THE TRANSFORMATIONAL ROLE OF SMALL BUSINESS IN UZBEKISTAN’S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS BASED ON 2025 NATIONAL STATISTICS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19606401Keywords:
small business, economic transformation, GDP contribution, entrepreneurship, Uzbekistan, structural changeAbstract
Small business has become a fundamental driver of economic growth, employment generation, and structural
transformation in emerging economies. This study investigates the transformational role of small business in Uzbekistan
using recent official statistical data for the first quarter of 2025. The research applies a quantitative-descriptive and
comparative analytical approach to evaluate the contribution of small business entities across key economic sectors,
including GDP, industry, agriculture, construction, services, and foreign trade.
The findings reveal that small business accounts for 45.6% of GDP, demonstrating its central role in national economic
performance. Sectoral analysis indicates particularly high participation in agriculture (over 95%), construction (78.1%),
and retail trade (82.5%), highlighting its structural dominance in labor-intensive and service-oriented sectors. Additionally,
small business contributes significantly to external trade, accounting for 24.9% of exports and 50.7% of imports, suggesting
both integration into global markets and structural imbalances [1]
The study contributes to the literature by offering an up-to-date empirical assessment of small business as a transformational
economic force in Uzbekistan. It identifies key trends, sectoral asymmetries, and policy-relevant challenges, particularly in
export competitiveness. The results provide a foundation for developing targeted economic policies aimed at enhancing
the efficiency, sustainability, and global integration of small business
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