NAPM work to be optimized; “Sino” to be given to investors at a “zero” price; Belgian company to invest in carpet industry of Uzbekistan; Malaysian A Farm Agrotech Sdn Bhd intends to create a fish cluster in the Khorezm region; It will become easier to get a loan in Uzbekistan; It is allowed to privatize buildings in small industrial zones; Land privatization is allowed in Uzbekistan; Ministry of Economy and Industry of Uzbekistan is being established.
NAPM work to be optimized
The President signed a decree “On measures to further improve the activities of the National Project Management Agency.”
Key points:
- the authority in the field of public procurement has been transferred to the Ministry of Finance;
- the authority to ensure the state regulation of valuation activities and the approval of property valuation standards have been transferred to the State Competition Committee;
- The Center for Complex Expertise of Projects and Import Contracts has been transferred to the Ministry of Economy and Industry;
- the authority of NAPM and Accreditation Center at NAPM for the licensing of activities for the development of architectural and urban planning documentation, as well as accreditation of persons carrying out expertise of construction projects have been delegated to the Ministry of Construction
- The Center for Accreditation at NAPM has been transferred to the Uzbek Agency for Standardization, Metrology and Certification.
Also, by the decree:
- NAPM and its subordinate organizations’ projects and related documentation and contracts in the field of public procurement are not subject to examination at the Project and Import Contracts Examination Center;
- NAPM proposal on the creation of e-government and digital economy project management center at NAPM was approved;
- the state institution “Development Center of the Electronic Government System” under the Ministry of Innovation and Communication was abolished.
“Sino” to be given to investors at a “zero” price
The bankrupt Samarkand refrigerator factory “Sino” will be handed over to investors, follows from the Presidential decree.
The company will be given at a “zero” price, provided that the investors pay off debts to creditors and invest in the enterprise’s recovery.
Founded in 1973, the plant has been able to produce 250,000 refrigerators per year under “Pamir”, “Snejinka”, “Samarkand” and “SINO” brands. Products were exported to various countries, including Poland and Afghanistan.
Belgian company to invest in carpet industry of Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s Embassy in Belgium held a meeting with the CEO of the Belgian holding group Van de Wiele Charles Beauduin.
During the meeting, issues of attracting foreign direct investment in carpet weaving sector of our country were discussed. In addition, a request to assist in obtaining relevant information on possible investment projects, establishing production through the latest Belgian technologies for further development was made.
Representatives of Van de Wiele holding group intend to visit Uzbekistan in case of interest of the Uzbek side, the press service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan noted.
Malaysian A Farm Agrotech Sdn Bhd intends to create a fish cluster in the Khorezm region
Intensive fish farming cluster will specialize in complex production. It is planned to create incubation workshops, the production of fish and fry, fish food with high protein content, as well as the processing and storage of fish products.
An innovative approach of the company is the introduction of special feeds made from fruits and vegetables with the addition of essential minerals for the effective and rapid development and growth of fish.
In addition to production, A Farm Agrotech Sdn Bhd also offers training services in the creation of modern fisheries in Uzbekistan that meet international standards.
It will become easier to get a loan in Uzbekistan
It will soon be possible to get a bank loan without a residence permit, follows from the Presidential decree “On measures to fundamentally improve the processes of urbanization.”
The Central Bank, jointly with commercial banks, before April 1, 2019, is commissioned to develop and implement a new lending procedure, which will remove the mandatory requirement of residence permit at the place of appeal to the bank for such types of loans as business, consumer, mortgage and others.
It is expected to help accelerate the processes of urbanization. In the future, it is planned to develop mortgages by introducing new forms of lending, issuing medium-term and long-term mortgage bonds, placing them among investors, as well as attracting funds from international financial institutions to develop the national mortgage market.
It is allowed to privatize buildings in small industrial zones
In small industrial zones (MPZ) privileges and preferences for new participants are canceled, follows from the presidential decree.
Current members of MPZ will retain the benefits and preferences until January 1, 2020.
At the same time, new incentive mechanisms have been introduced. Thus, companies in MPZ got the right to:
- to register ownership of buildings and structures that were built at their expense;
- to privatize the buildings and structures transferred to them, but only 5 years after they became participants;
- to privatize buildings and structures that were repaired at their expense, but only after 3 years after they became participants.
Land privatization is allowed in Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan allowed to privatize the land, follows from the presidential decree “On measures to fundamentally improve the processes of urbanization.”
From July 1, 2019:
- legal entities – residents receive the right to privatize plots in the amount necessary for the implementation of production activities;
- individuals – citizens of Uzbekistan have the right to privatize the land plots allocated to them for individual housing construction and maintenance of a residential house.
Ministry of Economy and Industry of Uzbekistan is being established
By the presidential decree, the Ministry of Economy has been transformed into the Ministry of Economy and Industry.
The main goals of the ministry are to improve the business environment, reduce the “shadow” economy, and encourage private business.
In addition, the ministry is appointed by the authorized body to develop a strategy and conduct state policy in the field of socio-economic and industrial development. Until June 1, the ministry will prepare a Concept for the socio-economic development of Uzbekistan until 2030.