Uzbekistan is set to dismantle 17 types of state monopolies as part of a broad economic reform initiative, the presidential press service reported. This move aims to enhance market competition, reduce regulatory burdens, and increase transparency across various sectors.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed new measures to enhance competition and reduce state involvement in Uzbekistan's economy, highlighting the positive impact of recent reforms on creating a more competitive market environment.
The sectors targeted for reform include energy, oil and gas, water management, road construction, railway, and airport services. Key changes will involve removing excessive regulatory norms that hinder market access for businesses and substituting complex permitting procedures with mandatory liability insurance.
Key Reform Measures:
- Creation of Independent Market Regulators: New regulators will oversee sectors previously dominated by state monopolies, with limited involvement of natural monopoly entities in competitive markets.
- Reduction of Public Procurement: Public procurement processes will be shifted to competitive methods, eliminating state aid that restricts competition, including exclusive rights and preferences.
- Digital Monitoring System: A new system will track pricing of socially significant products through integrated state information systems. Additionally, incentives will be introduced for whistleblowers reporting anti-competitive practices.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the need to continue efforts to promote free market principles and support entrepreneurship. He also highlighted the importance of reducing state involvement in the economy and regularly analyzing market competition to propose necessary improvements.
Over the past five years, Uzbekistan has made significant strides in improving its competitive environment:
- Improvement for Over 25 Goods: The competitive landscape has been enhanced for more than 25 products.
- Abolishment of Exclusive Rights: Restrictions on competition have been lifted for 7 types of activities.
- Decrease in State Participation: The number of state-participated enterprises has dropped by 42%, while private enterprises have increased by 1.6 times.
In addition, the law on competition was recently revised, and the Committee for the Development of Competition and Protection of Consumer Rights now holds enhanced powers. However, issues such as anti-competitive decisions and direct contracts persist, prompting the development of a new Concept of Competition Development. This concept aims to further reduce state involvement, liberalize market access, and create fair conditions for businesses.
The need for greater transparency and increased coverage of the committee's activities was also underscored to prevent legal violations and foster a transparent market environment.
Follow Daryo's official Instagram and Twitter pages to keep current on world news.
Comments (0)