BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 23. The number of
enterprises with foreign investment operating in Uzbekistan rose to
19,921 as of June 1, 2026.
This was reflected in the statement published by the Committee
on Statistics of Uzbekistan, reflecting an increase of 3,870
compared with the same period last year.
“There are 19,921 enterprises with foreign investment operating
in Uzbekistan. This figure increased by 3,870 compared to the same
period last year.” the Committee noted.
The total includes 4,500 joint ventures and 15,421 wholly
foreign-owned enterprises.
China remained the largest source of foreign-invested
enterprises in Uzbekistan, with 5,821 companies operating in the
country, followed by Russia with 3,349 and Türkiye with 2,237.
Kazakhstan ranked fourth with 1,283 enterprises, ahead of South
Korea with 721 and Afghanistan with 673.
Other major sources of foreign investment included Azerbaijan
with 460 enterprises, Tajikistan with 442, the United Arab Emirates
with 433, and India with 413.
The figures highlight Uzbekistan’s continued attractiveness to
foreign investors as the government pursues economic reforms, trade
liberalization and measures aimed at improving the business
climate.
The continued increase in the number of foreign-invested
enterprises reflects growing investor confidence in Uzbekistan’s
economic reforms and long-term growth prospects. The addition of
nearly 3,900 foreign-funded businesses over the past year suggests
that efforts to improve the business environment, liberalize trade
and attract foreign capital are continuing to yield results.
The distribution of foreign-invested enterprises also highlights
Uzbekistan’s increasingly diversified investment landscape. While
China remains the dominant source of foreign businesses, strong
representation from Russia, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, South Korea and
the United Arab Emirates indicates that the country is attracting
capital from a broad range of strategic partners across Asia, the
Middle East and Eurasia.
China’s lead is particularly notable, reflecting deepening
economic ties under infrastructure, manufacturing and trade
initiatives. Meanwhile, the growing presence of Turkish companies
points to expanding cooperation in construction, industry, textiles
and services, while Russian and Kazakh businesses continue to
benefit from close economic links and geographic proximity.
The relatively high number of enterprises from neighboring
countries, including Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Azerbaijan, also
underscores Uzbekistan’s role as an increasingly important regional
business hub. As connectivity projects, logistics corridors and
cross-border trade initiatives gain momentum, foreign investment
from regional partners is expected to remain a key driver of
economic activity.
“Looking ahead, the challenge for Uzbekistan will be not only
attracting new foreign enterprises but also encouraging
larger-scale investments in high-value sectors such as
manufacturing, mining, renewable energy, digital technologies and
advanced industrial production. Success in these areas could help
strengthen export capacity, create skilled jobs and support the
country’s broader goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy,”
Trend’s analysis shows.
