The progress of preparations for an open dialogue with entrepreneurs was reviewed.

The preparations for the open dialogue with entrepreneurs were reviewed.

Traditional dialogue is key for directly exploring current issues of concern to entrepreneurs, finding practical solutions, and further improving the business environment.

To thoroughly prepare for the upcoming sixth open dialogue, a national headquarters consisting of representatives from over 50 ministries and agencies has been in operation since May 15. The headquarters operates 24/7.

Approximately 6,000 inquiries from entrepreneurs were received through the call center and official bots. Over 4,200 of these were resolved positively, and nearly 1,800 are still being processed.

In preparation for the open dialogue, responsible organizations held over 750 meetings, attended by over 8,800 entrepreneurs. More than 3,500 proposals and pressing questions were voiced during the meetings.

More than 5,700 entrepreneurs participated in over 130 meetings organized by the Business Ombudsman and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, raising approximately 1,500 pressing issues. Proposals for fundamental solutions to identified problems and improving current legislation are being developed in collaboration with relevant ministries and agencies.

At the same time, a survey was conducted among 5,072 entrepreneurs from all regions of the country. Issues related to enterprise efficiency, investment and infrastructure support, tax administration, foreign trade, and the judicial and legal sphere were examined.

Ninety-three percent of respondents were domestic private enterprises. The survey covered the sectors of trade, services, industry, construction, and agriculture.

The analysis showed that enterprises still have significant opportunities to improve productivity and reduce costs. Enterprises that have implemented digital platforms, artificial intelligence, energy-saving technologies, and mastered new types of products and modern production methods have higher sales, competitiveness, wages, and investment.

Specifically, companies that have implemented at least three efficiency improvement measures are 4.1 times more likely to reduce costs and 2.1 times more likely to increase wages at a faster rate. However, the share of companies implementing such measures in three or more areas was only 11.6 percent. Furthermore, 28.5 percent of companies have not implemented any measures in this area.

Fifty-one percent of companies have not recently introduced new products, services, or innovations, nor have they modernized. Forty percent of companies have not invested in the past year, and 29 percent have no plans to do so for the coming year. High loan interest rates, undervalued collateral, the large number of required documents, and lengthy loan processing times were cited as the main barriers.

According to the survey, 38 percent of companies have not taken any measures to reduce costs. Fifty-three percent have seen an increase in the cost of goods and services. The main reasons cited were rising raw material prices, as well as increased energy and logistics costs. Furthermore, 43 percent of businesses had not implemented energy conservation measures, and 49 percent did not use renewable energy sources.

Infrastructure also remains a key issue facing entrepreneurs. Among the main problems, entrepreneurs cited frequent outages, low voltage and pressure, as well as issues related to limits and tariffs.

While acknowledging that a number of important reforms have been implemented in tax administration, survey respondents pointed to a number of problems related to audits and value-added tax refunds. However, 94 percent of entrepreneurs rated the sustainability rating highly as having an impact on their business.

22.3 percent of businesses participating in the survey are engaged in foreign trade. Difficulties in finding foreign clients, product certification, logistics, financial instruments, and customs procedures, as well as a lack of market information and marketing skills, were cited as the main barriers to exports.

In the judicial and legal sphere, access to qualified legal assistance and transparency in public procurement were rated positively. However, 73 percent of entrepreneurs noted that bureaucratic procedures during enforcement have a negative impact on business.

The head of state emphasized the need for an in-depth analysis of incoming requests and survey results across regions and industries, as well as for developing specific solutions to systemic problems hindering entrepreneurship development.

Proposals were instructed to improve enterprise efficiency, widely implement innovations and energy-saving technologies, address lending and infrastructure issues, improve tax administration, support exporters, and strengthen legal protections for entrepreneurs.

For each issue raised during the open dialogue, a specific solution, implementation mechanism, responsible persons, and implementation deadlines were identified.