The President listed new opportunities created for entrepreneurs since the beginning of 2026
This year, institutional changes were made in the areas of cooperation, public procurement, standards, food safety, and urbanization. In tax policy, the threshold for switching to VAT was increased, 100 billion soums of cashback were returned to cafes and restaurants, and 400 billion soums remained in the accounts of farmers due to the zero VAT rate. There were also a number of innovations in the liberalization of foreign trade and the transport and logistics sector.
At a meeting with entrepreneurs, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev listed new opportunities and economic achievements created for entrepreneurs since the beginning of this year.
First of all, the Head of State noted that, despite the difficult situation in the world, the Uzbek economy grew by 8.5 percent over the past six months. Fitch and Moody's agencies improved Uzbekistan's sovereign credit rating by one notch. Uzbekistan ranked 31st in the World Bank's investment and business climate report. Shavkat Mirziyoyev noted that these results are, first of all, the result of reforms being implemented in collaboration with entrepreneurs.
This year, institutional changes were implemented in the areas of cooperation, public procurement, standards, food safety, and urbanization. Through the "National Industrial Chain", private enterprises received orders worth 4 trillion soums from large state-owned companies. Strategic enterprises have announced a list of more than 650 new products for localization, which has created an additional $1 billion market for entrepreneurs.
The threshold for switching to value-added tax has been increased from 1 billion soums to 5 billion soums. 100 billion soums have been returned to cafes and restaurants as VAT cashback. 400 billion soums have remained with farmers due to the introduction of a zero rate on agricultural products.
Kazakhstan has lifted restrictions on the import of 11 types of building materials. A duty-free trade regime has been established with Turkmenistan. Preferential trade agreements have been concluded with Jordan, Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan on hundreds of products.
The President also noted that major projects are being implemented that will give a significant boost to economic growth. These include a nuclear power plant in Jizzakh, the fourth copper enrichment plant in Almalyk, modern highways "Tashkent - Samarkand" and "Tashkent - Andijan". An ecological aviation fuel complex is being built in Khorezm, a modern greenhouse of 940 hectares in Surkhandarya, and the New Tashkent Airport in Yukorichik. This year, 105 new industrial and infrastructure projects worth $ 27 billion will be launched.
New areas are being built in all regions for a total of 3 million people. Local entrepreneurs who want to participate in such projects with their products and services will be created on an equal footing with foreign investors.
In the transport and logistics sector, customs duties and utilization fees have been canceled for the import of trucks. Value added tax on the provision of wagons for international transportation will be reduced to a zero rate. Next year, a logistics center with a capacity of 500 thousand tons will be launched in the port of Poti in Georgia, and practical work will also begin on the port of Anaklia. Large transport and logistics centers will be established in Olot, Termez, Yangiyul, Akhangaron and Khanabad.
The Tashkent International Financial Center and the Enterprise Uzbekistan International Digital Technologies Center will be launched next year. They will create an opportunity to attract $20-25 billion in capital, new knowledge and technologies.