TASHKENT, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- The number of operating enterprises with foreign capital reached 7,560 in Uzbekistan by the end of 2018, up 37 percent from the previous year, according to the latest data of the State Statistics Committee.
As the pace of reform has accelerated, foreign companies have increased their presence in the central Asian market since last year.
Data show that foreign enterprises mainly come from Russia, China, Turkey, South Korea and Kazakhstan, and their investment is mainly concentrated in industries, foreign trade, construction and the agriculture field.
Uzbekistan has taken a series of measures to promote economic reforms, including the elimination of foreign exchange controls, reduction of tax burdens and preferential treatment for foreign investments since Shavkat Mirziyoyev was elected president in 2016.
Mirziyoyev has declared 2019 as the Year of Active Investments and Social Development.
According to the State Committee of Investment, the country plans to attract foreign direct investment worth 4.2 billion U.S. dollars this year, which is 1.5 times more than in 2018.
