Uzbekistan witnessed a significant surge in business inspections in 2022, with the number of checks nearly doubling. A total of 167,000 inspections were conducted by 32 regulatory bodies, compared to 86,500 in the previous year, Gazeta.uz reports.
Tashkent had the highest number of inspections, followed by Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, and Samarkand regions.
Tax authorities took the lead in conducting inspections, accounting for 71.3% of the total checks. In response to the growing number of inspections and concerns over unwarranted checks, the Business Ombudsman intervened, imposing 686 measures to address illegal inspections and violations of inspection procedures. These measures included issuing administrative protocols, mandatory submissions, disciplinary actions, and even personnel dismissals.
Despite the significant increase in inspections, they only covered a fraction of entrepreneurs, representing less than 3% of the total number of business entities. This raised questions about the efficacy and necessity of such extensive inspections.
It is worth noting that measures were implemented in 2021 to regulate and prevent unwarranted interventions, following the approval of regulations outlining the procedures for inspections and preventive measures in entrepreneurial activities. The aim was to strike a balance between regulating businesses and curbing undue interference.
While efforts have been made to transition from traditional inspections to auditing and desk-based controls, inspections still remain a part of the system, albeit with greater emphasis on automation and streamlining processes. These inspections are recorded in the automated system, ensuring transparency and accountability.
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