DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF SMALL ECONOMIC ZONES UNDER THE CONDITIONS OF THE PLATFORM ECONOMY OF UZBEKISTAN

Abstract

 The article examines the specific features of the digital transformation of small economic zones in Uzbekistan in the context of the emerging platform economy. The relevance of the study is обусловлена by the increasing role of digital platforms, e-commerce, data, and service integration in the development of territorially localized production and entrepreneurial ecosystems. The purpose of the article is to identify the key directions, constraints, and institutional conditions of digital modernization of small economic zones in Uzbekistan. The methodological basis of the research includes institutional, systemic, and comparative-analytical approaches, as well as an analysis of regulatory legal acts and statistical materials. It has been established that the digital transformation of small economic zones should be understood not only as the introduction of individual ICT solutions, but also as a transition to a platform-based model of management, cooperation, logistics, marketing, and service interaction among resident enterprises. It is shown that Uzbekistan has already created a strategic basis for digital development, including the “Digital Uzbekistan – 2030” Strategy, the development of open data, and measures to expand the digital economy. At the same time, there remain limitations related to the uneven development of digital infrastructure, weak integration of zone residents into e-commerce, insufficient digital competencies of small business entities, and the fragmented nature of platform solutions. The article substantiates the conclusion that the further development of small economic zones requires the creation of unified digital management platforms, B2B cooperation services, digital logistics circuits, data analytics mechanisms, and integration with state and commercial ecosystems.