YouTube Monetization in Uzbekistan: Saida Mirziyoyeva Discusses It With Google

On 23 September 2026, the head of Uzbekistan's Presidential Administration, Saida Mirziyoyeva, met Google vice president Karan Bhatia in New York. They discussed launching YouTube monetization in Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan's Minister-Counsellor to the US, Komil Allamjonov, also took part.

The problem

Uzbekistan is still among the countries where the YouTube Partner Program is unavailable, meaning local creators cannot earn advertising revenue from their videos. Monetization is active in 108 countries; in Central Asia only Kazakhstan has it.

The lost money

According to a 2025 analysis by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR), the lack of monetization costs Uzbekistan up to $50 million a year. With roughly 36 billion annual views and a CPM of $0.8–1.4, total revenue could reach $28.8–50.4 million, adding an estimated 0.05–0.1% to GDP.

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In recent years we have improved legislation on personal data processing and digital payments. As a result, a wide path is opening for the free use of international payment systems in Uzbekistan. There are opportunities to cooperate with the company in many areas. Big and important tasks lie ahead.

— Saida Mirziyoyeva, Head of the Presidential Administration (New York, 23.09.2026)

Context

The issue of lifting monetization restrictions has been raised since at least 2023, when Komil Allamjonov and Saida Mirziyoyeva discussed it with then-US Ambassador Jonathan Henick. CERR names the main barriers as personal data storage, intellectual property protection, payment-system regulation and language support.

In brief

• Meeting: Saida Mirziyoyeva — Google VP Karan Bhatia, New York, 23.09.2026
• Topic: launching YouTube monetization in Uzbekistan
• Status: available in 108 countries; in Central Asia only Kazakhstan
• Loss: up to $50M/year per CERR (2025); 36bn annual views
• Potential revenue: $28.8–50.4M, +0.05–0.1% to GDP