Maplecroft’s new Growth Markets Index (GMI), which evaluates the economic performance, stability and potential of 175 countries, has identified 30 markets that have the best growth prospects for business over the next two decades.

The Growth Markets Index provides an evaluation of economic performance, investment conduciveness, recent structural reforms and projected future demographic trends, including growth of middle class consumers. Maplecroft divides its scoring across the three categories of Growth Performance, Growth Environment Conduciveness and Growth Potential. Each country is assessed according to a selection of key indicators to evaluate whether its economy is likely to outperform in the future. The conduciveness element makes this index unique.

Uzbekistan clinched the 20th place in this index. Uzbekistan is above such countries as Saudi Arabia (23rd place), Mexico (26th place) and Poland (29th place). China, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh were five top countries in the index.

According to Maplecroft, Pakistan and Kazakhstan took the 32nd and 34th places in the index respectively.

Specialists of Maplecroft said that Uzbekistan, as well as some other states, could see its ranking improve if reforms to address political risk and legal and regulatory factors are implemented.