Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan is the most populous Central Asian nation, a lower-middle-income economy that has begun opening up and reforming after decades of tight state control, following the death of its long-ruling first president in 2016.

Rich in natural resources and historically a leading cotton economy, it is diversifying and liberalizing, attracting new investment while still relying on remittances from migrants in Russia.

Key Sectors

Key sectors include natural gas and oil, gold mining (Uzbekistan is a major producer), cotton and textiles, agriculture, and a growing manufacturing and services base.