The State Center for Environmental Expertise of Uzbekistan, under the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, held a press conference at the Media Content Center of the Presidential Administration to clarify the practical application of Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 234 of May 11, 2026, 'On Measures to Implement New Environmental Impact Assessment Mechanisms.'
The event gathered representatives from state agencies, media organizations, bloggers, ecologists, project organizations, the business community, and experts.
Representatives of the National Committee emphasized that ensuring environmental safety, promoting sustainable use of natural resources, and reducing negative environmental impact have become key tasks of state policy in recent years under the leadership of the President of Uzbekistan.
The establishment of the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change and the adoption of the Law 'On Environmental Expertise, Environmental Impact Assessment, and Strategic Environmental Assessment' marked important steps in the country's environmental reforms. Resolution No. 234 was adopted to implement this law and form a modern regulatory system based on international standards.
It was mentioned that the new structure was developed after studying the experience of countries such as Japan, Germany, South Korea, the European Union, Canada, the USA, Turkey, Georgia, Singapore, Russia, and Kazakhstan. Experts from the World Bank, the UN Economic Commission for Europe, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the Korea Institute of Environmental Sciences also participated in developing the new mechanisms.
The resolution provides for a comprehensive modernization of the state system of environmental expertise and environmental impact assessment (EIA). Projects will now be evaluated based on their potential impact on the environment. For the first time, the national system introduces procedures for international screening and defining the scope of work at an early stage to determine the necessity of conducting EIA and the volume of necessary environmental studies.
The reform also includes:
Furthermore, the resolution strengthens the responsibility of both project developers and organizations preparing environmental documentation.
One of the most important changes is the transition of the state environmental expertise process to a fully electronic format. Documents are now submitted through the Unified Portal of Interactive Public Services, which allows for reduced review times, minimization of human error, and increased transparency throughout the process.
The classification of projects by the degree of environmental impact has also been simplified: the number of categories has been reduced from four to three, which facilitates understanding and use of the system for businesses.
The resolution pays special attention to creating more favorable conditions for entrepreneurs and investors. The updated system provides the following opportunities:
According to officials, the main goal of the reform is not to create additional barriers for business, but to implement modern mechanisms for preventing environmental risks and improving the quality of investment decisions.
Addressing the participants, Gairat Mukhamedov, Director General of the State Center for Environmental Expertise, stated that the adoption of Resolution No. 234 marks a new stage in the development of Uzbekistan's environmental expertise system.
Mukhamedov noted: 'Today, environmental expertise has ceased to be merely a permitting procedure. We are building a modern system for managing environmental risks, based on international standards, digital technologies, and principles of transparency. The new mechanisms allow for identifying potential environmental consequences at the project planning stage, which is critically important both for protecting the environment and ensuring the country's sustainable economic development.'
He added that the reform introduces screening and scope definition procedures for the first time, improves the public hearing process, establishes a mechanism for public environmental expertise, introduces qualification requirements for experts and organizations preparing environmental documentation, and creates a rating system to evaluate their work.
'All of this will significantly improve the quality of environmental documentation, ensure the objectivity of expert conclusions, reduce administrative procedures, and create maximum transparency for both investors and society,' he concluded.
Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Protection
Officials reported that the new mechanisms are designed to strike a balance between economic development, investment attractiveness, and environmental protection. According to the organizers of the press conference, the reform will strengthen the implementation of environmental policy, improve the quality of public services, enhance control over compliance with environmental expertise requirements, and bring Uzbekistan's EIA system in line with best international practices.
It was noted that the environmental expertise system is transforming from a regulatory tool into a modern mechanism for managing environmental risks that supports sustainable development, protects public interests, and contributes to forming a favorable investment climate.
A new law 'On Automobile Roads' has come into force in Uzbekistan, which unifies the rules concerning the construction, maintenance, and upkeep of road infrastructure. This document also regulates the operation of toll roads and guarantees drivers access to free alternative routes.
The law establishes the framework for the development of automobile roads and all road activities in the country. Now, the entire road network is officially divided into three types: public roads, urban streets, and agricultural roads.
Decisions regarding the construction, restoration, and operation of toll roads are made either by the President or the Cabinet of Ministers. One of the most important conditions stipulated in the law is the requirement for the existence of a free route. A toll road can only be introduced if there is a free path between the same settlements that meets safety standards and is suitable for vehicle traffic.
Charging is possible only if a high level of service and speed is ensured along the entire route. Drivers can use such a route by entering into a public contract with the operator in three ways: upon entering the toll road, paying at a toll collection point, or purchasing a special road ticket.
Public automobile roads are recognized as state property and are managed by the Committee for Automobile Roads, which is appointed by a specialized authorized body in this field.
The document contains specific provisions regarding oversized and heavy transport. These types of vehicles may travel on roads only with a special permit issued by the authorized body or its regional divisions.
Furthermore, the law sets the minimum permissible width of the roadside strip along automobile roads: 80 meters for Category I roads, 60 meters for Category II, 40 meters for Categories III and IV, and 25 meters for Category V roads. Roadside zones will also operate along the roads, having special land use conditions to enhance traffic safety.
According to the legislation, responsibility for road maintenance and repair lies with their owners, who can perform these works independently or with the help of specialized road services. The law came into effect on August 5, 2026.
In the coming years, various road projects are planned in Tashkent, implemented in partnership with foreign companies. These include the construction of a billion-dollar two-level ring road, seven tunnels, the creation of new interchanges, dozens of kilometers of BRT lines, and large-scale reconstruction of city main arteries.
The President of Uzbekistan, Shavkat Mirziyoyev, signed the resolution 'On Additional Measures for the Socio-Economic Development of the City of Tashkent for 2026–2027' (No. PP-279 dated July 27, 2026). This document approves a set of measures aimed at increasing the capital's investment potential, supporting youth, and expanding cultural infrastructure.
According to this resolution, new mechanisms for socio-economic development will be introduced in Tashkent on a pilot basis until January 1, 2031. One such step is granting the city mayor the authority to allocate land plots in special economic and industrial zones for each district. The goal of this measure is to stimulate the investment activities of the districts, strengthen their ties with industrial facilities, and increase the number of implemented projects.
The resolution provides for the creation of a Youth Creative Park in the building of the Youth Center in the Almazar district. This new center will contribute to the development of promising startups, offer foreign language and modern profession training, and promote reading.
To support the book industry, entrepreneurs from the association 'Toshkent Kitob Tijorat' will be allowed to set up light book pavilions in high-traffic areas, markets, large shopping centers, and central streets. They will also be permitted to open Book Cafes and create 'book streets' in the city's 24-hour pedestrian zones. Furthermore, the resolution obligates all shopping centers over 5000 square meters to include bookstores.
In general, the adopted resolution is designed to promote the further development of Tashkent's urban infrastructure, enhance its attractiveness to investors, and expand public access to educational and cultural spaces.
The Legislative Chamber of Uzbekistan's Oliy Majlis reviewed a draft law concerning the construction of apartment buildings and other real estate objects based on shared capital participation during its first reading. This document establishes new rules for attracting funds from citizens and introduces mechanisms to protect shareholders' investments.
During the session, it was noted that the volume of housing construction in the country has significantly increased in recent years. Nevertheless, some projects are not completed within the established deadlines, and relationships in shared capital construction were not regulated by a separate legislative act, which created difficulties for homebuyers.
The draft law defines the rights and obligations of participants in shared capital construction, the powers of state bodies, and the procedures for interaction between them. Specific provisions regulate the collection of funds from individuals and legal entities for the construction of residential buildings and other real estate objects.
One of the key provisions is the introduction of an escrow account mechanism. Citizens' funds will not be directly at the developer's disposal but will be held in a special bank account. The transfer of these funds to the developer is possible only after the completion of construction in accordance with established requirements and the commissioning of the object.
A developer can attract funds from the public only by complying with all legislative requirements, registering in the Unified Information System, concluding a general agreement with an authorized bank, and publishing a project declaration.
The bill proposes making notarization and state registration of shared capital participation agreements mandatory. Authors argue that this will help prevent the resale of the same property, the conclusion of illegal contracts, and other violations.
If a developer attracts citizens' funds in violation of established norms, the shareholder has the right to demand the return of funds with accrued interest for their use. If this demand is not met within the specified period, the citizen can file a lawsuit.
The draft also provides for ways to ensure the timely completion of construction projects. Specifically, the possibility of replacing the authorized bank or the developer may be provided for if necessary, as well as the application of financial instruments to maintain continuous project financing.
Information about shared capital construction will be published in the Unified Information System, allowing citizens to obtain information about the developer, the building under construction, and the progress of the project. Furthermore, the bill proposes introducing liability for violating legislation regulating the construction of residential buildings and real estate objects using shared capital.
During the discussion, deputies asked questions regarding specific provisions of the draft and proposed options for its further improvement. After the debates, the document was adopted in the first reading.
