According to the National Statistical Committee, as of July 1, 2026, more than 20 thousand enterprises utilizing foreign capital are operating in the country. This figure indicates strengthening confidence among foreign investors in the economy of Uzbekistan and an increase in its investment attractiveness.
Among the operating companies, 4611 are joint ventures, and 15891 are enterprises fully owned by foreign capital.
According to statistics, over the past five years, the number of active enterprises with foreign investment participation has increased by 1.4 times. This reflects the effectiveness of the investment policy being implemented in the country, the improvement of the business climate, and the creation of favorable conditions for investors.
China leads in the number of enterprises with foreign capital participation, with 6600 such companies registered. Russia follows with 3454 enterprises, Turkey with 2293, Kazakhstan with 1307, and South Korea with 725.
In addition, enterprises with participation from Afghanistan (685), Azerbaijan (473), Tajikistan (455), United Arab Emirates (440), and India (426) are operating.
It is noted that the growth in the number of enterprises with foreign capital contributes to the introduction of modern technologies, the increase in production capacity, and management experience in the country. This also leads to the creation of new jobs and an increase in export potential.
A delegation from Belarus visited the construction site of the NPP in the Forish district. During the visit, a meeting was held with Mirziyoyev, where cooperation on the creation of the station was discussed.
Particular attention at the meeting was paid to using Belarusian experience in the creation of the nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. The main areas of partnership were defined, including expert support for the design, construction, and operation processes of the future NPP.
Furthermore, the parties agreed to train national personnel for the nuclear energy sector and to launch joint educational programs between higher education institutions of Uzbekistan and Belarus.
On this day, the Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Achilbay Ramatov, Viktor Karankevich, the Minister of Energy of Belarus Denis Moroz, and the director of the 'Uzatom' agency Azim Ahmedkhadzhayev arrived at the construction site of the integrated NPP in the Forish district. The delegation familiarized itself with the progress of the project, construction stages, and installation work.
As part of the visit, participants discussed the possibilities of applying Belarusian experience at all stages of the NPP life cycle—from initial design to subsequent operation. Issues regarding the development of cooperation between specialized educational institutions of the two countries and the exchange of practical experience among specialists in the atomic industry were also considered.
The active process of digitalizing banking services continues in Uzbekistan. One of the significant trends in the country's financial system is the expansion of bank card usage by the population, the growth of non-cash transactions, and the development of payment infrastructure.
According to data from the Central Bank, as of July 1, 2026, the total number of bank cards in circulation in the republic amounted to 74.6 million. This figure exceeds the beginning-of-year figure by 6.3 million, which means more than one million new cards are issued monthly. This growth indicates an increasing need and trust of the population in modern banking services.
In the context of the digital economy, bank cards have become not only a means of receiving salary or pension but also the most convenient tool for making daily payments, online shopping, interacting with government services, money transfers, and various financial operations.
Positive changes are also observed in the payment infrastructure. In the first half of the current year, the number of ATMs and info kiosks increased by 6.6 thousand, reaching 46.7 thousand units. The number of POS terminals exceeded 17.3 thousand and reached 448.1 thousand. This expands the possibilities for making non-cash payments at trade and service points.
According to statistical data, the volume of payments made through POS terminals in January–June 2026 exceeded 322.5 trillion sums, confirming the increase in the share of non-cash transactions in the country year over year.
Regarding the number of cards in circulation, People's Bank leads with 12 million cards. Following it are Uzum Bank (7 million), Agrobank (6.8 million), Ipoteka-Bank (5.6 million), and Hamkorbank (5 million).
People's Bank also leads in the network of ATMs and info kiosks, operating 3,132 ATMs and info kiosks across the republic. The next positions are held by Agrobank (1,823 units), Kapitalbank (1,669 units), Invest Finance Bank (1,426 units), and Ipoteka-Bank (1,109 units).
Overall, the semi-annual indicators demonstrate the active development of digital banking services in the country, strengthening competition between banks, and improving the quality and convenience of provided services. This contributes to expanding the population's ability to use financial services, increasing the share of the non-cash economy, and developing the digital economy.
In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on adopting additional measures to support the production of finished goods in the leather and footwear industry and to increase export potential, a Directorate for Managing the Leather and Footwear Industrial Zone will be established in the form of a limited liability company.
Land plots belonging to the leather and footwear industrial zones located in the Okhangaron district of Tashkent region and the Sharikon district of Andijan region will be transferred to the Directorate under lease terms, and it will be tasked with managing these territories.
The sole founder of the Directorate is the Restoration and Development Fund, and the Directorate is managed based on a power of attorney from the Agency for Light Industry Development.
Funds amounting to 360 billion UZS will be allocated from the republican budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan for 2026–2027 to build modern treatment facilities for leather and footwear industrial zones in the Okhangaron district of Tashkent region and enterprises for processing leather and wool in the Syrdarya district of the Syrdarya region.
Within two months, a target list for the modernization and construction of treatment facilities at leather processing enterprises in accordance with international standards will be formed, and proposals for financing these projects within the framework of the Republic of Uzbekistan's Program for the Development of Social and Production Infrastructure for 2026–2028 will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.
To finance investment projects in the leather and footwear sector, participation in projects, and replenish working capital, $33 million USD has been allocated, according to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan No. PQ-181 of May 20, 2024, on measures to promote the leather, silk, and carpet sectors. These funds are distributed as follows:
a) $10 million USD is directed to the Restoration and Development Fund to provide loans to enterprises through commercial banks during 2026–2027, with the condition that repayment to the Fund occurs by December 31, 2035. Loans are provided for investment projects for a term of 10 years, including a three-year grace period, at an annual rate of 5% (the margin of the Restoration and Development Fund is 3.5%, the bank's margin is 1.2%, and the Agency's expenses are 0.3%); as well as for replenishing working capital for up to 36 months at an annual rate of 3.5% (the margin of the Restoration and Development Fund is 2.5%, the bank's margin is 1.2%, and the Agency's expenses are 0.3%).
b) $23 million USD is directed to the Directorate's target fund for the construction of production buildings and structures upon request from entrepreneurs in the wool processing and leather and footwear manufacturing sectors, which will be sold to entrepreneurs in stages over 7 years according to a schedule agreed upon with the Directorate.
From July 1, 2026, to July 1, 2029, the Directorate and the Directorate for Managing the Small Industrial Zone in the Oltingol district of Andijan region are exempt from paying profit tax, property tax, land tax, and water resource usage fees.
The Agency, together with the Uzbekistan-Korean Educational and Practical Textile Technopark, will regularly organize preparatory courses such as 'School of Designers-Pattern Makers', 'School of Marketers', and 'School of Technologists' for specialists, workers, masters, and artisans in the sector starting from October 1, 2026.
80 billion UZS will be allocated for 2026–2027 to provide external engineering and communication infrastructure (roads, water, electricity, and gas pipelines) to the leather and footwear industrial zones in the Okhangaron district of Tashkent region, the Sharikon district of Andijan region, and enterprises for processing wool and leather in the Syrdarya district of the Syrdarya region.
