Uzbekistan unveils new business support system with loans, guarantees and inspection moratorium
Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has announced a broad package of measures to support small and medium-sized businesses, including unsecured loans, state guarantees, assistance with artificial intelligence adoption and a three-year moratorium on inspections.
Mirziyoyev presented the measures during an open dialogue with entrepreneurs in Khiva on August 18, Fergana news agency reported, citing the presidential press service.
The new support system will include three programs: Business Start for new entrepreneurs, Business Lift for established companies and Business Yuksalish for enterprises moving to a new stage of growth.
Under Business Start, entrepreneurs will receive AI-based training to prepare business plans, loan applications and reports. The program will receive 100 billion soums (8.3 $ million), while participants will be eligible for unsecured loans of up to 200 million soums (16,600 $).
A new Unified Digital Portal for Credit Services will allow businesses to submit one application and receive offers from several banks. New entrepreneurs will be able to obtain online loans of up to 5 billion soums (416,000 $).
To reduce collateral requirements, the government will introduce a counter-guarantee mechanism. For loans of up to 10 billion soums (833,000 $), businesses will need to provide collateral covering only 25% of the amount, with the remaining 75% backed by the state, a guarantee company and commercial banks.
AI, exports and tourism support
Under the Artificial Intelligence — Partner for 10,000 Enterprises program, the government will reimburse half of companies’ costs for adopting AI technologies. Businesses will also receive free access to a supercomputer for developing new products. At least 100 $ million will be allocated to the first stage.
The government also plans to simplify the privatization of state assets by reducing the required advance payment from 30% to 15%. After paying half of the purchase price, entrepreneurs will be able to pay the remainder in interest-free installments over seven years.
At least 1 $ billion will be directed to export support, including a new Export Navigator system to help companies enter foreign markets. Authorities also plan to prepare 50 major enterprises annually for IPOs.
The tourism sector will receive 50 $ million for hotel construction, renovation and equipment. Subsidies for three-, four- and five-star hotels will be extended for two years, while land and property tax benefits will remain in force until 2030.
Three-year moratorium on inspections
Mirziyoyev also announced a three-year moratorium on inspections of small businesses, except in cases involving threats to human life, health or the property interests of other entrepreneurs.
According to the presidential administration, more than half of 5,000 businesses studied underwent two or three tax inspections a year, while another 21% faced four inspections. Companies were also subject to checks by fire safety, construction, sanitary, quarantine and energy authorities.
For medium and large businesses, voluntary preventive audits will be recognized by tax authorities. Once identified violations are corrected, companies will not be fined, while repeat inspections within one year will require approval from the business ombudsman.
The government also plans to reduce fines by an average of 50%.
From 2026, Uzbekistan will introduce a presumption of innocence for entrepreneurs in disputes with the state. Businesses will not face penalties until their liability is established by a court.
Entrepreneurs committing a minor violation for the first time will also be given 10 days to correct it without a fine, provided no harm has been caused to people or property.
Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan now has around 1.2 million entrepreneurs. Over the past five years, business lending has nearly tripled to 450 trillion soums (37.5 $ billion).
Uzbekistan’s economy grew by 8,5% in the first half of 2026.
Mirziyoyev presented the measures during an open dialogue with entrepreneurs in Khiva on August 18, Fergana news agency reported, citing the presidential press service.
The new support system will include three programs: Business Start for new entrepreneurs, Business Lift for established companies and Business Yuksalish for enterprises moving to a new stage of growth.
Under Business Start, entrepreneurs will receive AI-based training to prepare business plans, loan applications and reports. The program will receive 100 billion soums (8.3 $ million), while participants will be eligible for unsecured loans of up to 200 million soums (16,600 $).
A new Unified Digital Portal for Credit Services will allow businesses to submit one application and receive offers from several banks. New entrepreneurs will be able to obtain online loans of up to 5 billion soums (416,000 $).
To reduce collateral requirements, the government will introduce a counter-guarantee mechanism. For loans of up to 10 billion soums (833,000 $), businesses will need to provide collateral covering only 25% of the amount, with the remaining 75% backed by the state, a guarantee company and commercial banks.
AI, exports and tourism support
Under the Artificial Intelligence — Partner for 10,000 Enterprises program, the government will reimburse half of companies’ costs for adopting AI technologies. Businesses will also receive free access to a supercomputer for developing new products. At least 100 $ million will be allocated to the first stage.
The government also plans to simplify the privatization of state assets by reducing the required advance payment from 30% to 15%. After paying half of the purchase price, entrepreneurs will be able to pay the remainder in interest-free installments over seven years.
At least 1 $ billion will be directed to export support, including a new Export Navigator system to help companies enter foreign markets. Authorities also plan to prepare 50 major enterprises annually for IPOs.
The tourism sector will receive 50 $ million for hotel construction, renovation and equipment. Subsidies for three-, four- and five-star hotels will be extended for two years, while land and property tax benefits will remain in force until 2030.
Three-year moratorium on inspections
Mirziyoyev also announced a three-year moratorium on inspections of small businesses, except in cases involving threats to human life, health or the property interests of other entrepreneurs.
According to the presidential administration, more than half of 5,000 businesses studied underwent two or three tax inspections a year, while another 21% faced four inspections. Companies were also subject to checks by fire safety, construction, sanitary, quarantine and energy authorities.
For medium and large businesses, voluntary preventive audits will be recognized by tax authorities. Once identified violations are corrected, companies will not be fined, while repeat inspections within one year will require approval from the business ombudsman.
The government also plans to reduce fines by an average of 50%.
From 2026, Uzbekistan will introduce a presumption of innocence for entrepreneurs in disputes with the state. Businesses will not face penalties until their liability is established by a court.
Entrepreneurs committing a minor violation for the first time will also be given 10 days to correct it without a fine, provided no harm has been caused to people or property.
Mirziyoyev said Uzbekistan now has around 1.2 million entrepreneurs. Over the past five years, business lending has nearly tripled to 450 trillion soums (37.5 $ billion).
Uzbekistan’s economy grew by 8,5% in the first half of 2026.
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