Businesses will have their advance payments for electricity and gas reduced by almost seven times.

Businesses in Uzbekistan will benefit from a significant reduction in advance payments for electricity and natural gas – almost sevenfold.

Tashkent, Uzbekistan – Podrobno.uz News Agency.

For Uzbek businesses that make timely payments for energy, the mandatory advance payment for electricity and natural gas will be reduced from 100% to 15%. This reduction applies to companies using automated metering systems (ASKUP and ASKUG).

This decision was announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during an open dialogue with business representatives. It was a response to complaints from entrepreneurs who pointed out that full prepayment negatively impacts their working capital.

The head of state also unveiled a new energy sector management system. Resource allocation to businesses will take into account not only current needs but also their plans for expanding production capacity.

Starting in 2027, the methodology for costing public construction projects will also change. Estimates will include a 5% minimum wage for each man-hour, and contractor profits will be fixed at 7%. Depending on the complexity of the project, 4% to 7% of the project cost will be allocated for design work.

Furthermore, an ecosystem combining "artificial intelligence, management efficiency, and new investments" will be created. The President emphasized that companies implementing AI, increasing productivity, and reducing production costs will gain a competitive advantage in the market.

It was previously reported that the number of entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan reached 1.2 million, and the business loan portfolio increased to 450 trillion soums.