Uzbekistan plans to create a unified support system for businesses that will accompany entrepreneurs at all stages—from registration to transitioning to large-scale production. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented several new initiatives during an open dialogue with the business community, aimed at simplifying loan acquisition, integrating artificial intelligence technologies, and the privatization of state assets.
A key innovation is the 'counter-guarantee' mechanism, designed to solve the problem of insufficient collateral. Now, when applying for a loan up to 10 billion soums, an entrepreneur only needs to provide collateral for 25% of the required amount; the remaining 75% is guaranteed by the state in conjunction with the Entrepreneurship Guarantee Company and commercial banks.
Three specialized programs operate to support projects at various stages. The 'Business Start' program, with a budget of 100 billion soums, is intended for novice entrepreneurs and uses AI to prepare documentation, offering ready-made business plans and unsecured loans up to 200 million soums. The 'Business Lift' program has been developed for existing enterprises, and the 'Business Yuksilish' program is provided for companies aiming to expand.
Furthermore, the Unified Digital Portal for Credit Services has been put into operation in the country, where banks compete to attract applications from entrepreneurs, as well as an AI-based 'Virtual Tax Consultant.' It is planned that similar services will be available in the construction, international trade, and public service sectors next year. Currently, novice businessmen can apply for online loans up to 5 billion soums, while the share of small businesses in bank credit portfolios has reached 63%.
The conditions for selling state property are significantly improving. The required down payment has been reduced from 30% to 15%, and a 25% discount is offered if the object is paid for in full within six months. If half the amount is paid in advance, the remaining debt can be repaid over seven years without interest accrual. Auction periods are also halved, and the starting price of an unsold state asset will gradually decrease to 10% of the initial cost if it is not sold within three months.
The head of state emphasized that the goal is not just to issue loans, but to form a comprehensive system that ensures support for the entrepreneur from the very beginning of their activity until they become a large business. It was previously noted that the total number of entrepreneurs in Uzbekistan exceeds 1.2 million people.
