18.04.2025

On April 18 a meeting was held under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on discussing measures aimed at decreasing the negative impacts of economic instability on the sectors of our country.

It was noted that the country's economy is an integral part of the world economic system. Owing to the balanced foreign policy and creation of a favorable investment climate, new markets are being opened to entrepreneurs and the range of products is expanding.

According to Harvard University, Uzbekistan's position in the Economic Complexity Index has improved by 25 points over the past five years. National products of 162 types have been recognized as having a competitive advantage in the world market.

As a result, exports have grown 2.2 times in recent years, and the share of foreign trade in gross domestic product has reached 57 percent. This indicates the economy's significant connectivity with foreign markets.

However, the global economic environment is now unstable. The changing situation, new tariffs and restrictions have a chain effect on other nations, slowing global economic growth and reducing international trade.

For example, international financial markets lost about $10 trillion dollars in just a few days. Due to high tariffs, the world trade turnover is projected to decrease by $3.5 trillion, and inflation on a global scale may reach 7.5-8 percent.

The main risk is that, similar to the pandemic, supply chains and high-value-added products could be disrupted around the world. Leading industries such as textiles, electronics, automobiles and food, which have high export potential, are at risk. This will lead to tough and uncompromising competition in international markets.

The President emphasized that in these conditions it is necessary to move forward boldly and confidently, relying primarily on our own resources and internal capabilities. It was noted that heads of ministries, agencies and regions should have specific action plans and personally deal with production and export issues.

The state will take the necessary legal, organizational and practical measures. To this end, meetings have recently been held with more than 3, thousand entrepreneurs to study their problems. Most of the questions concerned the system of standardization and certification.

It was noted that more than 25 thousand standards and 41 technical regulations in force in the country do not meet international requirements. Outdated norms and bureaucracy hinder entrepreneurs, creating conditions for corruption. Problems with multiple and duplicate certification continue.

Investors point out that local laboratories often do not meet international standards, and foreign standards are not recognized in Uzbekistan. Because of this, exporters are forced to send product samples abroad for certification. Conflicts of interest are also a concern, as certification bodies also perform supervisory functions.

At the meeting it was announced that the President signed a decree aimed at stimulating entrepreneurial activity and increasing the effectiveness of trade and industrial policy.

The decree clearly delineates the powers of technical regulation, sanitary and epidemiological supervision, veterinary and quarantine authorities. Multiple and duplicative procedures will be phased out.

Thus, control over the quality and safety of food products will be carried out exclusively by the Committee for sanitary and epidemiological well-being and public health. The mandatory nature of technical regulations and standards for food products will be abolished. Sanitary rules and norms for basic foodstuffs will be harmonized with the system of international standards “Codex Alimentarius”. The practice of state registration of products for 7 groups of goods with a high level of risk is also canceled.

The list of products subject to mandatory certification will be reduced and the practice of declaring the conformity of products will be introduced. When importing equipment, raw materials, special machinery and transport, international quality and control standards recognized in Uzbekistan will be applied, and national certificates will not be required.

The need to adopt the law “On market oversight” was emphasized. The need to improve the quality of personnel training in the field of standardization, sanitary-epidemiological supervision and quarantine was also pointed out.

At the meeting, special attention was paid to the issues of supporting local enterprises, expanding production and exports.

According to the mentioned decree, the procedure for determining the customs value of imported products will be fully harmonized with international rules.

From July 1, all restrictions on the export of goods will be abolished with the introduction of export duties on 86 groups of raw materials and socially important products.

In recent years, the share of confectionery and soft drinks production in the industry has increased significantly. In order to support these industries, the excise tax on sugar will be abolished and restrictions on imports of milk powder will be lifted.

As a result, the annual turnover of enterprises producing confectionery products and soft drinks and providing jobs for about 40 thousand people will reach at least 50 trillion soums.

It was noted that local councils have the right to set increasing coefficients of land tax and rent payments. However, it is important to take into account the opportunities of business and carefully study the consequences of such decisions. If the burden on entrepreneurs is reduced and their development is promoted, budget revenues will increase. Entrepreneurs will be allowed to pay these taxes throughout the year in two stages.

Responsible persons have been instructed to prepare proposals to improve tax and customs policy and administration with the involvement of scientists and entrepreneurs.

It was emphasized that the Prime Minister and his deputies, ministers and hokims should be in constant dialogue with producers and exporters, promptly solve incoming appeals and problems.