The damage to Uzbekistan's state budget from the "shadow" economy is estimated at 30 trillion soms ($2.4 billion), as announced by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a meeting on the priority tasks for ensuring macroeconomic stability and economic development in 2024, Asiaplustj.info reports.
Mirziyoyev identified the "shadow" economy as the most pressing problem in the country.
"Analysis shows that in the services, construction, and industrial sectors, production worth tens of trillions of soms remains in the 'shadow.' As a result, the losses to the gross domestic product amount to 135 trillion soms (almost $11 billion), and to the budget – 30 trillion soms," noted Mirziyoyev.
As an example, he mentioned that 41% of construction companies report having only one employee. However, these organizations carried out construction work amounting to 4 trillion soms (over $322.5 million) last year.
Currently, 14 government agencies are involved in combating the "shadow" economy and economic crime in Uzbekistan. Still, there is no system to coordinate their activities, the president pointed out. Therefore, it has been decided to strengthen the activities of the Department for Combating Economic Crimes at the General Prosecutor's Office.
The department will conduct in-depth analysis, operational and investigative activities, searches, and investigations. Its head will simultaneously hold the position of the deputy prosecutor general.
A scientific-analytical and educational center will be established based on the department, focusing on identifying factors contributing to the flourishing of the "shadow" economy, developing proposals based on advanced foreign experience, and training employees in detecting economic crimes and combating them.
A special department to combat the "shadow" economy and its regional offices will be created within the General Prosecutor's Office.
Mirziyoyev tasked the department with achieving fundamental changes in sectors such as construction, pharmaceuticals, the production and sale of alcoholic and tobacco products, as well as in the fight against illegal imports, money laundering, and illegal capital outflows.
Earlier, the Agency for Strategic Development of Uzbekistan reported that the shadow sector occupies between 48% and 62% of various sectors of the country's economy.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
January 17, 2024