Foreign currency purchase volume in Uzbekistan grew by 17.3% in the first eight months

Starting September 15, the Central Bank of Uzbekistan is introducing changes to the methodology for determining the official exchange rate. Now, the calculation of the rate will take into account not only transactions conducted on the foreign exchange market but also operations occurring in the interbank over-the-counter market.

The new approach stipulates that the official rate will be established based on the average weighted value of transactions that took place in both the exchange and over-the-counter segments of the domestic currency market. According to the Central Bank, this change will ensure the accounting of a larger array of operations and a more reliable reflection of the current situation in the currency market.

Furthermore, the procedure for using the rate during non-working days will be adjusted. On weekends, including Saturday and Sunday, the official rate published after the end of the last business day will be applied.

In this regard, previously the head of the Central Bank, Timur Ishmetov, announced the launch of the national strategy for the development of fintech in Uzbekistan for the period 2026–2030. This strategy aims to attract $1 billion in foreign investment to the sector and prepare five thousand qualified personnel.

The volume of foreign direct investment received in Uzbekistan during the first half of 2026 showed significant growth, increasing by 32.5% compared to the same period last year.

According to data presented by the Eurasian Development Bank in its September Macroeconomic Review, alongside this growth, capital investments also increased by 17.5%.

Reasons for the increase in investment activity

The EDB links such high investment activity to key elements contributing to the acceleration of the country's economy, which also includes stable consumer demand.

The increase in investments was driven by the active development of several sectors: industry, construction, and the service sector. The bank's analysts believe that these areas had the greatest impact on the economic dynamics of Uzbekistan in the first half of the reporting period.

It was previously noted that industry was the leading direction for attracting investment in Uzbekistan, receiving 100.5 trillion soms in the first half of the year.