Uzbekistan significantly ramped up subsidy allocations in 2023

For comparison, in 2021, subsidies of 5 trillion 629.8 billion UZS were allocated, and in 2022, the figure was 12 trillion 260.9 billion UZS. Last year's subsidy amounts increased to record levels, 5.2 times the amount in 2021 and 2.4 times that in 2022.

In 2023, the majority of subsidized funds were used for the following purposes:

- Covering the losses between wholesale purchase and sale of natural gas in the domestic market – 17.99 trillion UZS (originally this amount was intended to be 12.4 trillion UZS);
- Subsidies for non-state preschool education institutions – 2.74 trillion UZS;
- Expenses for covering the losses of heating supply companies – 1.72 trillion UZS;
- Subsidies for the population to purchase housing – 1.1 trillion UZS;
- Subsidies to the agricultural fund – 848 billion UZS;
- Subsidies for passenger transportation in public transport – 838 billion UZS;
- Subsidies for products sold by livestock, poultry, and fishery farms – 603 billion UZS.

Additionally, 1.02 trillion UZS in subsidies was granted for geological survey works. Initially, it was planned to allocate 990 billion UZS for these purposes.

Earlier, it was reported that in 2023 Uzbekistan's consolidated budget expenses exceeded revenues by 59 trillion UZS or over $5 billion.