WEEKLY INFORMATION AND ANALYTICAL DIGEST (June 29 - July 3)
1. IMF Recommends Tax and Customs Administration Reforms for Uzbekistan
imf.org, June 12, 2026 (Press Release following the Article IV Consultation)
Following the Article IV Consultation, the Executive Board of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recommended that Uzbekistan implement a balanced package of tax policy and tax administration reforms to address the decline in the tax-to-GDP ratio observed since 2020. The recommended measures include increasing selected excise tax rates, refraining from introducing new corporate income tax incentives (such as tax holidays and reduced tax rates), eliminating non-statutory customs exemptions, and approving and implementing the 2025–2030 Tax Administration Reform Strategy together with the customs reform program developed with IMF technical assistance. The IMF also emphasized the importance of preventing the accumulation of VAT refund arrears and introducing a new VAT invoice risk assessment system to ensure the prompt and automated processing of verified taxpayer refund claims.
2. IMF: Tax Administration Development Program for Tajikistan – A Regional Model
imf.org, April 2026 (High-Level Summary of the Technical Assistance Report)
The IMF supported the development of the Tax Administration Development Program of the Republic of Tajikistan for 2026–2030, a comprehensive strategy aimed at modernizing and digitalizing the country's tax administration system. The program seeks to improve voluntary tax compliance, reduce the shadow economy, and enhance taxpayer services through compliance risk management and digital transformation. The report highlights Tajikistan's progress in digitalizing public services and implementing institutional reforms, while emphasizing the need for stronger interagency cooperation. The proposed methodology closely aligns with the tax administration reform approach currently being implemented in Uzbekistan.
3. IFC Publishes Uzbekistan Country Private Sector Diagnostic
Published: July 2, 2026
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) has released the Country Private Sector Diagnostic (CPSD) for Uzbekistan, assessing the country's reform progress since 2017 and identifying the key barriers limiting private investment. According to enterprise survey findings, high tax rates remain one of the major obstacles to business growth, alongside limited access to finance and shortages of skilled labor. The report identifies logistics, tourism, and pharmaceuticals as sectors with the greatest potential for private investment, provided that regulatory reforms, including improvements in the tax system, continue to advance.
Read more: https://www.ifc.org/en/insights-reports/2026/uzbekistan-private-sector-diagnostic
4. World Bank Approves US$378 Million to Improve Primary Education in Uzbekistan
worldbank.org, June 30, 2026
The World Bank has approved US$378 million in financing to support the Government of Uzbekistan in improving the quality of primary education across six regions of the country. The program covers the Khorezm, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya, Bukhara, and Navoi regions, as well as the Republic of Karakalpakstan. Financing includes US$273 million from the Government of Uzbekistan, US$100 million in concessional financing from the International Development Association (IDA), and a US$5 million grant from the International Finance Facility for Education (IFFEd). By 2030, the program is expected to provide professional development for 50,000 primary school teachers and school leaders while improving educational infrastructure in regions that account for approximately 45% of all schools in Uzbekistan.
5. World Bank: Uzbekistan Becomes a Model for Energy Sector Reform in Central Asia
worldbank.org, June 29, 2026
In a recent analytical article, the World Bank highlights Uzbekistan as the world's first country to receive carbon finance linked directly to energy policy reforms. Between 2022 and 2024, Uzbekistan reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 23.7 million tons and received US$20 million under the iCRAFT program. Building on Uzbekistan's successful experience, the World Bank approved up to US$50 million on June 9, 2026, to support the implementation of the iFIRST project in the Kyrgyz Republic.
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