Uzbekistan SEZ output rises 21% in first half

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Industrial output by enterprises operating in Uzbekistan’s special economic zones (SEZs) reached 32,060.5 billion soums in January-June 2026, the highest figure among the country’s different types of economic zones and a 21.0% increase from 26,504.1 billion soums in the same period of 2025, according to the National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

As of 1 July 2026, Uzbekistan had 34 special economic zones, 400 small industrial zones, 27 technology parks, 354 clusters and 163 youth industrial and entrepreneurship zones (YIEZs) with enterprises holding participant status. The SEZs had 1,167 participant enterprises, compared with 3,187 in small industrial zones, 4,302 in technology parks, 384 in clusters and 1,289 in YIEZs.

Industrial production in the first half of 2026 amounted to 10,062.2 billion soums in small industrial zones, 19,235.3 billion soums in clusters, 1,632.6 billion soums in technology parks and 491.7 billion soums in YIEZs. In January-June 2025, the corresponding figures were 8,823.1 billion soums for small industrial zones, 16,701.0 billion soums for clusters and 1,011.2 billion soums for technology parks.

SEZs also recorded the largest volume of fixed-capital investment from all sources of financing, at 5,116.5 billion soums. Investment amounted to 1,633.2 billion soums in clusters, 808.9 billion soums in technology parks, 551.8 billion soums in small industrial zones and 1.4 billion soums in YIEZs.

Small industrial zones led in construction work carried out by their own forces, with 527.3 billion soums. The figure was 153.5 billion soums in technology parks, 93.9 billion soums in SEZs, 63.3 billion soums in YIEZs and 22.5 billion soums in clusters.

Technology parks recorded the largest volume of market services, at 19,085.8 billion soums, followed by SEZs with 1,161.7 billion soums, clusters with 711.3 billion soums, small industrial zones with 707.9 billion soums and YIEZs with 159.4 billion soums.

Technology parks also led in services exports, at US$392,980.9 thousand, compared with US$4,151.1 thousand for SEZs, US$1,049.4 thousand for YIEZs and US$1,650.5 thousand for small industrial zones. The report does not provide data on services exports by clusters.

Technology parks likewise recorded the largest services imports, at US$164,403.5 thousand. They were followed by SEZs at US$55,371.2 thousand, small industrial zones at US$15,621.5 thousand, clusters at US$228.8 thousand and YIEZs at US$196.5 thousand.

At the end of the reporting period, enterprises participating in SEZs employed 60,830 people, compared with 62,137 in technology parks, 50,362 in clusters, 43,611 in small industrial zones and 6,507 in YIEZs. The number of jobs stood at 61,210 in SEZs, 65,841 in technology parks, 51,775 in clusters, 44,028 in small industrial zones and 6,527 in YIEZs.

The committee separately reported figures for IT Park participants. Their services exports reached US$392.5 million in January-June 2026, up from US$302.2 million a year earlier, while services imports increased to US$160.1 million from US$104.2 million in January-June 2025.

The volume of market services provided by IT Park participants rose to 18,166.4 billion soums from 14,054.6 billion soums, an increase of 4,111.8 billion soums. Fixed-capital investment reached 647.5 billion soums, compared with 295.5 billion soums a year earlier, an increase of 352.0 billion soums. The number of jobs at IT Park participant enterprises increased to 51,991 from 43,070 over the same period.

Within the industrial output of SEZ enterprises, metallurgy accounted for the largest share at 24.4%, followed by the manufacture of motor vehicles, trailers and semi-trailers at 24.1%.

Food production accounted for 9.3%, other non-metallic mineral products for 7.5%, chemical products for 5.9%, rubber and plastic products for 5.4% and textiles for 4.6%. Other activities accounted for 18.8%.

The structure of production in small industrial zones was different. Textile manufacturing accounted for 19.0%, followed by metallurgy at 17.5%, coke and refined petroleum products at 13.0%, clothing at 9.4%, food products at 7.9%, rubber and plastic products at 6.8% and electrical equipment at 3.7%. Other activities accounted for 22.7%.

According to the committee’s methodological explanations, a special economic zone is a territory with defined boundaries and a special legal regime created to attract investment, technology and management expertise for accelerated regional development.

A small industrial zone is a plot of land or production space equipped with engineering and technical infrastructure. A technology park is a form of integration of scientific, educational, financial and entrepreneurial structures for innovative activity.

Clusters are established to organize the production and deep processing of fruit, vegetables and agricultural products, as well as to develop livestock and fish-farming complexes. Youth industrial and entrepreneurship zones are intended to provide employment for young people and support their entrepreneurial initiatives.