THE ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF DEVELOPING SMALL BUSINESS AND PRIVATE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN UZBEKISTAN
Tursunov Said
Termez State University of Engineering and Agrotechnology, Teacher of the Department of Network Economics
Eshqorayev Javohir
Termez State University of Engineering and Agrotechnology, Faculty of Economics, Forestry and Veterinary Medicine, Accounting and Auditing Department E-
Keywords: small business, private entrepreneurship, Uzbekistan, economic growth, employment, GDP, investment, regional development, private sector.
Abstract
Small business and private entrepreneurship play a decisive role in the economic modernization of Uzbekistan. In the context of market reforms, employment growth, regional development, poverty reduction, innovation, and export diversification, the expansion of small business activity has become one of the key priorities of national economic policy. Small enterprises and private entrepreneurs are not only sources of income for households but also important actors in creating competitive markets, improving the quality of goods and services, and increasing the flexibility of the national economy. In Uzbekistan, the economic importance of this sector is especially high because small business connects urban and rural economies, absorbs labor resources, stimulates domestic demand, and creates opportunities for self-employment. According to the National Statistics Committee, in January–December 2025, small business entities generated 923,514.6 billion soums in GDP and their share in total GDP reached 52.2 percent. Their largest sectoral contribution was observed in agriculture, forestry and fisheries, construction, services, and industry. This shows that small business is not a secondary element of the economy, but one of its structural foundations. However, the further development of this sector requires better access to finance, stronger institutional support, digitalization, fair competition, and regional policy differentiation.
References
1. National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan. “Key Indicators of Small Business Entities in the Republic of Uzbekistan,” press release, 26 January 2026.
2. World Bank. “Improved Access to Finance to Help 7,000 Businesses in Uzbekistan Grow and Create Jobs,” 15 December 2025.
3. World Bank. “Uzbekistan Country Economic Memorandum: Fostering Private Sector-Led Growth and Global Integration,” 2025.














