Uzbekistan's labor market in international assessments:
About positions in international ratings and indexes

International rankings and indexes assess the economic and political
freedom, well-being of life, human rights, education, health care system, etc. of
various countries. In accordance with the Decree of the President of the Republic
of Uzbekistan dated 02.06.2020, key performance indicators (KPIs) were defined
for priority international ratings and indices for the Republic of Uzbekistan, a
number of which, as well as 16 sub-indicators, are directly related to the labor
market. This article highlights sub-indicators related to the labor market that affect
the position in international indices, as well as measures that need to be
implemented in the labor market to improve the position of Uzbekistan in
international comparisons.
Global Innovation Index
The Global Innovation Index (GII), evaluated by the World Intellectual
Property Organization (WIPO) since 2007, covers the economies of 132 countries,
which account for 94.3% of the world's population. In this index, Uzbekistan
ranked 93rd in 2020, 86th in 2021, and 82nd in 2022. The index consists of 7
directions and 81 sub-indicators. Each country is rated on a 100-point scale. In this
index, 3 sub-indicators of the "Business Development" direction and 1 sub-
indicator of the "Institutional system" direction relate to the labor market, which
are evaluated as follows.
Employment in knowledge-intensive industries.
According to the methodology of the International Labor Organization, this
sub-indicator is formed by calculating the share of the number of people employed
in knowledge-intensive industries, which belong to three categories of professions:
managers, specialists, technical and auxiliary specialists, as part of the
economically active population. Therefore, the GII sub-indicator lacks data on
employment in knowledge-intensive industries in Uzbekistan. This is due to the
fact that the report was not conducted according to the ISCO-08 and ISCO-88
standards, which take into account the distribution of employment by position. In
order to determine the indicators of this sub-indicator, it is necessary to determine
the number of employees in knowledge-intensive industries based on the
interdepartmental software and hardware complex "Unified National Labor
System", as well as make changes to the questionnaire for determining the balance
of labor resources based on the recommendation of the International Labor
Organization. As an experiment, it is advisable to conduct an appropriate survey to

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coordinate the quality of the collected data with the International Labor
Organization.
Firms that offer formal training.
This sub-indicator is measured by determining the percentage of firms
offering formal training and retraining courses for their permanent employees out
of the total number of firms in the country. Based on the World Bank
methodology, more than a thousand companies are selected in each country and
surveys are conducted. The questionnaire consists of 13 components and includes
67 sub-indicators.
The 2022 report indicates that firms offering formal training in Uzbekistan
account for 16.9% of the total number of firms, and the country ranks 88th in this
sub-indicator. These figures are based on the results of a survey conducted by the
World Bank in 2019 among 1,239 firms operating in various sectors of the Uzbek
economy. Firms that participated in the survey were divided into 3 groups,
depending on the number of employees. According to the survey results, 13% or
78 out of 603 small firms, 23.6% or 97 out of 415 medium-sized firms, 42.1% or
93 out of 221 large firms organized training, retraining courses, trainings and
seminars for their employees.
Firms offering formal training in Uzbekistanin 2019
from THEM:
Subindicator Share of the total
number of firms
Small firms
(5-19employees) Medium-sized
companies
(20-99 employees)
Large companies
(100 + employees)
Europe and
CentralAsia
In lower-middle-
income countries
Percentage of firms offering formal training 16,9 % 13% 23,6% 42,1% 32,7% 37,3%
Source: World Bank (enterprise survey)
https://www.enterprisesurveys.org/en/data/exploreeconomies/2019/uzbekistan
Based on this, it can be concluded that the organization of training,
retraining courses, trainings and seminars for employees of small and medium-
sized enterprises in Uzbekistan is not sufficiently satisfactory. To improve
country's position on this indicator, it is possible to introduce a system of allocating
subsidies to employers from the state budget in order to encourage small and
medium-sized firms to train employees.
Working women with higher education.
This indicator is determined by calculating the proportion of women with
higher education in the total employed population. In the GII 2022, working
women with higher education account for 13.7% of the total number of employees,
and Uzbekistan ranks 56th in this sub-indicator. The reason for the relatively low
rate in country can be explained by the fact that the number of women with higher
education among the population is small, and many of them, married according to
traditional customs, mostly do not work and are engaged in household work.

Iran’s Consul General Hassan Nourian has said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and Iran has reached $2 billion in the last 10 months, while the target was set at $5 billion.

“However, due to the absence of a banking channel, trade activities have faced difficulties,” he said during his visit to the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry, The News reported.

KATI President Faraz-ur-Rehman, Deputy Patron-in-Chief Zubair Chhaya, Senior Vice President Nighat Awan, former presidents Farukh Mazhar, Shaikh Fazal-e-Jalil, and First Consul of Iran Masoud Kian Bakhsh, among others, participated in the event.

Iranian consul general further said that the visa policy has been relaxed and six new border markets have been established to promote trade with Pakistan. 

“Progress is also being made in barter trade and in this regard, all the preparations are complete on Iran’s side, while on Pakistan's side, the Federal Board of Revenue is developing software that will make barter trade possible,” he added.

Nourian noted that there are friendly and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran, but unfortunately trade between the two countries has not developed as it should have. He said that all obstacles to the free trade agreement between the two countries have been removed, after which trade in 600 products would be possible between Iran and Pakistan.

He said that the trade delegation of Iran had a successful visit recently after which a memorandum of understanding was signed with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan.

The Iranian CG said that under the agreement with Pakistan, the National Logistics Cell has been allowed to access the European market through Iran.

TEHRAN – Iranian Minister of Cooperatives, Labor, and Social Welfare Solat Mortazavi said Tehran and Ashgabat have set it on the agenda to expand cooperation for the development of transportation infrastructure in order to increase trade exchanges.

Mortazavi made the remarks following a meeting with Turkmenistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Rashit Owezgeldiyewich Meredow on Thursday, IRNA reported.

Speaking in this meeting, Mortazavi said the two countries have historical, cultural, and religious roots and commonalities that can facilitate economic cooperation.

The 13th government and President Ebrahim Raisi's special foreign policy approach is paying special attention to the neighbors, the official said.

“We follow developing relations with Turkmenistan more sensitively”, he stated, adding that cooperation between the two countries should be developed in all fields, especially in the economic and infrastructure areas.

Meanwhile, Meredow referred to the good relations between the two countries and existing cultural commonalities, saying that the Iran-Turkmenistan Joint Economic Committee is a suitable platform for finding solutions for developing economic relations and removing obstacles to cooperation.

He added that the public and private sectors of Turkmenistan are also fully prepared to hold an exclusive exhibition in Tehran.

Emphasizing the need to develop the road and rail transport infrastructure, the Turkmen Minister said the Islamic Republic of Iran can be a gateway for Central Asia’s access to the Persian Gulf states.

TEHRAN – Senior officials from Iran and Turkmenistan’s oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors have held talks on the sidelines of the Islamic Republic’s 14th special exhibition in Ashgabat, to explore avenues of mutual cooperation, Shana reported.

Headed by Deputy Oil Minister for Engineering, Research, and Technology Vahid-Reza Zeidifard, the Iranian delegation met and discussed cooperation in various areas with the representatives of Turkmenistan’s national oil, gas and petrochemical companies in separate meetings.

Speaking in the meeting with the deputy head of Turkmenistan’s national gas company Türkmengaz, Zeidifard introduced the capabilities of Iranian companies active in the oil industry and emphasized the development and cooperation between the two countries.

Pointing to the fact that over 70 percent of the equipment and items used in the Iranian oil industry are manufactured by domestic producers, the official proposed to help Turkmenistan by supplying the country with such equipment.

Expressing the Islamic Republic’s readiness for building refineries, developing oil and gas fields, and supplying high-quality parts and equipment at a competitive price to the Turkmen parties, he invited the oil and gas officials of Turkmenistan to visit Iran to get familiar with the capabilities of the country’s oil industry.

The Turkmen side for his part welcomed the presence of Iranian companies, especially from the Oil Ministry, in this exhibition, expressing hope that the cooperation between the two friendly and brotherly countries would develop.

In another meeting, the vice president of the country’s national oil company Türkmennebit underlined the Iranian oil industry’s ability and capacity, saying: “We will be happy to see the names of more Iranian companies in Turkmenistan in the near future.”

The representative of Turkmenistan’s state chemical company Turkmenhimiya also said in his meeting with the Iranian delegation that very good suggestions have been made for cooperation between the two sides and the company is eager to cooperate with Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) for the benefit of both countries.

At the end of the meetings, it was decided that the Turkmen parties should provide Iran with a list of the equipment and parts needed by their oil industry through diplomatic authorities so that the Iranian side can take action to supply them.

Iran’s 14th exclusive exhibition kicked off in Turkmenistan’s capital city Ashgabat on February 14 and was wrapped up on Friday.

TEHRAN – Senior officials from Iran and Turkmenistan’s oil, gas, and petrochemical sectors have held talks on the sidelines of the Islamic Republic’s 14th special exhibition in Ashgabat, to explore avenues of mutual cooperation, Shana reported.

Headed by Deputy Oil Minister for Engineering, Research, and Technology Vahid-Reza Zeidifard, the Iranian delegation met and discussed cooperation in various areas with the representatives of Turkmenistan’s national oil, gas and petrochemical companies in separate meetings.

Speaking in the meeting with the deputy head of Turkmenistan’s national gas company Türkmengaz, Zeidifard introduced the capabilities of Iranian companies active in the oil industry and emphasized the development and cooperation between the two countries.

Pointing to the fact that over 70 percent of the equipment and items used in the Iranian oil industry are manufactured by domestic producers, the official proposed to help Turkmenistan by supplying the country with such equipment.

Expressing the Islamic Republic’s readiness for building refineries, developing oil and gas fields, and supplying high-quality parts and equipment at a competitive price to the Turkmen parties, he invited the oil and gas officials of Turkmenistan to visit Iran to get familiar with the capabilities of the country’s oil industry.

The Turkmen side for his part welcomed the presence of Iranian companies, especially from the Oil Ministry, in this exhibition, expressing hope that the cooperation between the two friendly and brotherly countries would develop.

In another meeting, the vice president of the country’s national oil company Türkmennebit underlined the Iranian oil industry’s ability and capacity, saying: “We will be happy to see the names of more Iranian companies in Turkmenistan in the near future.”

The representative of Turkmenistan’s state chemical company Turkmenhimiya also said in his meeting with the Iranian delegation that very good suggestions have been made for cooperation between the two sides and the company is eager to cooperate with Iran’s National Petrochemical Company (NPC) for the benefit of both countries.

At the end of the meetings, it was decided that the Turkmen parties should provide Iran with a list of the equipment and parts needed by their oil industry through diplomatic authorities so that the Iranian side can take action to supply them.

Iran’s 14th exclusive exhibition kicked off in Turkmenistan’s capital city Ashgabat on February 14 and was wrapped up on Friday.

As many as 70 Afghan businesspeople held B2B meetings with their Iranian counterparts in Tehran on Monday.

The visit to Tehran by the Afghan delegation, one of the biggest private sector delegations to the Iranian capital from the country, has been organized and sponsored by Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives from some 70 Iranian companies were also present in the event where they had B2B meetings with the Afghan businesspeople.

Speaking on the sidelines of the big private sector gathering of the two neighboring countries, Head of Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce Hossein Salimi expressed hope that this event will help enhance economic exchanges between Tehran and Kabul.

Referring to more investments of Afghan people in Iran, he said that these investments are expected to even more grow.

In the meantime, Abdul Qayyum Soleimani, caretaker of the Afghan embassy in Tehran, said that Afghan people expect Iran to facilitate more exports from Afghanistan into the country.

He also referred to Afghanistan’s need for Iran’s more partnership in its projects, calling on the Iranian government to further help prepare the ground for the investment of the Iranian businesspeople in Afghanistan. 

As many as 70 Afghan businesspeople held B2B meetings with their Iranian counterparts in Tehran on Monday.

The visit to Tehran by the Afghan delegation, one of the biggest private sector delegations to the Iranian capital from the country, has been organized and sponsored by Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce.

Representatives from some 70 Iranian companies were also present in the event where they had B2B meetings with the Afghan businesspeople.

Speaking on the sidelines of the big private sector gathering of the two neighboring countries, Head of Iran-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce Hossein Salimi expressed hope that this event will help enhance economic exchanges between Tehran and Kabul.

Referring to more investments of Afghan people in Iran, he said that these investments are expected to even more grow.

In the meantime, Abdul Qayyum Soleimani, caretaker of the Afghan embassy in Tehran, said that Afghan people expect Iran to facilitate more exports from Afghanistan into the country.

He also referred to Afghanistan’s need for Iran’s more partnership in its projects, calling on the Iranian government to further help prepare the ground for the investment of the Iranian businesspeople in Afghanistan. 

Iran and Pakistan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost bilateral efforts that could lead to a quick expansion of trade ties between the two neighboring countries.

The MoU was signed on Monday on the sidelines of an Iranian trade exhibition in the Pakistani city of Karachi between head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Alireza Paymanpak and head of The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Muhammad Zubair Motiwala.

The agreement allows Iran and Pakistan to exchange trade information while enabling businesses to increase their presence in trade events held in the two countries, according to a report published on the TPO’s website.

It said the MoU will also facilitate the exchange of trade delegations and experts between Iran and Pakistan, adding that trade authorities of the two countries will be committed under the agreement to holding training courses for businesses involved in bilateral trade.

Peymanpak expressed hope upon signing the document that it could help Iran and Pakistan soon reach a target of $5 billion in bilateral trade.

The signing of the MoU comes days after local authorities in border regions of Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement to boost cross-border trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

It also comes amid Iran’s continued efforts to expand trade ties with neighbors as the country moves ahead with plans to diversify its economy away from oil revenues targeted by US sanctions.

Iran and Pakistan are currently on a preferential trade arrangement under which the two countries have sought to reduce some trade barriers and tariffs in recent years.

Media reports have suggested the two countries are seeking to sign a free trade agreement by March.

Iran and Pakistan have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to boost bilateral efforts that could lead to a quick expansion of trade ties between the two neighboring countries.

The MoU was signed on Monday on the sidelines of an Iranian trade exhibition in the Pakistani city of Karachi between head of Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization (TPO) Alireza Paymanpak and head of The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Muhammad Zubair Motiwala.

The agreement allows Iran and Pakistan to exchange trade information while enabling businesses to increase their presence in trade events held in the two countries, according to a report published on the TPO’s website.

It said the MoU will also facilitate the exchange of trade delegations and experts between Iran and Pakistan, adding that trade authorities of the two countries will be committed under the agreement to holding training courses for businesses involved in bilateral trade.

Peymanpak expressed hope upon signing the document that it could help Iran and Pakistan soon reach a target of $5 billion in bilateral trade.

The signing of the MoU comes days after local authorities in border regions of Iran and Pakistan signed an agreement to boost cross-border trade and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

It also comes amid Iran’s continued efforts to expand trade ties with neighbors as the country moves ahead with plans to diversify its economy away from oil revenues targeted by US sanctions.

Iran and Pakistan are currently on a preferential trade arrangement under which the two countries have sought to reduce some trade barriers and tariffs in recent years.

Media reports have suggested the two countries are seeking to sign a free trade agreement by March.

Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) will sign a free trade agreement on Jan. 18, 2023, the spokesman of the Ministry of Industries, Mining and Trade announced on Sunday.

Noting that the two sides currently exchange goods based on a preferential trade agreement, Omid Qalibaf added that EAEU has granted tariff concessions to 500 types of Iranian commodities while Iran has listed 400 types.

Asked about the impact of Iran’s import bans on EAEU trade deal, he said the ban will not be applied to imports from the Eurasian bloc.

“Prohibition on import of certain types of goods like historical relics, pig’s meat, etc. continue to be enforced but restrictions on imports implemented to maintain foreign exchange reserves will not be applied,” he was quoted as saying by IRIB News.

There is a long list of products in Iran whose imports have been banned for many years. According to Pour-Kazem Shayesteh, the deputy head of Iran’s Headquarters to Combat Smuggling of Goods and Foreign Exchange, the import of more than 2,000 types of goods are prohibited.

The Iranian government aims to economize on its foreign currency reserves by applying import restrictions.

Iran and EAEU have finalized negotiations on free trade of more than 7,500 types of commodities, the head of the Iranian delegation negotiating with the Eurasian bloc said earlier this month.

“Over the past two years, we have held around 30 rounds of negotiations with representatives of the Eurasian side — some face to face and others online. In the end, we agreed on a 150-page deal, which is the most comprehensive trade agreement [Iran has had],” Mirhadi Seyyedi was also quoted as saying by Tasnim News Agency.

Noting that the agreement has the widest range of commodity coverage in terms of duties, he said officials from Iran’s Trade Promotion Organization and the Eurasian side will soon announce the end of talks by signing a memorandum in Tehran.