Shavkat Mirziyoyev launches new program to cut bureaucracy and digitize public services

The forum, dedicated to reducing bureaucratic hurdles, has officially started in Tashkent. High-ranking representatives from the governments of Uzbekistan and the United Arab Emirates, foreign states, international organizations, and expert communities are participating.

In his speech, the president expressed gratitude to UAE Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi for supporting the forum and conveyed congratulations to the UAE leadership and people on the occasion of the country’s founding.

President Mirziyoyev outlined the philosophy of public administration in the “New Uzbekistan”: “In building New Uzbekistan, we follow the human-centered idea that government institutions should serve our people, not the other way around.”

He highlighted recent reforms aimed at reducing bureaucracy, simplifying public services, and implementing digital solutions. Key achievements include:

• The number of state services has increased from 444 in 2017 to 1,040 today;
• More than 55 million operations have been carried out, nearly ten times the previous volume;
• Over 90 services are provided in proactive and composite forms;
• Composite birth-related services now serve nearly 1 million citizens annually;
• Social benefits and age-related pensions are automatically assigned without citizens having to apply;
• Real-time access has been created for 30 types of services;
• Nearly 8 million services have been automatically provided this year alone;
• Transitioning document exchange to electronic format has saved citizens 23 billion UZS annually.

Significant measures have also eased conditions for businesses: over 160 licenses and permits have been canceled, more than 150 are now issued electronically, and the practice of requesting 140 types of documents has been abolished. The “Start a business in 15 minutes” principle is being implemented.

The president noted that nine decrees and resolutions on reducing bureaucracy have been adopted in recent years, and platforms such as the “Single Portal”, “Digital Government”, and public service centers are delivering tangible results.

During the forum, President Mirziyoyev announced a dedicated program to further reduce bureaucracy. Its main goals are:

• To transform Uzbekistan into a “bureaucracy-free zone” by 2030;
• To sharply reduce bureaucracy in interactions between the state and citizens, state and business, and within state structures;
• To establish a convenient, transparent, and human-centered ecosystem of public services.

Planned measures include:

• Expanding the number of state services to 1,500;
• Increasing the share of electronic services to 95%;
• Moving 250 services online next year;
• Fully digitizing vehicle registration and VAT refunds;
• Completing the transition to a “paperless government”;
• Digitizing 25 million of the existing 40 million documents, with another 5 million to follow next year;
• Expanding proactive and composite services to 400, including 180 new services next year.

President Mirziyoyev emphasized: “We are moving to a system where citizens will receive services without having to apply.”

More than 300 services related to licenses, permits, utility connections, and construction will be simplified, and a single application will allow connection to four utility networks. Over 100 state services will have their processing times cut by up to 50%, and requests for more than 110 types of documents will be fully abolished.

Public service portals, the “Licenses” system, the “Single Window” customs platform, and call centers will operate using artificial intelligence.

To monitor implementation and involve the public, ministries and agencies will be evaluated via a dedicated digital platform. The best-performing institutions and employees will be rewarded, and a program office will coordinate monitoring and evaluation. Citizens and business representatives can directly submit initiatives and assess agency performance. A $3 million reward fund will provide incentives for successful proposals.

President Mirziyoyev concluded: “Eliminating bureaucracy is a priority task for the state to serve the people. Together, we must create a system where the government comes to the citizen, not the other way around.”

The forum ended with the president pressing a symbolic button to officially launch the Bureaucracy Reduction Program and reiterating that the principle of “human dignity” must underpin all reforms.