Uzbekistan will conduct a business census starting October 15, 2026

International expert Hakan Demirbuken stated that conducting a business census will provide a more accurate basis for Uzbekistan's business statistics and improve the quality of subsequent statistical surveys.

According to the expert, determining the actual types of economic activities carried out by each enterprise is necessary to obtain reliable statistical data. Particular importance is attached to establishing whether a company is involved in construction, industry, or production, and whether it conducts several types of activities simultaneously.

A similar approach is required when collecting information about private entrepreneurs and self-employed individuals. The census will allow for the identification of their activity types, places of work, and other characteristics of their economic activity.

Demirbuken noted that incomplete coverage of economic entities hinders the accurate calculation of national income, gross domestic product, and other vital economic indicators.

The main goal of the business census, according to the expert, is to improve the quality of business statistics. It should reflect, in particular, the number of employed people in various sectors, the volumes of production and trade, as well as the contribution of different types of economic activity to GDP formation.

Although business censuses are conducted periodically in many countries around the world, the upcoming event is particularly important for Uzbekistan, as it will be the first census of business entities since the country gained independence.

As Demirbuken emphasized, the census results will serve to create a more reliable basis for business statistics and ensure the foundation for improving the quality of future statistical research.

Uzbekistan is introducing a new procedure for assessing state-owned enterprises, according to which it will be determined annually which ones need to be maintained, privatized, reorganized, or liquidated.

This new regulation was officially approved by a decree of the Cabinet of Ministers. The annual inventory of state enterprise activities will be conducted through the joint efforts of state bodies, the State Assets Management Agency, and other relevant departments. Based on the results of this inspection, a list of organizations with recommendations regarding their future existence is formed and then submitted to the government for approval.

Furthermore, before privatizing a state share, it is mandatory to obtain a conclusion from the Competition Development Committee regarding the level of competition in that industry.

Mechanism for working with state institutions

A separate mechanism has been developed for state institutions. Annually, before May 1st, the Competition Development Committee, together with relevant ministries and agencies, will analyze their activities and submit proposals to the State Assets Agency regarding possible cessation of operations or privatization.

Previously, a state complex intended for refueling aircraft with aviation fuel was put up for public auction in Tashkent. For the privatization process, the State Assets Agency engaged the international consulting company Ernst & Young.

Uzbekistan is implementing changes in approaches to calculating employed citizens and unemployment rates. The state plans to aggregate information on population work and income from multiple state sources, including tax, labor, and migration databases.

These adjustments are officially enshrined in a Cabinet of Ministers resolution adopted on September 29th and effective from September 30th. Now, when determining the size of the working population, not only data on formal employment will be taken into account.

Individual entrepreneurs, self-employed persons, agricultural workers, artisans, citizens temporarily abroad for work, and people engaged in activities on their own land plots will be included in the calculation.

Specifically, information on self-employed individuals and individual entrepreneurs in the agricultural sector will come from the Tax Committee database, while data on company employees will be taken from the Unified National Labor System. Furthermore, income tax declarations submitted by citizens for land plots used for agriculture and other activities will be analyzed.

To achieve a more complete picture of employment and unemployment, authorities will integrate data from the information systems of the Tax Committee, the Migration Agency, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the 'Khunarmand' Association.

In addition to tracking current employment, the needs of the labor market will be studied. The Institute of Poverty and Labor Market Research organizes surveys among companies and organizations annually until July 1st to determine the most in-demand professions and necessary qualifications. Based on the data received, proposals for training and education of personnel meeting market demands will be developed.

The resolution also approves a new form of labor resource balance, as well as the methodology for calculating employment and unemployment indicators, and the regulations for compiling lists of unemployed and informal sector workers.

Previously, there was a measure allowing some laid-off workers nearing retirement age to retire early if they failed to find suitable employment within three months. This benefit applied to men aged 58 to 60 with at least 25 years of experience and women aged 53 to 55 with at least 20 years of experience.