Polling of heads of 552 enterprises showed that the level of business activity made up 39.1 points in the first quarter of 2011. This shows that share of enterprises, which recorded production growth, exceed share of companies, which had negative growth, by 39.1%.

To compare, NBP Index made up 25.8 points in the fourth quarter of 2010. In the second quarter of 2011, it is expected higher NBP Index (47 points), which is connected with expectations from implementation of measures within the State programme of the Year of small business and private entrepreneurship.

The growth of business activity in Uzbekistan is also accompanied with high growth of the income of the enterprises, which is result of the growth of consumer demand. High NBP on income allow enterprises to direct part of their income to creation of new jobs and increase salaries. In the second quarter of 2011, it is expected higher NBP on employment.

In the first quarter, the enterprises were offered to rate current state of production infrastructure: gas supply, water supply, electricity supply and roads. Level of development of electricity was lowly rated: 224 enterprises of 549 rated its state as “unsatisfactory”. Gas supply system also received almost similar rate. According to responders, bad state of production infrastructure can become important barrier for investment activity of businesses in perspective.

The NBP Index is calculated quarterly from July 2009 and reflects current state in economy and perspectives of business development. The index calculated on the base of survey of heads of 552 enterprises of Uzbekistan from all 14 regions of Uzbekistan and covers 5 main sectors of economy – industry, agriculture, construction, transport and communications, trade.

The NBP Index can be from -100 to +100. If index is equal to 0, it means that current situation did not change compared to previous quarter. If index is higher than 0, the situation improved, if less than 0, it is worsened