Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 22 April, a video conference was held under the chairmanship of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the development of the service sector in the regions.

The service sector, as an industry that permeates all spheres of human activity, plays an important role in the economy and life of the population. This sector allows creating new jobs quickly and inexpensively. First of all, the development of services reflects real income growth.

The coronavirus pandemic has negatively affected the pace of development of the sphere. In this regard, entrepreneurs were provided with 24 types of tax benefits, subsidies and other preferences for a total of 35 trillion soums. These benefits have become a great help for both business entities and banks.

For example, last year, within the framework of state programs for the development of entrepreneurship, concessional loans for 1 trillion soums were sent to the sector. In addition, commercial banks have allocated an additional 14 trillion soums of loans from their own funds. Thanks to the wide scale of support in the service sector, 500 thousand people have officially registered as self-employed.

At meetings with local entrepreneurs, there are many calls and initiatives to organize new types of services. On their basis, the khokimiyats of regions, districts and cities have formed plans for the implementation of 42 thousand new projects in the amount of 59 trillion soums and the creation of 150 thousand permanent jobs this year.

At the meeting, the President instructed to monitor the implementation of each project and provide assistance to entrepreneurs, as well as form new projects.

The need to create a new methodology that takes into account the specifics of the regions of expanding and establishing new types of services, the introduction of advanced experience and exemplary projects is pointed out. For this purpose, a design and analytical center for the development of services will be created at the National Bank of Uzbekistan with its branches in all regional branches of the bank. They will provide the population with ready-made business projects, comprehensive services from vocational training to starting a business.

The head of state touched upon the issue of financing projects.

According to calculations, this year banks will allocate at least 18 trillion soums of loans for projects in the service sector.

In addition, the state will allocate an additional US$300 million through commercial banks. Of these, US$150 million will reach the regions by 1 July. Khokims of regions, districts, cities, heads of sectors, together with officials assigned to makhallas, will form a list of projects on the principle of “makhalla - district - bank”. At the same time, it will be envisaged to organize at least 20 types of services in each mahalla, and at least 70 types of services in regions and cities.

At the same time, the National Bank will attract an additional US$200 million for the opening of tourist, transport, medical, educational services and large shopping centers in 28 large and medium-sized cities.

In general, US$ 500 million or 5.5 trillion soums will be allocated from the budget and banks to the service sector.

- Before setting the task, we create conditions, allocate funds. We are giving US$500 million for the service sector alone. If managed correctly and honestly, thousands of jobs can be created. When every minister acts like a patriot, pulls his own cart, appreciates every allocated sum, then people will believe, Shavkat Mirziyoyev said.

It was noted that the heads of ministries and departments are responsible for the development of services in their area.

Ministers need to create a legal basis for private sector activity in their field, simplify the requirements for obtaining permits and open the way for entrepreneurship.

“It is necessary to clearly define what a state enterprise can do, in what kind of activity a public-private partnership or the participation of the private sector is possible,” the President said.

For example, over the past 2 years, about 6 thousand apartment buildings have been built. It is possible to create management companies for their operation, the organization of various services within the arrays.

Or the creation of trade and service facilities in the zones of airports, railway and bus stations, along highways, with the establishment of safety requirements, will provide income for entrepreneurs and employment for the population.

It is possible to further expand the participation of the private sector in the information sphere, by reducing the cost and improving the quality - to increase the volume of communication services and Internet access at least 2 times, programming - 3 times.

The directions that need to be involved in the system of all ministries and departments are indicated in the same way.

It was noted that in order to bring services closer to the population, it is important to build service centers in makhallas using lightweight structures. It is also planned to create special streets of trade and services in 28 cities and regional centers with a population of more than 150 thousand people. These streets will be able to accommodate 100 thousand business entities.

The most important question for the service industry is choosing the right location. Therefore, the Ministry of Construction, together with the khokims of the regions, was instructed to select locations for the location of streets and centers specializing in trade and services, develop their projects, divide them into lots and put them up for sale on a competitive basis. These commercial and service facilities may be allowed to operate 24 hours a day, subject to applicable requirements.

Instructions were given to organize multidisciplinary clinics and medical clusters around them on the basis of private partnerships, centers for teaching foreign languages, preparatory and professional courses on the territory of higher educational institutions.

At the meeting, the responsible persons reported on the upcoming measures to realize local potential, support entrepreneurs and increase the volume of services.