INSTITUTIONAL AND ECONOMIC BARRIERS TO DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN ENSURING SUSTAINABLE REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: THE CASE OF THE FERGANA REGION

This article provides an in-depth analysis of the main institutional and economic factors that constrain digital transformation processes in the regions of the Republic of Uzbekistan, particularly in the Fergana Valley (Fergana, Andijan, and Namangan regions). The relevance of the study lies in the fact that, despite the active implementation of nationwide policies aimed at developing the digital economy, the level of digital service utilisation, particularly digital financial services, in the regions remains significantly lower than in the capital.