The Uzbek authorities have announced a substantial overhaul of infrastructure fees aimed at accelerating the construction of service and social facilities in the New Tashkent area. During a meeting with investors and entrepreneurs, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev purportedly emphasized that the economic burden of building residential housing differs significantly from constructing commercial centers or hotels that serve the wider urban population.

Under the updated framework, the baseline infrastructure payment is set to be reduced by three times for retail, service, and business centers, five times for hotels and tourism facilities, and tenfold for cultural and entertainment venues. Furthermore, private kindergartens, schools, and hospitals will face a nominal fee of just one percent. The authorities claim this new procedure will also apply to projects that are already underway.

Officials allegedly intend to introduce expedited procedures for unique architectural projects designed by leading global architects, aiming to streamline design, construction, and commissioning processes while eliminating redundant bureaucratic demands. The president reportedly stated that while the master plan of New Tashkent was designed to build a model city, it must not act as a barrier to investor initiatives, provided proposals serve the city's interests.

Critics and observers note, however, that previous administrative procedures have often been complex and opaque, with some decisions dragging on for months. To address investor engagement, the authorities plan to implement land allocation practices based on open initiatives and the Swiss challenge principle, though the long-term effectiveness of these bureaucratic adjustments remains to be seen.

Source: www.gazeta.uz