Uzbekistan directs US$629m to support small business

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan directed 936.6 billion soums (about US$629m) to support development of small businesses in the first half of 2009. The growth rate made up 67.9% year-on-year.

Number of small businesses in Uzbekistan, except farm entities, grew by 5.1% in the reporting period of 2009. The growth of industrial output in small businesses grew by 18.3% year-on-year.

Share of small business in gross domestic product (GDP) increased from 40.2% in the first half of 2008 to 40.9% in the same period of 2009. Share of small businesses in industrial output made up 16.2% and export - 13.4% in the reporting period.

About 8.7 billion soums (US$5.9m), funds of Microcredit Bank and Employment Fund of the Ministry of Laboour and Social Welfare of Uzbekistan, were directed to realization of the programme on development of service infrastructure.