Uzbekistan is set to launch Elimination of Bureaucracy-2030 program on January 1, 2026, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced on Friday at an international forum on eradication of bureaucracy based on the experience of the UAE. In the forum was present the UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad Al Gergawi.

The program aims to eliminate bureaucracy in governmental-to-people and governmental-to-business relations, as well as within the governmental apparatus, and to create a highly user-friendly governmental service ecosystem, the presidential press service said.

The ultimate goal is to transform Uzbekistan into a country with modern public administration by 2030, free from excessive bureaucracy and focused on people's interests, according to the statement.

According to the decree signed by the president, the program's main objectives are:

• improving the quality of life through swift and convenient use of governmental services;
• stimulating entrepreneurship and increasing the country's attractiveness to foreign investors;
• improving Uzbekistan’s image in the areas of digital governance and public administration;
• reducing the risk of abuse by lifting unnecessary procedures and increasing process transparency.

The program’s project office is being set up under the Strategic Development and Reforms Agency, which will be in charge of establishing cooperation with foreign countries and international organizations on issues of reducing bureaucracy.

Zero Bureaucracy digital platform is planned to be created, through which proposals for eliminating bureaucracy will be drafted and reviewed, as well as their effectiveness assessed.

The country will transition to a Paperless Governmental system, which envisions the complete elimination of paperwork. Of the existing 40 million documents, 25 million will be digitized, with 5 million to follow next year.

According to the program, the number of governmental services is planned to be brought to 1,500 by 2030. Today, there are 1,040 services, compared to 444 in 2017. The ratio of electronic services is expected to reach 95%.

In 2026 alone, 250 services are slated to be digitized. Specifically, vehicle registration, VAT refunds, and other popular services will be transferred to online.

The number of proactive and composite services will be increased to 400. Next year alone, 180 new composite services will be implemented.

"As a result, we will transition to a system in which services are provided to individuals without their request," the president emphasized.

Currently, more than 90 types of services are provided in proactive and composite formats. Composite provision of services related to the birth of a child annually facilitates the process for nearly 1 million individuals. Social benefits and old-age pensions are assigned automatically, without the need for individuals to apply.

More than 300 procedures related to licensing and permitting, connection to utility networks, and construction will be simplified. Connection to four types of utility networks will be completed through a single application.

Service delivery times will be significantly reduced. For more than 100 types of services, they will be reduced by 50%. The requirement to submit over 110 types of documents will be completely eliminated.

The Unified Portal of governmental Services (UPSS), the License system, the One-Stop Window customs platform, and call centers will be powered by artificial intelligence.

The performance of ministries and bodies will be assessed annually through a special digital platform..

Opportunities will be created for the public and businesses to directly submit proposals and new initiatives within the program. They will also be given the opportunity to evaluate the performance of governmental bodies in this area. A $3 million prize fund will be established for this purpose.

Cash awards from this fund will be given to individuals, businesses, and governmental officials who propose effective solutions to reduce bureaucracy. Additional nominations will be introduced, the statement notes.

"Eliminating bureaucracy is one of the key goals of the state, aimed at serving the people. We must create a system in which individuals don't have to go to governmental bodies, but rather the state itself comes to each individual and solves their problems. This must be a modern and human-centered form of public administration in the New Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev stressed.

After his remarks, Shavkat Mirziyoyev pressed a symbolic button and launched a program to eliminate bureaucracy.