Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The volume of market services rendered in Uzbekistan reached 50.36 trillion soums in the first quarter of 2020, which rose by 9.9% compared to the same period of 2019.

As of 1 April 2020, the share of enterprises and organizations engaged in the service sector reached 65.7%, industry - 17.7%, construction - 9.0%, and only 7.6% in agriculture, forestry and fisheries.

In the structure of operating enterprises and organizations related to the service sector, the predominant share is engaged in trade activities (39.8%). The number of functioning enterprises and organizations providing accommodation and food services amounted to 9.9%.

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.

Small businesses have become an integral and most important part of the national economy, transformed into a leading force to address many economic and social issues, develop services, ensure a prosperous life for people.

In the total number of enterprises and organizations providing services, small businesses amounted 77.3%. As of April 1, 2020, the share of large organizations reached 22.7%.

The growth of existing enterprises related to small businesses had a positive impact on the increase in the total number of operating enterprises and organizations engaged in the service sector.

As of April 1, 2020, compared with the same period last year, the number of small businesses operating in the service sector increased by 39,879 units.

As a result, their number amounted to 210,933 units, and their growth increased by 23.3%. In the total number of operating small business enterprises, the share of people employed in the service sector reached 59.9%.

Currently, the role of services, as one of the most important sectors of the economy, is very large and relevant.

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 activities and the characteristic features of service processes.

According to preliminary data, the volume of market services provided in January-March 2020 reached 50,365.7 billion soums, but the minimum volume of which increased by 9,078.6 billion soums. In comparison with the same period last year, the growth rate was 109.9%.

The development of the service sector plays a huge role in the modern economy. The services form such key factors of economic growth as scientific knowledge, intangible forms of accumulation, information technology, and the integration of entrepreneurial activity.

Today, the service sector is one of the most dynamically developing sectors of the economy of Uzbekistan.

Compared with January 2020, the volume of market services provided in March (discrete month) of the current year increased by 0.8 trillion sum and reached 17.1 trillion soums. For comparison: over the same period last year, the volume increased by 1.0 trillion soums and equal to 14.5 trillion soums.

According to the results of the first discrete quarter of 2020, the volume of services rendered was equal to 50.4 trillion soums, compared with the first discrete quarter of 2019 (41.3 trillion soums), the volume increased by 9.1 trillion sum. For comparison: the difference between the first discrete quarters of 2019 and 2018 amounted to 7.6 trillion soums.

The service sector includes various activities that help improve productivity and production efficiency. Its final result is not a finished product, but the provision of services that can be provided not only to enterprises, but also to individuals - final consumers. The main factor behind the growth in the total volume of services rendered was the increase in financial services by 36.6% (contribution to the increase in the total volume of services rendered was 6.6 points), trade services - by 4.4% (contribution to the increase - 0.9 points), communication and information services - 17.9% (contribution to growth - 0.9 points), transport services - 3.1% (contribution to growth - 0.7 points), health services by 16.2% (contribution in growth - 0.2 points).

Of particular importance in the economic policy of the state is the development of modern types of services, for example, such as information and communication types of services (mobile communications, Internet, digital television, etc.), as well as modern types of financial services (banking services, leasing, insurance, audit, consulting, etc.).

Currently, the service sector is not limited to traditional activities, is constantly expanding its presence in public life, is integrated into social production, and is also intertwined with peculiar relations with almost all areas of the economy.

The highest growth rates were recorded in financial services (136.6%), communication and informatization services (117.9%), in the healthcare sector (116.2%), as well as education (106.3%). A slight increase was recorded for services in the field of architecture, engineering surveys, technical testing and analysis (0.8%), as well as related to real estate (1.8%). A decrease in growth rates is observed in the sphere of accommodation and food services (- 1.8%).

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 automobile transport is 47.1%. The volume of pipeline transportation transportation services is 19.7%.

In turn, services provided by rail in the total volume of transport services reached 14.9%.

The proportion of services for the transport of goods and passengers by air was recorded within 10.9%, and auxiliary transport activities - at 7.4%.

An important role in the economic life of each country is played by trade, which carries out 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-March 2020, the share of trade services in the total volume of market services provided amounted to 24.5%, which corresponds to 12 335.5 billion soums.

Over the past period, the share of retail trade amounted to almost three quarters of the total volume of trade services, or rather, 67.9%.

The share of wholesale services (except for cars and motorbikes) reached 24.4%. Wholesale and retail trade in motor vehicles and motorcycles, including repair services, in the total volume of trade services amounted to 7.7%.

In January-March 2020, the volume of financial services was equal to 10 308.3 billion soums and, compared with the same period last year, it increased by 3,532.0 billion soums. The growth of financial services amounted to 36.6%.

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

The share of financial services, except insurance and pension services, occupies 92.9% of the total volume of financial services. Over the past period, the share of insurance services is fixed in the range of 3.8%.

Services auxiliary to financial and insurance services accounted for only 3.3% of the total volume of financial services.

The share of financial services, except insurance and pension services, turned out to be significant in Surkhandarya (95.9%), Syrdarya (95.6%), Jizzakh (94.5%), Ferghana (94.2%) and Navoi ( 94.0%) regions, as well as in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (95.8%). The lowest rate was recorded in the Tashkent region (88.9%).

Among the regions in the structure of financial services, the volume of insurance services prevails in Tashkent (9.6%), Namangan (5.4%), Navoi (4.6%) and Bukhara (4.4%) regions. The lowest indicator for insurance services was noted in Surkhandarya (2.9%), and Andijan (3.1%) regions, the Republic of Karakalpakstan (3.0%) and the city of Tashkent (3.1%).

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-March 2020, the volume of communication and information services was fixed at the level of 2 891.9 billion soums.

Compared to the same period last year, the growth rate of this type of service reached 117.9%.

The share in the total volume of market services provided amounted to 5.7%. The active use of ICTs is based on a widely branched, equipped with the latest types of equipment and technologies, infrastructure, high personnel potential.

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 80.2%. Computer programming services, consulting and other related services reached 7.2%, publishing services - 5.2%, other communication services - 4.5%, information services - 2, 9% of the total volume of communication and information services.

In January-March 2020, the volume of educational services reached 2 061.4 billion soums, or 4.1% of the total volume of market services provided. Compared to the same period last year, the growth rate was 106.3%.

As you know, providing citizens with high-quality and affordable education is a task that largely determines the development of society, its future.

The largest volume of educational services was recorded in Samarkand (188.2 billion soums), Bukhara (135.0 billion soums), Tashkent (133.3 billion soums), Ferghana (120.4 billion soums) and Tashkent city (833.7 billion soums)

The lowest indicators were recorded in Syrdarya (34.9 billion soums), Navoi (49.7 billion soums), Jizzakh (50.2 billion soums), Surkhandarya (65.1 billion soums) regions.

Compared to the same period last year, the growth rate of accommodation and food services amounted to only 98.2%, and their volume increased by 167.8 billion soums and reached 1,391.0 billion soums. Over the past period, their share in the total volume of market services rendered amounted 2.8%.

In the total volume of accommodation and catering services, services for the provision of food products and beverages prevail - 79.6%. In January-March 2020, the share of accommodation services amounted to 20.4%.

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-March 2020, the volume of healthcare services increased by 193.7 billion soums and reached 787.5 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 116.2%.

The production of services by type of economic activity is differentiated depending on the level of income, tastes and preferences of consumers. 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 - 34.4%. 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 (6.4%), Ferghana (6.0%) and Andijan (5.2%) regions.

The lowest indicators of the service sector were noted in Syrdarya (1.4%), Jizzakh (2.2%), Navoi (2.6%), Khorezm (3.0%) regions and the Republic of Karakalpakstan (3.0%).

Over the past period, high growth rates were noted in Syrdarya (113.9%), Jizzakh (112.8%), Andijan (111.1%), Navoi (111.0%) regions and the Tashkent city (112.7%).

Relatively low growth rates were observed in the Fergana (108.1%), Namangan, Surkhandarya (108.2%) and Tashkent (108.5%) regions, as well as in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (107.9 %).

As you know, the prospects for socio-economic development of modern Uzbekistan largely depend on the rational use of all resources of each economic region 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 rendered. Compared to the same period last year, the volume of services in this region increased by 3 816.1 billion soums and reached 17 322.1 billion soums.

Along with this, relatively high rates were observed in Tashkent (3,621.5 billion soums), Samarkand (3,224.7 billion soums), Ferghana (3,035.8 billion soums) and Andijan (2,604.6 billion soums) areas.

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-March 2020, the volume of market services provided per capita reached 1,482.6 thousand soums. Compared to the same period last year, the growth rate was 107.8%.

According to many international experts, the accelerated development of the service sector is an indispensable condition for the successful completion of the modern structural adjustment of the country’s economy. The increasing complexity of technology and the sectoral structure of the service sector, improving the quality and diversity of the product, as well as the accelerated development of science-intensive services, will further contribute to the efficiency and competitiveness of enterprises, organizations and farms, as well as improve the living standards of the population.