Economic Development

Since 1992, USAID has helped Uzbekistan strengthen its central bank, establish the legal environment for private sector growth, and adopt international accounting standards for greater transparency of business transactions.  USAID also played a key role in establishing a network of credit unions in the country.  By the middle of 2010, the country had 91 credit unions with $103 million in assets that served 125,000 small businesses and individuals.  

Farmers throughout the country have improved their irrigation networks and management of on-farm water in cooperation with USAID.  Currently, USAID focuses on improving household incomes for the country’s farmers and strengthening agricultural businesses.  USAID works to modernize on-farm technologies to heighten yields and conserve the environment while diversifying away from the country’s two major crops, cotton and wheat.  Platforms for market information are being developed to provide farmers with accurate information about pricing; training programs help farmers to develop new skills.  In 2010 alone, USAID introduced over 1,200 farmers to new production techniques, which doubled or tripled crop productivity and stimulated a five- to ten-fold increase in sales.