A number of licenses and permits are being cancelled by the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan

On 24 August, the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On measures to fundamentally improve the licensing and permitting procedures” (the “Decree”) has been adopted.

The Decree aims to streamline licensing and permitting procedures and create more favourable conditions for business entities by removing bureaucratic barriers.

According to the Decree, starting from 1 January 2021, inter alia, the following types of activities are no longer subject to licensing:

• audit activity;
• activity of investment funds;
• appraisal activity;
• realtor activity;
• mining of precious and rare earth metals and precious stones.

Moreover, among others, the following activities no longer require obtaining permits:

• permission to attract foreign labor;
• certificate for the right to conduct bank audits.

Another innovation of the document is the replacement of certain licensing and authorization procedures with notification procedure starting from 1 January 2021. According to it, the notification procedure for the following previously licensed activities is being introduced:

• investment consultant activity;
• sales of petroleum products (gasoline, jet fuel, extra benzene, diesel fuel, jet fuel, fuel oil, heating oil, petroleum bitumen, as well as technical oils and lubricants), except those packaged at the plant.

Some permitting documents are also no longer required and instead, the practice of notification is introduced. Among them are:

• certificate of state registration of mass media;
• import of foreign and (or) national currency in cash;
• permission to register a branch of the commercial Bank.

It is important to note that the provisions of the Decree will be applicable also in relation to other types of activities in addition to those mentioned above.

In addition to the cancellation of licensing and licensing procedures, the Decree provides for the introduction of the "License" information system from 1 January 2021, through which all the procedures related to licensing, obtaining permits and notification for various types of activities can be completed.

The document establishes that from 1 January 2021, licensing, permitting and notification procedures are gradually implemented in full electronic form through the “License” information system.