According to the National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the first quarter of 2026 demonstrated stable positive momentum across all key forms of territorially organized production and investment attraction.
The System in Numbers: Reach and Scale
As of April 1, 2026, the following zones are operational across the country:
| Zone Type | Number of Zones | Participating Enterprises |
|---|---|---|
| Special Economic Zones (SEZ) | 33 | 1,116 |
| Small Industrial Zones (SIZ) | 396 | 3,098 |
| Technoparks | 27 | 3,680 |
| Clusters | 349 | 383 |
| Youth Industrial and Entrepreneurial Zones (YIEZ) | 143 | 1,157 |
Taken together, the system encompasses over 9,400 enterprises and sustains approximately 211,000 jobs — a clear demonstration that Uzbekistan’s investment infrastructure has reached genuine productive scale.
SEZs: The Production Core
Special Economic Zones remain the primary destination for capital. Industrial output for January–March 2026 reached 14,000.6 billion soums — a year-on-year increase of 31.4% (Q1 2025: 10,652.9 billion soums).
Fixed capital investment stood at 2,645.5 billion soums — the highest figure across all zone formats. The sectoral base of SEZs is well-diversified: automotive manufacturing (28.8%), metallurgy (18.4%), food production (9.3%), non-metallic mineral products (8.1%), rubber and plastics (6.9%), and textiles and chemicals (5.7% each). This breadth provides resilience against sector-specific market fluctuations.
Employment in SEZs reached 55,869 workers across 55,775 jobs — a tangible social and economic impact at the regional level.
SIZs: High Returns on Compact Investment
Small Industrial Zones delivered impressive production growth: 5,204.0 billion soums in Q1 2026, up from 3,367.3 billion soums in Q1 2025 — an increase of 54.5%.
Particularly notable is SIZs’ leading position in own-force construction activity — 248.0 billion soums — reflecting active expansion of production capacity by zone participants. The sectoral mix is broad: textiles (16.1%), petroleum processing (14.5%), metallurgy (10.1%), apparel, food manufacturing, and electronics — a foundation for building integrated domestic supply chains.
Technoparks and IT Park: The Digital Economy Flagship
Technoparks recorded the highest production growth rate across all zone formats — +114.5% year-on-year (779.6 versus 363.4 billion soums). Market services volume reached 9,779.3 billion soums — the largest figure system-wide.
IT Park stands out as the clear leader in foreign currency earnings:
| Indicator | Q1 2025 | Q1 2026 | Growth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Services export | 153.3 mln USD | 191.8 mln USD | +25.1% |
| Market services | 6,626.5 bln soums | 9,401.7 bln soums | +41.9% |
| Fixed capital investment | 151.6 bln soums | 500.5 bln soums | +230.1% |
| Jobs | 37,274 | 46,172 | +23.9% |
USD 191.8 million in IT services exports in a single quarter represents a meaningful contribution to the diversification of the country’s export base — and compelling confirmation that the digital economy strategy is delivering results. The threefold increase in fixed capital investment signals strong long-term confidence among IT Park participants.
Over the course of one year, IT Park created nearly 9,000 new jobs — high-skill, export-oriented positions.
Clusters: Broad Coverage of the Agro-Industrial Sector
Clusters generated production output of 9,679.8 billion soums and employ 52,152 people. The cluster format is primarily oriented toward the agro-industrial sector — deep processing of fruit and vegetable products, livestock, textiles, and export-oriented food manufacturing. This model is organically embedded in the country’s agricultural regions, providing employment where alternative opportunities are limited.
YIEZs: An Investment in the Future
Youth Industrial and Entrepreneurial Zones are a relatively new policy instrument — and already in Q1 2026, 1,157 enterprises are active within them, employing 5,766 people. The format is designed to engage young people in entrepreneurial activity and support early-stage producers, including participants in the “Youth Notebook” programme. This is a strategically important direction, building the entrepreneurial and human capital base for the decade ahead.
Overall Assessment
Q1 2026 confirms that Uzbekistan’s economic zone system is operating across a wide front: SEZs, SIZs, and technoparks are growing; IT Park is expanding its export footprint; clusters sustain regional employment; and YIEZs are cultivating the next generation of entrepreneurs.
For investors considering Uzbekistan as a production base or business destination, this data sends a clear signal: the infrastructure is in place, momentum is positive, and the growth opportunities are concrete and measurable.
Data source: National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan, press release dated May 15, 2026.