Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — From January to May 2025, the volume of market services in the Republic of Uzbekistan amounted to 373.5 trillion soums, reflecting a 13.3% increase compared to the same period last year (13.0% in the same period of the previous year). This was reported by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan.

The highest growth was recorded in the fields of communications and information technology (123.5%), financial services (119.1%), and transport (114.0%).

Sectors with lower growth included accommodation and food services (107.7%), education (108.9%), and trade (110.2%). Regionally, the highest growth was observed in the city of Tashkent (117.0%), as well as in Navoi and Andijan regions (113.1% each).

During this period, 820,500 people were employed in income-generating jobs within the service sector. Of these, 140,200 were employed on a permanent basis (including 2,700 through the legalization of informal jobs), while 680,300 were engaged in entrepreneurial activity.

The opening of approximately 22,400 new trade and service facilities across the regions led to the creation of around 43,600 new jobs. Specifically, 9,800 outlets were launched in retail trade, 2,500 in consumer services, 1,400 in education and healthcare, 1,100 in food services, 314 in tourism, and more than 7,200 in other service-related sectors.

Regional analysis shows that the leading regions in terms of new facility openings were Navoi (with 2.5 times the January–May plan fulfilled), Kashkadarya (188%), and Ferghana (179%). A total of 1,300 hectares of land (8,500 lots) were allocated for the development of trade and service facilities and auctioned through the “E-auction” platform, of which 559.8 hectares (3,000 lots) were sold. Additionally, 3,900 lots for mobile trading facilities were offered through AAT “K-savdo” (21% of the annual plan), with 1,800 sold (48%). In the “Yangi Uzbekistan” residential areas, 3.4 hectares of land (81 lots) were auctioned, and 132 service facilities were established on the ground and second floors of apartment buildings, creating 317 new jobs.

In tourism, 4.2 million foreign tourists visited Uzbekistan between January and May 2025 (compared to 3.8 million during the same period last year), and tourism service exports reached $1.9 billion (up from $1.1 billion). The share of tourists arriving from non-CIS countries increased from 6.9% to 8.0%.

In public transportation, master plans for developing transport infrastructure have been completed for nearly all regional centers, with the exception of Andijan and Termez, where work is ongoing. In cities where plans are finalized, implementation has already begun in coordination with local administrations.

As of today, 3,594 businesses operate passenger transportation using 305,126 vehicles. Of these, 36,796 serve public transport routes: 7,764 buses (21%), 4,005 minibuses (11%), and 25,027 Damas vehicles (68%). A total of 268,330 vehicles are engaged in taxi operations, including 265,346 used by self-employed drivers.

Between January and May 2025, 354 buses were purchased for public transport. These include 60 each for Jizzakh and Navoi, 45 for Tashkent region, 30 each for Namangan and Khorezm, 26 for Kashkadarya, 24 for Ferghana, 22 for Bukhara, 14 for Syrdarya, and 13 for Karakalpakstan. Additionally, entrepreneurs purchased 181 minibuses during the first quarter.

As part of a project to procure 200 electric buses for Tashkent, YUTONG BUS Co., Ltd. won the January 27 tender. A contract was signed, expert approval obtained, and 15% of the initial funding was disbursed on May 16.

With EBRD support, feasibility studies are being prepared for projects to purchase 100 electric buses (50 each for Nukus and Namangan), expected to be completed by August 2025.

By the end of the year, 10 new trolleybuses will be delivered to “Khorezm Trolleybus Saroyi,” which will reduce intervals between services by half.

Currently, there are 3,708 public transport routes nationwide: 836 urban, 2,502 suburban, 234 intra-regional, and 136 inter-regional. In 2025, 61 new routes were launched, including 41 bus lines.

Thirty-nine international bus routes have been established to Kazakhstan (20), Kyrgyzstan (8), Russia (7), and Tajikistan (4). Routes launched between January and April include “Tashkent–Ufa,” “Tashkent–Krasnodar,” and “Tashkent–Kazan.” In 2024, routes such as “Ferghana–Osh,” “Tashkent–Petropavlovsk,” “Samarkand–Bishkek,” “Bukhara–Astana,” “Kasansay–Osh,” and “Almalyk–Khujand” were launched. Upcoming routes include “Nukus–Atyrau,” “Nukus–Aktau,” “Bukhara–Urgench–Nukus–St. Petersburg,” “Tashkent–Krasnodar,” “Urgench–Atyrau,” “Surkhandarya–Moscow,” and “Tashkent–Urumqi.” Permits have already been issued for routes such as “Urgench–Atyrau,” “Urgench–Aktau,” “Tashkent–St. Petersburg,” “Tashkent–Moscow,” and “Nukus–Atyrau.”

The country currently has 13 bus terminals, 163 bus stations, and 18,355 intermediate stops. In 2024, 7 bus stations and 125 stops were built; 2 terminals, 10 stations, and 369 stops were reconstructed. In 2025, plans include building or renovating 1 terminal and 15 stations.

From January to April 2025, 24.7 kilometers of dedicated bus lanes were added, bringing the national total to 174.8 kilometers.

From 2022 to 2024, self-employment in the taxi sector was piloted and, based on the results, was made permanent under Presidential Decree PQ-78. By the end of the first quarter, over 265,000 self-employed taxi drivers had been legalized.

Rail transport serves more than 30,000 passengers daily on 28 domestic and 10 international routes (5 to Russia, Kazakhstan, and Tajikistan). Between January and May, 4.436 million passengers were transported (106% compared to the previous year), including 239,000 on international routes (180%), 2.418 million on domestic routes (103%), and 1.778 million on suburban lines (104%).

Since February 10, the “Afrosiyob” train №768/767 has been stopping in Kattakurgan. From January 2, “Sharq” №710/709 and “Nasaf” №716/715 trains have operated independently. Since January 30, “Tashkent–Chinor” trains №7201–7206 began stopping at Kibray and Gazalkent stations. Since February 28, a new international route “Nukus–Beyneu–Nukus” (№651/652) has operated twice weekly.

By the end of the year, three new electric trains will be delivered for the “Tashkent–Khodjikent” and “Kokand–Namangan–Andijan” routes. In 2026, a new route “Tashkent–Parkent” is expected to launch.

In February, construction began on the electrified “Samarkand–Urgut” (55.3 km) and “Baytqugan–Parkent” (23.8 km) lines; in March, construction started on the “Miskin–Nukus” (196 km) section. Completion is scheduled for late 2026. Several construction and electrical installation phases have already been completed.

Feasibility studies for a dedicated high-speed rail line “Tashkent–Samarkand” have begun, supported by a grant from the Export–Import Bank of Korea and led by a consortium of South Korean companies.

A multifunctional logistics center project is being implemented in Tashkent region in collaboration with Kazakhstan’s “PTC Holding” and “Uzbekistan Railways” (as the Silkway CA joint venture). A joint project for manufacturing railway and metro rolling stock has also started with Russia’s TMH and the Tashkent passenger wagon plant.

The plan includes producing 1,250 freight and 40 passenger railcars. In January–May 2025, 500 freight and 34 passenger railcars were produced.

Sixteen domestic and 43 foreign airlines operate in Uzbekistan, serving 201 routes (18 domestic, 183 international). Domestic carriers include Uzbekistan Airways, Silk Avia, Qanot Sharq, Air Tashkent, My Freighter, Tashkent Air, Air Samarkand, Humo Air, Fly Khiva, and others.