and Andijan (5.1%) regions.

The lowest indicators of the service sector were noted in Syrdarya (1.4%), Jizzakh (2.2%), Navoi (2.5%), Khorezm (3.0%) regions and the Republic of Karakalpakstan (2.9%).

Over the past period, high growth rates were noted in Syrdarya (15.6%), Jizzakh (13.8%), Navoi (11.3%) regions and the city of Tashkent (14.1%).

Relatively low growth rates were observed in Ferghana (8.7%), Tashkent (8.7%), Surkhandarya (9.0%), Namangan (9.2%) regions, as well as in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (8.6%).

The prospects for socio-economic development of modern Uzbekistan largely depend on the rational use of all resources of each economic area and region of the republic in national and local interests.

During the survey period in the context of regions, the city of Tashkent had a huge impact on the increase in the total volume of market services provided. Compared to the same period last year, the volume of services in this region increased by 2.67 trillion soums and reached 11.34 trillion soums.

Along with this, relatively high rates were observed in Tashkent (2.4 trillion soums), Samarkand (2.1 trillion soums), Ferghana (1.94 trillion soums) and Andijan (1.68 trillion soums) regions.

A characteristic feature of most types of activities in the service sector is a high degree of localization, attachment to a specific territory (region, city, district, urban and rural settlements). Therefore, the size, location, types and scales of activity, ownership, working methods of enterprises and service organizations, their role and development potential in modernization should be reasonably linked to the needs, priorities and strategy of innovation shifts in the regional economy.

As you know, the level of development of the service sector ensures the territorial and social mobility of the population, the development of new economic territories, increased production efficiency and consumption of material goods.

In January-February 2020, the volume of market services provided per capita reached 989.9 thousand soums. Compared to the same period last year, the growth rate was 10.8%.

The implementation of targeted comprehensive measures for the introduction of innovative technologies and the development of traditional services leads to an increase in the volume of market services provided.

The main factor behind the growth in the total volume of services rendered was the increase in financial services by 35.3% (contribution to the increase in the total volume of services rendered was 6.6 points), transport services - by 11.1% (contribution to the increase - 2.8 points), trade services - by 4.9% (contribution to growth - 1.1 points), communication and information services - 18.3% (contribution to growth - 1.0 points), education services - by 14.7% (contribution to growth - 0.5 points).

In the conditions of the development of market relations, as well as the socio-economic reforms taking place in our country, there are significant changes in the service sector.

Special importance in the state's economic policy is attached to the development of modern types of services, such as information and communication services (cellular communications, Internet, digital television, etc.), as well as modern types of financial services (banking, leasing, insurance, audit, consulting, etc.).

The highest growth rates were recorded in financial services (35.3%), health services (19.5%), communications and informatization (18.3%), as well as in education (14.7%).

Slight growth was recorded in services in the field of architecture, engineering researches, technical testing and analysis (2.7%), individual services (3.2%), services related to real estate (3.6%), accommodation and catering (4.2%).

Production of services by type of economic activity is differentiated depending on the level of income, tastes and preferences of consumers.

The increase in the volume of transport services is primarily associated with an increase in demand for services for the transport of goods and passengers, which, in turn, is due to the accelerated growth of tourism activity, the expansion of the trading network, the further implementation of construction projects, reconstruction of buildings and structures, as well as development of transport and logistics infrastructure.

The share of road transport in the total volume of transport services is 45.1%. The share of transportation through pipelines in transport services is 21.1%.

In turn, the services provided by rail reached 14.5% of the total volume of transport services.

The share of cargo and passenger transportation services by air is fixed at 11.6%, and auxiliary transport activities - at the level of 7.7%.

An important role in the economic life of each country is played by trade, which makes the connection between production and consumption, has a significant impact on the volume and structure of production of goods, as well as on improving their assortment and improving quality.

In January-February 2020, the share of trade services in the total volume of market services provided amounted to 24.3%, which corresponds to 8.08 trillion soums.

Over the past period, the share of retail trade amounted to almost three quarters of the total volume of trade services, or rather, 67.8%. The share of wholesale services (excluding trade in cars and motorcycles) reached 24.3%.

Wholesale and retail trade in cars and motorcycles, including repair services, accounted for 7.9% of the total volume of trade services.

In January-February 2020, the volume of financial services was equal to 6.67 trillion soums and, compared with the same period last year, it increased by 2.3 trillion soums. The growth of financial services amounted to 35.3%.

The introduction of innovative banking technologies to create conditions for the provision of modern banking services, including organizing the activities of “digital” banks and their divisions specializing in the provision of retail services, improving remote banking services, and further developing the payment system, contributes to the dynamic development of financial services.

The share of financial services, except insurance and pension services, occupies 93.2% of the total volume of financial services. Over the past period, the share of insurance services is fixed in the range of 3.9%.

Supporting financial and insurance services accounted for only 2.9% of total financial services.

Today, the sector of information and communication technologies (ICT), which includes the production of computer and telecommunication technologies, software development and the provision of a wide range of interactive services, is becoming increasingly important in the global economy.

The experience of developed countries has shown that the development of ICT directly affects the level of competitiveness of the country, allows you to collect and summarize huge amounts of information, opens up great opportunities for management at a strategic level.

In January-February 2020, the volume of communication and information services was fixed at the level of 1.89 trillion soums. Compared to the same period last year, the growth rate of this type of service reached 18.3%.

The share in the total volume of market services provided amounted to 5.7%.

Active use of ICT is based on a widely branched infrastructure, equipped with the latest equipment and technologies, and a high human resource potential. This work is based on the desire to improve the quality of people's lives, facilitate their daily life, and ensure the effective use of the latest technologies in public administration.

In the volume of communication and informatization services, the largest share falls on telecommunication services (wired and mobile communications services, the Internet, satellite communications services, etc.). Their share was 80.0%.

Computer programming services, consulting and other related services reached 7.3%, publishing services - 5.3%, other communication services - 4.6%, information services - 2.8% of the total volume of communication and information services.

It’s known that providing citizens with high-quality and affordable education is a task that largely determines the development of society, its future.

In our country, this area is not only regarded as one of the most important, key areas of public policy, but also in fact demonstrates tremendous success.

Today, special attention is paid to equipping schools with modern laboratory equipment, computer equipment, textbooks and teaching materials of a new generation as an important factor in improving the quality and effectiveness of the educational process.

In January-February 2020, the volume of education services reached 1.31 trillion soums, or 3.9% of the total volume of market services provided. Compared to the same period last year, the growth rate was 14.7%.

The largest volume of educational services was recorded in Samarkand (118.3 billion soums), Tashkent (90.7 billion soums), Bukhara (85.9 billion soums), Ferghana (70.4 billion soums) and Tashkent city (555.3 billion soums).

The smallest indicators were recorded in Syrdarya (20.4 billion soums), Jizzakh (28.4 billion soums), Navoi (29.2 billion soums), Surkhandarya (42.2 billion soums) regions.

Compared to the same period last year, the growth rate of accommodation and catering services made up 4.2%, and their volume increased by 163.8 billion soums and reached 960.3 billion soums.

In the total volume of accommodation and catering services, food and beverage services prevail - 79.5%.

In January-February 2020, the share of accommodation services amounted to 20.5%.

Today in all regions of the republic, high-quality medical services are provided in specialized scientific and practical medical centers in such areas as cardiology, surgery, eye microsurgery, urology, therapy and medical rehabilitation, endocrinology, pulmonology and phthisiology, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, etc.

In January-February 2020, the volume of healthcare services increased by 141.3 billion soums and reached 535.6 billion soums. In the total volume of services, their share increased to 1.6%. Compared with the same period last year, the growth rate was 19.5%.

Further and comprehensive development of the service sector is a topical issue in ensuring sustainable economic development, employment efficiency and improving the living standards of the population.

The development of the service sector today is an indicator of ensuring a decent quality of life for the population, since the determining factor influencing the development of the market for services is the growth of real incomes and people's well-being.