American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce

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Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev by his decree has established an institution of the authorized representative (ombudsman) for the protection of rights and legal interests of business entities under the country's president, the Uzbekistan National News Agency (UzA) reported.
The main tasks and activity directions of the business ombudsman are to participate in the formation and implementation of Uzbek state policy in the field of entrepreneurship development, protect the rights and interests of entrepreneurs, implement control over observance of their rights and interests by state bodies, including law enforcement and controlling bodies, according to the decree.
The business ombudsman will also render legal support to entrepreneurs while auditing their activity, as well as evaluate the impact of the adopted normative legal acts on entrepreneurial activity and prepare proposals for improving legislation.
The business ombudsman will exercise powers independently of Uzbek state bodies and their officials, and in his activity is accountable to the country's president. The business ombudsman and his or her deputy will be appointed and dismissed by the Uzbek president.

Sodiq Safoyev, First Deputy Speaker of the Senate of Parliament of Uzbekistan and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) Governor for Uzbekistan, spoke about the country's strategic reform program at the EBRD 2017 Annual Meeting in Cyprus. He stressed the importance of regional integration and highlighted Uzbekistan's potential for growth, the EBRD Press Office reported on May 10.
"The EBRD is back [in Uzbekistan] and we're renewing, starting a new page of our cooperation," Safoyev said. "You know, Uzbekistan passed through the transition of Presidential power - it was a challenge. However, I think that we might today state that the country did it in a very decent, transparent and legal way, and the Presidential elections demonstrated once again the resilience of Uzbek statehood, that the democratic institutions are functioning, and Uzbekistan is a stable country and the West must be assured that the stable, sustainable development of Uzbekistan is secured."
Safoyev said that the new leadership of Uzbekistan is launching the strategic program for reforming the country, based on good governance, more openness, more accountability, decentralisation of governance, more e-government, eradication of corruption, more check and balance system and upgrading or delegating more functions from the executive branch of power to judicial and legislative branches.
Safoyev said that Uzbekistan's economic reforms aim at the speed up and liberalisation of the currency regime in Uzbekistan, upgrading the level of banking system so that it will match international standards, disengagement of the government from direct involvement in the economy and making sure that small and medium-sized businesses will play an even more important role. "Today [SMEs] provide us almost 60% of GDP and 75% of labour. It is a big achievement if compared to the level of ten years ago. But the point is that we expect a lot from the EBRD's contribution to us; to support the privatisation and activisation of small and medium business," he said.
Safoyev said that the Uzbek government defined 8 priorities which include: textile, oil and gas, the mining sector, tourism, and food processing. Today Uzbekistan produces already 19 million tons of fruits and vegetables annually, and only 16% are now available to the world market. "We know there is a special brand of Uzbek fruits and vegetables and we're looking for more agribusiness and business in the food processing sector," he said.
The Uzbek senator also said that Uzbekistan is now pursuing a more proactive regional policy, being more open for implementing regional projects, be it in infrastructure or the energy sector.
Reminder:

On April 21, 2017, the American-Uzbekistan Chamber of Commerce (AUCC) met with First Deputy Chairman of the Senate of Uzbekistan Mr. Sodiq Safoev, Uzbek Ambassador H.E. Bakhtiyar Gulyamov and Acting Director of the Uzbek Fund for Reconstruction and Development Mr. Shukhrat Vafaev to begin preparations for the Uzbek President' Shavkat Mirziyoyev's visit to the U.S. in September 2017 (dates to be confirmed).  These are the highlights:
  • The September trip will mark the first official visit by the newly elected Uzbek President who has been vocal and affirmative in addressing issues such as corruption, currency convertibility, regional integration and responsiveness to the needs of international business community. 
  • According to the Senator, the Uzbek President is determined to improve the country's business environment and increase the US-Uzbekistan trade turnover to US$3 billion by 2018.  Such commitment opens new opportunities for AUCC members and other U.S. companies who seek to expand their cooperation with Uzbekistan and offer their technology, products and expertise to the mutual benefit of the peoples of the U.S. and Uzbekistan.
  • At the Uzbek President's invitation and initiative, AUCC signed a bilateral agreement on establishment of the Joint Committee that is tasked to expand trade, technological and investment cooperation, create favorable conditions for U.S. companies and develop Road Maps to help guide our bilateral business cooperation.  Consisting of the high-level Uzbek officials (see below) and AUCC members and friends, the Joint Committee's first task is to identify contracts and projects that can be executed during the President's visit in September.  To help you with your company's business development efforts, AUCC would like to ask you to respond to the Call to Action.  
Approved List of the Uzbek officials-Members of the 
Joint Committee:
  1. Sodiq Safaev, First Deputy Chairman of the Senate (Co-chairman from the Uzbek side)
  2. Zoir Mirzaev, Deputy Prime-Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources
  3. Ulugbek Rozukulov, Deputy Prime-Minister, Chairman of Uzauto
  4. To be announced, Chairman of the Committee of Senate on Foreign Issues, Economic Relations, Investment and Tourism
  5. Adham Shadmanov, Chairman of the Committee on Budget and Economic Reforms of the Parliament of Uzbekistan
  6. Bahrom Niyozmatov, Chairman of the Committee on Industries and Infrastructure of the Parliament of Uzbekistan
  7. Diler Khakimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan
  8. Shavkat Tyluyaganov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan
  9. Anvar Usmanov, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan
  10. Alisher Shaikhov, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of the Republic of Uzbekistan
  11. Kabul Tursunov, Governor of the Navoi Region of the Republic of  Uzbekistan
  12. Shukurullo Babaev, Governor of the Tashkent Region of the Republic of Uzbekistan 
  Call to Action:
  • Please let AUCC and the Uzbek Embassy know if your company/organization is interested in signing contracts and agreements during the President's visit.  Deadline for response is May 30, 2017.  Of special note is the Uzbek Government's stronger focus and interest in trade, US technology and services.
  • Please make sure to include your Point of Contact to help the Uzbek Government discuss the specifics with your colleagues and arrange for the Advance Team's meeting with your company when they are in the U.S. in June 2017. 
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Chamber of Commerce 
1030 15th Street, N.W.,
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Washington, DC 20005 
phone: 202.509.3744 
info@aucconline.com
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