03.04.2020

On April 3, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev chaired a videoconference session to discuss issues of supporting entrepreneurship in the context of countering the crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

According to international experts, the current virulent disease’s damage to the global economy will exceed 2 trillion US dollars. All-pervading is the cessation of trade relations and the provision of services.

Essential measures are taken in our country to weather the downbeat impact of the crisis on the nation economy. Corresponding decrees and resolutions of the head of state provided business entities with many benefits and preferences.

At today’s meeting, the President noted the need to promote the smooth operation of enterprises, the full mobilization of all opportunities and reserves.

“Even one case of suspension of an enterprise should be perceived as extraordinary. For they provide jobs and income for families. Earlier this year, our hokims came up with public assurances to help develop entrepreneurship and set ambitious goals. And right now is the time of trial. Those hokims who have made accurate calculations, properly use the internal reserves and the opportunities delivered will achieve their objectives. Comprehensive support for entrepreneurs, facilitation of their worries and creation of all necessary conditions for them is important today more than ever,” Shavkat Mirziyoyev insisted.

The President emphasized the critical necessity in promoting the activities of more than 2 thousand large enterprises providing for the bulk of the gross domestic product and employment of the population. For this to secure, presidential advisers, deputy prime ministers, heads of ministries, agencies and banks will be assigned to every one of them. Work at these enterprises will be organized in compliance with quarantine requirements and in accordance with the decisions of the Special Republican Commission. Top national-level officials assigned to them will provide them with practical assistance in solving infrastructure and raw materials supply problems, transporting products and workers, tax, credit, and customs issues.

Heads of sectors in districts and towns will work closely with enterprises within their territory. Staff headquarters will be set up in district departments of economic development and poverty reduction to deal with the problems of entrepreneurs.

“Everyone should be well aware: no entrepreneur will be left alone in trouble,” the President said.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed at the meeting that the businesses facing the consequences of the pandemic most severely need to be worked with individually. Business executives who are faced with financial difficulties should not face red tape and have to go to banks and tax departments to receive benefits.

An additional 3.6 trillion soums were allocated from the Anti-Crisis Fund for social services and infrastructure construction. In particular, tackling the problems faced by 152 projects will help create over 10 thousand new jobs.

The videoconference meeting participants also discussed issues related to exports. The head of our state noted the need for an increase in containerized cargo transportation by railways, expansion of refrigerated sections at stations. Responsible executives were given instructions for the prompt resolution of problems associated with the export of food products, textiles and electrical goods, building materials.

Particular attention was paid to providing the population with essential consumer goods, foods, medicines and hygiene products. Measures have been identified to establish mobile trade in mahallas with the engagement of 358 farm markets around the country and Elga Khizmat associations.

Moreover, the population has 4.5 million household plots at its disposal. These soils will soon begin to produce crops to become a source of additional income and abundance. In this regard, Shavkat Mirziyoyev instructed officials to deliver the possibility of free movement for persons selling products from their site, certainly in compliance with the requirements of the epidemiological situation.

From the first days of lockdown, our nation manifested solidarity, and caring people extended a helping hand to the lonely elderly and the needy families. In order to coordinate these efforts and implement them in conformity with security measures, charity assistance is collected at the Uzexpocenter in Tashkent and, building on the appeals received at the call center, is delivered to recipients through mahalla representatives and volunteer groups. 20 Damas vehicles provided with all protective equipment have been allocated for these purposes.

The Ministry for the Support of Mahalla and Family was instructed to organize such an order in regional centers.

The Chamber of Commerce and the Hunarmand Association were recommended to oversee – together with commercial banks – the process whereby the $ 50 million worth loans assigned for artisans’ projects reach the beneficiaries.

The meeting participants deliberated on the execution of forecast revenues to the national budget.

In the first quarter of this year, the treasury received 24 trillion soums of taxes and 4.8 trillion soums of customs duties; in all regions, the income forecast was fully met.

It is predicted that in the second quarter, under the influence of factors such as decrease in natural gas sales and cuts in copper prices in the world market, tax revenues may decline by 1.4 trillion soums compared to the first quarter. A reduction in customs revenues is also expected.

This requires a high degree of mobilization from financial, tax, customs and other departments of the economic block of government agencies. Therefore, the attention of executives was drawn especially to the need to facilitate the smooth operation of enterprises and entrepreneurs, and to take measures to boost revenues.

Chairman of the Zhokargy Kenes of Karakalpakstan, the hokims of regions, the heads of responsible ministries, departments and organizations reported on the issues raised at the meeting.