Uzbekistan plans to increase the share of competitive public procurement to 80% by 2030, following a new decree signed by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
The decree, published on Lex.uz, aims to strengthen competition and transparency in Uzbekistan’s public procurement system, double business participation, and raise the share of domestically produced goods in state purchases to 98%. The targets also include increasing the use of locally produced goods to at least 85% and securing budget savings of UZS 25 trillion ($2.1bn) by 2030.
The document sets out plans to build a “convenient, modern and service-oriented” public procurement ecosystem focused on customer needs and supported by artificial intelligence technologies.
Uzbekistan is to abolish the existing list of goods, works, and services eligible for procurement through direct contracts from January 1, 2026. Such purchases will instead be conducted through competitive procedures, except in cases provided for by the Law “On Public Procurement.”
Any rules allowing direct contracts must name a specific contractor, pass regulatory, competition and anti-corruption reviews, and be announced on the public procurement portal at least three working days in advance. Offers on the electronic procurement platform will remain valid for 60 days instead of 15, with a minimum delivery period of five days.
The decree introduces local reverse auctions between budget-funded buyers and domestic manufacturers, with prices bid downward. These auctions will be considered valid even with a single participant. Companies with a localization level of 30% or higher will be eligible for advance payments, with the amount linked to the level of localization but capped at the supplier’s total assets.
All draft procurement documents will be published for public discussion for at least two working days, with the Competition Committee monitoring feedback and issuing binding instructions in case of violations. The results of all public procurement procedures must also be disclosed on the portal, except where state secrets or commercial confidentiality apply.
An AI-based module for calculating average market prices will be launched on the procurement portal from March 1, 2026. If the starting or contract price deviates significantly from the calculated benchmark, the procurement will be classified as high-risk and may trigger an unscheduled inspection. Direct-contract procurement will be prohibited from exceeding average market prices, except in cases allowed by law.
