Deputy Prime Minister Demands Restoration of Gas Supply to 33 Packaging Plants

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev sharply criticized the Ministry of Energy for leaving 33 modern packaging plants idle, which have been without gas supply since the fall of 2025. Due to a shortage of domestically produced packaging, exporters lost tax incentives and were forced to revert to using outdated packaging materials.

This was stated on 21 January at an open meeting attended by government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, and business representatives.

Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Davron Vakhabov highlighted the critical lack of coordination among state agencies: banks provide loans for the launch of production lines, quarantine authorities require compliance with international labeling standards, while energy agencies leave factories without essential resources.

As an example, the project of Cherry-Pick Production in the Tashkent district was cited. The enterprise is fully equipped and was commissioned at the beginning of 2025, but it still does not operate due to lack of access to gas networks.

Following the discussion, Jamshid Khodjaev instructed the Ministry of Energy to ensure gas supply to all 33 packaging plants as soon as possible. Participants emphasized that otherwise, Resolution No. 136 on industry support and the investments attracted would lose relevance, and the state requirement to use modern packaging would become unfeasible for businesses.

The shortage of domestic packaging has also negatively affected exporters themselves. The government had promised tax incentives to enterprises using certified packaging, but due to the idle plants, entrepreneurs were forced to purchase boxes on the market with cash payments.

In such cases, the State Tax Committee denied the benefits, citing the inability to document the origin of the packaging.

As a result, a significant portion of products continues to be exported in outdated packaging, reducing the competitiveness of Uzbek goods in foreign markets.

The Deputy Prime Minister instructed the State Tax Committee to review tax incentives retroactively from May 2025 and to correct technical errors in the system that have hindered exporters from receiving legitimate deductions.