The president Shavkat Mirziyoyev today chaired a government meeting on the privatization of state-owned property for this year.
In order to develop entrepreneurship and the efficient use of buildings and premises, from 2021 to 2024, state-owned assets worth 47 trillion soums were sold - this is 30 times more than in the previous decade.
As a result, the number of enterprises with a government stake has halved, and the state's involvement in the economy has decreased by 13 percent.
If previously, mainly small enterprises and facilities were sold, then in recent years, large assets have been put up for auction. In particular, such enterprises as Ferganaazot, Kungrad Soda Plant, Foton, Temiryul-Container, as well as the International and Lotte hotels were privatized.
In November last year, the first people's IPO was held, during which more than 3 million shares of the Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange were sold to the population. As a result, 11 thousand individuals became shareholders.
However, there are still shortcomings in this area. There are unused opportunities in the provinces and industries. The process of putting completed objects up for auction is delayed.
For example, without a proper analysis of the infrastructure capabilities, a plot of 1.5 thousand hectares was put up for auction, which has not been sold for more than a year. The approval of 4 thousand plots has also been delayed. Ministries and governor and mayor offices have not transferred 243 objects to the Agency for State Asset Management, which were subject to sale last year.
22 enterprises, including Uzavtosanoat, Uzkimyosanoat, Uzmetkombinat, Uzbekneftegaz, have not yet switched to international financial reporting standards. The companies Uzbekistan Pochtasi, Uzbekistan Airports, Uzbekistan Railways do not have credit ratings.
Privatization goals for 2025 have been outlined:
- sale of state-owned property in the amount of 30 trillion soums and making proceeds of at least 10 trillion soums to the budget;
- putting up for sale government stakes in 116 enterprises and 581 real estate objects;
- putting up for auction 6.1 thousand hectares of land and increasing sales to 6 trillion soums;
- offering at least 300 deposits and sites to investors and making proceeds of 500 billion soums.
As a result, additional investments will come into the economy, business opportunities will expand, and thousands of new jobs will be created.
At the meeting, the head of state added that a number of benefits would be provided to achieve these goals.
In particular, businesses will be able to buy out the properties they have leased for at least five years. There are currently 632 such properties. Their sale to tenants can provide 2 trillion soums in revenue.
Unsold assets of Uzpakhtasanoat - 131 properties - will be re-listed for auction with a reduction in the initial price to 50 percent and the possibility of an installment plan of up to three years.
Currently, governor and mayor offices own at least 51 percent in 537 markets and shopping malls in the country. The rule on the mandatory participation of governor and mayor offices in the ownership of markets will be canceled, which will create additional opportunities for entrepreneurs.
Opportunities for the sale of land plots will also expand: small, long-standing and adjacent plots will be combined and re-listed for auction.
This experience will be implemented in provincial centers this year and in districts next year.
This year, it is planned to put shares of 28 large enterprises on international markets, and next year, shares of another 10 large enterprises at public auctions.
The Prime Minister has been instructed to approve the relevant road map and monitor its implementation on a monthly basis.
Ministers, industry leaders, governors and mayors presented reports on the issues discussed at the meeting.
