Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment: Update

Country Operation Business Plan,
Uzbekistan 2011-2013
, which focuses on integrated 
rural development strategies, and aims to improve the quality of living in rural areas through improved infrastructure, 
housing, business and employment opportunities targeting middle- and lower-income families.
98 
adB. 2016
. Country Operation Business Plan, Uzbekistan 2017-2019
. Manila.
99 
UzBankNet. 
Commercial Banks of Uzbekistan
. http://uzbank.net/combanki.php.
100 
adB. 2017. 
Promoting Inclusive Growth through Private Sector Development in Central and West Asia. Good Jobs for Inclusive 
Growth in Central and West Asia.
Manila.
101 
Uzbekistan Sputnik. Online edition. 
The Share of Small Business Enterprises in GDP of Uzbekistan
. http://ru.sputniknews-
uz.com/society/20160727/3446481.html
102
data provided by the State Committee on Statistics to adB in September–October 2017 for this CGa update. 
the state committee categorizes larger enterprises together with NGOs.

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Mainstreaming Gender in ADB Operations, by Sector
35
are headed by women, showing effective results. Women entrepreneurs were issued loans of 
1 trillion 255 billion sums, which is 130% higher as compared to the similar figure of 2014.”
103
the sector breakdown of women-led businesses is as follows: services (34%), trade (16%), 
nonfood production (16%), food production (9%), agricultural farms (5%), and other spheres 
(21%) (Figure 2).
2. Government Commitments
the official definition of an SMe
104 
is reflected in the legal framework of the State Committee 
on Statistics, which in 2016 adopted a nationwide qualifier of economic activity types based 
on the european Union’s statistical classification (NaCe):
105
“a micro firm hires from 1 to 20 
employees annually. a small business subject hires from 21 to 50 annually.”
106
103 
Uzbekistan Sputnik. Online Resource. 2016. 
The Speech of President I. Karimov: Women are Invaluable Treasure
. 5 March. 
https://ru.sputniknews-uz.com/society/20160305/1949394.html
104 
the definition of small business provided by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan includes micro-
firms and small enterprises. the “small private business” (
МЧБ
) terminology indicates individual or private entrepreneurs 
and farmers. adB. 2017. the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan provided data to CGaU in 
September–October 2017. tashkent. Uzbekistan.
105 
eurostat Methodologies and Working papers. NaCe Rev.2. Statistical classification of economic activities in the 
european Community. http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/3859598/5902521/KS-Ra-07-015-eN.pdF
106 
decree of Cabinet of Ministers, #275. 2016. 
On Measures for Transition to International System of Classification of Kinds of 
Economic Activities
.
Figure 2: Women-Led Businesses, by Sector, 2017
Source: United Nations development programme, Japan International Cooperation agency, Chamber of 
Commerce and Industry, and the BWa. 2017. 
The Portrait of Business Women of Uzbekistan
survey conducted 
under the 
Business Forum of Uzbekistan
Project. 
phase 2.
Other spheres
Agricultural farms
Food production
Nonfood production
Trade
Services
0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Women
Men

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36
Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment Update
the government has not yet developed an official definition of women’s businesses and 
women’s entrepreneurship. thus, it is not clear whether to classify a women’s business as 
(i) a private firm/company registered in the name of women;
107
(ii) an enterprise managed by 
women; (iii) an enterprise that hires women; or (iv) the involvement of self-employed women in 
various activities, including farming.
the BWa provides a slightly different definition: “the business is considered ‘women’s’ if a 
woman is its founder, co-founder, or manager.”
108
the directions of the Strategy of action in 2017–2021 include further protection of the 
rights and priority role of private ownership, promotion of small business, and private 
entrepreneurship.
there were 12 legal provisions related to the SMe sector in 2016–2017,
109
with special attention 
to the development of home-based businesses.
110
among the most significant innovations is the 
establishment of the Small Business and private entrepreneurship Ombudsman Office under 
the president of Uzbekistan.
111
Uzbekistan has no legal barriers or restrictions to women’s entrepreneurship. Moreover, special 
legal provisions focus on women, young girls, and vocational college graduates, including 
107 
However, there might be an ambiguity because the business is often owned and run by a man, while the woman is only a 
formal owner.
108 
adB interview with the BWa chair in 2017 for this CGa update.
109 
the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan #400 (20 January 2016).