Uzbekistan Detects 23 Billion Soums Procurement Violations

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Competition Development Committee of Uzbekistan has identified violations in public procurement procedures totaling more than 23 billion soums following systematic monitoring of tender activities, according to an official statement from the agency, which regularly conducts inspections to ensure transparency and compliance with fair competition principles.

According to the findings, violations were detected in several government institutions. The Agency for Youth Affairs conducted six tenders worth more than 9.1 billion soums, the Agency for Innovative Development carried out six procurement procedures worth about 8 billion soums, and the Ministry of Preschool and School Education conducted ten procurement procedures totaling approximately 6.7 billion soums.

The inspections revealed non-compliance with Article 29 of the Law “On Competition,” expressed in actions that restricted or could have restricted competition in tender processes. The committee noted that such practices violate the principle of equal access for participants to public contracts.

Following the review, the Special Commission of the Committee initiated cases against the procuring entities. Mandatory orders were issued requiring the elimination of identified violations and prevention of their recurrence. In addition, administrative measures were applied to responsible officials, and materials were referred to judicial authorities.

The agency emphasized that ensuring the rule of law in public procurement and creating equal conditions for market participants remain key objectives of antitrust regulation. According to the committee, addressing the identified violations contributes to more efficient and transparent use of public funds.