Tashkent Hosts Forum on Combating Shadow Economy

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The III Forum of Tax Authorities of Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia (CACM) opened in Tashkent, focusing on international approaches to regulating the shadow economy.

Organized by the Tax Committee of Uzbekistan with support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the IMF Regional Capacity Development Center for CACM countries, the forum brings together senior tax officials to exchange expertise and explore best practices for curbing informal economic activity.

The main focus of the event is on strategies to reduce the size of the shadow economy, assess global trends, and analyze regional specifics in tax administration. Participants are discussing modern tools for improving revenue collection, increasing transparency, and lowering the share of the informal sector in the economy.

Opening remarks were delivered by Margaret Cotton, Deputy Head of the IMF Budget Department; Farrukh Pulatov, Chairman of the Tax Committee of Uzbekistan; and Abdulaziz Khaydarov, Chairman of the Treasury Committee under the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

The forum program includes experience-sharing sessions and discussions of advanced international practices to strengthen tax compliance, improve fiscal transparency, and promote effective revenue mobilization.

Running from 12–13 March, the event serves as a professional platform for dialogue, joint policy solutions, and bilateral meetings aimed at deepening international cooperation in tax administration and governance.