INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE IN USING DIGITAL PLATFORMS FOR SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The article examines international experience in using digital platforms to support small business development, with particular attention to the institutional and organizational-economic mechanisms that make platform participation productive. The study compares the United States, China, Germany, Singapore, and the Republic of Korea, while also considering the European Union's regulatory and digital innovation framework. The analysis shows that there is no universal model of platform-based development. The United States demonstrates the role of private marketplaces and integrated digital services; China illustrates the importance of linking e-commerce with local production and logistics; Germany and Singapore emphasize digital readiness, skills, and coordinated support; and the Republic of Korea connects online trade with export assistance. The article argues that Uzbekistan should adapt these mechanisms rather than replicate foreign platforms. Priority measures include digital readiness diagnostics, platform selection, integration of sales, payment, and logistics systems, skills development, targeted financial support, and transparent platform governance.