Export-friendly news! A preview of Uzbekistan's new policies in 2025

Starting from 2025,Uzbekistan will introduce a series of new policies in multiple fields,many of which will directly impact the country’s trade and investment environment.According to recent official information,these new regulations mainly cover taxation,customs clearance systems,the introduction of foreign talent,and transportation,with the core goals of further attracting foreign investment,encouraging local enterprises to transform and upgrade,and helping Uzbekistan enhance its position in the international supply chain.

In terms of taxes and tariffs,the Uzbek government will abolish several long-standing VAT exemptions.In addition to formally imposing VAT on urban public transportation (including buses,subways,etc.),it will eliminate VAT benefits for enterprises with a 50% or higher employment rate of disabled workers and terminate land tax exemptions for newly established gardens,vineyards,and mulberry fields.Tobacco and alcohol products will also see rate adjustments: for example,the 10% ad valorem excise tax on filter cigarettes will be abolished and replaced with a 19.7% domestic market tax rate,while the excise tax on imported alcoholic beverages will be reduced by 25%,and the rate for locally produced alcoholic beverages will increase by 10%.Additionally,a new excise tax will be imposed on sugary non-alcoholic beverages,with adjustments for both carbonated and non-carbonated drinks.

At the same time,the trend of Uzbekistan’s efforts to develop e-commerce is also quite obvious,but e-commerce enterprises will also face higher tax burdens: income tax has increased from 7.5% to 10%,and turnover tax has risen from 2% to 3%.Analysts believe that this may be the government’s attempt to balance the growth of the new economy with fiscal revenue.In addition,the customs clearance fees for drugs and other medical supplies that have long plagued importers will be abolished from 2025.This measure is expected to promote investment in the medical industry and reflect Uzbekistan’s emphasis on the modernization of the pharmaceutical industry.

It’s worth noting that the cost of attracting foreign talent has also significantly decreased.Starting from January 1,2025,Uzbekistan will reduce the cost of confirming the employment of foreign experts in educational institutions from 30 BRV to 1 BRV,equivalent to a decrease of 30 times from 11.2 million soums to 375,000 soums.Private educational institutions can directly obtain "A2"-class entry visas when hiring foreign teachers,which will bring more international resources to the local education sector and further enhance Uzbekistan’s competitiveness in talent cultivation.

In the customs and tariff sector,the government will impose import restrictions on certain products,such asImported products such as solar panels,inverters,and energy storage systems will be subject to new regulations starting from 2025.Components not included in the BNEF Tier 1 list will also be prohibited from importation,and the updated list will be published monthly on the websites of the Ministry of Energy and the Customs Committee.Additionally,Uzbekistan is implementing the "General Rules for Customs Payments",which allow the use of bank guarantees,insurance policies,or physical collateral as guarantees when paying tariffs and related fees.This will provide importers with greater flexibility and shorten the time required to bring goods to market.

The transportation sector is also a focus of attention.Public transportation will resume value-added tax collection,and the "Rail Transport Law" will officially come into effect on January 1,2025,replacing the old regulations from 1999.The new law grants carriers greater autonomy to set their own fares (except for those within the scope of state regulation).International freight still needs to comply with the relevant provisions of cross-border agreements.It’s particularly worth noting that Uzbekistan will officially become a party to the United Nations’ "Asia-Pacific Regional Paperless Trade Agreement" on February 3,2025,which means that cross-border transportation will allow more electronic documents,significantly reducing the time and cost of trade.

On the environmental front,the country will introduce a mandatory recycling label system covering 54 materials,including plastic,paper,metal,and glass.Manufacturers or importers will be responsible for clearly labeling recycling information on products.The government hopes this will promote waste recycling and reduce environmental harm.

Overall,Uzbekistans new policies aim to enhance the transparency and competitiveness of its business environment while taking structural reform steps in fiscal,tax,and public service sectors.The gradual elimination of traditional benefits suggests the government is seeking to increase fiscal revenue through a fairer and more balanced tax system.At the same time,active support for e-commerce,foreign talent recruitment,and paperless cross-border trade reflects the countrys desire to integrate into the global supply chain network.