Tashkent hosted an international forum of European and Asian Business Ombudsmen entitled "Interregional cooperation for protection of business rights".
The forum is dedicated to discussing joint measures to expand interregional cooperation between business ombudsmen in Europe and Asia, to consolidate their efforts to improve the business environment, investment climate, strengthen state support for businesses, reduce pressure on business, remove legal barriers, and exchange experience and practice in the field of protecting the rights of entrepreneurs and solving the problems they faced during the pandemic and in the post-period.
At the opening ceremony of the forum, Deputy Prime Minister - Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan S. Umurzakov made a welcoming speech, noting the importance and effectiveness of the comprehensive reforms carried out in the country aimed at liberalizing the economy, developing entrepreneurship, ensuring the rule of law, combating corruption and ensuring transparency of the business environment.
The results achieved in these areas were announced: thus, in particular, according to the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Uzbekistan has the fastest growing economy in the region with a GDP growth forecast of 6.3 percent for 2021 and 6.1 percent in 2022. Moody's for the first time has assigned Uzbekistan a "positive" rating, this year Uzbekistan acquired the status of a beneficiary country of the Generalized System of Preferences Plus (GSP +) and became the first country to join the Expanded Generalized System of Preferences of Great Britain (GSP EF). Also, for the first time in the history of the country, Uzbekistan was elected a member of the UN Human Rights Council and took 44th place in the International Open Data Index, moving up 125 positions.
Within the framework of the forum, a number of thematic sessions were held, during which foreign practices of ensuring the protection of business and mechanisms of practical support for entrepreneurs in the post-like period were discussed.
As a result of the event, the Tashkent Declaration of the Forum of Business Ombudsmen of Europe and Asia was signed, which defines the basic principles of cooperation in the fields of protecting the rights and legitimate interests of business entities, supporting business development, as well as international cooperation.
According to the declaration, an advisory committee of ombudsmen for the protection of business rights is also being created, which is designed to become an effective permanent platform for interaction between business ombudsmen in Europe and Asia.
