Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev has signed a decree “On additional measures to further accelerate market reforms and bring the national legislation of the Republic of Uzbekistan into compliance with the agreements of the World Trade Organization.”

In accordance with the decree, certain companies in Uzbekistan will lose their special (exclusive) rights.

Starting from 1 January 2025, the following exclusive rights of certain companies, granted by legislation, will be revoked in Uzbekistan:

Joint-stock company "Uzmetkombinat" will lose the right to procure (purchase) scrap and waste of ferrous metals within the territory of Uzbekistan.
Joint-stock company "Uzvtortsveptmet" will lose the right to procure and export scrap and waste of non-ferrous metals.
Joint-stock company "Uztrade" will lose the exclusive right to ship flour and wheat, as well as products of small businesses and private entrepreneurship, dehkan and farmer households for export.
Limited Liability Company "Uzkimyompex" will no longer be the sole agent with exclusive rights for the export of chemical products of organizations of JSC "Uzkimyasanoat" and for the import of equipment, spare parts, components, raw materials, and materials for the needs of the chemical industry.

Starting from 1 July 2026:

- UzGasTrade will cease to be the sole exporter and operator for the import of natural gas from external sources in a centralized manner.
- Uzenergosotish will lose the right for centralized export and import of electricity.

From 1 January 2025, according to the decree, Uzbekistan will introduce a licensing procedure for activities related to procurement (purchase), processing, and sale of scrap and waste of ferrous and non-ferrous metals. The same procedure will be introduced for wholesale and retail trade in natural gas and electricity.

Starting from 1 January 2026, restrictions on the export of cathode copper and copper wire rod purchased at exchange auctions will be lifted in Uzbekistan.

The purchase price of cathode copper and copper wire rod acquired at exchange auctions for export will not be subject to a discount or payment deferral privilege for companies.

Companies will be required to provide a certificate from the Uzbek Republican Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange confirming the return of the discount applied to their purchase price at exchange auctions for the volume intended for export, as well as the full payment of the deferred payment when placing cathode copper and copper wire rod under the "export" customs regime.