The Cabinet of Ministers approved the procedure for providing the support on 18 August. The regulation sets out the rules for compensating part of the expenses incurred in developing and implementing startup projects in the tourism sector.
The subsidies will be administered by the Tourism Committee and will be available to developers of innovative products, services and technologies aimed at advancing the tourism industry and considered relevant to tourists.
Up to 10 of the sector's best startup projects will be selected for support each year. The subsidy will cover up to 50% of the costs associated with developing and implementing a project, with the amount capped at UZS 1 billion.
Applicants must have no outstanding tax debts and must not be undergoing bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings. A single project may receive the subsidy no more than once in a calendar year.
Applications can be submitted through a Public Service Centre or the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services. Applicants will need to provide a business plan for the startup and a copy of the project's presentation.
The application process will be free of charge. Applicants submitting documents through the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services will not be required to use an electronic digital signature.
A special commission, whose composition will be approved by the head of the Tourism Committee and published on the committee's website, will review applications.
Within five working days of receiving an application, the commission must invite the applicant to an interview to examine the project in greater detail. The interview must be held within five working days of the invitation and may take place in person or via video conference.
During the interview, applicants will be able to present their projects and answer questions from commission members.
Within 10 working days after the interview, the commission will assess whether the project should receive funding and obtain an opinion from the Tourism Support Fund's council.
Projects will be assessed based on their potential to develop a specific type of tourism service, their relevance to tourists and the extent to which they offer a new solution or a significant improvement on existing products or services.
If additional assessment is required, the commission may extend the review period by up to seven working days.
Based on the commission's conclusion, the Tourism Committee will decide whether to approve or reject the subsidy. Successful applicants will receive a decision specifying the amount of funding, which will be transferred to the applicant's account at a commercial bank within seven working days.
Applicants whose requests are rejected because of deficiencies in their documents will have one month to submit a new application after correcting the identified shortcomings. The resubmitted application must be reviewed within five working days.
