Entrepreneurs in Tashkent have called for the cancellation of fees for placing informational signage and requested sufficient time to adapt to the city's new design code. The demands were made during an open dialogue organized by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry on April 23.
A representative of the Evos (Mak Food Servis) fast-food chain, which operates over 80 outlets (about 50 in Tashkent), stated that the company had obtained 65 advertising space passports for its signs. “When we started, we paid about 20 million soums in state fees. Now we pay 80 million soums every quarter. The question arises: where do these tariffs come from and what are we paying for? We are paying for air,” he said.
He added that despite having valid passports, the company is being forced to dismantle its signs due to non-compliance with the design code approved in February, and to re-register new documents. Each dismantling costs approximately 20 million soums, with no compensation provided.
Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Davron Vakhabov proposed a one-year cancellation of signage fees on 36 streets in Tashkent, totaling 432 km. “I propose not to collect money for advertising for a year. The government itself wants everything to be beautiful… Let's make it free up to 5 square meters and not charge for advertising at all. After all, this is a café's 'passport'… Why should Evos pay 80 million soums for its name? A pharmacy should not pay for its name either,” he said.
Vakhabov held negotiations with the mayor of Tashkent and promised to temporarily halt dismantling on the remaining 332 km of roads until the first 100 km are brought into order. On April 24, the chamber announced that the parties had agreed to standardize 14 streets within the 100-km section where dismantling had previously occurred. The remaining 472 km of streets will be updated gradually over 30 days without dismantling.
Malik Karimov, head of the marketing department at the Korzinka supermarket chain, noted that the current design code, approved by the city council on February 17, is difficult to fully implement even within a year due to the specific characteristics of each business and various nuances on the streets where the new concept is being introduced. He reported that out of 240 supermarkets, 20 located on pilot streets are currently operating without logos or signs.
Karimov emphasized that businesses need time to rectify violations without harming their operations. “To put everything in order and 'feed both the sheep and the wolf,' that is, not to harm entrepreneurs, time is needed. During this period, as you suggested, we can record current violations, for example on 100 km of streets, and give businesses time and funds to fix everything,” he said.
Bobur Talipov, a representative of the holding that manages the Papa Johns and EvoEva brands, called for a halt to sign dismantling until the design code requirements are fully explained and compromise solutions are developed. “There are so many unresolved issues and uncertainties — from large to small businesses — why was a decision made to simply go and break everything under such conditions? I have serious objections, frankly,” he stated.
Nargiza Saipova, a representative of Uzum Market, said the company incurred significant expenses for obtaining advertising passports for its pickup points and proposed reducing current fee rates. The company operates 446 pickup points, excluding franchises. “We have submitted applications and received advertising passports for 321 pickup points. We spent about 93 million soums just on applications. Total expenses exceeded 120 million soums,” she said.
It is worth recalling that on February 17, the city council approved a document on the implementation of the design code, which is set to take effect on May 17. However, since November last year, the city has been dismantling entrepreneurs' signs. The Office of the Business Ombudsman of Uzbekistan issued a conclusion recommending a review of the city council's decision, citing contradictions with current legislation.
Source: www.gazeta.uz