Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment: Update

On Measures for Further Simplification of Microcredit System of 
Entrepreneurship Subjects and the Broader Population
. this allows granting microcredits to newly registered individual 
entrepreneurs and family business entities without a legal entity, providing for allocation of micro credits worth up to 
20 times minimum wage, taking as collateral the implementation of the planned business activities; and expanding 
the practice of granting micro credit for entrepreneurial activities in the amount of 60 times minimum wage, based on 
the guarantees of local authorities. Now operating without registering a legal entity, the entrepreneurs can get micro 
loans up to 20 times minimum wage ($10,000); goods purchased to conduct business can be used as collateral. Family 
businesses and individual entrepreneurs registered in remote areas and areas with excess labor resources will be able to 
obtain loans at the rate of 100 times minimum wage at an interest rate of 7% per annum ($41,000) financed from the 
preferential Crediting Fund. Currently, 47 localities fall into the mentioned categories. adB. 2017. WCU provided data 
to CGaU in November 2017. tashkent. Uzbekistan.
113 
the State Committee on Statistics of the Republic of Uzbekistan. 2012.
Women and Men in Uzbekistan, Statistical 
collection
. tashkent. Uzbekistan.
114 
data provided by the WCU to adB in November 2017 for this CGa update.
115 
United Nations development program, Japan International Cooperation agency, Chamber of Commerce and Industry 
and the BWa. 2017. 
The Portrait of Business Women of Uzbekistan. The
survey conducted under 
Business Forum of 
Uzbekistan Project.
phase 2. tashkent. Uzbekistan.

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Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment Update
data from other surveys
116 
add more key motivations for women to engage in 
entrepreneurship—to increase their status in a larger family and community and
 
to contribute 
to the family budget.
117
this statement is confirmed by quantitative data.
118
Most women 
without formal employment would be willing to become entrepreneurs if they could get a loan, 
but only 25% know how to work with banks.
119
despite positive dynamics in the development of women’s entrepreneurship, some 
challenges require further support from both the government and the donor community. In 
particular, women’s businesses are mainly presented as micro and mini segments of private 
entrepreneurship, mainly because of women’s low level of financial literacy and lack of financial 
skills. among other constraints on women entrepreneurs, participants in group discussions 
mentioned (i) lack of financial, marketing, and business planning skills; (ii) low self-esteem, 
doubt about access to credit, and low confidence in their MSMe; (iii) lack of time management 
skills; (iv) high income tax on individual entrepreneurs; (v) high interest rate on MSMe loans; 
(vi) high customs taxes on imported goods, causing many traders to deliver small consignments 
themselves rather than shipping them by cargo; and (vii) absence of insurance for the delivery 
116 
UN Food and agriculture Organization. 2017. 
Gender, Rural Livelihoods and Forestry
. 
Socio-Economic and Gender Analysis 
of the Forestry Sector in Uzbekistan
. Under publication. also, adB. 2017. Field survey conducted under the auspices of 
CGaU preparation. tashkent. Uzbekistan.
117 
adB field survey in 2017 in preparation for this CGa update. 
118 
Institute for Social Research under the Cabinet of Ministers. 2016.