On 31 May 2018, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree “On cardinal improvement of the procedure for granting privileges and preferences”.

The document criticizes the current practice of granting privileges, preferences and exclusive rights for certain economic entities.

The resolution said that now the tax and customs privileges and preferences are granted by the laws and acts of the president as a whole for industries, spheres of activity, territories.

At the same time, they must have a specific goal and ensure the achievement of clear social, economic and financial results. Temporary benefits are provided by presidential acts for a period of not more than 3 years, except in cases stipulated by international treaties of Uzbekistan.

The document noted that individual benefits are provided by presidential acts, in exceptional cases, for implementation of socially significant projects in sectors, where there is no interest of the private sector in investing, given specific social or economic grounds, or in accordance with international treaties of the country.

The president banned government and departmental decisions on granting privileges, approving lists of goods imported (imported) into the territory of Uzbekistan with the application of benefits for customs payments.

UzDaily.com