Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan plans to allow small retail and service businesses to operate on the ground floors of apartment buildings without converting residential units into non-residential premises. Construction and Housing and Communal Services Minister Sherzod Khidoyatov said in an interview with O‘zbekiston 24.
According to him, the measure is being introduced on the instructions of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Ground-floor apartments could be used to open hair salons, tailoring shops, beauty salons and other small service businesses.
To use the premises for these purposes, a separate entrance will need to be installed and the interior space adapted, the minister said.
The Ministry of Construction, together with the National Committee for Sustainable Development of Urbanization and the Housing Market, sanitary authorities and other agencies, plans to prepare a draft document. It is expected to be submitted for approval within a month.
“If we make calculations as of today, there are more than 46,000 apartments on the ground floors. This will provide employment for more than 200,000 people and have a significant impact on household incomes,” Khidoyatov said.
The initiative was discussed on 9 September at an expanded meeting chaired by Shavkat Mirziyoyev on employment and increasing incomes in the regions.
In addition, the president instructed the authorities to work jointly with the Reform Headquarters to study each mahalla and area and collect the necessary data.
Khidoyatov said the Ministry of Construction would carry out the relevant work across all subordinate organizations and districts and begin implementing it immediately.
