Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan has removed increases in the number of inspections from the key performance indicators (KPIs) of regulatory authorities. The decision followed intervention by the Business Ombudsman, who warned that such targets could increase administrative pressure on entrepreneurs.
Sadullo Salakhov, press secretary to the Presidential Commissioner for the Protection of the Rights and Legitimate Interests of Business Entities, announced the results as the agency reviewed its work for January–September 2026.
During the first nine months of the year, the agency recorded 7,498 violations of legislation in inspections of business entities. Of these, 938 inspections were unlawful, while another 6,560 involved violations of established inspection procedures. Administrative measures were taken in each identified case.
Since 1 August, all interactions between regulatory authorities and entrepreneurs have been subject to mandatory registration. Since this requirement was introduced, 4,254 such interactions have been registered nationwide.
However, the agency identified cases in which actual inspections were conducted under the guise of dialogue with businesses or enforcement measures were imposed without registration. Following the Business Ombudsman’s intervention, the relevant fines were cancelled and the officials involved were held administratively liable.
A review of the performance assessment system for regulatory authorities found that some agencies had included targets for increasing the number of inspections in their KPIs. The Business Ombudsman assessed that such indicators created incentives to conduct more inspections, increasing the risk of unjustified pressure on entrepreneurs. Following the agency’s intervention, the criterion was removed from the KPIs.
During the reporting period, the Presidential Commissioner received 10,743 appeals and reviewed 10,031 of them.
A positive decision was reached in 49% of the issues considered.
One of the outcomes of the agency’s work was the ending of the practice of charging fees for entering dehkan markets and trading on their premises in Namangan Region. The Business Ombudsman achieved this together with the regional administration. As a result, more than 7,000 entrepreneurs operating at 38 markets were relieved of unjustified expenses.
The agency also identified errors in the calculation of subsidies for private kindergartens. After the errors were corrected, monthly additional compensation payments totalling 130.8 million soums were arranged for 2,240 children.
Work on entrepreneurs’ appeals also revealed problems requiring changes to the regulatory framework. The Business Ombudsman prepared 12 draft regulatory legal acts and conducted legal reviews of more than 800 draft documents affecting business interests.
For more than half of the reviewed drafts, the agency sent proposals to their developers to reconsider provisions that could negatively affect business activity.
Among the agency’s proposals is the abolition of a threefold multiplier applied to electricity charges for mandatory lighting fixtures, signs and signboards. The proposal calls for the standard tariff to be applied instead.
Another initiative would give entrepreneurs at least 10 working days to rectify violations and compensate for damage before certain financial sanctions are imposed. If all requirements are met within the prescribed period, the sanctions would not apply.
In addition, the Business Ombudsman has proposed introducing an electronic process for issuing cadastral passports for areas with elevated technological hazards.
The draft proposal envisages reducing bureaucratic procedures and establishing clear deadlines for providing the service. The document has been submitted for public discussion on the SOVAZ portal.
