This November 10, the Anti-Corruption Agency held a dialogue with entrepreneurs on the topic ‘Business Against Corruption.’

The event was organized with the support of the UN Regional Office on Drugs and Crime in cooperation with the Business Ombudsman and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Uzbekistan.

Representatives of business community, ministries and departments, the media, public and international organizations attended the event.

The main purpose of the dialogue was to convey to representatives of business entities the essence of the reforms carried out in our country to combat corruption, ensure integrity and transparency in the activities of government agencies, establish a direct dialogue with entrepreneurs, consider proposals on existing problems in the field.

The event participants noted that the elimination of corruption factors and situations that impede the free development of entrepreneurship, the creation of equal opportunities and conditions for everyone in business is one of the important areas for the fight and prevention of corruption.

Therefore, much attention was paid to the issue of comprehensive support for business in our country, further stabilization and liberalization of the economy, further increasing the potential of small businesses in the economy.

In particular, the announcement by the President of a five-year moratorium on inspections of business entities resulted with creation of more than 400 thousand new small businesses over these years. During this period, they also eliminated bureaucratic factors and outdated requirements and introduced transparent mechanisms in accordance with the requirements of the time.

Also, effective structures were established in order to strengthen the protection of the rights and legitimate interests of entrepreneurs.

At the initiative of the head of state, it has become a tradition to hold an Open Dialogue with entrepreneurs. In particular, the Roadmap (No. RP-364 of August 30, 2022) was adopted for the implementation of the tasks identified during the Open Dialogue with entrepreneurs on August 22, 2022.

In order to create innovations in entrepreneurship based on the tasks specified in the Roadmap, 8 decrees and resolutions of the President and one resolution of the Government were adopted.

During the dialogue, the results of the Integrity in the Business Community of Uzbekistan Forum, held in November 2021 by the Anti-Corruption Agency together with the Business Ombudsman and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, were considered, and the Anti-Corruption Business Charter of Uzbekistan, adopted as part of the Forum.

It was noted that the Charter includes comprehensive measures aimed at preventing corruption risks in such important areas as financial management of an economic entity, contractual relations, recruitment and training of personnel, strengthening internal discipline and legality, public procurement.

Implementation of the norms of the Charter makes it possible to prevent corruption in the private sector, increase the investment attractiveness of the country, and introduce a system to encourage honest entrepreneurs.

In order to implement the norms of the Charter, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry developed the Regulation ‘On the procedure for joining the Charter and maintaining a single register of participants in the Charter’. The regulation was approved by a joint decision of the Anti-Corruption Agency, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Business Ombudsman.

The regulation clearly defines the procedure for joining the Charter of economic entities, displaying data in the electronic single register and excluding them from the register.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been appointed responsible for maintaining the register, and a procedure has been introduced for issuing certificates to business entities that effectively implement anti-corruption measures.

Over the past period, a number of events dedicated to the importance of this Charter have been held among entrepreneurs. As a result, in a short time, 189 entrepreneurs joined the Charter and took on the task of running a business free from corruption.

At the event, a mutual exchange of views took place on the opportunities created to prevent corruption risks in the activities of business representatives, as well as on further improvement of the anti-corruption system in the private sector.

Also, the participants of the event discussed several other issues, including identifying the causes and conditions for the emergence of any form of corruption and other offenses in the field of entrepreneurship, conducting a systematic analysis of the corruption situation in the field, preventing corruption offenses, strengthening integrity and trust in business.

Following the event, practical proposals were developed to further improve the anti-corruption system in the private sector based on the opinions and recommendations by representatives of the business community and experts.

Press Office

The Anti-Corruption Agency