PRIORITY DIRECTIONS FOR UZBEKISTAN COMPANIES IN DEVELOPING EXTERNAL ACTIVITIES

Abstract

Uzbekistan's integration into the global economy has accelerated significantly over the past decade, driven by comprehensive economic reforms and deepening strategic partnerships, particularly with the People's Republic of China. This chapter examines the priority directions for Uzbekistan companies in developing external economic activities, drawing on empirical data from 2024-2025 and case studies of Chinese enterprises operating in Uzbekistan. The analysis reveals that Chinese companies have emerged as the largest cohort of foreign investors in Uzbekistan, with 4,420 registered enterprises accounting for 26.1% of all foreign-owned firms. Their successful practices-characterized by manufacturing-oriented investment, industrial chain coordination, and robust financial support-offer valuable lessons for Uzbekistan companies. Based on a systematic review of trade and investment data from official sources, this chapter identifies five priority directions: deepening economic cooperation with China while optimizing trade structures; actively participating in regional industrial chain division to enhance industrial capabilities; developing service trade to expand new spaces for external cooperation; strengthening capacity building to cultivate internationally competitive enterprises; and leveraging financial cooperation opportunities to diversify funding channels. The findings suggest that Uzbekistan companies stand to benefit substantially from adopting strategic approaches aligned with these priority directions, positioning themselves for sustainable growth in an increasingly interconnected global economy.