The Business Activity Index of Uzbekistan has reached its highest level since March 2020

Various changes were observed in the components of the BAI.

In March 2021, the Business Activity Index increased by 12.7% compared to the same period in the last year and amounted to 1,127 units due to changes in the level of the following components:

• the number of transactions in bank accounts of business entities increased by 15.7%;
• the component of operating business entities increased by 8.1%;
• the intensity of purchases of raw materials at the commodity exchange increased by 10.2%;
• brand component increased by 44.4%.

In the regional context, the Republic of Karakalpakstan show the highest growth.

In March 2021, the Business Activity Index increased in all regions compared to February 2021. Significant growth was observed in the Republic of Karakalpakistan (45.3%), Andijan (27.0%), Jizzakh (20.7%) and Khorezm (20.0%) regions.

OPERATIONS WITH BANK ACCOUNTS

The number of interbank payment transactions in March 2021 amounted to 5 049.7 thousand and increased by 686.8 thousand transactions (15.7%) compared to February 2021.

Based on the number of banking operations, current indicator has increased in all regions.

In March 2021 in all regions the number of banking transactions among legal entities has increased, compared to the previous month, particularly Tashkent city (18.8%), Surkhandarya (18.8%), Andijan (17.3%), Bukhara (15.7%) and Namangan (15.0%) regions.

ACTIVITY ON COMMODITY EXCHANGE

In March 2021, the exchange component of BAI was 11023, which means an increase in the component level by 10.2% compared to the previous month. The increase in the component level is associated with an increase in the number of transactions by 19.3%.

According to the results of March 2021, the Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange amounted total turnover to 5 443.7 billion sums, which is 12.0% more than in the previous month.

ACTIVITY OF ECONOMIC SUBJECTS

The component of operating economic entities in March 2021 amounted to 1,0805, which is 8.1% increase compared to the level of the previous month.

The number of operating economic entities in March 2021 increased by 7,063 compared to February 2021 (531,474 entities) and amounted to 538,537 entities.

The number of large enterprises increased by 815.

During the reporting period, the number of small businesses increased from 423,511 to 428,625 (an increase of 5,114 entities). The number of farms increased from 104,945 to 106,079 (an increase of 1 134 entities). The number of operating large enterprises amounted to 3,833, which is 815 entities more than in February 2021.

BRAND REGISTRATION

In March 2021, the index of protected trademarks was 1,4444, which means an increase of 44.4% compared to the previous month. Legal entities registered 325 trademarks and trade names.

Table 1. Changes in BAI components by region to the previous month

Table 2. Changes in BAI by regions to the same period of the last year (March, 2020)