As of July 1 of this year, 234 enterprises with foreign capital operate in the healthcare and social services sector in Uzbekistan.
The largest number of companies in this industry are registered in Turkey and Russia. According to information from the National Committee on Statistics, Turkey ranks first with 36 companies. Russia follows with 34 enterprises.
China and India share third place in terms of the number of enterprises, each having 25 companies. South Korea is also represented in the industry with 18 enterprises, Kazakhstan with 16, and Azerbaijan with 9 enterprises.
Companies involving the USA (8 companies), the United Arab Emirates (6 companies), Kyrgyzstan, and Japan (4 enterprises each) operate in Uzbekistan's healthcare sector. Additionally, 49 companies operate with the support of investors from other countries.
It is separately noted that Nobel laureate in Physiology or Medicine, Greg Semenza, received an offer to join the International Scientific Council under the Agency for the Development of Medicine and the Pharmaceutical Industry of Uzbekistan.
According to World Bank analysts, Uzbekistan is capable of attracting between $5.2 and $6.4 billion in private investment, which will allow for the creation of over 300,000 new jobs.
World Bank experts believe that the main stimulus for this capital inflow comes from ongoing reforms in the logistics, tourism, and pharmaceutical sectors. According to the World Bank group report 'Diagnosis of Uzbekistan's Private Sector,' published on the International Finance Corporation (IFC) portal, transformations in these industries will help the economy transition to a more competitive model.
Although the country has improved its business climate since 2017, to maintain development momentum, it is necessary to eliminate existing obstacles related to labor shortages and infrastructure limitations, as well as increase competitiveness.
In the logistics sector, simplifying procedures for obtaining cargo transport permits and allocating land plots could attract up to $1.05 billion and create 108,000 jobs. Regarding tourism, reforms concerning facility management and land leasing could attract between $3.1 and $4.2 billion and provide up to 180,000 jobs.
The pharmaceutical industry could receive up to $188 million in investment and create 20,000 jobs, provided that laboratories are established and production is adapted to global standards. The World Bank advises simplifying drug registration procedures and improving documentation related to active pharmaceutical ingredients.
Furthermore, the International Monetary Fund previously forecasted an 8% growth in Uzbekistan's foreign exchange reserves over the next three years. The Fund also expects the country's real GDP to increase by approximately 6.8% in 2026 and by 6% in the following year, supported by structural changes, high domestic consumption, and investment activity.
