TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, February 7. Uzbekistan is setting its sights on boosting service volumes by a whopping 15 percent, reaching a grand total of $82 billion this year, all while rolling up its sleeves to create 2.5 million jobs, Trend reports.
The news follows a video conference chaired by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev to discuss the country’s service sector development.
Key focus areas for service sector development include IT, financial services, tourism, aviation, education, and healthcare.
Uzbekistan plans to increase IT service volumes by 30 percent, reaching 80 trillion soums ($6.1 billion) in 2024, while boosting IT exports to over $1 billion. To support this growth, $50 million will be allocated for startup projects in the creative economy. Additionally, a nationwide push for digitalization will see the expansion of remote service exports, benefiting businesses and freelancers working in international markets.
A significant push will be made to improve banking accessibility, with plans to integrate real estate and tax data into banking systems to facilitate lending. Additionally, investments in transport infrastructure, including new air and rail routes, will be prioritized to support regional connectivity.
With the privatization of 29 governmental functions scheduled for 2025, the government is also aiming to increase the private sector's involvement in service provision.
