TASHKENT, Sept. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has raised its forecast for Uzbekistan's economic growth in 2026 to 7 percent, from its previous estimate of 6.7 percent, according to the September edition of the Asian Development Outlook 2026.
The upgrade follows an 8.5 percent expansion in Uzbekistan's GDP in the first half of 2026, driven by strong domestic demand, a surge in investment, and robust growth in services and non-gold exports.
Inflation in Uzbekistan for 2026 is projected at 6.7 percent, influenced by recent increases in fuel and transport costs.
Uzbekistan's strong economic performance comes amid a broader regional slowdown. The ADB slightly lowered its growth forecast for the Caucasus, Central Asia and West Asia to 3.7 percent, citing weaker external demand. Across the Asia-Pacific region, developing economies are expected to grow 5 percent in 2026.
The ADB said that key risks to the regional outlook include geopolitical conflicts, an ongoing El Nino event that could affect food and energy prices, volatility in technology stocks and uncertainty over global trade. ■
