Uzbekistan’s GDP projected to surpass $180 billion in 2026 – Shavkat Mirziyoyev

The president highlighted the swift expansion of capital investments flowing into the republic, noting that Uzbekistan has attracted $123 billion in foreign direct investment since 2021 alone. Over recent years, total capital inflows from all foreign sources have surpassed $150 billion.

The government remains committed to cultivating robust partnerships and is fully open to international businesses prepared to engage in equitable, mutually beneficial cooperation, the president stated.

The economic expansion comes at a volatile time for the global marketplace. Mirziyoyev pointed out that sharp shifts in the global economy and capital distributions, compounded by intensifying trade disputes, have changed what investors look for. In this environment, international firms have a natural inclination to deploy assets in countries that firmly guarantee the protection of legal rights and freedoms, while showing high growth rates and clear long-term perspectives.

The country’s performance over the previous fiscal year set a strong foundation for the current targets. By the end of 2025, Uzbekistan’s GDP grew by 7.7%, with capital injections into the national economy totaling $43 billion. Additionally, international gold and foreign exchange reserves crossed the $70 billion threshold, providing a substantial cushion that ensures the stability of the national currency.

Reflecting on the country’s economic journey, the president recalled that during the inaugural Tashkent international economic forum four years ago, the state set a target to expand the economy to $100 billion by the end of 2026. Current forecasts indicate the rapidly growing economy will instead bypass that initial goal to cross the $180 billion mark this year.

Uzbekistan is also seeing consistent improvement across international credit rankings and economic metrics. The country advanced 14 places in the Index of Economic Freedom published by the Heritage Foundation, moving into the category of "moderately free" economies for the first time in its history.