Uzbekistan – United Arab Emirates Business Forum Current State of Economic Development of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Measures Taken for Improvement of Business Climate in Uzbekistan February 26, 2019 ___ ___ Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSRTY OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN THE LARGEST BUSINESS SUPPORT ORGANIZATION IN UZBEKISTAN Restructured by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan #UP-5087 June 19, 2017 2 Main spheres of the Chamber’s activity LEGAL SUPPORT AND PROTECTION OF BUSINESSMEN ASSISTING BUSINESSES IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS OF BUSINESS ENTITIES QUALIFICATION DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESSMEN SUPPORTING EXPORTERS ATTRACTION OF FOREIGN INVESTMENTS SUPPORTING STARTUPS AND INNOVATIONS DEVELOPING WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP 3 Regional Structure of the Chamber - 14 Regional Branches - 193 Business Facilitation Centers 4 15 000 MEMBERS FURNITURE FACTORY International Partners 6 18 Expert Councils Law Issues Tourism Foreign Trade Food Processing Banking and Financial Issues Logistics and Transport Industry Textile Construction Services Business Education IT issues Energy Pharmaceuticals, and etc. 7 Association of handicraftsmen Status of the chairman of the Association is equal to the status of the deputy chairman of the CCIU The Association “Hunarmand” is an associate member of the CCIU The Association now has more than 19 330 members 8 International Commercial Arbitration Court According to the new edition of the Law “About the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan” INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION COURT was created to protect the rights and legitimate interests of foreign investors and business entities. 8 The results of the Chamber's activity on legal protection issues for 2018 year 774 legal acts 50 005 claims expertised by the Chamber brought to the courts on behalf of members of the Chamber 34 217 complaints of 848 economic businesses accepted and solved disputes solved through mediation 11 410 legal cases passed 15 Arbitration Courts through the Arbitration Сourts under the Chamber are functioning 10 The results of Chamber’s activities on foreign economic relations for 2018 54 20 112 business-forums conducted in Uzbekistan business-forums conducted abroad JC and FC created with Chamber’s support 625 9 343 companies are assisted in finding and purchasing equipment intercountry business councils created companies were assisted in exporting products for $ 122 million 11 2019 The Year of Active Investments and Social Development 12 Ongoing Investment Cooperation 2018 18 intergovernmental visits organized Agreements on 1,080 projects In amount of $ 52 billion 456 projects with foreign investment Currently In amount of $ 23 billion 13 Cooperation with the International Financial Institutions The volume of the investment portfolio in cooperation with international financial institutions reached $ 8.5 billion Largest Partners: 14 Development of Tax Administration Reducing the tax burden Reducing the number of taxes Reducing the tax reporting Eliminating contradictions in legal acts Introducing IT into tax administration 15 Development of Customs Administration Simplification and cost reduction of customs procedures Introducing IT and risk management system into tax administration Reducing customs tariffs Establishing additional customs points with neighbor countries Uzbekistan has started process of joining into the World Trade Organization 16 Development of Banking System Free conversion of the national currency into foreign currency Free repatriation of foreign currency Reducing government share in commercial banks Wide implementation of digital technology in banking system 17 Privatization of land Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan «On measures to fundamentally improve the processes of urbanization» UP-5623 dated January 10, 2019 18 Digital Uzbekistan – 2030 Total implementation of “One Stop Shop” mechanism in public administration Innovation is a priority for Government to introduce in all sectors of economy and life Wide transforming business services into online platform (e-registration, e-tax, e-customs, e-banking, e-visa, etc.) 19 International Sovereign Credit Rating Uzbekistan, for the first time in history, has got the international sovereign credit rating by leading international rating agencies. LONG-TERM FORECAST – STABLE (BB-) Advisors of Uzbekistan Government: 20 Free Economic Zones 11 Free Economic Zones 22 Exemption from all taxes General Industries 8 Pharmaceutical Industry 1 Fish-farming 1 Tourism Industry 1 Sports Industry Free use of land Exemption from all customs 21 Priority Industries for further Investment Cooperation between Uzbekistan and United Arab Emirates 22 Oil and Gas Industry annual gas production is 56,5 billion cubic meters 125 oil deposits in Uzbekistan 23 Sericulture Industry Uzbekistan is the 3rd largest producer of cocoon in the world. 50% increase of cocoon production capacity annually. 24 Leather Processing Industry In 2018, shoe production increased - 5.4 times; leather goods – 2 times, leather - 1,5 times 25 Chemical Industry next 5 years 40 new projects with investments worth about 4.7 billion USD 26 Automobile Industry 325 thousand vehicles manufactured ANNUALLY 27 Pharmaceuticals in 2017 7 FREE PHARMACEUTICAL ZONES were created in Uzbekistan 28 Food Industry 25 mln. tons of fruit and vegetable produced annually 29 Construction Materials over the past 10 years the industry has attracted $400 mln. of FDI 30 Textile Industry export of $1.7 bln. annually 31 Electrotechnical Industry production of 15 mln. devices annually 32 Tourism is Strategic Sector for Uzbekistan Four seasons nature Uzbekistan – United Arab Emirates Business Forum Thank you for attention! www.chamber.uz