Entrepreneurship In The Republic Of Uzbekistan: A Model For Other Emerging Nations

Abstract

On August 31, 1991, the Republic of Uzbekistan proclaimed its independence as a free nation. As a part of the former U.S.S.R., the Uzbekistan people were required to adhere to the mandates of the Central Government in the production of manufactured goods, agricultural commodities and other goods and services. The Republic has consistently been one of the top five cotton producing countries in the world, and its economy is largely dependent on this commodity. On March 2, 1992, the Republic was admitted as a member of the United Nations and adopted its first constitution on December 8, 1992. As the Republic completes its conversion into a truly democratic nation, its leaders have taken a strong and determined stance toward fostering entrepreneurship and economic reform, privatizing business, efficiently utilizing the land base, and reversing environmental damage to the ecology of adversely affected regions. Simultaneously, government leaders took affirmative steps to maintain cotton production in order to stabilize land use policies and finance economic reform. A significant portion of governmental efforts over the last ten years have focused on encouraging free enterprise and entrepreneurship through directives which return business decision-making to entrepreneurs and business leaders. These business decisions were previously made by the Central Government which dictated production output based upon perceived needs of the former U.S.S.R. This paper will explore how the government of Uzbekistan has promoted and nurtured a spirit of entrepreneurship among its people through policies which foster free entrepreneurial thought, build viable business entities, equitably transfer public lands to private use, and reform the economy. The leaders of this emerging nation have carefully and wisely chosen the path of free enterprise which has created an ideal environment for entrepreneurship. Their efforts have succeeded in building a nation which grows more prosperous each year. The Republic of Uzbekistan is truly a nation which should serve as a model for other emerging nations of the world.