Laboratory equipment not produced in Uzbekistan to be exempt from customs duties until early 2028

Starting from February 1, 2025, the following support measures will be implemented:

• Products processed under the customs processing regime will be allowed to undergo further reprocessing by subsequent manufacturers under an industrial cooperation framework;
• Laboratory equipment and instruments not produced in Uzbekistan, which are imported for use by research and development centers, will be exempt from customs duties until February 1, 2028.

Additionally, new requirements will be introduced for the purchase documentation related to the construction of administrative buildings, social infrastructure projects, and legal entities in which the state holds more than a 50% stake:

• Contractors will be required to source necessary goods from local manufacturers via the producers' ecosystem and the Electronic Cooperation Portal;
• If the required goods are unavailable on these portals, they may be purchased from other electronic platforms based on confirming documentation.

Transactions within the producers' ecosystem will be carried out between government customers and manufacturers through an electronic store procedure, without restrictions related to contract values, and based on offers formed using certification data for locally produced goods.

The electrical engineering sector in Uzbekistan

The sector accounts for 3.5% of the country's industrial output and 10% of its exports. Last year, 31 trillion UZS worth of products were produced, and exports reached $1.3 billion. Investments totaling $516 million were made, and 85 new enterprises were launched. Over 27,000 people are employed in the sector.

During a video selector meeting held on September 5, 2024, opportunities to improve the sector's performance were discussed. Following this, several tasks for the current year were outlined. At the meeting, the president emphasized that electrical engineering exports had reached $1 billion, making it the second-largest local industry after textiles.

On January 11, the president reviewed the results of the electrical engineering sector and discussed upcoming tasks. The meeting also revealed plans to allow entrepreneurs to build ready-made buildings in technopark zones and sell them to electrical engineering and related sector companies. Entrepreneurs who establish high-tech production facilities will be exempt from profit and property taxes for three years.