Uzbekistan Lifts Import Duties and Advances ACWA Power Projects
Uzbekistan will remove unilateral import duties for seven countries as part of a government initiative to develop its construction materials sector, according to a presidential decree published on Lex.uz. The countries included in the exemption are Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Mongolia. The Ministry of Investments, Industry and Trade, in coordination with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Customs Committee, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has been given two months to draft a program of measures through 2027. This program will focus on lifting import duties and establishing systems for mutual recognition of certificates of origin with the designated states. A separate plan for conducting intergovernmental negotiations with each of the seven countries will also be prepared. In parallel, the interagency commission on cooperation with the World Trade Organization has been tasked with approving, within two weeks, a list of raw materials and inputs for the construction materials industry that will be exempt from customs duties until January 1, 2028. According to the decree, Uzbekistan aims to increase domestic production of construction materials to UZS 62 trillion and boost exports to $1.5 billion. The government plans to promote the use of energy-efficient and environmentally friendly materials, while facilitating investment in the sector. Projects totaling $3.5 billion are expected to be launched. Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev will supervise the approval of project parameters in cooperation with regional authorities and the O’zsanoatqurilishmateriallari association. Border security services have been instructed to ensure the safe passage of Uzbek business representatives through the Termez border crossing into Afghanistan. The decree coincides with Uzbekistan’s deepening economic ties with key international partners. On November 5, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with a delegation of Saudi companies led by Mohammad Abunayyan, chairman of ACWA Power and co-chair of the Uzbek-Saudi Business Council. The sides reviewed ongoing joint projects and explored new areas for collaboration. During the visit, four wind power plants with a combined capacity of 752 megawatts were connected to the national grid. Construction also began on five additional wind plants with a total capacity of 2.3 gigawatts, along with 300 megawatts of energy storage systems in Karakalpakstan and the Bukhara region. Work has also commenced on a 500-kilovolt power line spanning 1,790 kilometers, intended to improve energy transmission across Samarkand, the Tashkent region, Karakalpakstan, and Bukhara. The talks also addressed cooperation in transport infrastructure, IT, healthcare, agriculture, and other sectors, highlighting the government’s broader push to strengthen partnerships and attract investment across the Uzbek economy.
