Proposals to advance e-commerce and streamline the operations of bonded warehouses were reviewed during a presentation for President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on Thursday.
The President emphasized transforming e-commerce into a primary economic driver. He directed officials to build out modern infrastructure and establish a transparent, favorable environment for digital platforms to thrive.
Official data shows that e-commerce currently accounts for only 4–4.6% of Uzbekistan’s retail market—nearly five times lower than the global average of 22%. However, the presentation highlighted the potential to bridge this gap, aiming for a share of 9–11% in the near future.
The sector has seen significant momentum; over the last eight years, e-commerce volume has surged twentyfold to reach $1.3 billion. Today, more than 120 digital platforms are active, supporting 750,000 jobs and contributing 200 billion soums in annual tax revenue.
A key focus of the discussion was the move toward collecting customs duties at the point of sale, a shift expected to attract at least $500 million in investment.
Logistics remains a critical bottleneck. Uzbekistan currently has 634,000 square meters of warehouse space, but 72% of it is concentrated in the Tashkent region, and only 34% meets modern "Class A" standards. To sustain economic growth over the next five years, the country will need an estimated 2.5 million square meters of high-end storage.
To meet this demand, plans include expanding the reach of major international marketplaces and deeply integrating digital platforms and bonded warehouses with tax and customs systems.
Additionally, a pilot program slated for 2026–2028 will introduce a streamlined "Import – Bonded Warehouse – Special E-Platform – Consumer" cycle. Under this model, goods are stored in bonded facilities and sold via dedicated platforms, with customs declarations and payments handled instantly at the moment of purchase.
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