Service sector development defined as 2021 priority

Yesterday, Priority tasks of development of services provision in the regions were discussed at the online meeting chaired by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, reports “Dunyo” IA correspondent.

According to the Press Service of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, services are an important sector of the economy. The share of the sphere in the world GDP is on average 61 percent. This figure in Uzbekistan reached 36 percent, while 86 percent of value added is created in this sector.

The volume of services per capita in Karakalpakstan, Kashkadarya, Namangan and Surkhandarya is half the national average.

The presence of large reserves in this direction was noted at the meeting. Development of services in the regions was defined as a priority for the next year.

It was emphasized that, first of all, by improving the roadside infrastructure, it is possible to organize the provision of services for 700 billion UZS. Including through the construction of 400 large service facilities along 10 thousand kilometers of roads passing through the territory of more than 150 districts and cities.

Responsible officials were instructed to organize trade and service facilities on the highways of international importance Tashkent – Andijan, Tashkent – Termez and Samarkand – Nukus to create new jobs.

Many services can also be established by organizing, with participation of investors, trade, catering and leisure facilities using light structures in parks and squares, as well as providing entrepreneurs with an unused part of educational, cultural, sports and healthcare institutions.

It was determined that next year, 500 billion UZS of loans will be allocated for the construction of sports facilities with the involvement of entrepreneurs.

Today the agro-industrial sector is consistently developing. There is a growing demand for specialists in agronomy, animal husbandry, veterinary, plant protection, seed production for modern greenhouses, intensive gardens and livestock farms.

Therefore, it is necessary to enhance the range of modern services in this sphere, attract foreign specialists and organize practical training.

Transport has the highest share in the service sector. A new public transport management system is being introduced in Tashkent, the current activity of which is the cause of public discontent.

The Ministry of Transport was instructed, with involvement of foreign experts, to take measures to develop public transport in Nukus, regional centers and large cities.

Special attention was paid to supporting the service sector. In particular, the procedure for the quarterly payment of value added tax by entrepreneurs with an annual revenue of less than 1 billion UZS will be preserved here. This measure will allow more than 8 thousand entrepreneurs to have at their disposal working capital for 220 billion UZS per quarter.

In addition, enterprises exporting goods and services will receive a refund of value added tax immediately, without waiting for the receipt of foreign exchange earnings. As a result, the business will have 200 billion UZS of working capital on a quarterly basis. Responsible ministries have been given appropriate instructions.

It was noted that in general, hokims of the regions, districts and cities should develop and implement local service sector development programs. Commercial banks are assigned to the regions to develop standard projects and facilitate financing. The task has been set to adopt a government resolution, which will define specific tasks in the context of all districts.

/“Dunyo” IA/.