IMPROVING DIGITAL FINANCING MECHANISMS FOR EXPORT OPERATIONS AND THEIR IMPACT ON NATIONAL EXPORT COMPETITIVENESS: EVIDENCE AND POLICY OPTIONS FOR UZBEKISTAN

Export growth in Uzbekistan has been rapid, with total exports rising from USD 15.1 billion in 2020 to a preliminary USD 33.8 billion in 2025. Yet the sustainability of this expansion depends on whether exporters, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular, can obtain affordable and timely financing and settle cross-border transactions efficiently. This article examines how digital financing mechanisms for export operations (electronic letters of credit, electronic transferable records, digital supply chain finance, export credit insurance integrated with digital platforms, and modern cross-border payment systems) can strengthen national export competitiveness. Drawing on the international literature on credit constraints and trade, on recent global benchmarks from the Asian Development Bank, the Financial Stability Board and the International Chamber of Commerce, and on official Uzbek and partner-country sources, the article develops a conceptual framework with three testable hypotheses and a proposed empirical design. It then assesses Uzbekistan's export finance architecture and identifies gaps in legal recognition of electronic trade documents, data interoperability between customs and banking systems, SME access to pre-export finance, and the cost and speed of cross-border payments. The article concludes with a sequenced set of policy recommendations aligned with Uzbekistan's ongoing accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).