$5M in export deals signed by Uzbek companies via Alibaba

According to Kursiv, the World Bank's E-Gate program enabled entrepreneurs from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Kyrgyzstan to sign export contracts worth $23 million via the Alibaba platform.

Launched in May 2024, the program provided 83 Central Asian companies with paid access to Alibaba. Around 40% of participants were small and medium-sized businesses from Uzbekistan.

Uzbek exporters signed $5 million worth of contracts for textile, nuts, dried fruits, and more. Most buyers were from the UK and New Zealand.

The World Bank noted a rise in e-commerce activity between Central Asian countries, with intra-regional exports totaling $16 million.

At a regional e-commerce conference held in Tashkent in May 2025, e-commerce associations from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan signed a memorandum of cooperation to boost cross-border digital trade.

Despite a market size estimated at $3 billion, growth is hindered by weak infrastructure, high logistics costs, and low digital literacy. Tax issues and delivery inefficiencies also contribute to a large informal e-commerce segment.