Uzbekistan has initiated a major transformation of its regulatory landscape by rolling out a comprehensive anti-bureaucracy program aimed at creating what authorities describe as a “zero bureaucracy” framework by the end of the decade. The initiative signals a fundamental shift in how the government plans to interact with citizens and businesses alike, targeting profound simplification across three key relationship domains: state-to-citizen interactions, state-to-business relations, and internal government operations.
Expanded digital services and streamlined procedures
By 2030, the country aims to expand its portfolio of government services to 1,500 — up from the current 1,040 — with 95 percent delivered through digital channels. This represents a dramatic acceleration of the country’s ongoing digital transformation agenda. What makes this initiative particularly significant for the business community is the specific focus on procedures that directly affect manufacturing, construction, and logistics operations. More than 300 licensing, permitting, and infrastructure connection procedures are slated for simplification.
Notably, businesses will be able to connect to four types of utility networks through a single application — a major efficiency gain for factories, workshops, and commercial facilities. The government also plans to eliminate requirements for more than 110 types of documents, cutting compliance burdens substantially. Starting from 2026, the country will introduce a “start business in 15 minutes” procedure, streamlining the process of company registration and launch.
Currently, the regulatory environment already permits some services to operate in proactive or composite formats — for example, social benefits and pensions are now assigned automatically without citizens needing to apply — but the new program intends to scale these innovations across the entire government service ecosystem.
Paperless government and AI-powered services
The digitalization pillar is particularly ambitious. Authorities plan to transition from a current pool of approximately 40 million documents in circulation to a fully paperless government system, with 25 million existing documents set for digitization. Key platforms — including the unified government services portal, the licensing system, the customs “Single Window,” and customer service centers — will operate on artificial intelligence infrastructure, enabling faster and more consistent service delivery.
Recognizing that implementation requires buy-in from the public and business sectors, the government has established a three-million-dollar incentive fund to reward citizens and entrepreneurs who submit effective proposals for reducing bureaucratic procedures. Citizens and businesses will also gain the ability to directly submit initiatives and assess the performance of government officials.
Existing progress and momentum
Progress on anti-bureaucracy measures is already visible. Over the past several years, the government has adopted nine key decrees and resolutions aimed at cutting red tape. The number of government services has grown from 444 in 2017 to more than 1,040 today. Thirty types of services have been moved to digital channels, and the shift to electronic document processing has generated annual savings of approximately 23 billion sums — roughly two million US dollars — for the public. More than 160 types of licenses and permits have been eliminated entirely, and many remaining permits can now be obtained remotely.
An international forum convened in Tashkent, organized in partnership with the United Arab Emirates and dedicated to reducing administrative barriers and modernizing governance practices, provided the platform for these announcements.
Implications for international business actors
For international companies in manufacturing, construction, interior design, logistics, and related sectors, these reforms carry substantial implications. Simplified utility connections, reduced document requirements, faster business registration, and streamlined permitting procedures lower entry costs and operational friction. The shift toward digital service delivery aligns business operations with modern standards, reducing the need for physical office visits and enabling remote compliance.
As Uzbekistan works to position itself as an attractive investment destination in Central Asia, reducing bureaucratic friction directly addresses one of the primary concerns cited by international investors and business operators evaluating market entry or expansion. The commitment to an AI-powered government service platform signals modernization that could facilitate smoother commercial transactions, particularly for companies managing multiple operational permits and licenses across manufacturing, construction, and retail segments. For businesses in the construction sector, the consolidation of utility connection procedures alone represents a substantial operational simplification that could accelerate project timelines and reduce administrative overhead.
