A series of significant legislative changes and innovations come into force in Uzbekistan on October 1. These changes cover entrepreneurship, land relations, public services, finance, transport, and social policy. The overview was prepared based on materials from Sharh Gazeta, the Ministry of Justice, and Lex.uz.
For entrepreneurs, a unified procedure is introduced to encourage voluntary payment of financial fines. Under it, if an entrepreneur pays 50 percent of the fine within one month, they are exempt from the remaining part. An option to pay the fine in equal installments over 6 months is also provided. If a court cancels or invalidates a fine decision, the collected funds are returned within 15 days. If this deadline is violated, interest is paid for each day of delay at 1/300 of the Central Bank's base rate.
Important changes are also expected in land relations. From October 1, land plots included in the address list for promising housing construction projects will be put up for open electronic online auctions in a construction-ready form through the "Land Bank." The plots will be coordinated with the general plan concept and construction projects, agreed upon with the territorial architectural and urban planning council, and auctioned with a construction permit and necessary project documentation ready. Plots are generally divided into small lots. The "Land Bank" will include vacant lands under the jurisdiction of district and city khokimiyats, plots where state-owned objects subject to privatization are located, renovation areas, and certain agricultural lands whose category is changed in accordance with the procedure established by law.
Conveniences are also being created in public services. From October 1, individuals and legal entities through the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services (EPIGU) will be able to impose or lift a ban on pledging or mortgaging their real estate and motor vehicles, as well as on their alienation. For individuals, imposing a ban is carried out after identification via Face ID. Legal entities must provide a decision of the general meeting of founders, participants, or shareholders certified by an electronic digital signature. Also, through EPIGU, citizens will be able to see information about all phone numbers and bank cards registered in their name. They will have the opportunity to deactivate a phone number for a certain period or reactivate it, suspend service for an unused number, and receive information about paid services connected to it. For bank cards, through the portal, an electronic application can be sent to the issuing bank to block or close the card.
Furthermore, from October 1, a procedure for automatic updating of citizens' personal data in information systems of state bodies comes into force. In case of changes in citizens' surname, first name, patronymic, date of birth, and other personal data, state bodies will receive this information through the interdepartmental electronic interaction system and independently update their electronic databases. Also, identity documents will be reissued based on an electronic certificate of changed personal data obtained through EPIGU.
To support the real sector of the economy, electrical engineering enterprises will be allocated loans from the funds of the "Trade Development Company" for up to 2 years, with a 3-month grace period, at an annual rate of 6 percent. The loan amount per entrepreneur does not exceed $5 million. The "National Company for Business Guarantee" provides a guarantee for 50 percent of the loan, but not exceeding the equivalent of 20 billion soums. The remaining part is covered by liquid property, an insurance policy, an export contract, or other collateral. Also, "Uzsanoateksport" is allocated $40 million to finance enterprises' purchases of copper raw materials. At exchange trades, the enterprise pays 25 percent of the payment, and "Uzsanoateksport" pays the remaining 75 percent. The enterprise must return these funds within 90 days.
In Andijan region, private companies will be allowed to directly import liquefied gas and sell it to the population in household cylinders at free prices. The experiment will operate in parallel with the LPG-Trade company system, established under "Hududgaztaminot" as a special operator for supplying the population with liquefied gas. At least two private operators must participate in the project. They must have their own or leased capacities for transporting, receiving, storing, and distributing gas, necessary licenses and permits, and trained personnel. Private operators are also allowed to establish points for storing and selling gas cylinders. Subsequently, based on the experiment's results, this model may be gradually introduced in other regions.
There are also changes in the tax and customs sphere. From October 1, tax authorities will create an opportunity for foreign economic activity participants with a low risk level and an active VAT certificate to offset VAT amounts paid for imported goods. From the same date, due to digitalization and improvement of export control processes, the amount of fees and payments for customs clearance, phytosanitary certificate, fumigation, and certificate of origin of goods is reduced by 30 percent.
In the historical part of Bukhara, the movement of certain vehicles not intended for passenger transport is restricted. The restriction applies to the area from the Ark Fortress through the Poi Kalon ensemble and Haqiqat Street to Labi Hauz. In this area, the movement of electric scooters, rickshaws, mopeds, four-wheeled bicycles, electric scooters, go-karts, and other similar vehicles, as well as movement on horses and camels, is restricted. The khokimiyat explained this measure by the need to ensure the safety of tourists and pedestrians, prevent disorderly movement, and prevent injuries. Alternative zones have been designated for self-employed persons providing services on these vehicles. They can provide services in Yangi Uzbekistan Park or "Boqiy Bukhara" Park.
In the social sphere, there is also important news: from October 1, free vouchers for theater, cinema, and concert events will be issued at the expense of the state budget. They can be received annually by 500,000 teachers, doctors, civil servants, active pupils and students, as well as one child from each of 100,000 families included in the Social Register, and children with disabilities. Funds for the voucher value will be provided through a social card opened in the name of the voucher recipient.
The introduction of water-saving technologies is also accompanied by new requirements. Supplier companies and local manufacturers must produce pumps and filter devices with a special QR-coded label and install GPS trackers on them. From the same date, installation of water-saving technologies will be carried out based on approved minimum requirements and norms. The procedure for allocating subsidies to those who introduce technologies at their own expense without attracting bank credit will also change. In this case, 50 percent of the subsidy calculated based on project-estimate documentation and a contract with the supplier is paid in advance. The remaining 50 percent is provided after the technologies are installed and put into operation. If within two months after payment of the first 50 percent of the subsidy the technologies are not installed and launched, the allocated funds are returned.
Source: www.gazeta.uz