Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Construction Responds to Allegations of Bribes for Permits

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Ministry of Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Uzbekistan has officially responded to claims by entrepreneur Usmonjon Abdusamatov regarding alleged corruption and unjustified refusals in the issuance of construction permits.

During a meeting with business representatives on August 29, the entrepreneur stated that in the capital, additional expenses related to obtaining permits and completing cadastral procedures could reach up to $200,000 per house, while in the Tashkent region, costs could reach $100,000.

The Ministry rejected these allegations, emphasizing that all state services and payments in the construction sector are carried out exclusively electronically via the my.gov.uz portal and State Services Centers.

“No collection of additional funds is allowed, and the elimination of direct interaction between applicants and authorized officials removes the grounds for corruption,” the Ministry stated.

The Ministry noted that in recent years, a comprehensive set of reforms has been implemented to reduce bureaucratic barriers and minimize human involvement. All stages—from obtaining construction permits to commissioning projects—are monitored through the national information system Transparent Construction.

It was also clarified that the fee introduced in Tashkent, equal to one base calculation value per cubic meter of construction, is solely intended to partially cover expenses for engineering and utility networks and the city’s transport infrastructure. “All collected funds are fully transferred to the Tashkent City Development Fund under the city administration, and there are no additional ‘levies,’” the Ministry emphasized.

The Ministry reminded that in cases of detected corruption, entrepreneurs and citizens can report incidents through compliance hotlines, email, and a Telegram bot.

Ensuring transparency, legality, and openness in the construction sector remains a top priority. “We confirm our readiness to openly respond to all questions and maintain dialogue with entrepreneurs,” the Ministry concluded.