Uzbekistan has established the Agency for Industrial Cooperation and Public Procurement as part of ongoing reforms to improve the transparency and efficiency of the country’s public procurement system, as it was reported earlier. The responsibilities, functions, and powers related to public procurement previously held by the Ministry of Economy and Finance will be transferred to the newly created agency.
Under the reforms, several new measures and systems are planned to regulate public procurement and incentivize domestic manufacturers and reliable participants. Starting April 1, 2026, domestic manufacturers participating alongside foreign suppliers in public procurement by budget customers will receive a price preference applied to the minimum price offered for imported goods.
The preference rates will vary depending on the number of domestic manufacturers participating: 15% for three or more domestic manufacturers, 12% for two, and 8% for one. Additionally, starting October 1, 2026, a 15% price preference will be applied to domestic services in public procurement by budget customers.
From July 1, 2026, brokers and dealers will be permitted to sell manufacturers’ products in public procurement after entering into an agreement with the respective manufacturers.
The agency plans to launch an electronic scoring system on September 1, 2026, which will automatically assess the performance of public procurement participants using interdepartmental data exchanges. Participants will be assigned reliability levels of “high,” “medium,” “low,” and “very low.” For participants with “low” or “very low” reliability, maximum limits will be established on the value of public procurement contracts in which they can participate.
The reforms also include a system of professional development through free online training courses to improve participant qualifications. Incentive measures are planned to encourage compliance and reliability.
Participants with a “high” reliability level will not be required to make deposit payments, will receive additional points in evaluations for the selection of best proposals and tender bids, and will be supported in competitions such as the “Most Active Entrepreneur” in public procurement. Newly registered participants will be allowed to participate under general conditions.
