In the regions, 18 markets and shopping complexes will be privatized, while in Tashkent, the sale of another 15 will be accelerated
In Uzbekistan, there are plans to privatize state shares in 18 markets, shopping complexes, and car markets across five regions. Separately, the authorities intend to accelerate the privatization of 15 large markets and shopping complexes in Tashkent.
In the regions, 18 markets and shopping complexes will be privatized, while in Tashkent, the sale of another 15 will be accelerated
Uzbekistan intends to privatize state shares in 18 markets, shopping complexes, and car markets located in the Namangan, Samarkand, Surkhandarya, Tashkent, and Fergana regions. This list is included in the presidential decree of August 28 on reducing state participation in the economy and accelerating privatization.
In most of these enterprises, the state owns controlling stakes ranging from 51% to 68%. The terms and procedures of the sale must be prepared by local authorities and determined by the State Assets Management Agency.
The proceeds from privatization, minus valuation and sale expenses, will be transferred to the respective local budgets.
A separate list in the decree does not provide for the re-offering for sale, but rather for the acceleration of the already initiated privatization of a number of markets and shopping complexes in Tashkent.
The same list of assets whose privatization needs to be accelerated includes other enterprises, including those from the oil and gas and chemical industries.
In July, a presidential resolution had already decided to put up for auction 12 major markets and shopping complexes in Tashkent and 23 of their branches. Their total area is 91.94 hectares, and the area of buildings and structures is about 519.4 thousand square meters. The list included, in particular, the "Sergeli", "Yangiobod", "Urikzor", "Aviasozlar", "Farhod" markets, the Kuyluk market, and others.
A mandatory condition of the sale is the creation of modern eco-markets, retail and service facilities, entertainment centers, and multi-level parking lots on the site of the existing markets. To prepare the facilities for sale, "Toshkent Invest Kompaniyasi" must develop business projects and master plans for the development of the territories.
The largest number of such assets in the new list is located in the Namangan region.
In addition, the list includes the Samarkand Residential Building Repair Enterprise, in which the state owns 100% of the company.
In the Surkhandarya region, the state intends to sell 51% of "Lolazor Denov Baraka" and 54.6% of the Zharkurgan dehkhan (food) market.
In the Tashkent region, 51% of the Kibray dehkhan market will be put up for sale.
The presidential decree approved a new stage of reducing state participation in the economy. In total, it is planned to put up for auction shares in 84 business entities, 1,242 real estate properties, and about 8,000 hectares of land plots.
The total value of the assets intended for sale is estimated at approximately 100 trillion soums. By the end of the year, the authorities expect to receive at least 14 trillion soums from their sale.