Uzbekistan records 547,600 active business entities in August

Uzbekistan had 547,600 active business entities in August

Uzbekistan’s business activity index reached 990 points in August 2026, which was 1% lower than in July but 29% higher than in August 2025, the Center for Economic Research and Reforms said. The annual increase was driven by stronger activity on the commodity exchange and a rise in the number of operating business entities.

Against July, the index went up in six regions. Syrdarya posted the biggest gain at 37.9%, followed by Karakalpakstan at 36.6%, Tashkent city at 7.6%, Jizzakh at 7.2%, Navoi at 4.5% and Khorezm at 2.9%.

The index fell in the other eight regions, with the sharpest drops seen in Bukhara at 19.5%, Surkhandarya at 18.6%, Kashkadarya at 16.3%, Namangan at 11.4% and Fergana at 10.7%.

The commodity exchange segment of the index rose 2.7% from the previous month to 1.0267 points. The average amount of goods bought per transaction increased 21.1%, while the number of transactions declined 15.8%. Total trading in 34 major categories of goods on the Uzbekistan Commodity Exchange came to UZS 9.14 trillion ($775.4mn) in August, down 6% from July.

Greater trading in compound feed, coal, AI-91 gasoline, polypropylene, cottonseed meal and technical seeds helped lift exchange activity.

The component tracking operating business entities rose 2.3% to 1.0231 points. The number of operating business entities increased by 11,620 from July to 547,600. Large businesses grew by 143 to 4,802, small enterprises by 10,900 to 451,900, and farms by 575 to 90,900.

At the same time, interbank payment transactions decreased 6.2% month on month to 7.19mn, though this was still 18.9% higher than in August 2025. The trademark registration component dropped 12.5% to 0.8746 points. During the month, legal entities registered a total of 488 trademarks and trade names.

It was previously reported that business sentiment in Tashkent city and region also improved in the second quarter of 2026, with 53% of respondents saying business conditions had gotten better. Meanwhile, 82% expected the economy and business environment to improve over the next three years.

Uzbekistan is also getting ready to establish a unified digital register of business benefits and preferences. The system will include tax and customs incentives, preferential loans, grants, subsidies and other forms of state support available to businesses.