Uzbekistan: Most Special Economic Zones Fail to Export Goods
In Uzbekistan, a significant portion of recently established export-oriented production facilities are not yet contributing to exports. Out of 509 facilities launched in the last three years to produce exportable goods, 208 have not yet exported any products. Furthermore, 29 out of 47 special economic zones (SEZs) have recorded zero exports since the beginning of the year. The remaining 18 SEZs collectively export less than $500 million. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has ordered the formation of "rapid response brigades" to address this situation and improve export performance. This initiative aims to identify and resolve the bottlenecks hindering the export capabilities of these zones and production facilities. The government is seeking to boost the country's export revenue and economic growth through these measures.
The underperformance of numerous special economic zones in Uzbekistan in achieving export targets suggests systemic challenges in their operational framework or the broader economic environment. The establishment of "rapid response brigades" indicates a governmental acknowledgment of these issues and a move towards direct intervention. This approach may offer short-term improvements by addressing immediate logistical or regulatory hurdles. However, a sustainable solution likely requires a deeper examination of factors such as market access, product competitiveness, infrastructure, and the alignment of incentives for businesses within these zones. Over-reliance on centralized "brigades" might also create dependencies, potentially overshadowing the need for fostering self-sustaining export ecosystems driven by market forces and private sector initiative over the long term.
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