Small Businesses Generate Half of Uzbekistan's GDP in H1 2026

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — The share of small business entities in Uzbekistan's GDP reached 50.5 percent in January–June 2026, generating 518.7 trillion soums, according to a report by the National Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistics.

As of 1 July 2026, there were 1,236,100 small business entities operating in the country. These included 526,700 small enterprises and micro-firms, including commercial farms and smallholders; 375,100 individual entrepreneurs; 334,400 smallholder farms; 23,200 artisans; 5,100 family businesses; and 1,100 sellers of imported goods. This corresponds to 32.2 entities per 1,000 residents, with the highest concentration of small businesses recorded in Tashkent (50.4), Khorezm Region (46.3), Syrdarya Region (41.1), and Navoi Region (38.1).

During the six-month period, 44,000 new small enterprises and micro-firms were established in the country, excluding commercial farms and smallholders. The largest number of new businesses opened in trade (15,657), industry (5,450), agriculture, forestry, and fisheries (5,368), and accommodation and food services (4,115).

Agriculture and Construction Driven Almost Entirely by Small Business

Small business makes its largest contribution in agriculture, forestry, and fisheries, accounting for 95.4 percent of the sector's total output—worth 257.1 trillion soums, up 4.2 percent. Small business accounted for 76.9 percent of the construction sector (143.9 trillion soums, up 12.9 percent), 76.6 percent of the services sector (374.2 trillion soums, up 15.8 percent), and 58.2 percent of transport, storage, information, and communications.

In the industrial sector, small business entities produced output worth 180.3 trillion soums, representing 28.3 percent of the country's total industrial output, an increase of 8.2 percent from a year earlier.

Retail trade is almost entirely in the hands of small businesses, with their share of trade turnover reaching 80.3 percent (202.1 trillion soums, up 18 percent). Capital investments by small business entities rose 22.4 percent to 225.3 trillion soums, accounting for 66.5 percent of all investments in the country.

Small Enterprises Account for Nearly Half of Foreign Trade

Exports of products by small business entities totaled US$7.48 billion during the six-month period, representing 47.2 percent of the country's total exports. Imports reached US$13 billion, equivalent to 51.8 percent of total imports, meaning more than half of the goods and services imported into Uzbekistan pass through small business entities.

In road transport, small enterprises provide the bulk of passenger transit, accounting for 90.9 percent of passenger volume and 95.2 percent of passenger turnover. In freight transport, the share of small business is lower—57.1 percent by cargo volume and 77.6 percent by freight turnover—though these figures have grown steadily for three consecutive years.