BAKU, Azerbaijan, Oct. 7
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
Uzbek entrepreneurs' expectations about the prospects of their business development for the next 2-3 months are positive, Trend reports with reference to the CERR (Center for Economic Research and Reforms) survey.
CERR conducted a September survey of enterprises to assess the business climate in Uzbekistan. Some 1003 enterprises took part in the survey. The survey was carried out in two directions - a qualitative assessment of the current state of the business and the expectations of entrepreneurs for the next 2-3 months.
The indicator of the current state of business amounted to 33 points (a decrease of 3 points compared to the previous month), which characterizes the moderately positive sentiment of entrepreneurs regarding the current state of their business.
Among 1003 enterprises, 37 percent rated the current state of business as good (38 percent in August), 49 percent as satisfactory (46 percent in August) and only 14 percent rated the state of their business as bad (16 percent in August).
The demand for goods/services improved in 39 percent of enterprises (34 percent in August), 42 percent said it has not changed (32 percent in August), 19 percent said it worsened (34 percent in August). The number of employees increased for 23 percent of enterprises (11 percent in August), did not change for 63 percent (72 percent in August) and decreased for 14 percent enterprises (17 percent in August).
The indicator of expectations of business development prospects for the next 2-3 months was 66 points (an increase of 3 points).
Among the surveyed enterprises, 68 percent believe that their business prospects will improve (64 percent in August), 28 percent said it will not change (33 percent in August) and only 3 percent believe that it will get worse (3 percent in August).
It is expected that the next 2-3 months the demand for goods/services will improve for 64 percent of enterprises, 30 percent say it will not change, and only 6 percent believe that demand will worsen.
In the coming months, 46 percent of enterprises expect an increase in the number of employees, 49 percent answered that the number of employees will not change, and 5 percent expect a decrease.
Some 16 percent of enterprises are predicted to increase prices for their goods/services, 36 percent are sure that prices for their products will not change, 4 percent of those asked answered that prices will decrease, 45 percent of respondents said that they don’t know.
The business climate indicator amounted to 49 points (didn’t change), i.e. the state of the business climate in Uzbekistan is assessed as good.
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