BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 9. Uzbekistan intends to privatize a number of its largest enterprises, including Uzbekneftegaz JSC, Thermal Power Plants JSC, Uzbekistan Airways JSC, Uzbekhydroenergo JSC, UzAuto Motors JSC, etc; Trend reports via the Uzbek media outlets.
On April 8, 2022 President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a decree "On the next reforms to create conditions for stable economic growth by improving the business environment and developing the private sector."
According to the decree, by May 1, 2022 it is planned to begin work on the privatization of Uzbekneftegaz by the end of the year. Similar work is planned for the state share of 51 percent or more in Thermal Power Plants.
By September 1, 2022 on the basis of the conclusions of an international consulting company, it was instructed to submit for approval to the Cabinet of Ministers a strategy for reforming the Uzbekhydroenergo company. It is envisaged that in the process of building new small and medium-sized hydroelectric power plants, projects with the participation of the private sector, including those based on public-private partnerships, will now be considered a priority.
By September 1, 2022 it is planned to begin work on putting up for auction a state share of 51 percent or more in Uzbekistan Airways.
By August 1, 2022, it is planned to conduct an IPO (Initial Public Offering) on the local stock market up to a 10 percent stake in UzAuto Motors and submit to the government a strategy for selling the rest of this company's share to strategic investors.