Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In November 2020, the Business Activity Index (PMI), calculated by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms, was:

• 1019 points, compared to October 2020, an increase of 1.9%;

• 886 points, compared to November 2019, a decrease of 11.4%.

In November 2020, business activity in Uzbekistan increased moderately. This increase was due to an increase in the component for banking operations of economic entities, as well as a sharp increase in the component for trade marks.

The business activity index in November 2020 increased moderately by 1.9% and amounted to 1019 points, compared to the previous month, which is explained by changes in the following components:

• an increase in the number of transactions on bank accounts of business entities by 1.1%;

• growth of the component of operating economic entities by 1.1%;

• a decrease in the intensity of purchasing raw materials at the commodity exchange by 0.3%;

• growth of the brand component by 47.0%.

In the regional context, the Republic of Karakalpakstan showed the highest growth.

In November 2020, the Business Activity Index for all regions increased compared to the previous month (October 2020), except for Tashkent region (-5.6%). The Republic of Karakalpakstan (46.3%), Syrdarya (40.3%), Kashkadarya (39.7%), Bukhara (39.2%) and Surkhandarya (36.4%) regions showed significant growth.

Despite the moderate growth of the PMI as compared to the previous month, this indicator, as compared to the same month of the last year, cannot recover over the past 5 months, and turned out to be 11.4% lower.

OPERATIONS WITH BANK ACCOUNTS

The number of interbank payment transactions in November 2020 made up 4,280.3 thousand and increased by 47,600 transactions (1.1%), compared to October 2020. Compared to the same period of last year, there is still a significant decline of 26.8%.

The number of banking operations in 8 regions is increasing.

In November 2020, in comparison with the previous month, the number of banking operations between legal entities increased in 8 regions of the republic. In particular, the highest growth was observed in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (7.7%), Ferghana (5.2%) and Namangan (4.8%) regions. Of the 6 regions, the most significant decline was observed in Jizzakh (-6.4%), Bukhara (-2.9%) and Surkhandarya (-2.5%) regions.

ACTIVITY ON THE COMMODITY EXCHANGE

In November 2020, the stock exchange component of the PMI was 0.9970, which means a moderate decline of the component by 0.3% compared to the previous month. The decline was associated with a decrease in the average physical volume of goods purchased for each transaction by 4.9%.

At the end of November, the Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange concluded 31,363 transactions, which is 1,277 transactions (by 4.2%) more than in October this year (30,086). The total turnover of the commodity exchange in November 2020 reached 3.76 trillion soums, which is 4.8% less than in the previous month.

ACTIVITY OF BUSINESS ENTITIES

The component of operating economic entities in November 2020 amounted to 1.0113, which means an increase in the component by 1.1% compared to the level of the previous month.

The number of operating economic entities in November 2020 increased by 7,041 units compared to October 2020 (503,217 units) and amounted to 510,258 units.

The number of large enterprises increased by 13 units.

During the reporting period, the number of small businesses increased from 398,771 to 405,019 units (an increase of 6,248 units). The number of farms increased from 101,493 to 102,273 units (an increase of 780 units). The number of operating large enterprises amounted to 2,966, which is 13 more than in October 2020.

REGISTRATION OF BRANDS

In November 2020, the index of protected trademarks was 1.4699, which means an increase of 46.9% compared to the previous month. Legal entities have registered 122 trademarks and trade names.