Economic relations are one of the important elements of civil society. They
cannot appear and develop by themselves, but are formed under the influence of the
state and society. If society has an influence on the economy through social norms, the
state ensures its development based on the laws it adopts.
The changes introduced in the new Constitution are significant in that they are
aimed at ensuring the stable development of the national economy by reducing the role
of the state in the economy, minimizing the use of administrative regulation levers for
economic processes, and expanding the participation of the private sector in the new
stage of reforms based on the principles of economic liberalization and wide
introduction of market mechanisms.
From this perspective, one of the most important changes introduced is the
strengthening of the regulation and limitation of monopolistic activities in the
Constitution in order to create equal economic and legal opportunities for all
participants of the goods and services market.
In fact, today, creation of an effective competitive environment and gradual
reduction of monopoly in the market of goods and services is the priority direction of
further development and liberalization of the economy.
In addition to recognizing economic freedom and creating all the conditions for it,
the Constitution should establish rules to prevent businessmen from conducting
monopolistic activities or unfairly competing with each other by abusing economic
freedom.
As a result of reforms within the framework of the Strategy of Actions and the
Development Strategy of New Uzbekistan, there have been created conditions of equal
and free competition in Uzbekistan in recent years. The tax burden on business entities
has been reduced, in particular, property, income and social tax rates have been halved,
value added tax has been reduced from 20% to 15%, and importantly, the rate of
voluntary compliance with tax obligations has increased from 80% to 95%. Also, in
order to ensure the introduction of the principles of fair competition, 84 different
ineffective tax incentives were abolished.
The norm, which is now being included in the Constitution, provides for creation
of equal economic and legal opportunities for all participants of the market of goods
and services by the state through ensuring competition and fighting against
monopolistic activities. The Development Strategy also defines the task to select 200
exporters based on the idea of "New Uzbekistan – the country of competitive
products", turn them into leading exporters and providing them comprehensive
support.
The additions to this article serve to stimulate economic growth and innovation,
increase the flow of investments and create new jobs, as well as improve the country’s
positions in international economic indexes and ratings due to the formation of
efficient markets and a healthy competitive environment.
Furqat Yunusov,
Expert of the "Development Strategy" Center