On November 3, 2026, a practical seminar entitled “Opportunities for Supporting Small and Medium-Sized Businesses through E-Commerce in Uzbekistan” was held at Termez State University of Engineering and Agrotechnologies. The event was organized by the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship under the Cabinet of Ministers, in cooperation with the Surkhandarya Regional Hokimiyat and the Wildberries marketplace. More than 200 entrepreneurs, artisans, and young people from all districts and cities of the region participated in the seminar.
The seminar was opened with welcoming remarks by the university's rector, Candidate of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Professor Rasul Turaev. Bakhtiyor Ishmuhamedov, Deputy Head of the Department for Coordination of Regional Branch Activities at the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship, delivered a presentation on the current state of e-commerce and the region's potential. Abdulaziz Yakubjonov, Commercial Department Manager at Wildberries, explained the practical aspects of starting to sell on the platform.
As highlighted during the presentations, the global e-commerce market is expected to reach USD 6.8 trillion in 2026. Although e-commerce currently accounts for approximately 3% of retail sales in Uzbekistan, 94.2% of the country's population uses the internet, indicating considerable untapped potential for online commerce.
Surkhandarya has significant potential to benefit from these opportunities. The region is home to 32,000 active enterprises and 1,170 artisans, while small businesses account for 76% of the gross regional product. In the first half of 2026, the region's exports reached USD 373.7 million, including USD 77.7 million in fruit and vegetable exports.
The Termiz Cargo Center and the Termez International Trade Center serve as important logistics hubs for the region. Agricultural and industrial products from Denau, Jarkurgan, and Shurchi, Boysun embroidery, and Sherabad pottery represent promising products for sale through online marketplaces. Another notable development is the 25% annual increase in the number of small businesses led by women, particularly relevant given that women account for 71% of Wildberries customers.
According to the company representative, Uzbekistan currently has more than 1,400 order pick-up points and a warehouse covering 53,000 square meters. Through the platform, exports by Uzbek sellers have increased by 450%, while domestic sales have grown by 45%. During the seminar, participants received practical demonstrations on platform registration, product listing creation, the fulfilment model involving sellers' own warehouses, and the free educational opportunities offered by the “Growth Platform”.
During the Q&A session, entrepreneurs received direct consultations from the company representative on pricing, logistics, and financial settlements.
Based on a survey of participants, the Surkhandarya Regional Branch of the Graduate School of Business and Entrepreneurship will organize short-term training courses on e-commerce and provide practical assistance to entrepreneurs interested in registering on the platform.