ASSESSING THE DIGITAL ECONOMY AND SOCIETY PERFORMANCE IN UZBEKISTAN USING EUROPEAN DESI FRAMEWORK FOR NATIONAL POLICY ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION

This research adapted the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) framework to assess Uzbekistan's digital performance, identify areas for improvement, and propose evidence-based policy recommendations to enhance the country's digital economy and infrastructure. Aligned with the "Digital Uzbekistan 2030" strategy, the study employed a quantitative approach, combining primary data from surveys of 62 enterprises and secondary data from government and international sources. Data analysis followed the DESI Methodological Note, focusing on its four dimensions. Ethical practices, such as voluntary participation and reliance on open-source data, were maintained. The study revealed Uzbekistan's DESI score of 0.42, comparable to lower-performing EU countries, highlighting significant gaps in Human Capital and Connectivity. Despite limitations like data availability, regional disparities, and a small sample size, the research offers critical insights and actionable recommendations for advancing Uzbekistan's digital transformation.