Uzbekistan starts preparing for the gradual process of land privatization; First EIB loans to Uzbekistan: support for water infrastructure and energy efficiency; Construction of the largest cement plant in Central Asia began in Uzbekistan; The President approved a decree simplifying the export of vegetables and fruits; A business park can be built within the project of the British company in Tashkent;
Uzbekistan starts preparing for the gradual process of land privatization
Currently, all the land in the country is considered state property; however, soon it will start to change. The Ministry of Justice has prepared a draft document “On measures for the phased introduction of the right of private ownership of non-agricultural land plots”.
Privatization of non-agricultural land plots is a logical continuation of the reforms that are carried out in the republic to create favorable conditions for doing business and attracting foreign investment. The goal of the project is to involve land into civilian circulation, ensure its efficient use, expand investment opportunities and further improve land legislation.
Privatization of land will be carried out on a fee basis by decisions of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, regional khokims and khokim of the city of Tashkent.
First EIB loans to Uzbekistan: support for water infrastructure and energy efficiency
The Republic of Uzbekistan and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are opening a new chapter in their relationship by signing two landmark loans that will be beneficial to both the country and the environment.
A 100m euro loan will finance water and wastewater projects within the framework of the EU sponsored Climate Action and Environment Facility. This operation will help Uzbekistan to better address its high external water resource dependency and the scarcity of locally available freshwater resources. Some 80% of the water used in Uzbekistan originates from neighbouring countries.
A second 100m euro loan, designed as a credit line, will help implement the energy-efficiency investments of small and medium-sized enterprises, mid-cap companies and private sector entities in Uzbekistan. The EIB funding will support the Uzbek Government’s objective to reduce the country’s energy intensity level by at least 50% by 2030, and the industrial sector has a strong potential for improvement in this respect.
Construction of the largest cement plant in Central Asia began in Uzbekistan
On October 17, a foundation stone was laid at the site of JSC Akhangarancement for a new cement plant with a capacity of 3 million tons per year that will produce its first products in mid-2020.
Cement will be produced in an energy efficient dry process. The plant will be the largest in Central Asia and the most modern enterprise in the CIS with full automation of production, low energy consumption and minimal environmental impact, the company said.
“The new enterprise will become a key link in the cluster of building materials that we are creating on the basis of Akhangarancement, and the most ambitious initiative in this project,” said Mikhail Skorokhod, President of the Eurocement Group Holding, which, in turn, owns JSC Akhangarancement.
The President approved a decree simplifying the export of vegetables and fruits
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree “On additional measures to improve the efficiency of fruit and vegetable promotion to foreign markets,” which significantly simplifies the export of vegetables and fruits.
Now companies can export vegetables and fruits without prior payment, opening a letter of credit, issuing a bank guarantee and having a policy on insuring an export contract against political and commercial risks. To export fruits and vegetables one no longer needs a wholesale license. At the same time, the procedure for taxation applied to the proceeds of individual entrepreneurs provides for the payment of a sing le tax payment.
The products themselves are no longer subject to customs inspection, except in cases where signs of violation risk of customs legislation are detected. The responsibility for the accuracy of the information contained in the documents, as well as the illegal movement of goods across the customs border lies on the exporter.
A business park can be built within the project of the British company in Tashkent
The delegation of the British company David Tang & Co, headed by President David Tang, arrived in Tashkent, the press service of the metropolitan Khokimiyat reports. David Tang also holds the post of first vice-president of the Association of Chinese Diaspora in London.
A meeting with representatives of the delegation was held in the capital’s khokimiyat, where foreign representatives expressed a desire to build a Business Park or Business Association in the capital, by analogy with those already existing in China and the UK, in order to attract entrepreneurs.
According to representatives of the business community, the potential business center will involve organizations applying modern IT technologies, trading and innovations.