Why Uzbekistan Is Becoming a Strategic Pharma Market in Central Asia

What International Pharma Should Understand About Uzbekistan Now

Uzbekistan is becoming one of the most important markets in Central Asia for international business, and the reasons go far beyond population size.

From where I sit, four factors are shaping this momentum: economic growth, demographics, reforms and geography.

The country’s GDP grew by around 7.7% in 2025, reaching approximately $147 billion, while 2026 GDP is expected to approach $180 billion. Investment exceeded $43 billion in 2025, a record level for Uzbekistan and a strong signal of international confidence in the direction of its economic reforms.

Demographics add another layer. Uzbekistan already has the largest population in Central Asia, with more than 38 million people today and forecasts approaching 43 million by 2030. For healthcare and pharmaceuticals, this means a large and expanding patient population alongside rising demand for modern treatment.

The reform agenda has also changed the way international companies look at the country. Regulation, investment conditions and foreign economic activity have evolved significantly, making long-term planning easier and creating a more predictable environment for business.

Geography, meanwhile, is becoming a competitive advantage. Central Asia was once widely perceived as a difficult logistics destination. Today, international transport corridors, the Middle Corridor and expanding rail and road connections between Europe and Asia are changing that equation. Uzbekistan is increasingly positioned as an important hub between East and West.

Taken together, these factors explain why more international companies now view Uzbekistan as a strategic market rather than a distant growth opportunity.

A pharmaceutical market in active transformation

The pharmaceutical market reflects the same momentum.

According to IQVIA MAT 06.2026, the market has already exceeded $2.4 billion and continues to grow in both value and volume.

At the same time, the regulatory environment is evolving. Registration procedures, pricing regulation and product certification are changing, which naturally requires companies to adapt.

From my perspective, the direction is positive. Greater transparency and gradual alignment with international regulatory standards create a stronger foundation for patients, manufacturers and investors.

Transformation always comes with a period of adjustment, but long-term market development depends on clear rules, predictable processes and confidence that the system is moving towards higher standards.

For international pharmaceutical companies, this is an important signal. Uzbekistan offers scale, growth and a regulatory environment that is gradually becoming more structured, all of which strengthens the case for long-term investment.

What Sona Group brings to the market

Sona Group works with leading European pharmaceutical manufacturers and supports the introduction of high-quality, modern medicines to the Uzbek market.

Our role covers the full path from product registration and market entry to medical promotion, engagement with the professional healthcare community and reliable distribution.

Education is also an important part of this work. We participate in projects for physicians and pharmacists, facilitate international knowledge exchange and bring proven practices from other markets into the local professional environment.

This was one of the reasons I found the opportunity to join Sona Group particularly compelling.

For me, the value of pharmaceutical business is closely connected to access. Building a successful brand matters, but so does what that success enables: broader availability of modern treatment, stronger professional communities and more opportunities for patients to receive the therapies they need.

A Market Being Shaped in Real Time

After more than 15 years in pharma, I have learned to recognise the rare moments when a market is still shaping the rules, standards and professional ecosystem that will define its next stage of development. Uzbekistan is in exactly that phase.

This is what makes Uzbekistan an interesting place to work right now. The market is at the stage where the decisions taken today — which products are registered, which professional relationships are built, which standards become the norm — will shape how the industry looks here for years.

For me, that creates a particular sense of both opportunity and responsibility. Being part of that, in a country with this scale and this pace of change, is a rare thing in pharma.