free industrial economic zone.. 1
Uzbekistan expands activities of free economic zones. 1
Seven Wonders of … Uzbekistan. 3
free industrial economic zone
Uzbekistan expands activities of free economic zones
On October 26, Interim President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoev signed a Decree “On additional measures for the intensification and expansion of activities of free economic zones”.
The document was adopted in order to create favorable conditions for further development of free economic zones – as an important factor in the expansion of attracting foreign direct investments to create new high-tech industries, more active involvement of regions of the Republic in development of production of modern competitive export-oriented ready-made industrial products, ensuring the accelerated development of production, engineering-communication, transport, social infrastructure and logistics services.
The decree of the head of state has unified the names of free industrial-economic zone “Navoi” and special industrial zones “Angren” and “Jizzakh” with renaming them, respectively, to the free economic zones “Navoi”, “Angren” and “Jizzakh”.
Followings have been identified as the main directions of further development of activities of free economic zones “Navoi”, “Angren” and “Jizzakh”:
– establishing a single legal regime for free economic zones, unification of tax and customs privileges and preferences to create the most favorable conditions for foreign investors;
– active attraction of direct investments, primarily foreign, to create modern high-tech and localizing production, ensuring deep processing of local mineral resources and production of competitive products with high added value, promotion of industrial specialization of free economic zones and development of industrial cooperation;
– gradual transition to “one window” principle in all free economic zones, that provides for rendering all types of public services, including licensing procedures;
– advanced development of production, engineering-communication, transport and social infrastructure, as well as development of modern infrastructure to provide high-quality logistics services;
– organization of training of highly qualified specialists in higher and secondary special, professional educational institutions, with regard to current and future needs of free economic zones in the profile employees, having provided manufacturing practices at existing enterprises located in free economic zones.
The document has also unified tax and customs regimes in force in the territory of free economic zones, with exempting the participants of free economic zones from payment of:
– land tax, income tax, tax on property of legal entities, tax for accomplishment and development of social infrastructure, single tax payment for microfirms and small enterprises, as well as also obligatory charges in the Republican Road Fund and Off-budget Fund for reconstruction, refurbishment and equipping of general schools, professional colleges, academic lyceums and medical institutions under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan;
– customs payments (except fees for customs clearance) for equipment, raw materials and component parts imported for own production needs, as well as building materials not produced in the Republic and imported within the framework of the projects on the lists approved by the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
In terms of sale or donation of equipment, raw materials and component parts imported with the use of customs privileges for three years from the date of importation, customs duties are levied in full in the manner prescribed by law.
Privileges are provided for a period from 3 to 10 years depending on the amount of investments, including in the equivalent of:
– from $300 thousand to $3 million – for a term of 3 years;
– from $3 million to $5 million – for a term of 5 years;
– from $5 million to $10 million – for a term of 7 years;
– from $10 million and above for a period of 10 years, while profit and uniform tax rates for the next 5 years are established at 50 percent below the current rates.
According to the Decree, the participants of free economic zones “Angren” and “Jizzakh”:
– exempt from payment of customs payments (except fees for customs clearance) for imported raw materials and components in terms of production aimed at export, for the entire period of activities at free economic zones;
– within the free economic zones, have the right to make calculations and payments in foreign currency in accordance with the concluded agreements and contracts;
– have the right to pay for the supply of goods (works, services) from other business entities-residents of the Republic of Uzbekistan in foreign currency, and use convenient terms and forms of payment and payments for exported and imported goods.
The document has also formed the Administrative Council of free economic zones, abolishing the previously established Administrative Council of free industrial-economic zone “Navoi”, the Administrative Council of the special industrial zone “Angren” and the Administrative Council of the special industrial zone “Jizzakh”.
The main tasks and functions of the Administrative Council of free economic zones are:
– coordination and state regulation of activities of free economic zones;
– decision-making on granting of the participant of free economic zone status to the enterprises and organizations;
– assistance to economic entities – participants of free economic zones in the implementation of the whole complex of works on development of promising investment projects, attracting foreign investors, identifying sources of funding and the establishment of sustainable cooperative ties and the promotion of local products for export;
– coordination of work of ministries and departments, business associations, responsible for the implementation of projects in free economic zones, for the timely preparation of design, tender and contract documentation, their examination;
– conducting a monitoring over implementation of approved investment projects, including their construction and commissioning;
– implementation of complex of measures for organization of effective functioning of free economic zones, the formation of the directorates of free economic zones and monitoring their activities.
In addition, the Administrative Council of free economic zones is granted the right to:
– make decisions on providing state-owned inactive enterprises and property to investors at zero redemption value under corresponding investment commitments;
– form independent budgets of free economic zones formed at the expense of income from services and other earnings not prohibited by the legislation;
– create funds for development of free economic zones, the funds of which are allocated towards the development of infrastructure and raising the efficiency of free economic zones.
(Source: «Business partner.uz» newspaper)
INFRASTRUCTURE
Over 150 projects aimed at the development and modernization of engineering, communication and road infrastructure totaling more than $9.8 billion have been scheduled for implementation in the next four years in Uzbekistan
The schemes are focused primarily on raising the level and quality of life, provision of appropriate conditions for the development of industrial capacity of the country, as well as creation of new jobs in regions. In particular, they envisage the upgrading of low voltage distribution networks and power supply facilities. The works will be carried out mainly in rural areas to ensure the reliable electricity supply to consumers.
It is planned to widely introduce advanced information technologies and communication systems in industries, further develop and strengthen rail and air transport capacities, continue with building and reconstruction of road sections, develop and advance drinking water supply and sanitation systems in rural areas.
“It is expected that 5,628 transformer points and more than 2,000 km of transmission lines will be built and reconstructed, 90% of population will be covered with mobile connection, the total length of fiber-optic communication lines will increase to 28,500 km (1.7 times increase). It is also envisaged to increase the proportion of electrified railways from 34% to 51%, and commission a new airport passenger terminal Tashkent-4,” said Rustam Narimov, Manager of Industrial and Engineering Infrastructure Development Programs at Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Economy.
According to him, the construction and renovation of more than 6,000 km of drinking water supply networks would provide the urban population with quality drinking water by 90%, and rural areas – up to 85%.
In addition to the construction and reconstruction of roads of national importance, the local budgets envisage overhaul and repair of 1,952.6 km of pavement in cities, villages, district centers and urban villages, and 4,049.3 km of inter-farm rural roads.
Some major projects will be completed late this year. For example, power industry will finish the construction of 302 transformer points and more than 320 km of transmission lines, the national airline will receive the second Boeing 787-800 Dreamliner, and railroads will get the high speed train Talgo-250.
In order to ensure the effective implementation of abovementioned initiatives, the Ministry of Economy introduced a specific monitoring procedure by means of interdepartmental electronic software. It was developed by the Center for Development and Introduction of Computer and Information Technologies, UZINFOCOM.
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
Tourism
Seven Wonders of … Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan’s citizens have voted to shortlist seven wonders of Uzbekistan-2016 within the framework of the www.meros.uz internet project.
It was a unique project for the country although it had been set up by analogy with foreign projects. But this does not reduce its significance. The site has turned into the richest continuously replenished database on historical, cultural, architectural and such other destinations particularly attractive for tourism.
Having logged in just select the object of your interest and get complete information about it with its location on the map.
The project has been implemented by the UZINFOCOM Center for raising the attractiveness of Uzbekistan’s regions for international and domestic tourism and popularization of our country’s rich cultural heritage and places of interest.
The portal is interactive at the same time. Its users may take part in the replenishment of the resource with new information and also take part in the voting. Seven wonders of Uzbekistan have been selected for the duration of one year. The results of voting were summed up within the framework of the National Information-Library Week. The list of this year’s wonders covered: the Registan Ensemble (Samarkand); the Igor Savitsky State Museum (Karakalpakstan); the Tashkent TV Tower; “Uzbekistan” Palace of International Forums (Tashkent); Mirzo Ulughbek Observatory (Samarkand); Ichan-Kala architectural ensemble (Khiva) and Amir Temur Mausoleum (Samarkand).
(Source: «Uzbekistan Today» newspaper)
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