The Presidential Administration of Uzbekistan has created a Telegram bot, where businesses can propose measures to support the economy during the coronavirus pandemic.

“Dear entrepreneur! Here you can make your proposals to the draft decisions on ensuring the stability of the functioning of economic sectors during the quarantine period,” the description says.

“Even one case of enterprise suspending its activity should be considered as emergency,” said President Shavkat Mirziyoyev earlier.

According to the forecast of the World Bank, the growth of gross domestic product (GDP) of Uzbekistan in 2020 will be 1.6%.

It is noted that the COVID-19 pandemic is a serious challenge for the economy of Uzbekistan. According to experts of the bank, growth will sharply decline in 2020 as a result of a significant reduction in foreign trade and domestic economic shocks. GDP growth in 2021 is projected to be at 6.5%, in 2022 – 5.5%.

Reduced tax revenues and additional costs to respond to the crisis are expected to increase the budget deficit to 5.6% of GDP in 2020 and 4.7% of GDP in 2021.

Earlier, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) published a more optimistic forecast for the future of the Uzbek economy. In its main annual economic publication, Asia Development Review 2020, ADB predicts Uzbekistan’s GDP growth to be at 4.7% in 2020 (earlier forecast 5.6%).